| December 2, 2005 | Friday | Shawwal 29, 1426 |
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Environment and oceans
Doctors, death and duty
Oil price increase
SC orders for NWFP police
Homage to Mirza Qalich Beg
Hadiqa’s adopted child
A1 grand prix
Tolerance
DHA garbage dumps
Clarification
FOR the past few weeks Mr Ayaz Amir has been criticizing the PAF for its planned purchase of Swedish AWACS and the American F-16s. I appreciate his concern for paying adequate attention to the welfare of the earthquake victims and had noted in my letter of Nov 16 that doing so must have the highest priority, which is mercifully being done, at the national and international level.
Nevertheless, Mr Amir appears indifferent to the need to balance that with the requisites of our security environment. Now, in his column, “Hurrahs somewhat premature” (Nov 25), while talking in disapproving terms of some retired PAF officers’ attempts to present the other side of the picture, he insinuates that our air force is trying to arm itself to the teeth.
After his many visits to India or interactions with their media, Mr Amir himself had commented more than once that when it comes to an important matter like Kashmir, all the Indians, journalists and politicians included, always blindly support their government’s stand. Despite that, quite a few among the Pakistani intelligentsia have been writing or saying things that will only undermine the country’s defence.
In an era of acute anti-Muslim bias and suspicions in many parts of the world, falsely making a large Islamic state appear to be bent on militarism, when it is merely trying to fulfil its minimal requirements, is highly irresponsible and a great disservice to the nation. It is well-known that globally India is among the top spenders on military hardware and, if such people would be fair, they should take our eastern neighbour to task for arming its three services to the teeth, which ultimately hurts the well-being of all South Asians.
As a retired army captain, Mr Amir is expected to make a rational assessment of the PAF’s requirements in the light of the Indian air force’s inventory. The latter already has 150 fourth-generation SU-30 MK fighters on order, some of which have been already received but most will be produced in India under a technology transfer agreement with Russia. It also has scores of Mirage 2000-5 and MiG 29 High-tech aeroplanes. On top of that, it is due to acquire 115 F-18s or F-16s from the US, again for manufacturing under licence.
Compared to their hundreds of state-of-the-art aircraft, the PAF will only manage to buy 50 to 75 F-16s — with luck — of the new versions. The two dozen or so F-16s that we have at present are of A and B types, which are about 20 years old. Is it fair to say that having 75 planes at the most that could be compared with the 350-plus Indian craft amounts to arming ourselves to the teeth?
Similarly, our neighbour will soon be getting the Israeli Phalcon AWACS that are very advanced surveillance platforms and not buying the Swedish Erieye aircraft would make us totally vulnerable. People were quick to criticize the PAF for being unable to perform in 1971 as well as it did in 1965 without realizing that the Soviet airborne early warning systems pressed into India’s service had made all that difference.
If the PAF fares badly in any future encounter with the IAF due to not having the AWACS or an adequate number of advanced aircraft, those opposing the acquisition of these platforms would be the first to lambast the defenders of our skies. If a layman like me can understand this, a former army officer should be more appreciative of the PAF’s point of view.
Having said that, one would urge the president, the prime minister and the ministers concerned to monitor the survivors’ situation very closely by paying surprise visits to the affected areas. Even if one person dies due to lack of food and medical care or exposure to cold, it will weigh down on the nation’s conscience. Also, we should not add to our debt burden of $36 billion but rely on self-help instead. The defence spending must be slashed if there’s no alternative.
KHALID NAQSHBANDI
Karachi
ENVIRONMENTAL engineers at a conference on climate change in Exeter, UK, warned that extra carbon dioxide in the air, caused by the burning of fossil fuels, is not only spurring climate change, but is making the oceans more acidic, thus endangering the marine life that helps to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. So urgent is the problem that, some claim that within the next 35 years, all the coral reefs in the world could be dead.
Although the growing acidity is caused by excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, it is not a problem of global warming, but the result of a simple chemical reaction between the air and the sea.
It is estimated that about half the 800 billion tons of carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere by mankind since the start of the industrial revolution has been soaked up by the sea. Much of the carbon is fixed in the shells of minute planktons called “coccolithophores” that live on the ocean surface in trillions. When they die, their shells sink to the ocean bed taking the carbon with them.
Environmental engineers now claim that these creatures could not survive greater levels of acidity and their removal of carbon from the atmosphere would stop. Experiments show that even a small increase in acidity reduces the ability of shellfish and plankton to grow and causes a fall in their population.
In addition to the loss of corals that would seriously affect small islands and coasts, the major problem is the effect on the food chain.
The Exeter conference concluded that the growing acidity of oceans was a potentially disturbing phenomenon that would reduce the oceans’ capacity to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and affect the entire marine food chain. (Source: Chulabhorn Research Institute Newsletter, vol. 15, No. 2, April 2005, Bangkok)
F.H. MUGHAL
Karachi
IT is shocking to hear that at least two young doctors have lost their precious lives in the line of duty after contracting a fatal infectious disease at work. It is ironic that no serious effort has been made by the administration, especially by the Sindh department of health, to investigate the matter or to take appropriate measures to combat this grave situation.
If something of the same sort would have happened here in the UK, it would have created havoc and many heads would have rolled at least in the health department if not the government.
As it is said, ignorance is a blessing and perhaps the authorities concerned have no idea about how deadly the situation can become if it gets out of control. It is quite tragic that despite of the preponderance of infectious disease in Pakistan, there are no specialists or special departments of infectious diseases in government-run hospitals in the province of Sindh — perhaps the concept of infectious disease no longer exists in the medical curriculum.
As an ex-member of the faculty at Dow, I remember that there used be a separate ward for infectious and contagious cases, sadistically nicknamed the “death ward” which was then closed because no one looked after the patients admitted there and also because it became a victim of the politics of the hospital.
I fully support the medical staff of Civil Hospital, Karachi, in their demand for the administration taking appropriate measures before they can resume their duties as they are at same risk as the late doctors. I would certainly not let my loved ones work in such dangerous conditions, without being certain about the exact aetiology of the illness and whether appropriate and adequate measures had been deployed to control it.
I pray for the souls of the two young doctors, who will undoubtedly rest in heaven for sacrificing their lives in the line of duty.
I also expect that the families of the two late doctors will be adequately compensated by the government for the loss of their loved ones, even though nothing will ever replace the joy that they brought to their lives.
PROF MAQSOOD ANWAR
NOORANI
Royal London Hospital,
London, UK
THIS has reference to the letter by Mr Muhammad Iqbal (Nov 20) regarding recurring fixation of oil prices upward by the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC). It is strange to observe that the OCAC formula is nothing but an arbitrary, forcible and thoughtless fortnightly increase in oil prices.
It is wrong to suggest that the government is in deep slumber on the issue. The government is fully alive, rather indirectly all is happening on the dictates, instance, instructions, and pressure from high-ups. The government is the sole beneficiary to receive billions through various authorities (Nepra, Ogra, etc) by way of indirect taxes while the burden falls on consumers.
Much has been discussed in the media but the government is reluctant to review the situation.
Increase in the prices of petroleum products has direct bearings on the economy. With every increase in oil prices the cost of production and services goes skyhigh. As people have to live within their limited earnings, they have to face miseries. To give some relief to them, the government may consider withdrawing sales tax on petroleum products.
TAJ MUHAMMAD
Karachi
ACCORDING to a news report (Nov 23), the apex court has ordered the NWFP police to recover a girl within a fortnight. The SC had remarked that the police are efficient in retrieving facts within minutes through coercive measures but when it comes to dealing with cases sensibly, they expose themselves.
Sir, such remarks expose the working of the police force. It is grateful that our apex court has taken cognizance of the blemished working of our police force. It is not in one province only but an identical state of affairs prevails in other provinces also.
Sooner or later, the police force shall have to be disbanded to save the honour and integrity of the citizens of the country.
In place of the police force, a force of educated young civilians should be recruited on the pattern of the army.
An eye-opening case had been reported in Dawn some days back. Sindh minister. Rauf Siddiqui went to a Korangi police station and ordered the SHO to recover two kidnapped girls within half an hour. The girls had been recovered within the given time. This episode proved that the police had been involved in the said kidnap case.
GHEEWALA A.G.M.
Karachi
SOME people are remembered for the invaluable role they play for the good of humanity but still a few leave indelible memories because of the specific nature of services they render in the history of a nation. In Sindh Shams-ul-Ulema Mirza Qalich Beg undoubtedly tops the list of such noteworthy individuals for the momentous services rendered by him in the field of literature and education.
Mirza Qalich Beg was born in 1853 in a well-known family of Georgian descent at Tando Thoro, the suburbs of Hyderabad town. His family originally belonged to Tiflis, Georgia. In the year 1797 a war broke out between Russia and Persia leaving the families of his grandparents homeless. His paternal grandfather Mirza Faredoon Baig and maternal grandfather Khusro Baig were captured. They were still in their teens when the king of Persia delivered them as a royal gift to Mir Karam Ali, the Ruler of Sindh. Because of their intelligence and hard work both refugees of yesteryear achieved great eminence in the court of Sindh.
After getting education from Bombay University, Mirza Qalich Beg initially worked as a Persian teacher at Karachi and later joined Sindh revenue service and rose to the rank of deputy collector, a highest position a Muslim in those days could ever attain. During government service he was posted in almost all major towns in the province of Sindh.
Nevertheless, despite the requirements of his demanding job, Mirza Qalich continued his literary pursuits as a passion relentlessly and attained stature in this field as second to none. It is on account of his well-disciplined and organized life that he could write numerous books in Sindhi and English on a variety of subjects. Besides, he wrote books in Urdu, Arabic and Persian. He was the first native who translated hundreds of great books of English literature into his mother tongue, introducing the literature of one of the most advanced languages to the people of this province. The total number of books, including translations, he wrote during his 77 years of life is 457, in addition to the personal diaries he regularly maintained from 1866 till 1929.
No better tribute was ever paid to Mirza Qalich Beg for his phenomenal contribution to the Sindhi language than the one by German Orientalist Dr Annemarie Schimmel, a great admirer of Sindh and its literature, in her book Pearls from the Indus, published by the Sindhi Adabi Board, Jamshoro.
Dr Schimmel wrote: “A figure such as Mirza Qalich Beg (1853-1929) deserves our respect and admiration; in all the languages with which I am acquainted — from Arabic, Turkish and Persian to Urdu and Pushto — it would be difficult to find a person who could surpass his literary output. His goal was to acquaint his compatriots with the world literature and to enrich his mother tongue. In this respect he was definitely successful: still in our day it is a pleasure to read his sober introductions to The Art of Gardening or self-help. One admires how wittingly he adapted Shakespeare’s dramas to Sindhi milieu (thus converting the Jewish merchant Shylock into a Hindu money lender).
“Mirza Qalich’s novel on female education, Zinat, is one of the most charming products of educational literature in the Islamic world; though written as early as 1892, it is much more radical in its approach than any later books on the same subject. Mirza Qalich Beg, together with some other Muslim and Hindu authors, paved the way for a truly modern Sindhi literature.”
Shams-ul-Ulema Mirza Qalich Beg was an intellectual par excellence and an institution in himself ever produced by Sindh. His services for the spread of education and enrichment of Sindhi literature and language are immeasurable for which we owe him reverence. In order to pay him a befitting homage, I request the vice chancellor, Sindh University, to establish “Mirza Qalich Beg chair” in the university so that the mission commenced by him for the exalted cause of education could be sustained.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
FAMOUS singer Hadiqa Kiyani has adopted a baby. As far as I remember wasn’t it deemed illegal by the government to adopt a child from the quake-affected areas? Or does Ms Kiyani’s example show that a different policy is in place for celebrities?
On Oct 17, the information minister had categorically said that the government would not allow adoption. His exact words were: “The laws relating to adoption are very strict in Pakistan and the cabinet has decided that no private person or group will be allowed to adopt them. The government will fully take care of the orphans, but our priority is to locate parents and relatives of such children.”
On Oct 16, the prime minister had said that hospitals have already been ordered not to allow anyone to adopt surviving children. So are we to assume that the law does not apply to Ms Kiyani?
UMAYR SAHLAN MASUD
Islamabad
IT is good that Pakistan is taking part in the A1 Grand Prix thanks to His Highness Shaikh Maktoum Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum who has donated the racing car to Pakistan. I would like to point out here that rear spoiler of all cars in such races — the most prominent part of the car seen on TV during the race – either has the name of the country in prominent block letters or has the country’s flag painted on it. That makes identification of the car’s ownership easy.
The rear spoiler on Pakistan’s car doesn’t have either the country’s name or flag. Instead it has in small letters the following: “www.presidentofpakistan@gov.pk”. My question is: 24 out of the 25 teams are representing their countries. Whom is the Pakistan car representing: Pakistan or its president?
MOHSIN IKRAM
Karachi
CHRISTIANS, Ahmedis and Hindus are an easy target for the mulla-incited mobs. No Pakistani citizen in his proper mind will ever dream of burning holy books of any religion. All religions preach respect for other religions. Islam in particular emphasizes the protection of mosques, churches, temples and places of worship. Burning of churches and killing worshippers is totally unacceptable in Islam and surely invokes the displeasure of God.
FASEEHA ARJUMAND
Staten Island, NY, US
WE live on main Khayaban-i-Shaheen. Opposite our house is a huge empty plot, which lies on the corner of Khayaban-i-Tauheed and Shaheen.
A couple of weeks ago, the DHA staff built an obnoxious looking open-roofed structure surrounded by five-feet high walls on all sides. Later we found out that it was for the area people to put their garbage.
Given the lack of civic sense found in our society, even then the illiterate masis and chowkidars of most of the homes in the neighbourhood continue to throw the garbage well outside the dump.
That is not the only problem. May we ask why the DHA chose to build this enclosed structure?
What happened to its solid waste management scheme under which houses are told to install baskets outside their homes so that they put their household waste inside them.
In fact, even adjacent to our house, there is a similar eyesore of a structure and one a little bit down the road, towards the Zamzama side. When will the DHA ever learn to take decisions that also take into account the considerations of those who live within its boundaries?
LALARUKH EJAZ
Karachi
WITH reference to Syed Arshad Hashmi’s letter of Nov 21 titled ‘Donation cheques & couriers’, I would like to clarify that TCS acted as a facilitator and offered its countrywide network to collect all contributions and donations on behalf of the Edhi Foundation in the form of medicines, clothes, blankets, tents and other items of necessity. Monetary contributions were only accepted as cross cheques and pay orders which were delivered to the Edhi Foundation from time to time.
To date, TCS has handed over cheque donations worth 3.8 million rupees to Bilqees Edhi for the Edhi Foundation Earthquake Relief Fund. The first batch of cheques (including the cheque in question) was handed over to the Edhi Foundation on October 25, 2005. The Edhi Foundation informs us that Mr Hashmi’s cheque was deposited by them on Nov. 11 and the clearing date given was for Nov 15. This should explain why his account had not been debited by Oct. 31, the day he says he checked his account.
ALI LEGHARI
Head of corporate affairs
TCS (Pvt) Ltd,
Karachi
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