| October 26, 2005 | Wednesday | Ramzan 21, 1426 |
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Appeal for evacuation
A technical note
‘Criminals amongst us’
Sorry tale of PTCL
Appeal to bank authorities
‘Let there be a regulatory framework first’
DMG group
Power supply
No word from GSP
Compassion
THE earthquake in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir has left a trail of death and destruction that has shocked the entire nation and the world. Entire villages have been wiped out or buried under landslides.
The district administration and those who have been given the responsibility to look after the welfare of the citizens of this country have failed and this tragedy has once again exposed the lack of preparedness for such a calamity and disaster.
Relief goods were in instances looted, dumped in the open or dropped by helicopters haphazardly, as a result of which, almost 60 per cent of the victims of Mansehra, Abbottabad, Batagram and Kohistan districts were without food, tents, blankets and medicines for the first four days. If it had not been for the support of the military and its jawans, the death toll would have been horrendous.
But the citizens of Pakistan have responded in a splendid and generous manner to help the victims, something that we can all be proud of. The silent majority and the NGOs, who are accused by the government of washing the nation’s dirty linen in public, rose to the occasion and rallied splendidly.
Earthquakes are a natural calamity and cannot be prevented. And, no doubt, the magnitude of the earthquake was beyond expectation. But what can be prevented are deaths due to lack of preparedness and coordination, poor management and slow response. What can save lives in such a calamity is a timely and efficient rescue operation and quick response teams, with immediate medical aid.
Government departments have been well aware of the fact that our northern areas are in the maximum seismic level for earthquakes, the same as Los Angeles. Yet they never prepared a national disaster plan nor established crisis management centres, which should have been in place in all major cities.
Even Karachi is without a crisis management control centre or a disaster management plan, despite the fact that it is also in a high-intensity earthquake zone.
There are more than 800 katchi abadis and many high-rise buildings, schools, hospitals and industrial units which do not have basic fire and safety features such as fire escapes or sprinklers nor are they earthquake-proof. But neither the KBCA nor ABAD has bothered to check or monitor these building violations.
After this terrible tragedy, the government should review its priorities and stop its five-star development programmes, like jet fountains and the tall buildings and come down to earth and save the existing buildings and the lives of the unsuspecting citizens who live in these death traps.
They should also consider cutting down money that is spent on convoys of Mercedes and on foreign visits and spend the money on basic facilities and health services.
A. H. MAKER
Helpline Trust, Karachi
MUSINGS of ivory-tower intellectuals will neither bring any succour to the sufferings of the earthquake victims nor lessen their miseries. The discussions on TV channels add only confusion and send the wrong signals by projecting that the government machinery has failed in providing relief to the affected people.
It is also a sad spectacle that the massive rescue and relief operations by the government are not appreciated and only those who have not received any aid are presented.
To add insult to injury, old footage is shown again and again in which people are shown as claiming to have received nothing.
Also, the Zakat money should be put to better use by diverting the entire amount towards the President’s Relief Fund. Furthermore, retired armed forces officers, JCOs and other ranks be recalled to take part in rehabilitation and reconstruction task.
CDR (retd) NAJEEB ANJUM
Karachi ‘Daunting challenge’
DAWN’s editorial “Daunting challenge” (Oct 11) was encouraging in its praise for the untiring efforts of Edhi and the Muttahida in the wake of the earthquake disaster.
The Edhi Foundation is a non-political organization, devoted to service to humanity. It is an organization spontaneously responding to human needs anywhere in the world. It had also contributed aid for the Katrina catastrophe victims in the US.
Muttahida which responded first to the tragedy has created a mark for itself in its political history. Hopefully the party will henceforth use the energies of its members in positive directions.
Other political parties whose coffers are brimming with wealth urged the government to reject the ‘peanuts aid’ offered by the US and the UK instead of coming out to donate themselves.
A.G.M. GHEEWALA
Karachi
Senator’s gesture
IT WAS a pleasure to read the news that Senator Ahmed Ali, ex-communications minister, has donated the remuneration he received from the Senate in the last three years (Rs1.481 million) towards the welfare fund for the earthquake. This is a good gesture from a politician.
Can we expect other senators and MNAs to follow suit in this hour of trial?
M. M. AHMED ZUBERI
Karachi
THOUSANDS more will die if earthquake survivors have to wait for tented accommodation in the affected areas. I appeal to the president and the prime minister to immediately evacuate women and children to accommodate them in madressahs, government buildings such as educational institutions, and accommodation offered by philanthropists till the availability of tented accommodation.
The maximum number of government buses and trucks, besides private transport, should be utilized for this massive transportation in the minimum possible time. The men should stay back in tents for burial of the dead and rehabilitation work.
The concept of paying Rs100,000 per dead person and Rs50,000 per injured person is not a practical proposition in view of the extensive destruction, including the destruction of revenue records and the death of revenue officials. It will only open the floodgates to fake claims and corruption. I appeal to the president and the prime minister to pool all available financial resources for rehabilitation of the survivors.
M. AKRAM NIAZI
Rawalpindi
AS reported (Dawn, Oct 20), some 746 aftershocks have been recorded since the Oct 8 earthquake, of which not less than 35 were recorded on the 11th day after the main earthquake. It is also known that the main shock was followed by more than 300 aftershocks during the first 24 hours.
A preliminary report released by the US Geological Survey states that the earthquake was most probably a direct result of the subcontinent moving northward at a rate of about 1.6 inches per year and colliding with the Eurasian continent.
In terms of nuclear bomb equivalence, the energy released by the earthquake was approximately 200 times the energy released by the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima in the World War II. It is feared that the death toll of the Oct 8 earthquake may easily exceed 100,000.
According to studies by US seismologists, it is not unusual that an earthquake of this magnitude is followed by several aftershocks. Moreover, the rate of aftershocks often dies out with time. There are many instances the world over where large aftershock may occur and last for several months after the main shock.
In the present context, it may be mentioned that the difference in magnitude between the main shock and the largest aftershock may be as high as 1.2. Therefore, an earthquake of the magnitude 7.6 on the Richter scale may have an aftershock measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale.
PROF (Dr) ASADULLAH KAZI
Vice-Chancellor,
ISRA University Hyderabad
THIS refers to Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee’s column “Criminals amongst us” (Oct 16). Some time ago I had the opportunity of attending the wedding of a builder’s son. The kind of people mentioned by Mr Cowasjee are identified at such occasions as they are invited and served separately as VIPs. It seemed as if it was a session of the National Assembly rather than a wedding. Every other car was escorted by a police mobile with the noise of sirens all around. Those who attended include high-grade officers of the KBCA, KESC, KWSB, police officials, bureaucrats and members of the Sindh Assembly.
Also seen were seasoned politicians whom we often see on television from the PML, PPP and the MQM. Many famous business tycoons and editors of evening newspapers were there. The most surprising among them was the presence of judges. They met the builder very graciously.
Now consider the case of Margalla Towers in Islamabad. After a lapse of several days the debris was still not completely removed. This despite the fact that the building is located in the midst of a city with manpower and machinery available. If an earthquake occurs in Karachi, hundreds of such Margalla towers can come down.
Only recently the government gave its consent to regularize (with a price tag) 260 illegal/unauthorized sealed buildings. These partially built buildings were allowed to be completed and occupied. The structural strength of such buildings could be even poorer than of the Margalla Towers. The buildings were built at a breakneck speed without any checks and balances or plans submitted. Steel used in such buildings is usually unbranded/ under-gauge made out of junk material.
As a civil engineer I and all those associated with the building industry know very well that vertical construction requires heavy-duty material and strict on-site supervision. In this environment of loot and plunder, proper checks and balances are almost impossible. As such, building a sound, durable and earthquake-resistant multi-storeyed structure is almost impossible, particularly if the sole purpose is to make more and more money.
In Karachi, there is no shortage of land, particularly on the outskirts. It will be a better idea if small houses on 100-150 square yards are encouraged instead of multi-storeyed buildings/flats which are nothing more than death traps.
FAROOQ FAZAL
Karachi
I work at PTCL and was appointed as ADE, attending training in Haripur. During that time senior PTCL management including the chairman addressed the trainees and they all made many promises of change in the organization.
I have observed the strategies adopted by PTCL. A ‘commission culture’ exists within the organization. No bill is passed without receiving a commission. Even TA/DA and loans cannot be passed without this commission and all senior officers are party to this. Poor pay scales are a factor. Those who are part of the commission mafia have a good time but others suffer.
There is also discrimination in pay scales. For example, ADEs on contract are drawing salaries that are three times higher than those who are regular employees. A recent raise of 15 per cent has been implemented but most employees were expecting more. As far as medical benefits are concerned, one can forget about receiving them because the procedures involved are cumbersome.
The organization has an incompetent human resources department which means that HR related issues take a long time to be resolved. The company’s marketing strategies are also quite poor and a good example of this is the failure of the ‘V’ or wireless phone. The external network is breathing its last and it is just a matter of time before it breaks down. Only a small part of the PTCL’s workforce is of any use and the rest are paid for doing nothing.
Privatization is the last hope but it may take some time before any changes take place. Many ADEs have resigned and moved to other companies. Hopefully the new management will take some drastic decisions to reduce the level of bureaucracy in PTCL and to make it more competitive.
DESPERATE PTCL OFFICER
Karachi
NOWADAYS the marketing of various alluring and consumer-based financial products is gaining ground in consumer markets. Credit cards, value cards, debit cards, cash lines, etc, all have their own utility and some time they prove a blessing in disguise.
Unfortunately some banks and financial institutions have come up with some dodgy tactics to sell their product. The sales officer of a bank convinced me to buy their cash line service without the payment of any fees. But after one month I got a bill for Rs2,100 as their processing fee to be paid in a stipulated time, failing which a mark-up would be charged on the principal amount on a daily basis.
The bank authorities should take note of such elements in their marketing and sales departments who mislead people.
MIRZA MUJTABA BAIG
Karachi
THE special report on the privatization programme of utility companies published in the Dawn Business pages (Oct 16) provides a comprehensive coverage and diverse viewpoints on the subject. Views of politicians, the Privatization Commission, industrial customers and public at large have been given balanced coverage.
While we appreciate the diverse views and respect opinions of all of the stake-holders and consumers, it is a matter of concern that the article “Let there be regulatory framework first” by Mr Sabihuddin Ghausi has clubbed all utility companies in the same category of inefficiency, corruption, etc.
The statements that “we have learnt to live with these ill-run and badly managed utilities” and “the terms on which these equations are based keep corrupt and inefficient utility managers happy and give enough margin to traders and industrialists to fleece their consumers” convey a lack of knowledge on the factual status of the corporate governance, effective management and customers driven culture in SSGC.
We believe that Mr. Ghausi should have taken time to visit all the utilities and specifically SSGC to make a more objective assessment on the level of corporate governance, transparency and quality of service.
In the past few years all aspects of SSGC’s operations have undergone a major change in mindset.
We would also like to state that the quote of former chairman, the SITE Association of Industry, Mr. Majyd Aziz, has been taken out of context and does not apply to the SSGC. We have comments of the current chairman, SITE Association, Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, who has appreciated the service level maintained by the SSGC in his letter of Oct 11 in which he states:
“I must say, SSGC is one company where I feel, and I am sure other people do too, that if you have a case, they listen to you. And they do not just listen, they take immediate action to resolve our problem.”
I would like to take this opportunity to further add that while SSGC has maintained a high level of service, it has posted continuing profitability in its commercial operations, while also fulfilling its obligation to provide gas to remote areas of Sindh and Balochistan, such as Kalat, Ziarat, Sohbatpur, Garikhairo and many more. Over the past few years SSGC while paying healthy cash dividends to our shareholders has also contributed about Rs10 billion/year in taxes, GDS, dividends, etc, much unlike other utilities which are supported by heavy government subsidy.
MUNAWAR B. AHMAD
Karachi
MANY senior citizens ascribe the absence of a civilian disaster management response in the quake-affected areas to the abolition of the office of the deputy commissioner. The DMG group was the only authority trained to lead in such a situation. Even if the agencies were called in to assist, it was the DC who provided the leadership. The present setup of DCOs lacks executive initiative. Now it’s only the “army fighting on all fronts”.
Indeed today the abolished DMG group deserves a pat on the back for the unsung services rendered by it in the past.
SYED SHOAIB SULTAN
Karachi
I AM one of those nearly 100,000 people who live in Gulshan-i-Iqbal’s Block 4, 4-A, Noman View apartments and other apartment blocks on Abul Hasan Ispahani Road and want to draw the attention of all those who matter to the kind of erratic power supply system we have.
We know there is a gap between demand and supply, but what goes on in our area is the result of sheer incompetence. Whether it is Sehri time or Iftar time, noon or midnight, 2am or 2pm, every time is good enough for the KESC to suspend power supply or for the system to collapse.
Sometimes, power comes and goes half a dozen times in an hour. Once on a given day, power was on and off nearly a dozen times. This has nothing to do with the gap between production and demand; this is sheer incompetence.
I return to my home usually in the evening, and I see lights everywhere. But the moment I turn into Block 4, darkness begins. Is there someone who can rectify this and give us the kind of “normal” supply the rest of Karachi is having?
A CONSUMER
Karachi
Seventeen days have passed since the earthquake of Oct 8, yet one has not seen any statement by any person from the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP). There is also nothing of any significance on their Web-Site. As everyone knows, geology is a branch of science that studies the crust of the earth. Does one need remind GSP that the earthquake took place in the earth’s crust?
The web sites of the US Geological Survey, Indian Geological Survey and that of Iran give extensive technical details with the seismic recordings in colour.
It is strange that the Director General, Meteorology, whose branch of science is the study of the atmosphere, is making statements and is even talking about geological re-zoning of the country with respect to earthquakes.
These acts of omission by the GSP and the acts of commission by DG Meteorology result in misinformation.
A senior politician (a former finance and foreign minister) in a TV programme recommended that architects be consulted for earthquake resistant structures. This is the work of structural engineers and earthquake engineers.
It is suggested that the prime minister may find out the reason for GSP’s silence and inaction and why the DG Meteorology is involved in the study of earthquakes.
Inam Khawaja
Karachi
THE unfortunate people of the Northern Areas require not only our physical and material help but also our love, sympathy and compassion. We need to console them by wiping their tears. None of our esteemed and so called popular leaders appear to be doing that. They do not even extend their hand for a handshake.
PROF AQEELA TANVIR
Karachi
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