| July 26, 2005 | Tuesday | Jumadi-us-Sani 18, 1426 |
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London blasts
Hospital waste
President’s visits
Senior citizens
Machinery for textile
Islamic terrorism?
Increase in land price
PTCL phone
Old cars
INDIAN Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, after signing a strategic pact, with the USA stressed the following points:
a. “There is great danger to two great democracies from those who hate freedom.”
b. He will never allow nuclear proliferation from India although there is “reckless proliferation in our neighbourhood”.
c. He alleged that Pakistan was permitting its territory for terrorist activity in India.
d. He trusts the president of Pakistan but he would like to have this trust confirmed.
To call a country a “great democracy” does not entitle it to disregard the UN, the only hope for small countries to safeguard their sovereignty and security. Any so-called democracies that have violated the UN charter and disregarded the resolutions passed by the Security Council do not seem to care for the fundamental principles of freedom and liberty enshrined in the UN charter.
Nuclear proliferation has many facets. We never passed weapon-grade uranium to anyone. If any autonomous organization has under certain circumstances passed some knowledge and design of some components it is not going to upset the balance of power anywhere. After all, nuclear energy can also be used for peaceful purposes as well. By the way, how did India and Israel became nuclear?
Terror and terrorism — we first heard of terrorism after World War II from “Hagana”, an organization, Zionist in character, responsible for the murder of many British soldiers. Then there have been Basque separatists in France and the Irish responsible for killings in North Ireland and England including the murder of Lord Louis Mountbatten. Needless to mention the Palestinians which do not include only the Muslims. What is happening in Kashmir should have been considered indigenous.
The president of Pakistan along with his colleagues has gone out of his way for peaceful understanding with India. What else is required?
The Indian premier’s latest statements will roughen all the CBMs agreed so far. Our experience with the Indian leadership since 1947 has been that every now and then they accuse, threaten and use force against our interests. What have they done in Kashmir, Junagarh, Hyderabad Deccan and in (the then) East Pakistan?
India does not need any strategic friendship with anyone. It may be 20 years too early, but for India if there is any country in the world which could stand by it, through thick and thin, and be a bastion of strength for it, it is only Pakistan. Friendship in this direction if developed sincerely could be expanded to include Iran and Indonesia. Then there would be no need for any other power east of Suez or west of the Strait of Malaga. Alas, Dr Manmohan Singh’s present stance has brought us to square one and opened up old wounds.
BRIG (retd) KHALID HASSAN MAHMOOD
Karachi
WE are told that the London bombers were all killed in the act of carrying out the bombing. Just like the Madrid bombers who blew themselves up during a raid.
How very convenient that all suspects should have been blown up in their own attacks even though the first word was that the attacks were not suicide bombings but synchronized, timed bombings.
This is pure media manipulation, designed to distract from the truth. It’s the same trick used in Madrid — first, the government tried to blame the ETA and when that wouldn’t stick, it turned to the old standby of Islamic extremists. When investigators tracked the attackers to an apartment in Leganés, the so-called terrorists supposedly blew themselves up in the stand-off. “Suspects dead, case closed”, the government said. They are trying to play the same tired hand in London.
The BBC is reporting that only one of the bombers “definitely blew himself up”. Which is it? All four bombers or just one? There is an attempt to muddy the waters so people will switch off and just buy whatever the government tells them, even though the government story keeps contradicting itself.
The Times report is a blatant psy-op to keep the “Al-Qaeda” drumbeat echoing in people’s heads, even though the so-called claim of responsibility is a proven hoax. Furthermore, the New Zealand Herald reported that two Reuters employees witnessed the unconfirmed shooting by police of two apparent suicide bombers outside the HSBC tower at Canary Wharf in London. This took place at 10:30am, after the so-called suicide bombers had blown themselves up. Add to this that the CCTV camera on the Number 30 bus was conveniently not working and we have the makings of an information lock down.
They can tell us whatever they want but without any evidence to back it up. Why should we believe them when they’ve been caught lying about terrorism and creating fake terror alerts dozens of times before?
MUSTAFA IQBAL
Liverpool, UK
THE recent bomb attacks in London have great implications. The incident has exposed a security lapse in the UK. It shows that extremists are not only active but capable of carrying out a lethal strike. The US will get more support from across the world for its “war on terror” in Afghanistan and Iraq. Muslims all over the world, particularly in the UK, will have a difficult time while anti-Islamic forces will get a chance to malign Islam. In order to satisfy the West, Pakistan will have to carry out some operations, some of them without any real need.
From all this it is clear that this incident is certainly a negative development for Muslims around the world and also it has given a bad name to the most peaceful religion of the world, Islam. We all must unite to declare that such attacks have nothing to do with Islam and also we should declare clearly that the brains behind such attacks are the worst enemies of Islam.
ZEESHAN AHMAD
Lahore
THIS refers to the news item (Dawn, July 21) regarding the disposal of hospital waste. According to details, experts have called upon the authorities concerned to ensure that all hospitals, clinics, laboratories as well as radiology units comply with relevant rules and regulations which should be strictly enforced.
According to informed sources, 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes of hazardous waste are generated every day by some 2,500 to 3,000 hospitals, health centres, laboratories, and clinics in the city of Karachi. In addition, they are also disposing of liquid hospital waste directly into the municipal sewerage system, which can cause the spread of epidemics. Only 15 to 20 per cent of such waste is disposed of scientifically while the remaining quantity of medical waste is either handled with municipal solid waste or recycled or reused for financial benefits.
As per a study conducted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), apart from industrial waste, the most dangerous source of solid waste generation consists of hospitals, clinics and pathology laboratories. There is no proper system for the disposal of hazardous waste. It is being mixed with regular garbage from where scavengers pick syringes, glucose bottles, and ampoules, etc., for their reuse which cause fatal diseases. Hospital waste also contains a considerable quantity of plastic waste, which when burnt produces persistent organic pollutants (POPs) known as furans and dioxins. Dioxin is a proven carcinogen and furan causes enzyme disorders.
Under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, hospital waste falls within the category of hazardous waste and as such institutions responsible for unsafe or improper handling of the waste can be tried for legal action.
The city district government Karachi has two plants, each with a capacity for incinerating 1,000 kg of waste per hour. According to available information, at present only one of the city government’s plants, while operating under 20-25 per cent of its capacity, is incinerating hospital waste collected and transported from about 140 hospitals. Incineration is a process in which hazardous waste is burnt at very high temperatures without creating environmental pollution.
About 10 months back the Karachi city government had issued notices to different hospitals and health centres, urging them to utilize their incineration facility or face legal action but still the outcome is still awaited. Beside that, the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) also had issued an environmental protection order and guidelines for safe disposal of hospital waste. It is suggested that in collaboration with the city government, SEPA should register cases against such polluters.
RASHID ASHRAF
Karachi
WHO would have imagined six years ago that Pakistan that was quarantined by the world states because of its image as a state sponsoring terrorism will emerge as the lead player in the war on terrorism, and assume a central role on the world stage? Where the cataclysmic events of 9/11 and the chain reactions they produced helped it recover its lost ground, it is the leadership provided by President General Pervez Musharraf that has brought about the improvement in Pakistan’s fortunes.
Personal diplomacy has played a notable role in this turnaround, including his foreign visits which are often criticized by a section of our commentators. Evidence abounds of Pakistan’s improved credibility: it has been granted the status of a non-NATO ally of the US, which provides it access to US defence equipment; as a corollary, it has been allowed to acquire F-16s; it has been readmitted into the Commonwealth; allowed membership of the ARF and Asean.
Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia were approached so that the Gwadar and the pipeline projects could materialize. President Musharaf’s visit to countries in South Asia was taken to solidify regional blocs such as Saarc. A move towards Africa was made to forge Asia-Africa partnership, with Pakistan assuming an important role. President Musharraf’s visit to European and Latin American states should be seen the context of the WTO and the need to find new trade markets. Another aspect of these visits was the projection of Pakistan’s viewpoint vis-à-vis UN expansion. Many pacts signed during these visits are additional benefits accruing to Pakistan, besides enhancing its positive image as a mainstream country.
For example, the recent visit to Australia, which was the first-ever visit by any Pakistani head of state in the last 46 years, yielded pacts in the fields of economic, education and culture. Australia agreed to provide scholarships to 500 Pakistani students over the next five years, which will enable them to pursue studies in various modern disciplines. Over the last four years, 1,300 Pakistani students enrolled in Australian academic institutions. In addition, there are 12,000 students of Pakistani origin there. It is likely that the Australian decision will result in an increase in people-to-people interaction.
The visit to New Zealand ended on the same happy note. In the backdrop of these facts, it can be said that President Pervez Musharraf’s diplomacy has yielded many benefits for Pakistan. The need is to capitalize on the gains made.
HASSAN MIRZA
Islamabad
THE national savings rates have been increased. It appears from the initial brief news item that an increase of approximately two per cent has been provided to alleviate the poverty of senior citizens and poor widows who are in need of financial assistance considering the circumstances they are living in. My congratulations to all senior citizens, pensioners and widows, etc., for the hefty increase.
My father is about 85. He can now hardly walk. He has survived two heart attacks. For the last two years he seems very happy over the “important facilities” he is enjoying as a senior citizen. The outgoing prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat had benevolently announced a package under which senior citizens were to be respected and allowed free entry to museums and parks. Since then my father keeps going to the museum to enjoy free entry, saving Rs5 after spending Rs6 on a one way bus fare which has now been increased to Rs8.50 as there is no concession on bus fares for senior citizens. There was no park entry fee five years back, thanks to the transfer of power to the city government. As soon as my father enters the National Bank for his pension, the branch manager rushes to offer him a chair but retreats midway to his glass cabin as there are many other senior citizens huddled without a chair to sit on.
It was officially recognized that at their age senior citizens need physical comfort and rest. My father can bravely go alone to the museum/parks to enjoy “free entries” but cannot go alone to the National Savings where he has his retirement reserves. He needs company. My mother is 75. Due to her thyroid problem for the last 30 years her hands are now unsteady and she cannot hold a pen. When she signs it looks as if a four-year-old child has scribbled. She now has to be taken to the National Savings every month to personally sign her certificates to draw money.
I have repeatedly requested and proposed to the authorities concerned that senior citizens should be allowed to open joint accounts with their sons, daughters, etc., to facilitate them to rest at home but over the last five years more than a hundred letters of mine to MNAs, NGOs, the so-called senior citizens’ bodies, the prime minister and the president have not fetched me a single acknowledgement. The two per cent increase in the national savings rates is indeed a wonderful gift to senior citizens. By the way, I am trying to recall how much percent the increase in perks to elected representatives was.
JAVED
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Mr Qutubuddin Aziz’s letter (July 21). Indeed Mr Aziz has conveyed the anguish and despair of hundreds of thousands of senior citizens on the reluctant increase of one per cent in the profit of NSS Instrument Behbood Certificates. People had expected a significant increase in their investment in order to offset mounting inflation and skyrocketing prices of commodities of daily use.
I was also among the hundreds of senior citizens who gathered at the Convention Centre, Islamabad, on Oct 1, 1999, to hear the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif announce a welfare package for senior citizens. The package included, besides significant concessions in air and rail fares, equalization of pensions in the same pay scales as of pensioners above 70 years of age. Old pensioners who were present thanked Mr Nawaz Sharif for granting their long-standing demand. However, their happiness was short-lived.
Nawaz Sharif was ousted before the implementation of the package for the welfare of senior citizens and pensioners. The package went under the military jackboot and with it the hopes and happiness of senior citizens and pensioners.
SYED AFZAAL HUSAIN ZAIDI
Islamabad
IT is the declared policy of the government in the budget 2005 to promote investment and exports of textile products. Hence all machinery parts on which customs duty is liable at the rate of five per cent have been subjected to zero-rated sales tax, as per SRO No 530(1)2005 dated June 6, 2005. However, import of such machinery parts on which SRO No 530(1)2005 is applicable is subjected to a withholding tax at the rate of six per cent.
This is a clear case of gross discrimination for import of textile-related items, since all other items falling under the PCT heading mentioned in SRO No 621(1)2005 dated June 17, 2005, on which zero-rated sales tax is applicable, as per SRO No 621, are also subjected to withholding tax at the rate of one per cent according to SRO No. 638(1)2005. But for items related to the textile sector (falling under PCT Nos 8448.5100 and 8451.9000) contributing 65 per cent to the country’s total export, concession in withholding tax (allowed to non-textile-related items and textile and articles thereof falling under chapter 50 to chapter 63 of PCT in SRO No 638) have been unfairly denied by charging the withholding tax.
It is requested that all textile-related items (including items falling under PCT Nos 8448.5100 and 8451.9000) on which zero rated sales tax is applicable, as per SRO No 530, may also be charged withholding tax at the rate of one per cent instead of six per cent at the import stage.
SIDDIQ KAPADIYA
Karachi
THIS has reference to Mr Farrukh’s letter “Islamic terrorism?” (July 15). While discussing the role of the western media in characterizing the present state of terror as ‘Islamic terrorism’, the correspondent has erroneously held the entire West responsible for creating adverse circumstances for the Muslims. Many western countries, France and Germany being prominent, have refused to allow their involvement in the ‘war of terror’.
The West is not only a home to millions of Muslims from all over the world (France alone has 10 per cent Muslims in its population) but also hosts a sizeable number of sympathizers of the Palestinian and Kashmir causes.
Western intellectuals and writers such as Noam Chomsky and Robert Fisk have been actively siding with the Palestinians in their struggle against the tyranny of Israel. It is, therefore, not appropriate to blame the entire West for the current Muslim predicament.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
ONE fully agrees with the views expressed by Mr Iqtadar A. Shah in his letter (July 5) regarding the sudden and phenomenal increase in the price of plots allotted to government officials by the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation. Not only has the foundation increased the land price by more than 100 per cent, it has also decreased the timeframe to pay the instalments from the original 27 months to 18 months.
This decision of the foundation, while creating many hardships for retired employees, especially those who chose to remain within their means, will actually benefit the property mafia since the original employees will be compelled to sell their plots to property dealers. One is surprised that the media is keeping silent on this important issue that concerns the lives of many senior citizens who happen to be retired government officials.
A. S. SIDDIQUI
Rawalpindi
MY telephone 6902542 has been out of order since April 18. Complaints have been lodged almost daily on the hot line, 697 1700 and 18. The first complaint No. 101603 was lodged at the PTCL hot line (0800 44544) on April 18, and the last one No. 174520 on July 15.
Although the telephone has been out of order for the last three months, I have been billed for line rent. There should be some check in this connection.
M. AZHAR SHEIKH
Karachi
THE government announced some time back that old cars would be permitted to be imported. The matter may be expedited as everybody is not prosperous enough to buy a new car.
AGHA SHAMSUDDIN
Lahore
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