| September 9, 2005 | Friday | Sha’aban 4, 1426 |
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Traffic jams
Low literacy rate
Oil prices
Ayub’s gift?
Telecom companies
Shariat courts
Polio cases in Sindh
Peshawar city upkeep
Sukkur clock tower
Doctors’ indifference
Auto finance markup
Expressway
Correction
AN American religious broadcaster, Pat Robertson, has recently urged the US government to eliminate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez through a covert operation for his anti-US rhetoric and close ties with Cuban President Fidel Castro.
The Robertson line of argument is that Chavez’s actions and policies would lead to the strengthening of communist ideas in Latin America and sow the seeds of extremism in the region. He had alleged that the atmosphere thus created could be used by Muslim extremists as a launching pad for mounting attacks from the region on the US.
Although US official circles have formally dissociated themselves from Robertson’s view, the fact that such a view should have been publicly voiced by someone who commands a considerable following in the US is a cause for concern.
What has Chavez done to invite this kind of reaction? The Venezuelan president, after having successfully overcome the movement against him, has embarked upon a number of measures which have immense populist appeal. The most significant among those is his land reforms. At present, 80 per cent of land in Venezuela is owned by five per cent of the population. The land reforms would massively hurt powerful interests.
These interests are, therefore, busy in employing the resources at their command to create obstacles in Chavez’s way and vilify him in every manner possible. He is being portrayed as a person who is against the concept of private property, which is held very sacred by the vested interests. It is being propagated that his policies will ruin the economy.
The campaign against Chavez is being orchestrated by those who would be affected by the change in the status quo which Chavez’s policies would bring about. The method being adopted has a familiar ring to it. The objective is to confuse the perspective on conditions as they exist in Venezuela.
There is no mention of the fact that over 80 per cent of the people in the country live below the poverty line despite it being very rich in oil and other resources. No one points out that any poverty alleviation measure would require redistribution of resources and the best and time-proven way to do it is to implement land reforms. Instead of denouncing what Chavez plans to do, the US should try to ensure that he does not renege on the promises made by him to his people. This way the US can earn the gratitude of the Venezuelan people.
NASEERUDDIN KHALID
Islamabad
REFERENCE the news and picture of a traffic jam at Zero Point, Islamabad (Aug 28), I have the following suggestions:
A notice should have been placed in the newspapers in advance, as well as announcements made on TV and radio, to the effect that work was to be carried out at this particular point. People could have taken alternative routes.
Such news are carried on local TV networks in other countries. Alternative road links are shown on TV. Warning lights are flashed on overhead bridges/ interchange when a lane is closed.
Why cannot the CDA and police work together to improve and solve traffic problems? The only news we get is that PC-1 is under consideration for a “ring road project”, “interchanges/ underpasses at Zero Point”, and three places on Jinnah Avenue or “Rs261 million for model traffic city okayed” (Dawn, Aug 25).
What would happen when the interchange at Zero Point is under construction for three or may be five years? Are there any alternative routes for the period the interchange is under construction?
Other major areas affecting the smooth flow of traffic on the Islamabad Expressway are the entry/exit to Fazaiya Colony and the crossroads at the Shakarparian leading to the 1/8 Sector (originally site for a grand central station, as per master plan of Islamabad), and overhead bridges existing near the two places, i.e., the bridge connecting Lethar Road over the Islamabad Expressway and the other is the Zero Point bridge.
Service roads could be provided/extended in/out of these bridges on both sides of the road so as not to hinder the smooth flow of traffic on Islamabad Expressway in the coming years. Many colonies are coming up on both sides of the expressway extending upon the G.T. Road.
Both CDA and police officials are requested to consider the planning of Islamabad beyond their tenures of office. Planning with a vision is required.
M.K. SUFI
Member, Citizen Traffic Committee,
Islamabad
PAKISTAN has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. In 2004 only 46.6 per cent of adult Pakistanis were literate. Male literacy was 60.6 per cent, while female literacy was 31.5 per cent. From 1976 to 2001 the number of primary schools doubled, but so did the population. High levels of population growth continue to hamper educational development in the country.
The government launched a nationwide initiative in 1998 with the aim of eradicating illiteracy and providing a basic education to all children. According to the Constitution, it is the state’s responsibility to provide free primary education. Five years has been established as the period of primary school attendance, but attendance is not compulsory while the enrolment rate in primary school is high for boys, less than one-half of girls attend school.
In the 2000-2001 school year, 75 per cent of primary school-aged children were enrolled in school, but only 25 per cent of secondary school-age children. In 1996, 3.5 per cent of Pakistan’s college-aged population attended institutions of higher education. Education expenditure as a share of the gross national product (GNP) was only 1.8 per cent in 2000-2001.
Seeking education beyond high school has shown a downward trend due to the bad economic situation. Young people are more anxious to get jobs as soon as possible to support their families rather than pursue higher education. If the government wishes matters to improve, it must work to uplift economic conditions.
MUDASSAR SHAHID
Lahore
WE have been watching with concern the rise in oil prices in the international market for some time. This serious issue has not received as much attention in the international print and electronic media as it deserves. The thing which is most disturbing is the cool attitude of the US administration. America is the biggest consumer of oil in the world, and is sitting on a 700-million barrel stockpile.
It imports roughly 10 million barrels of oil a day — the equivalent of the entire Saudi production for one day. In spite of the enormity of Katrina disaster on the Gulf Coast of the US, the country just wants to nibble at its oil inventory. If it decides to use even 10 per cent of its inventory, the crude oil market will go down well below $40 a barrel. But the Texan president and the strong political lobby of the oil-producing state have apparently other priorities.
To slightly amend a much-quoted phrase, “never in history have so many owed their misery to so few”.
SHIRAZ SACHEDINA
Karachi
PRIME Minister Shaukat Aziz says that gasoline prices in Pakistan are the cheapest in the region, though in Bangladesh a litre of petrol costs TK35 as compared to ours of almost Rs53 a litre now (exchange rate TK65 to a US dollar).
TAHIR MAHMOOD
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter by Zaheera Ahmed (Sept 4) complaining that nobody mentions the farsightedness of Field Marshal Ayub Khan in buying Gwadar from Oman.
Gwadar was no gift from Ayub Khan to Pakistan because it had always been a part of Balochistan prior to its being gifted to an Omani prince who, because of a dispute in his family, had come to Balochistan in the late 18th century and sought refuge there. Gwadar was gifted to the Omani prince by the then Khan of Kalat so that the former could meet his expenses by the revenue generated from the port.
Oman returned Gwadar to Pakistan in September 1958 before President Ayub had come to power through a coup in October 1958.
H. A. BASIT
Qilla Saifullah
THIS is with reference to Ms Zaheera Ahmed’s letter in which she innocently asks as to why Pakistanis do not give credit to ‘Field Marshal’ Ayub Khan for his farsightedness in acquiring the strategically important region of Gwadar from Muscat.
I am sorry to say Ms Ahmed has got her facts all wrong. Gen Ayub Khan had nothing to do with the acquisition of Gwadar. Gwadar was acquired in the first half of September 1958 due to the efforts of a “bloody civilian” prime minister, Feroze Khan Noon, who was a close associate of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, for a sum of Rs90 million.
The acquisition of Gwadar is unique in Pakistan’s history for it is the only addition to Pakistan’s geographical boundaries in its six decades of existence.
Barely a month after Gwadar had been acquired, Gen Ayub Khan captured power in October 1958 establishing the tradition of military rule in Pakistan and overthrowing his constitutionally-elected commander-in-chief, PM Feroze Khan Noon.
OSAMA MUSTAFA
Lahore
THERE have been scores of complaints in the media dealing with the activities of the telecom companies offering pre-paid calling services. Due to the biting competition, these companies have now resorted to a media campaign claiming to offer competitive services by reducing rates.
One of the companies offers 100 per cent extra time on their calling cards. But while the extra amount is provided for, calls are charged at double the rate, thereby defeating the very purpose of the incentives given to subscribers.
I request the PTA to look into the promotional campaign of these telecom companies and take action against those found guilty of misrepresentation.
M.S. UPPAL
Karachi
DR Zafar-ul-Islam Khan (Aug 24) has protested against a public interest petition filed in the Supreme Court of India. In his haste, or perhaps in his innocence, he has omitted to refer to the context in which this petition has been filed. A report in Dawn of Aug 14 provides the background.
In three of the cases mentioned there, daughters-in-law have been raped by their respective fathers-in-law. Rather than proceed to act against the rapists, the interpreters of Muslim personal law have declared that the raped daughter-in-law has become the wife of her rapist father-in-law, and her husband (the son of the rapist) has become her son.
In one case (Asma’s case), her husband was declared to have become her sixth child, there being already five children of her own. A soothing consolation.
And these are not stray pronouncements of a village mullah. No, these are endorsed by the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board and the Darul Uloom of Deoband. To them, it appears, the consent of the woman in this “personal law marriage” is no more relevant than in her rape. So much for marriage being a free contract.
There may be some small snags in the implementation of the views of the aforesaid august forums. For instance, the legal status of the raped daughter-in-law may pose a temporary problem if her rapist father-in-law already has four wives. Indeed, depending upon the number of his daughters-in-law that catch his fancy and are unable to resist his advances physically, the question may arise again and again. But one can be certain that the ingenuity of these two august forums will ensure that difficulties will not be insurmountable.
Ironically, Dr Zafar has appealed to generosity of the Indian democracy and secularism. “Generosity” — to condone and reward rape and punish the raped victim. It does not seem to be relevant that the entire civilized world regards rape as the most heinous of offences.
In fact, the advocate who has taken the matter to the Indian Supreme Court needs to be congratulated on taking up the cause of the most oppressed section of a backward community that has ghettoized itself. It is also to be noted that in the last 20 years, secular liberalism has recovered from “Shah Bano”, when social justice, equity and an existing law were all sacrificed at the altar of electoral expediency.
Incidentally, one of the staunchest advocates of obscurantism at that time is now required by the police in the case of murder of one of his political opponents.
K.M. CHIMA
Islamabad
THIS refers to the news item “Third polio case in Sindh confirmed (Sept 4).” It is unfortunate to note that even after launching numerous campaigns against polio for the last many years and spending huge amounts, and the government has still not been able to control this dangerous virus-carrying disease. Every year new polio cases come to light in different parts of the country which shows that government efforts are not enough to control this virus. Nevertheless, we cannot neglect the three recent cases found in Larkana, Sanghar and Ghotki because each has surfaced in different places.
In my opinion advertising campaigns after every few months do not help to root out this disease, and long-term planning is required. For this the government should launch a full-fledged campaign against this virus so that parents should understand the gravity of the disease.
IMRAN KHAN SIAL
Karachi
THE condition of Peshawar city is terrible these days. For example, Kohat Road, one of the busiest of the city, has been in a state of disrepair and ruin for the last two years. Digging work was started some months back but a stretch of some five kilometres has yet to be re-carpeted. This road is a major trade route for Afghanistan and the Central Asian states. The situation is pretty much the same with regard to other roads. This clearly indicates the negligence of the government.
In addition to this, there is no proper intra-city transport service for the general public. The city has none of the buses that one can see being run by franchise companies in the private sector in the country’s other major cities.
In general, the city presents quite a depressing look, except of course the area around the chief minister’s secretariat, the Governor’s House and University Road.
Instead of concentrating on issues like the Hasba bill the provincial government should pay attention to improving the city’s crumbling infrastructure.
QASIM SAEED
Peshawar
THE other day, while visiting Sukkur city with a friend, I went past the clock tower, which is situated in the heart of the city. The pathetic condition of the clock tower and the garbage dumps there, it, with scores of drug addicts sitting around, was shocking to see. The city is not being properly looked after by the authorities concerned.
I request the district coordination officer, as well as others, to arrange for early repair of the clock tower and ensure cleanliness around the spot, besides taking measures to rehabilitate the drug-addicts.
AGHA ALI GOHAR KHAN
Ghotki
THE tragic death of a physically and mentally handicapped 13- year-old boy due to a minor injury, which could have been taken care of by applying timely stitches, that too within the precincts of a hospital, depicts the dehumanizing of our overall culture as has been correctly pointed out in your editorial “Callous and indifferent” (Aug 31). It also speaks a lot for negligence on the part of doctors. The boy was bleeding on the lawns of the hospital for eight consecutive days and the workers of an NGO were repeatedly pleading with the doctors to attend to the patient.
I am inclined to agree with you that in this case the hospital, as an institution, and the doctors are equally responsible for this incident. Therefore, not only is action required against all those involved but the authorities must also ensure that such happenings do not recur.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
I BOOKED a car through a bank’s auto finance scheme in August last year at 8.25 per cent markup. However, I have received a letter mentioning an increase in the markup to 12 per cent. This is a violation of initial agreement.
I would not have booked the car if I knew this would happen. It is just like luring someone and then going back on an agreement after a sizable investment has already been made.
I appeal to the government to intervene in the matter and save poor people from falling prey to such exploitation.
DR NOOR MOHAMMAD URSANI
Hyderabad
THIS refers to the news report that the Karachi city government is planning an additional lane on either side of Sharea Faisal to cater to the ever increasing traffic on this artery.
Earlier, Sharea Faisal was designated as a signal-free road and a number of overhead bridges constructed, but it appears that this may not be the solution.
It is proposed that the open space on both side of the rail track from Malir towards the city may be used for an expressway that will start from Malir and connect with Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan Road, which could be linked to Keamari. This will provide a short and alternative route to Sharea Faisal and reduce pressure on the latter.
ASIF MIRZA
Karachi
A mistake in my letter (Sept 8) has rendered it meaningless. The sentence should have read: “Arab analysts now criticising Islamabad for opening a line to Tel Aviv should ask themselves whether they had ever cared about Pakistan or the suffering of the Kashmiri people”.
RIZWAN YASSIN
Karachi
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