| June 18, 2005 | Saturday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 10, 1426 |
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Energy drinks can be dangerous
Egyptian diplomacy
DHA parks
PCCC & US consulate
Job ads
Oil supply shortfalls
Demolition of hospital
Telephone service
Sales tax
Tree hazard
PTCL delays
Ferry service
THE controversy between Mr Khalid Hasan and Mr M. P. Bhandara is about the legal status of the original UN resolutions granting the right of self-determination to the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the express consent of Pakistan and India, including nationalist Kashmiri leader Shaikh Abdullah, who was then a member of the Indian delegation to the Security Council.
Subsequent developments like the Shimla Pact, joint declarations and Resolution 1172 were designed to promote bilateral negotiations between India and Pakistan, but did not affect the right of self- determination of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The original UN resolutions are part of international law and the Declaration of Human Rights, which are binding on the governments of Pakistan and India. Every good lawyer knows or ought to know this elementary principle. I have great respect for Mr Bhandara’s erudition and stature but I am unable to agree with him that the Security Council has any inherent right to change the language and intent of an earlier resolution without the express consent of India, Pakistan and the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
True, India has during the last 58 years used force to suppress the will of Kashmiris through dubious accession and armed invasion, followed by rigging of elections by puppet governments supported by occupation army. But what has India has gained by this — widespread hatred and alienation of the masses plus an ugly image in the international community of a ruthless power bent upon suppressing the human rights of a defenceless minority. Let India prepare a balance-sheet of gains and losses from 1947 to the present day for a conclusion whether its Kashmir policy serves its best interests.
Of course, a political process has now started with an implied admission by India that a dispute about the basic human rights of Kashmiris exists and needs to be resolved in accordance with their wishes to ensure peace and prosperity in the subcontinent, as well as the whole of Southeast Asia. However, conversion of the LoC into a permanent boundary or division of Kashmir into cantons will only negate the principle of self-determination. The people of Jammu and Kashmir will never accept any such course. They will prefer to redeem the honour of their martyrs and brutalized families with continued struggle till they achieve their right of self-determination.
I cannot understand why Mr Bhandara is insisting on territorial concessions to appease the might of India. Mr Bhandara is aware that Kashmir has always been a multi-ethnic state with its distinct culture and traditions. All these communities have been living in peace for centuries. They are the most tolerant and peace-loving people in the whole the subcontinent.
Violence in Kashmir was introduced first by the paramilitary forces of India and subsequently by outside elements. Why, therefore, impose more pain and indignity on Kashmiris by asking them to make territorial concessions? Kashmir is not a territorial problem at all. Pakistan has accepted this principle, and hopefully India will also do so in due course under the mounting pressure of its own public opinion.
There is every indication that the right of self-determination of the people of Kashmir will eventually be implemented by India if not by formal plebiscite as envisaged by the original UN Resolutions then by other means with the express consent of the people of Kashmir.
There is no question of the future being “a land without any maps”, as Mr Bhandara visualizes. Maps were drawn and finalized when the state of Jammu & Kashmir was established. Now these maps cannot be redrawn on the doctrine of might is right, which belongs to the dark ages long gone into the dustbin of history.
M. G. HASAN
Karachi
ENERGY drinks are very popular among athletes and individuals who work a lot. But it is surprising these are being marketed for ordinary people and children who do not need a sudden burst of energy.
The drinks being promoted in Pakistan do not carry the same warning as in the West. According to Tom Morman, a writer for a sports magazine in the US, the warning labels on popular energy drinks in the US read as follows: “First of all, keep out of reach of children. This drink is for healthy adults only. Do not exceed recommended use.
Taking more than the recommended dosage of one bottle will not be more effective and may increase the risk of side-effects, which can include headaches, heart attacks, stroke, seizure and death. In other words, do not take more than one bottle. Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, difficulty in urination due to prostate enlargement, or if taking a MAO inhibitor or any other prescription drug. Reduce or discontinue use if nervousness, tremor, sleeplessness, loss of appetite or nausea occurs.”
These drinks contain chemicals in exorbitant proportions. Taurine, present in almost all drinks, shows up in meat, and massive meat eaters are only able to take in about 400mg per day. One popular energy drink brand contains an amazing 1,000mg in each 250ml tin. Glucuronolactone is found in wine at a concentration of about 20mg/L at most. This drink has 600mg per 250ml can. Club deaths in Sweden are suspected to be connected with such drinks mixed with alcohol, although they are yet to confirm the results.
There is no FDA law that requires energy drinks to seek approval before bringing the product into the market. So, we will never know whether studies have ever been conducted on the effects of the chemicals contained in the drinks.
In the interest of public health, the authorities concerned are requested to immediately look into this matter and take necessary action.
AHMER N. JAKARTAWALA
Karachi
WITH reference to the Focus page article “Egypt leads drive to stop Hamas poll win” (Dawn, June 17), I would like to point out that Egyptian diplomacy vis-à-vis the Palestinian question does not aim at interfering in the domestic affairs of Palestine. Accordingly the claim that Egypt is working towards curbing the influence of any Palestinian faction, in this case Hamas, is both unfounded and untrue.
Actually we are in touch with Hamas leaders as well as the leaders of all Palestinian organizations to contain differences of opinion among them concerning some important issues. Our objective is to protect the unity of all Palestinian organizations so this unity would be a bulwark of Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation and Zionist expansionism. We are fully aware that Palestinian solidarity is as important as Palestinian resistance. The two go together. In this context, Cairo has been active in bringing together Palestinian factions and the Palestinian Authority in an on-going dialogue that has been positive and effective so far.
We will continue working with Palestinian organizations and the Palestinian Authority towards safeguarding this dialogue. Let me reiterate that we have no intention whatsoever to meddle in the internal affairs of our Palestinian brothers. We have always respected their popular will.
From an Egyptian point of view, we do not distinguish between Palestinian organizations on the grounds of their political platforms. Egypt’s diplomacy aims at working with the Palestinian Authority and organizations to secure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied territories and to establish a viable, democratic and sovereign Palestine. Egypt has no other aims. The destiny of the Palestinians is solely theirs to determine freely. And we will respect the choices made by the Palestinians as we have always done.
HUSSEIN HARIDY
Ambassador of Egypt Islamabad
THE efforts of the Karachi DHA in providing quality civic amenities are commendable. Parks within its jurisdiction are well maintained and a source of great encouragement for residents of all ages to enjoy peaceful walking, jogging and running.
Why can’t the authorities build halls (which are not high on cost) in all DHA parks according to the space available and place a few tables to promote table tennis? The park managements, in addition to the entry fee, could charge a reasonable fee (say Rs50 an hour per table) to generate extra income for maintenance of the halls.
In the early 50s on the call of the great revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, table tennis was adopted as the national game of China and tables were placed at railway platforms, airports, parks and other public places to promote the game. As a result, China emerged as the top nation in the world. Pakistan has confined itself to cricket (even hockey now has slipped several rungs down the ladder) at the cost of all other sports. During the recently-concluded Islamic games, Pakistan could only manage
to grab two gold medals in tennis.
The role of the PSB and POA in promoting sports remains abysmally low in the opinion of a cross-section of sports lovers.
Will the DHA consider this proposal and take an initiative in the interest of promoting table tennis?
ISMAT SHAH KHAN
Karachi
AS a cotton man, I cannot help the concern of the correspondent of the above-captioned letter (June 11) The Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) is a federal cotton research organization, which also supplements cotton research in the various provinces. In this way it is providing an unrivalled service.
Uprooting of the PCCC and its allied cotton fibre testing laboratories like the Pakistan Institute of Cotton Research and Technology (PICRT), Pakistan Standards Institute and the neighbouring Wool Test House from their present location in Karachi will be a great setback to cotton and wool research. The PCCC has been nurtured by Mr M. Afzal, who is regarded as the “Father of Cotton in Pakistan”, and Dr Nazeer Ahmed, the founding chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.
The PICRT is rendering valuable services to cotton growers, ginners, textile manufacturers, traders, and researchers in the field of fibre technology and spinning. Let us not succumb to any pressure or lure for letting the present site of the PCCC of be used for the American consulate. It is the moral duty of everyone to save this beautiful piece of architecture.
If the Americans have their heart set on M.T. Khan Road, let them make their consulate in a way that the PCCC and its allied laboratories and the neighbouring Wool Test House are not touched.
ABDUL MANNAN KHAN
Karachi
THIS refers to the advertisement on page 22 of Dawn (June 10) by the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment. Applications have been invited for various posts, which should reach within 15 days to the “undersigned”.
Interestingly, there only appears the designation “admn director” and a phone number. There is no address given in the ad on which to send applications. More interestingly, the telephone number, which is a government number, is without any city code. It will be difficult therefore for the prospective applicants residing in remote areas to even inquire about the address.
I request the department concerned to re-advertise the positions with complete address.
JAMEEL AHMED
Karachi
OIL prices play a key role in the global economy, since the major impact of oil supply disruption is higher oil prices. Oil price increases transfer income from oil importing to oil exporting countries, and the net impact on world economic growth is negative.
For oil importing countries, increased oil prices reduce national income because spending on oil rises, and there is less available to spend on other goods and services. The larger the oil price increase and the longer higher prices are sustained, the more severe the macroeconomic impact.
Developing countries like ours suffer more than developed countries from oil price increases because we generally use energy less efficiently and because energy-intensive manufacturing accounts for a larger share of our GDP. On average, developing countries use more than twice as much oil to produce a unit of output as developed countries, and oil intensity is increasing in developing countries as commercial fuels replace traditional fuels and industrialization / urbanization continues.
The vulnerability of developing countries is exacerbated by their limited ability to switch to alternative fuels. In addition, an increase in oil import costs also can destabilize trade balances and increase inflation more in developing countries, where financial institutions and monetary authorities are often relatively unsophisticated. This problem is most pronounced for the poorest developing countries.
Higher oil prices result in increased costs for production of goods and services, as well as inflation, unemployment, reduced demand for products other than oil, and lower capital investment. Tax revenues decline and budget deficits increase, driving up interest rates. These effects are greater when prices increase, and are exacerbated by the impact on consumer and business confidence. Government policies cannot eliminate the adverse impact of sudden, severe oil disruptions, but they can minimize them. Conversely, inappropriate monetary and fiscal policies to control inflation can exacerbate recessionary income and unemployment effects.
MUHAMMAD AHMED LATIF
Multan
AFTER the sale of Karachi’s Mid-East Hospital, the decision of the Sindh health department to demolish the Services Hospital (June 11), a 100-bed hospital with its OPD attending to almost 400 to 500 patients a day, and build a trauma centre in its place has delivered another shock to the citizens.
A trauma centre has no doubt been long needed. But what is logic in demolishing an existing facility to make room for it — a facility that is the only one for employees of the provincial government and has been successfully providing services for the last many decades? The trauma centre should be established as demanded by the Pakistan Medical Association. But is can be built at a place more appropriate place and not at the site of the Services Hospital which is lcoated in the most overcrowded area of the city.
I entreat the authorities concerned to avoid taking steps that will go to deprive a large number of people of medical care.
DR ALI AKBAR M. DHAKAN
President, Sindh Development
Foundation, Karachi
I have been using my telephone No. 4938318 for over three decades. I have had small complaints which were quickly removed by the telephone company. But for the last one year I have been facing a new problem. My telephone rings and when I lift the receiver I hear two people talking. When I make a call, sometimes I cannot do so as again I find some people talking on my line.
I have made frequent complaints, but so far without any result. I will greatly appreciate if the telephone authorities help me in getting rid of this problem.
ABDUL HAMEED
Karachi
IN the budget the CBR has proposed zero-rated sales tax on raw material and parts used in textile manufacturing plants. On June 6, SRO 536(1) was issued as regards the zero per cent tax on textile raw material but there was no mention of this concerning textile parts.
It is requested that all textile parts falling under PTC/HS code Nos. 8448.1000 to 8448.5900 & 8451.9000 may also be included in SRO 536(1) to allow zero-rated tax import on these items, as per the budget policy.
JAN MUHAMMAD MOON
Karachi
THE Muzaffargarh forest authorities have planted eucalyptus trees along Alipur Road the branches of which are known to be highly brittle and likely to break all of a sudden, causing damage to life and property.
Accidents of this sort happen quite frequently here. The forest officials are requested to remove these trees.
MUHAMMAD AMJAD
Muzaffargarh
THE telephone lineman, they say, is the king of the messy jungle of telephone cables in Karachi. He is crafty but at least he makes it happen. He has the power to restore or refuse connections. At times even the DEs and SDOs are helpless. But this is only true for the PTCL staff.
Billions of profits made by this organization have never trickled down and benefited the consumers. The common phone subscribers continue to suffer.
I am waiting since the last six months for my phones to get transferred. I applied for the transfer of my two phone lines (5804848 and 5380638) six months ago in Karachi’s Defence exchange in January 2005 when we shifted our offices (same exchange). We were given the regular run-around, the painful procedure of visiting and waiting in the exchange offices, meeting various officers again and again. When nothing happened we called the EVP, south office for help. To our surprise one phone was restored by an angry lineman after many months of waiting but for the second phone he said he would return, which he never did. To top it all, our only line gets connected to a nearby bank and we are left with no landline. As of today we are deprived of both the PTCL lines. Can somebody help to restore our lines?
DANISH AZAR ZUBY
Karachi
THIS refers to the news item, “Time not ripe for ferry service” (Dawn, June 12). With the decision to re-open the Mumbai-Karachi sea link having once been taken, the question of taking a “final decision” simply does not arise. What is the difference between a “decision” and a “final decision”?
Moreover, there is no question of considering to “start” a ferry service: a full-fledged steamer service always existed linking Mumbai-Karachi-Dubai and perhaps many more ports. The service only needs to be “re-started”.
The decision already taken must be implemented without further loss of time for the sake of those who cannot afford exorbitant airfares to and from Mumbai.
SALAHUDDIN MIRZA
Karachi
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