| August 1, 2005 | Monday | Jumadi-us-Sani 24, 1426 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Behbood savings certificates
Traffic jams
Kalabagh Dam
Population problem
Akhtar Sheerani
Why this discrimination?
President’s address
Confiscated property
Smoking scenes
Bill payment options
‘Crisis of local govt’
Airport security
Indo-American defence accord
Poor man’s oil
THIS refers to Mr Humayun Zafar’s letter (July 19). Unfortunately the correspondent seems to have failed to understand the complexity of the calculations made by Mr Shahid Javed Burki. In his hasty analysis of the article he has made two fundamental errors —
the exact nature of the calculations that Mr Burki has made and the methodology in applying these numbers to Bangladesh.
Mr Burki states that Pakistan has historically spent three per cent more if its GDP on defence compared to India and that had the conflict over Kashmir not occurred this extra expenditure would be saved — an estimate of Pakistan’s current GDP would be $330 billion rather than $95 billion. Mr Zafar conveniently takes this to entail that three per cent of Pakistan’s GDP over 55 years means $330 billion in GDP. Thus, a hypothetical four per cent saving by Bangladesh over 32 years would have resulted in a $400 billion GDP.
He however commits his first mistake here as he fails to recognize that the estimate provided for Pakistan is based not only on the money being spent on development expenditure but also significant trade with India; Pakistan becoming an attractive area for foreign direct investment and domestic investment and savings increasing. Thus in order to make a comparison here with Bangladesh, he would have to first consider all of these factors using Bangladeshi statistics first.
Even if we were to ignore the first mistake, his calculations are still faulty as he states that had Bangladesh, which spends 1.1 per cent of its GDP on defence, diverted four per cent of its GDP (meaning, it spends negative amount on military?) to development it would result in a GDP of $400 billion. First of all, Mr Burki had used his calculations to compare India and Pakistan and thus came up with the number of three per cent.
Mr Zafar fails to realize that the GDPs of Pakistan and Bangladesh are different, so he cannot just use the fact that Mr Burki said three per cent GDP savings (of Pakistan) will result in three times the present day GDP (of Pakistan), thus four per cent GDP savings (of Bangladesh through hypothetical negative military spending?) will result in four times the present day GDP (of Pakistan).
It is astonishing that Mr Zafar posted his comments without even completely reading Mr Burki’s article.
SIYAM RAFIQUE
Ontario, Canada
THE government has enhanced the rates of return on Behbood saving certificates and pension benefit accounts to 11.04 per cent from July 1. However, most of the investors under these schemes would be getting a real negative rate of return after payment of income tax of an average 2.2 per cent on profit and adjustment for inflation of, say, nine per cent for July-December 2005.
As some time back the government had withdrawn the provision of deduction of 10 per cent withholding tax on profit under these schemes, many who are investing in these schemes are under the wrong impression that the profit received is not subject to payment of income tax. The correct position is that income on these investments is taxable like all other incomes as per prevalent regulations. The payment of real negative rates of return after adjusting for inflation and payment of income tax is obviously against the very concept of Behbood/benefit, as the names of the schemes imply.
The ministry of finance should, therefore, either enhance the rates of return or exempt profit from income tax, so as to ensure that the investors get a positive real rate of return as “take home income”. Incidentally, in the budget for the current financial year the earnings of billions of rupees from stock exchange transactions and property transactions remain outside the ambit of income tax, but income tax is deducted on profit earned on bank deposits notwithstanding that the profit earned by a person on these deposits along with all other income is less than Rs100,000 in any financial year.
It is also suggested that the period of the Behbood/pension schemes should be five years or the provision of deducting service charges for premature encashment should be withdrawn, provided the investments are held for at least one year.
DR SHAHID HASAN
SIDDIQUI
Chairman, Research Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance Karachi
THERE was seldom a traffic jam during the 80s or the early 90s in Karachi, not because Karachi drivers were better than others or we had bigger and wider roads. The reason was that we did not have so many vehicles.
Then suddenly we realized that people have more money (than the government), and so why not spend on luxuries? Who will ask the million-dollar question: where did you get the money from? Cars, once a luxury, started to be sold like hot cakes because the car manufactures had set up their assembly plants in Pakistan. They even sold locally-assembled cars at prices higher than those of imported ones. One big-wig stunned us by his survey that in Karachi every fifth person has a vehicle (either a car or a motorcycle).
Our roads were never designed or laid for such a large number of vehicles, and this number is increasing by the day. Do the transport authorities or the government have any idea what will happen in the next 10 years, and still more, in the next 25 years?
Then a question arises: why did we decide in the beginning to waste our lifeblood — foreign exchange — on luxury items in our import list?
Why were we so unintelligent as to pay more foreign for imports than we earned from exports?
There is no good reason to cry over spilt milk. When we have such a large force of vehicles, insufficient roads and rowdy drivers, we must find ways and means to solve the traffic problem. We have to build more roads, flyovers, educate and discipline our drivers and stop — repeat stop — importing new or used cars.
S.M. KAZIM NAQVI
Karachi
THIS refers to the president’s recent statement on the Kalabagh Dam (Dawn, July 13) highlighting its necessity with regard to flood control. I fully endorse the views of the president and all those who are in favour of the dam, or any other dam for that matter which may have been targeted for political motives.
We are paying heavy charges for every bit of energy we are consuming (almost Rs7.50 per unit). The reason is obvious. The ratio of production cost of thermal energy to that of hydroelectricity is almost 20:1 and ultimately this cost is being borne by the end user. Are we that rich a nation to be able to afford it?
Besides the energy aspect, flood control is yet another important issue that needs to be addressed, for which it is still not too late. Floods can be effectively controlled through construction of as many large dams as possible.
The topography of Pakistan is such that every stream in over 60 per cent of its territory drains directly or indirectly into the Indus. Thus, every single raindrop or melting snow flake trickles down into the Indus. It would, therefore, be unwise to let all this water go down the drain, specially when most of our agricultural strength is backed by our irrigation system.
The worst sufferer, after all the water (downstream of Panjnad) runs through one stream (Indus), is the province of Sindh. This is particularly so when all tributaries and the Indus itself are flooded simultaneously, as has happened at least twice in the past.
The need of the hour is to find a concrete solution. One would like ask those who oppose the construction of the Kalabagh Dam to come forward and give an alternative and viable solution. Surely they must be have something better to do than oppose this proposal.
If we continue to oppose the construction of the Kalabagh Dam just for the sake of opposition, we would continue to pay the price in the shape of high energy cost and loss of life and property every year.
NOOR US SABAH
Lahore
NO important social problem can be discussed intelligently without reference to population. Whether social, political, economic, educational, rural, urban or ecological, all problems are coloured by population factors, including the quality, distribution, density and quantity of population.
Population may be studied directly as a social problem or indirectly to provide a perspective on other problems.
The government is fully aware of the problems arising out of the rapidly growing population. Fifty per cent children in Pakistan are not getting school education; 50 per cent of citizens are not getting safe drinking water; the infant mortality rate is 10 per cent, i.e., 10 per cent of our children do not reach their first birthday. In Pakistan six is the average number of children in a family, which is very high.
Another problem is that of availability of food: many people and children die because they are not getting a proper diet. If population grows at this rate, it will double in 23 years and pose dangers to the country’s very existence.
SAHAR SANA SIDDIQUE
Karachi
THE Pakistan post office department has released commemorative postage stamps of Rs5 denomination on the first birth centenary of the famous poet Akhtar Sheerani for which it has earned the gratitude of all lovers of poetry and literature.
Akhtar Sheerani was born on May 5, 1905 in Tonk, a princely Muslim state in India. He died in Lahore on Sept 9, 1948.
Regrettably, the Academy of Letters ignored the event and failed to pay tribute to the great poet who was one of the most popular and celebrated romantic poets of the subcontinent.
It is hoped that the city government of Lahore will rise to the expectations of the people and build a suitable memorial for the poet as a tribute to his contribution to poetry and literature. It is suggested that the Fleming Road where Akhtar Sheerani lived for 20 years with his father, Hafiz Mehmood Sheerani, scholar of repute, may be renamed Sheerani Road.
SYED AFZAAL HUSAIN ZAIDI
Islamabad
A FEW months back I read in these columns about how some prestigious hotels or clubs discriminate against housemaids or servants from entering their premises. We had first-hand experience about this. Last week we were invited to a ‘mehndi’ ceremony that was held in one club in Defence, Karachi.
I have a daughter who is mentally not sound and completely dependent on me, but I make it a point to take her everywhere with me and a maid also accompanies us to assist her. As soon as we entered the reception area of the club, a receptionist came running towards us and informed us that maids or servants were not allowed in this area and they had a separate place to sit, in the garden outside the club.
My husband tried to explain the difficult situation we were in as there was no lift facility and the function was on the first floor, so it was quite difficult to take the wheelchair upstairs. We needed just a few minutes to sort out the problem.
But the receptionist outrightly refused to oblige. As he was just following orders from the higher authorities and his own job was at stake, we took pity on him and ushered our daughter’s wheelchair out to a tiled area but again we were informed that the authorities would be upset if something happened to the tiles. Our daughter’s wheelchair was especially sent for from the US. Its wheels are made of rubber which cannot harm even the finest of marbles. But as ordered, my maid took our daughter into the garden area; as the ground was uneven it was quite difficult for the poor woman to handle the wheelchair. One tends to wonder when Allah has made everyone equal, then why this discrimination? The club management concerned were not only hurting a special child physically but also the poor woman emotionally who out of need is working as a housemaid.
HUMA AFTAB NASIR
Karachi
I HAVE two comments about the recent presidential address. First, President Musharraf’s of his religion are rather naive.
He is a “Syed” because he was born in a “Syed” family and the doors of the Holy Kaaba and Rauza-i-Mubarak were opened because of his status as head of a Muslim state. Both have no direct relevance to his personal conduct and virtues.
Second, where his declaration of introducing modern education in madressahs is to be welcomed, he made no mention of introducing Islamic education in the normal curriculum. It should also be included in armed forces’ academies.
In order to enable the saner elements in society to nullify the effects of uneducated “maulvis”, it is imperative to incorporate religious education in the normal curriculum in schools, colleges and armed forces’ academies. It will not only improve the religious horizon of the educated class to counter the madressah culture but will also form a befitting reply to the demands of religious parties for the promotion of Islamic culture in the country.
SAMEER AKHTER
Canada
PROPERTY in India belonging to Pakistani nationals was declared ‘enemy property’ and vested in the ‘custodian of enemy property’ by the government of India following the September 1965 war.
After the Shimla accord was signed, India and Pakistan agreed on transfer of movable and immovable property to the owners (including transfer of shares of the many affected) but as time passed, the matter was not taken up by the two countries.
Now it is time the started discussions to resolve the matter. In the meantime, I will appeal to the affected Pakistanis to sit together and present their suggestions to the government on how the issue can be sattled.
WAJID SULTAN
Karachi
ONE couldn’t agree more with Mr Ahmer N. Jakartawala on the issue of smoking scenes on TV and in films (July 23). Research into why youngsters take up smoking has clearly shown that young people are especially vulnerable to the glamorous images of smoking portrayed in TV plays and films. Once PTV had a policy of not showing smoking scenes in its drama serials and plays but ever since restrictions were placed on airing tobacco ads on TV there has been a substantial increase in smoking scenes on not just PTV but also on all private TV channels operating in Pakistan. One is sure the tobacco industry in Pakistan is behind this trend.
Instead, the TV channels should be encouraged to show programmes highlighting the serious health hazards of tobacco which kills over 100,000 people every year in Pakistan alone.
PROF JAVAID KHAN
Karachi
REFERENCE Mr Jamil Khawaja’s letter ‘Bill payment options (July 23), the PTCL will like to say that it has arrangements with 14 leading banks to facilitate customers in bill payment options. Besides, it has provided for electronic bill payment options, including ATM/ cash cards and Internet. Also, post offices across the country offer PTCL bill payment facilities.
The PTCL has also introduced ‘Fone bill cards’.
ATHER JAVED SUFI
Media coordinator PTCL HQ,
Karachi
THIS letter refers to Mr Kunwar Idris’s article ‘Crisis of local government’ (July 17). In the concluding paragraph, the writer says that the creation of district governments and the National Security Council are two big mistakes.
However, what I believe is that it is not the government that always fails but the elected representatives who fail to manage government. Devolution of power is an internationally-tested mode of governance. It goes a long way in helping a government to achieve its declared goals of strengthening the federation, removing provincial disharmony and restoring national cohesion. Headway in these critical areas will facilitate the achievements of the goals on the agenda of ensuring law and order, providing speedy justice and accountability and eradicating corruption.
S. ALI SHAH
Chhor Cantt
THIS has reference to Mr Fawad Shafi’s letter (July 23). I strongly recommend installation of under vehicle surveillance system (UVSS) at all entry points at airports. The system is currently being used by almost all banks, multinationals, government agencies, hotels, diplomatic missions and other important institutions.
The approximate one-time cost for installation of the system (i.e., two cameras, DVR, preparation of ramp, lights, etc) is not more than Rs150,000.
Increase of ASF personnel at all entry points is also suggested for efficient checking of all motor vehicles. The duty time of ASF personnel, posted at scanning machines, should not be more than six hours, which will help them in efficient checking of passengers’ baggage.
ZEESHAN HASHMI
Karachi
THE current Indo-US defence collaboration has once again triggered tension that is likely to escalate the arms race in the subcontinent. The US tilt towards India is mainly because of two reasons: first, to appease India to stop the Indo-Iran pipeline project. Second, the US recognizes the potential threat to its world hegemony from both Islam and communism and, as such, it has adopted a strategy to strengthen India and then use it against the perceived threats.
The US-India accord may affect the peace process and the rapprochement between India and Pakistan.
ALI NAWAZ DEPAR
Hyderabad
THE increase in the price of diesel has hit farmers like a bolt from the blue. Policymakers fail to differentiate between diesel and other oils. Diesel is the poor man’s bread. It is the backbone of the agricultural economy. All agricultural equipment, including tractors and tubewells, run on diesel. Also, all public transport uses diesel.
NAZEER AHMAD DHOON
Karachi
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.