| October 7, 2005 | Friday | Ramazan 2, 1426 |
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Advice while refueling
Conversion questions
Hospital emergencies
No cure for thalassaemia
Bridge on the Indus
Mekran coastal highway
Women’s rights
A question
Police pay delays
Concern for the elderly
PIA losses
Road to the US
Super Highway
In search of councillors
Misuse of CAA aircraft
Now poultry imports
FOR over 20 years we have been hoping against hope that maybe a time will come when we will be able to pay our utility bills in a civilized manner without much trouble. But that unfortunately has not happened so far.
We have to stand in line in hot weather for a long time in every week of the month to pay our utility bills. These bills are not delivered at the same time but on different days of the month, and they all have different payment deadlines. Why cannot the delivery of bills and their payment deadlines be synchronized? At least that way life for consumers will become a bit easier.
The government should remember that in many cases those who work full-time send the women of their families or elderly relatives to pay the bills. This means taking a taxi or a rickshaw to the bank and then waiting in line to pay. Where I live, there is no post office and the only bank is quite far away.
A private bank in my vicinity allows its account holders to pay its bills on line. But only phone and gas bills can be paid in this fashion. Also, the bank requires a minimum balance of Rs 10,000 failing which it charges the account-holder Rs 50 per month.
I decided to go ahead. The bank required the filling of a lengthy form that was five pages long. It also required me to submit an attested copy of my computerized National Identity Card, a copy of my memo of retirement (in case of retired government employees), details of any accounts maintained by the applicant in any other bank, details of credit cards if any, and name, signature and CNIC card number of my introducer (who has to be someone who already has an account at the branch).
I fail to understand the rationale for the last condition given that it would be difficult for someone wanting to open an account in a branch to necessarily know an existing account-holder well enough to be able to ask him not only for his signature but also his CNIC number. In any case, the requirement that the introducer’s CNIC number be given makes little sense given that the bank would already have that information in its posession.
Munawwar Ali Siddiqi
Karachi
AN oil marketing company recently issued a letter after three incidents in which mobile phones ignited fumes during refuelling operations.
In the first case, the phone was placed on the car’s trunk during refuelling — it rang and the ensuing fire destroyed the car and the gasoline pump. In the second case, an individual suffered severe burns on his face when sparks ignited as he answered a call while refuelling his car.
And in the third case, an individual suffered burns to the thigh and groin as sparks were ignited when a mobile phone, which was in his pocket, rang while the car was being refuelled.
People should know the following:
1. Mobile phones can ignite fuel or fumes.
2. Mobile phones that light up when switched on or when they ring release enough energy to provide a spark for ignition
3. Mobile phones should never be used in filling stations, or even while filling fuel in lawn mowers, boats, etc.
4. Mobile phones should not be used, and should be turned off, when close to materials that generate flammable or explosive fumes or dust such as chemical solvents.
Anyone who goes to a petrol station for a fill should (a) turn off the vehicle’s engine, (b) not smoke and (c) not use his or her cell phone.
An American expert on the issue has investigated almost 150 instances in which fires have been ignited at petrol stations during refuelling. One reason also is the presence of static electricity at petrol pumps, which can be ignited by the use of a cell phone. Readers can get more information on this from the website http://www.pei.org/static/index.htm.
SYED OWAIS IQBAL
Karachi
THIS is in reply to the letter by Mr Abdul Khaliq (Sept 26) regarding the conversion of Yousuf Youhana to Islam. His first question was “How could Yousuf Youhana play with the sentiments of the Christian community?” To that my answer is that he had regularly been attending church services for the past three years and had also been making the sign of cross while entering a cricket ground and when making a half century or a century. Since he has publicly said that he converted three years ago, does not this amount to be playing with the sentiments of the Christian community?
The other question was: “Are celebrities accountable to their fans in respect of the religion they follow?” To that the answer is that if a cricketer is accountable to the International Cricket Council for his match-fixing charges, then why cannot a Christian be accountable to the Christian community for any alleged or perceived hypocrisy?
The third question was: “Should Yusuf Youhana be more concerned about facing his Christian fans or his Creator?” And to that I would say that it is also about facing oneself and one’s family, especially one’s parents
The fourth question was: “How is Yousuf Youhana an ambassador only for the Christian community?” The answer to that is that an ambassador is a representative and hence he can be of a country and also of a community. As a Pakistani citizen, Yusuf Youhana is an ambassador for his country but as a Christian in a Muslim majority country he was an ambassador for the Pakistani Christian community as well.
STEPHEN
Karachi
ON Sept. 24 on the Indus Highway two disastrous accidents took place, and both involved collisions between buses and coaches. Almost 50 people died as a result and over a hundred were injured, with some still fighting for their lives. The casualties from both accidents were initially taken to the Liaquat University Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) Hospital in Jamshoro. The arrival of so many dead and wounded created a heavy load on the hospital. Despite that, students at the university hospital worked through the night — and this they did even after realizing that some of the victims were actually their fellow students. A total of eight students of the university died in these accidents which means the loss to the community and to the university of eight promising young doctors.
I would like to point out, however, that the hospital did not have water or proper life-saving drugs which resulted in some deaths. Had the situation been otherwise, these people could have been saved. When will our university hospitals be stocked with life-saving drugs and provided basic amenities like running water? Unless that is done, they will not be able to cope with emergencies, as happened on that fateful day.
A STUDENT
LUMHS, Jamshoro
LAST March I lectured in Karachi at the Islamic Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation.
As I have become familiar with problems of the healthcare system in Pakistan, I was dismayed to learn that a private company claims to be offering “stem cell therapy” to treat thalassaemia and other diseases.
The fact is that there is no stem cell therapy for thalassaemia which is a genetic disorder for which there is no cure. Unfortunately, desparate people will be encouraged to try anything that may offer hope. And in that they may be exploited by this kind of advertising.
In both developed and underdeveloped countries it is critical to support legitimate science and build effective healthcare systems through careful research. I hope that the Pakistani medical community, government and the Media, to ensure honest practices, will bend every effort toward these goals and protect the sick and their families from false promises.
JONATHAN D. MORENO
Director, Centre for Biomedical Ethics, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, Virginia, US
THIS is with reference to M.B. Kalhoro’s article “A delayed bridge over the Indus river” published in Dawn (Aug. 30). People of the area have been demanding a bridge for the last three decades.
The existing route between the Larkana and Khairpur districts is long and circuitous. In addition, the absence of a bridge means that areas next to the river are out of bounds and are being used by dacoits and kidnappers as hideouts. One option is to use boats to cross the Indus but that is quite dangerous. Either the dacoits will get those in the boats or the river will.
Also, I should point out that guavas are grown in Larkana and dates in Khairpur but because there is no bridge there is little by way of inter-district trade. The government should quickly choose a site for bridge and begin construction, so that the people of both Khairpur and Larkana can benefit.
SAHIB KHAN BHAND
Jamshoro
AFTER being inspired by a TV programme on the Mekran coastal highway, we decided to pay a visit. The drive is incredibly smooth and the scenery breathtaking. One can see mountains with astonishing wind-carved rock formations on them on one side and pristine beaches on the other — the drive is a treat for nature lovers.
However, we would like to point out a few things for the benefit of your readers.
1. The journey from Karachi to Uthal, where the highway starts, is an unpleasant experience because of heavy traffic. This leg alone takes between 90 to 150 minutes.
2. There are very few petrol stations on the way to Gwadar and fewer still in Gwadar city. Iranian petrol is available and costs between Rs25 to Rs35 per litre (which made us think how good it would be if it were available at such prices in Karachi as well).
3. There are no resting areas for the eight-hour-long journey. Travellers must be well-stocked with food and drinks because there are no rest stops till one reaches Gwadar.
4. Villages can be seen all along the coast. Their inhabitants live in poverty, with no civic amenities and lack of health and education facilities. What has the government or local landlords done to alleviate their poverty? Where does all the revenue generated with the province’s enormous resources go?
5. Gwadar ‘city’ is nothing more than a fishing village — still. There is just one decent hotel next to a large one being constructed. The various housing schemes that have been advertised in cities seem to be non-existent. All one sees are billboards and flags erected on barren stretches of land, with no road, electricity or water supply. It seems that our so-called real estate developers are making fools of everyone.
6. The port itself had no activity at all. Local residents we met were very sceptical about its usefulness. It seems that it will take a while for the port to become operational.
The Mekran coastal highway is something to be proud of. But it has to be made more tourist-friendly which means setting up rest areas and petrol stations (preferably selling Iranian petrol!).
KHADIJA KHASHE
Karachi
THERE has been much talk about the question of women’s rights in Pakistan. General Musharraf argues that it is unjustified to single out Pakistan on the issue of rape and subjugation of women. But if one looks at Pakistani society, one will easily see that many times rape has been used as an instrument to dishonour a person or a family or to pressure the poor and weak.
I will offer one piece of evidence in support of my argument. Pakistanis have been living in the UK for well over 40 years now but despite that 12 women were killed in the UK in the name of honour — and almost all of them were of Pakistani origin. If people living in the UK for such a long time fail to absorb civilized culture, then imagine the case in Pakistan where the atmosphere can be much more stifling and prohibitive.
And then the president of the country equates victims of rape with those in the business of making a million.
AHMAD KHAN
Bradford, UK
THIS is with reference to letters that have appeared praising Pakistan’s performance in the newly launched A1 racing event on the motorsport circuit. My question is that the A1 car to be used by the Pakistan team was given a test run on Lahore’s Main Gulberg Boulevard and its driver was said to be a Nur Ali. But the driver who did well in the actual event is called Adam Khan. So what became of Nur Ali?
KHALID HUSSAIN
Lahore
SIXTEEN people were appointed as wireless operators at the Sargodha district police department on Feb 12. We have yet to be paid our salaries. The head office in Lahore has told us that we were appointed on June 1, and hence our pay would apply from that date onward. If we press our case, we our told that we may lose our jobs. I request the Punjab chief minister to look into this matter and help us get our salaries.
AUN AKRAM
Sargodha
THIS is with reference to the news item “President, PM seek respect for elderly” (Oct 1) which says that the two leaders pledged their support to senior citizens.
Why doesn’t the government put such words into practice by (a) increasing the pensions of senior citizens and (b) by providing them with free medical facilities? Merely making speeches will not bring much change in the lives of senior citizens.
ANIL KHAN LUNI
Lahore
PIA registered a loss of Rs1.87 billion in the previous quarter and there seems to be no end in sight to its being in the red if present management practices continue. There are several reasons for this.
The airline has introduced some new routes which have proved economically unviable. Examples are the new flights to Nairobi in Kenya and Urumqi in China. Flights to Glasgow and Tokyo are also big money losers.
The airline has spent Rs1.6 billion on the mandatory retirement of 800 employees. And the contract for catering has been given to an outside company which is charging a hefty fee in precious foreign exchange. A better alternative could have been to sell it outright because that way the airline would have at least earned some money.
REHAN GULFAM
Karachi
CONGRATULATIONS to our policymakers for finally discovering that the road to America lies through Israel. Our media is to blame for this delayed discovery, as it never projected that the tragedy of Palestine was the result of the Arab betrayal of the Turks in World War I. The Arabs view non-Arab Muslims as inferior and see their causes as fit to be betrayed.
It is time we recognized the reality or Arab politics as opposed to the holy image Arabs evoke amongst us.
KHALID AHMAD
Montreal, Canada
I RECENTLY travelled from Hyderabad to Karachi when I noticed the slow-paced repairs of the Super Highway between Hyderabad and Nooriabad. This is not only causing delays, but it is gathered that it is also causing accidents. The work started about 10 months back and needs to be expedited.
M. OMAR QURESHI
Hyderabad
ABOUT a dozen policemen and two policewomen raided my widowed, elderly sister’s flat at Farida Square, Block 7, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Karachi, at 3.30 on the morning of Oct 5.
First they ordered us to open the door. In response to that, my sister told them that she was all alone in the house. They did not believe her and used force to break the protective iron grill and then the main door, after which they entered the flat.
The police party then searched the whole flat. They were looking for my sister’s two sons who had been recently elected as councillors for union council-9, Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town, Karachi. It is obvious that the police wanted to take them away so as to prevent them from voting in the local government elections on Oct 6. If this is not terrorism, what is?
Is this how the Election Commision of Pakistan and the provincial government are ensuring fair, transparent and impartial elections?
A helpless Pakistani
Karachi
THIS is with reference to a letter “Misuse of CAA aircraft” which appeared in Dawn on Sept. 24. I fully agree with the contents of the letter and the need for the government to check such misuse by senior CAA officials.
I would like to add that the aircraft on which such joyrides are being taken have very sensitive electronic equipment installed on board and this in itself is worth millions of dollars. In addition, some officials of the CAA also reportedly harass small aircraft operators forcing them to oblige by accommodating their families free of cost.
These accusations or charges can easily be independently checked if the records of charter flight operators for the Lahore-Karachi sector for the past one year are checked. The silence so far of the CAA’s top management on this issue is quite disappointing.
SALMAN JAVED
Rawalpindi
WHILE we were witnessing the imports of onion, garlic, tomatoes and live animals from India, it is learnt that the government is planning to import poultry meat also. It ought to be warned that the killer H5 N1 bird flu virus has been known to exist in India while Pakistan has been free of it so far.
Some years ago the mere news that South-east Asian countries had lost poultry due to the H5 N1 strain of the bird flu virus which had played havoc with the poultry market in Pakistan.
One wonders where is the livestock wing of the food, agriculture and livestock ministry which is supposed to render sound advice to the ministry on policy decisions.
DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
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