| August 22, 2005 | Monday | Rajab 16, 1426 |
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‘Private universities’
Kalabagh Dam
Shipbreaking hazards
Khokhrapar health
Traffic lights
HEC affairs
Old people’s home
Mountaineer’s rescue
Copyright
Soft face
Above the law?
ANP vs MMA
THIS is with the reference to your editorial “Bush’s threat to Iran” (August 14). You very rightly pointed out: “It is plain that America is finding it hard to bury the past and its policies towards Iran are determined more by an animus rather than objective geo-strategic considerations.”
With their every dream, ambition and prediction for Iraq in ruins, the Bush administration is now in a panic. What can they do next? How can they distract the American people from their catastrophic and incompetent record on Iraq? The answer is simple. Condoleezza Rice stated it quite expressly a year ago: “Don’t worry about our failure to find any evidence of WMD after our pre-emptive war on Iraq — we may be forced to take such pre-emptive action very soon against its neighbour, Iran.”
The pattern of preparation for this is all too familiar from the build-up to war with Iraq. First, the same old “experts” sound the war drums, and then alarmist columnists amplify them. Once you see many columnists opining — as they have over the past few years since Iraq war’s invasion — that Iran’s nuclear capability poses the gravest possible threat to civilization as we know it, and that “the world cannot afford to wait and negotiate”, then you can guarantee that Bush and his administration will pick up the chorus. For the subjugation of Iraq was always seen as only the first step toward toppling the number two target — Iran — in the president’s famous “axis of evil.”
In reality, of course, Iraq is anything but a fortress. The embattled US troops there are on the defensive — an understaffed, overstretched, exhausted force in a nation that has almost universally rejected them and about which they were given tragically inadequate preparation. Blaming Iran for America’s continued failure to tame Iraq conveniently creates a new demon, distracting the public once again from the incompetence and irresponsibility of those who plunged the United States into that quagmire in the first place.
Certainly, Iran’s steady moves toward acquiring nuclear weapons constitute a major challenge for the United States. But there are other ways to deal with it. Joseph Stalin’s acquisition of nuclear weapons in 1949 did not prompt the United States to launch a pre-emptive nuclear attack against the Soviet Union. Why, then, is action so urgent now when it could very well trigger nuclear warfare? Can Bush get away with such an outrageous thing a second time after being so thoroughly discredited the first time? Why not? They got away with it before.
UMER MUMTAZ
Rawalpindi
I ENDORSE your editorial. There is a ring of Hitler’s swagger and bluster in the threats of war and doom which the White House periodically gives to Iran to prevent it from pursuing the path of nuclear technology.
Has President Bush ever administered similar warnings to the most pampered US protege in the Middle East, namely, Israel, over its burgeoning nuclear ambitions and its secret nuclear tests at Dimona? The Zionist lobby in the US is dead set not to allow Iran to possess the atomic bomb and its powerful lobbyists will use any device or strategy to put pressure on the US government to go to war with Iran even it means sacrificing American lives to save Israel from exposure to the possibility of nuclear retaliation from a Muslim country.
There are Zionist strategists in Israel who counsel dropping atom bombs on Arab countries to abridge Arab numerical superiority. Iran has followed a sensible path and cooperated with the IAEA by giving it an insight into Iranian nuclear fuel enrichment facilities in order to verify its repeated assertion that it is not making any atom bombs on the sly.
At this critical time, all the Muslim countries should give the fullest support to Iran. North Korea offers an excellent example of how a country should protect its national interests in the face of threats from more powerful foes.
QUTUBUDDIN AZIZ
Karachi
ONE fully endorses the views expressed by Syed A. Mateen (July 22) that malpractices are going on in many private universities. The universities release advertisements in the leading newspapers and invite applications for admission from students who have appeared for intermediate examination and are awaiting results.
The authorities are well aware that in order to secure a seat for their sons/daughters, parents pay heavy fees to private universities, but their first choice always remains a university that is located in their own city. Once admission is confirmed in a university of their first choice, they lose the heavy amount paid in fees to secure tentative admission at other universities.
Mr Mateen has very rightly said that universities are more interested in accumulating money than imparting quality education.
Recently my son applied for admission in a Lahore institution and submitted his application form, but forgot to enclose the pay order of Rs1,000 as processing fee for his application. I received a phone call from the school administration asking me to send the pay order, without which my son’s application would not be processed.
Meanwhile, my son secured admission in another university in Karachi and we forgot about the Lahore school until, to my utter surprise, we received a letter on July 1 inviting my son to appear for the entrance test in Lahore on August 6 even when he had not paid the processing fee.
We received another letter in which the management of the school asked my son to deposit of Rs75,000 in full fees latest by August 5. When the last date of submission of fees was August 5, what was the purpose of holding an entry test on August 6, a day after the fee collection?
Through your newspaper, one would like to support Mr Mateen’s demand that the government should bind all private universities in the country to start the admission process only when government-run universities close theirs.
ATHAR AHMED
Karachi
ANY project using a novel or existing technology in a challenging way contains risks, not only for people but the environment and the stakeholders. Consequently, the construction of Kalabagh Dam is also a major project that will contain major risks which need to be identified and evaluated from the conceptual stage of design and followed through the engineering, construction and operation phases. In this process all hidden hazards, both “man made” and “natural”, are vigorously evaluated in terms of quantified risk assessments (QRA) and their probabilities of reoccurrence are reduced, mitigated and controlled in the design options. All design options would go through meticulous screening and comparison to select one which is most acceptable to all the provinces.
The process is carried out by independent consultants, who would have no ties, financial or otherwise, with the design consultants. As for codes and standards, they do not cover hazards in the design, but there are analytical techniques such as ETA, FTA, FMECA, HAZID, HAZOP and “What If”, etc., which can aid the decision process. In this way they can tackle all known grievances and requirements of all provinces which would bring them together to share the benefits.
One thinks that the project authorities require independent advisers who can evaluate the risk assessment process, draw up conclusive options for the dam and present them to all parties concerned in a logical manner.
LATIF KHAN
Mehboula, Kuwait
THIS refers to a report (Dawn, Aug 16) regarding environmental problems owing to the shipbreaking business in Pakistan. According to details, shipowners, on an average, earn around Rs120-150 million profit per vessel while yard owners charge rent worth millions of rupees.
Most of the ships scrapped are oil tankers. Low-cost, labour-intensive operations expose the workers to health and safety problems during the shipbreaking and steel-cutting practices due to the toxic fumes of hydrocarbon, lead paint, cadmium, sealants containing polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB’s).
Dismantling can also result in the release of dioxin and sulphur fumes.
There are roughly 45,000 ocean-going ships in the world including container ships, general cargo ships and cruise liners. Each year about 700 are taken out of service and scrapped to retrieve their steel content. Owing to the high costs of upholding health, safety and environmental regulations in the developed countries, the shipping industry moved to poorer Asia. Nowadays, India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, and the Philippines are the favourite dumping grounds. India breaks 42 per cent of the vessels that are dismantled every year, Bangladesh seven per cent, Pakistan six per cent, China four per cent and the rest of the world 41 per cent.
The practice of shipbreaking has to go green. The government should ask shipbreaking firms and yards to provide personal protective equipment to their workers. The suggestion to the government to ensure that ships that come for demolition are free of contaminants and dangerous chemicals is prudent advice. Moreover, guidelines for shipbreaking should be immediately prepared and enforced.
RASHID ASHRAF
Karachi
I WOULD like to draw the attention of the health ministry to the miserable health condition of the residents of Khokhrapar and its surrounding villages. In Khokhrapar, there is only one Basic Health Unit (BHU), and that too is in a very shabby condition — non proficient doctors and no life-saving drugs.
Khokhrapar is a vast desert where poisonous snakes appear on small and big sand dunes, particularly in the rainy season. Dozens of people, including women and children, are daily stung by snakes. Owing to non-availability of snakebite serum in the BHU, victims are taken to the Civil Hospital, Umerkot. As the distance is great from Khokhrapar, most victims die before being treated.
Substantial medical facilities are urgently needed to save precious lives in the desert.
S. ALI SHAH
Chhor Cantt, Umer Kot
I WOULD like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the heavy traffic jam at the roundabout near the Askari filling station close to the Millennium Mall on Rashid Minhas Road, Karachi, owing to heavy flow of traffic from and to Sharea Faisal, especially in the evening. Traffic signals should be installed at the earliest to save people’s time and fuel.
ZEESHAN ALI ABBAS
Karachi
THIS refers to the article by Mr Amer Iqbal (Dawn, August 14) in support of Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy’s criticism of the HEC in which he also quoted examples of excessive number of PhDs registered with some supervisors at the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU). I would like to respond on this point to set the record straight.
There is no doubt there should be a maximum limit of students registered with one supervisor but in my opinion there should be a minimum number as well. This number should be linked with the track record and laboratory facilities available to the supervisor. The HEC has fixed this number as up to eight. Before criticizing, the writer should have acquired information about different HEC-funded PhD programmes. A supervisor doesn’t get per month remuneration in all the HEC-funded PhD programmes except the recent one.
The remuneration to supervisors is well justified; if they are putting in extra effort they must be compensated. It is also necessary to establish a research culture at the campuses and this goal can only be achieved if the working scientists are well paid.
Since the salary structure cannot be altered, Dr Attaur Rahman came up with this idea of supporting research and scientists through such programmes.
Through the indigenous programme, funds were provided to establish laboratories; the second merit-programme was meant to support the student and the third programme is to support the student as well as the supervisor.
The HEC support is a new phenomenon. I have been taking PhD students since I joined the QAU. At present there are 11 PhD students working under my supervision, out of them seven are supported by the HEC and only two come under the category of per month remuneration.
So far, 14 students have earned PhDs working in our laboratory. It is a continuous and sustained process; students prefer to work with a supervisor where they find adequate facilities and based on the record of the supervisor.
Mr Iqbal has also mentioned my other colleagues and interestingly they are also experimentalists. They are also very productive and their students are earning PhDs regularly. Instead of appreciating our efforts in manpower training/ capacity-building, we are being targeted.
Unfortunately, there are some so-called intellectuals who neither work nor let others contribute. It is easier to criticise than put in real work.
DR M. ASLAM BAIG
QAU Islamabad
I FEEL sad but have to agree with Mr B. A. Malik (Aug 16) about the need for old people’s homes. One is already coming up in Lahore. Old people were always a part of our society, holding the banner of the family but slowly becoming a burden unwanted by the young. Moreover, many families are going abroad, leaving the parents behind to fend for themselves. After a certain age, they simply cannot manage things for themselves.
So, there has to be an answer as to what these people will do. The government does not provide facilities, so the community has to take up this issue. I am not surprised if funds are being collected abroad for building old people’s homes. But at home, too, there is no dearth of philanthropists donating liberally for noble causes.
On this topic I remember a conversation with the late Begum Shaista Ikramullah who said: “The time is coming when we will need old folks’ homes and I would like these to be built near orphanages because old people have an affiliation with children. If they cannot enjoy their own grandchildren, they will at least have a feeling of love from the innocence of the innocent.”
S. BABAR
Karachi
THE Pakistan Army’s aviation corps has performed a heroic job in rescuing the celebrated Slovenian climber, Mr Tomaz Humar, stuck on the 21,520-foot Nanga Parbat in adverse weather conditions for eight days while attempting a solo ascent from the dangerous Rupal face from which no attempt has been made by any mountaineer in the past.
The task undertaken by the two pilots — Col Rashidullah Biag and Maj Khalid Amin Rana — who hovered over the site in their Lama helicopter for 10 minutes, though it was a high-risk mission on the icy heights, and rescued Mr Humar in a sling operation is another example of the Pakistan Army’s professionalism.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter of Mr. Majyd Aziz’s letter ‘Copyright violations’ (Aug 13).
I am glad that someone has finally thought of writing about this. The markets are flooded with cheap fake products, most of the time duping innocent consumers.
The least the government can do is to reduce the registration time for trademarks and copyright. At present the timeframe ranges from two to four years and in the intervening period genuine products are so badly hit that they vanish, to keep the floodgates open for fake products.
It is time the government got serious about implementing the WTO provisions to which it is a signatory.
BASIT ALAVI
Karachi
THANK God that after 9/11 the ‘soft face’ of Islam has been discovered. The dance show televised from the Aiwan-i-Sadar has put the stamp of validity on the new discovery.
If the discovery of the soft face of Islam had been made before 1947, the Muslims and Hindus on both sides of the divide would not have suffered. It is ironic that our late discovery should put the facts of history in a new perspective.
MALIK ABDUR-RAHIM KHAN
Peshawar
INCIDENTS involving an exhibition of power and also at times of wealth are on the increase. The son of the federal law minister assaulting a fellow PIA passenger at Karachi airport in the presence of his father is really shocking.
Your editorial (August 14) discussing the incident has rightly sought persecution of the minister’s son so as to make the high and mighty of this land realize that no one is above the law. One feels this is only wishful thinking as nothing will happen to the minister or his son.
The day when enforcement of the law will start taking place equally in our society is not visible. Rule of law and introducing real democracy under a dictatorial regime cannot be expected.
A few months ago, the defence minister who is very fond of gathering diplomats at his farm in Okara district every now and then had slapped and humiliated a senior police officer in full public view. This incident was also reported in the national press but no action was taken
The high and mighty are often those who have roots in the feudal culture. These people provide legitimacy to the illegal rule of the military and in turn get high offices for themselves and for their kith and kin. Many are uncivilized and uneducated.
They suffer from a deep sense of deprivation which they try to hide foolishly behind their egos.
CDR (retd) M. Q. HUSSAIN
Islamabad
A COUPLE of days back ANP central leader and Senator Asfandyar Wali said the MMA was involved in pre-poll rigging in the NWFP and Balochistan. His statement seems to be logical in that the same MMA accuses the central government of seeking mileage from its position.
The ANP didn’t participate in the all-parties conference due to its reservations against the MMA. Like PPPP and many other political parties, the ANP has been a strong opponent of the MMA’s political stunt, the unconstitutional and unjust Hasba bill. It is now a general perception among the people that the bill aims at the Talibanization of the NWFP.
As an opposition party, the ANP stands alone in believing in the politics of principles. Its marginalization from national politics could be harmful for the smallest province on the troubled Pakistan-Afghan border.
SADIA REHMAN
Islamabad
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