| December 20, 2005 | Tuesday | Ziqa’ad 17, 1426 |
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Unesco visit to Moenjodaro
Visa service
Hospital complaint
Revamping CSS exams
Hatim Tai
Oil prices
Enforcement of laws
Indian scandal
QAU student politics
China-Japan relations
FOLLOWING Mr Vipal Thakur’s letter of Nov 26, there have been more letters.
Unfortunately, the worst point of the whole story is that we do not realize our weaknesses and that’s why we do not try to remove them. One can cite a few cases of corruption here and there in both Pakistan and India. But this does not mean that we are better than others and so should be left alone. No matter Pakistan is our beloved country and this is the place where we have to live or die, but we would like this country to be on the top of the world so that our future generations can have a comfortable life. In spite of this, the following points are worth mentioning:
1. Since independence, 58 years have passed and during this period for more than half the time we have been under army rule and martial law. No doubt, the fault lies with our leaders and the army is not to be blamed. Our neighbouring country during the last 58 years remained under democracy and that is why it is well respected in the outside world.
2. During this period we have lost more than half of the country as the population of East Pakistan was 56 per cent. We never talk about this and discuss it to find out the cause so that this should not happen in the future.
3. After 1947, we the Indian Muslims are divided into five nations, i.e., Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indian, Azad Kashmir and occupied Kashmir while the Hindus are still Indian and hold one nationality.
India’s father of atomic power is well recognized and now is president of the country while ours is under house arrest. The reason for this is that the former worked in the interest of his nation while our hero worked for self-interest at the cost of the country’s name and fame.
Over the last 58 years we have not decided which way we should go. We are still debating whether to have parliamentary or presidential form of Government, what type of education we should have and what type of economy we should follow. Unless we fix our direction, how can we march forward?
ISHTIAQ AHMED KHAN
Karachi
A FEW weeks ago, several members of Unesco visited the site of the internationally-recognized ruins of Moenjodaro near Larkana in Sindh and showed their great concern on the government’s apathy about the regretful condition of the ancient civilization.
They emphasized that the site immediately needs the attention of our government but unfortunately the government has done nothing concrete to save the oldest civilization of the world.
Owing to lack of funds from the government, Unesco members have decided that they will collect funds from different countries in order to save this valuable site. They have further decided to hire people on daily wages for maintenance of the site on an emergency basis. Further, they have also decided to hire well-trained persons for the purpose and pay them salaries from the fund.
The Moenjodaro conservation and research centre meant for saving the Moenjodaro ruins has done nothing concrete so far. Perhaps it also lack of funds as the Sindh government is hesitant to give money to protect the site.
The condition is deteriorating with every passing day because of salinity and waterlogging. For the past few years, rains have also damaged the site.
Security needs to be increased at the site and also at the museum. Lack of security led to the theft of several priceless seals (about 40) from the museum about two years back and nothing has been done to recover these so far.
There is no good hotel available near the site. Every year, plenty of tourists come, especially from Japan and Europe, but due to the shortage of reasonable accommodation most of them stay only for a short period. To make matters worse, there are not enough flights now and their timings are also not convenient for tourists.
Quite incredibly there is so far no official website on this great civilization because of which most of the visitors have no access to proper information. It appears the government is more interested in the Harappa site which is near Sahiwal in Punjab than in Moenjodaro. The government-owned PTDC and other such organizations are publicizing Harappa at the cost of Moenjodaro.
The government should devise a long-term conservation and maintenance plan to save Moenjodaro.
IMRAN KHAN SIAL
Karachi
IT is nothing new to tell but it is important that someone has to bell the cat and put on record the annoying facts being faced by Pakistani visa-seekers.
The treatment given to Pakistani visa-seekers in their own country by foreign embassies is a sad story. The unfortunate tale begins right from the time that visa-seekers cannot go to the embassies concerned on their own because perhaps they are suspected to be persons of doubtful antecedents and as such they are made humble through the local security forces. The young, the old and sick men and women are made to travel from the Convention Hall, Islamabad, to all the embassies concerned irrespective of the weather and are made to stand in long queues for boarding the shuttle bus service after buying tickets at an unjustified cost. During this odd practice passengers have to buy drinking water and food items at higher-than-the-market price to keep their sugar rate and morale in tact.
The woeful part of the tale begins when the visa-seekers are made to pay non-refundable visa fees. Many of the embassies ask for hand-prints for which they charge extra in dollars.
The funniest part of the episode is that during the three/four minute interview, objections are raised without appreciating any clarification. Besides, it is commonly observed that visas are refused or deferred if the first name is Muhammad.
It is time the authorities in Pakistan asked the embassies to shoulder travelling expenses or allow the people independent access to the embassies concerned.
The Convention Hall terminal should be abolished. Visa applications could be be invited with all the required copies of the needed documents through approved travel agents. They may be made responsible for assisting and scanning cases fit to be forwarded. Just in case some personalized or specified information is required or there seems to be a serious objection, only then should individuals be invited for interviews.
F.D. MASUOOD
Rawalpindi
A PATIENT, Mrs Kulsum Hussain, who happens to be my grandmother, was taken to the Aga Khan University Hospital’s emergency room with confirmatory findings of a massive myocardial infarction (heart attack), within one hour of onset of symptoms. She was denied emergency thrombolysis (an injection administered that would have dissolved the clot) or an angioplasty for one hour because the hospital was demanding an immediate cash deposit of Rs300,000 to cover the cost of the angioplasty.
This happened despite the reassurance given by my father accompanying the patient at that time, who told the management that the money would be made available as soon as possible. He also provided details of his account and credit card and also agreed to pay Rs50,000 on the spot. The payment was finally negotiated by my clearly distraught father. However, a delay of more than an hour had probably already done the damage.
Upon speaking with the attending physician, against whom we have no complaints, who had been waiting to perform angioplasty during this time, the family was told that the patient could have died because of this delay.
The patient suffered from serious heart damage and mitral valve incompetence probably due to papillary muscle damage. The delay in processing the patient’s case clearly contributed to this. As a result she underwent prolonged hospitalization in the coronary care unit (CCU) at the AKU.
During this time, patient suffered from two episodes of ventricular tachycardia (a serious life-threatening heart rhythm disturbance) in the CCU after the angioplasty. The consultant involved admitted that this was avoidable, and happened due to a failure of appropriate monitoring of electrolyte levels (potassium) which is a basic function of the CCU. In addition, the response of the nursing staff in detection and management of these arrythmias was seriously flawed.
Several other problems were noticed, including discontinuing vital psycho-active medications which the patient used to take previously, including Ativan and Seroxat, which caused a withdrawal reaction.
ASHFAQ A. RAZZAQ
(AKU Class of 1994) Hull,
UK
THIS is with reference to your editorial ‘Declining education standards (Nov 30)’ published after the announcement of the written examination results of the CSS. No doubt, the results are alarming as only 276 students could pass the written examination out of 3,678 who appeared, a pass percentage of 7.5.
Moreover, as interviews have yet to be conducted, this percentage will go down further after the final announcement of results.
The age-limit for candidates should be reverted to 30 years, as it used to be earlier because the FPSC has pointed out in its notification that poor results are due to the declining quality of education being imparted to students in institutions. So, candidates must be given enough time to acquire knowledge through general reading, and enough time for availing themselves of all three chances to take the examination.
Second, more federal departments should be added to the list of CSS groups like the Intelligence Bureau, the FIA, NAB, the parliament secretariat and the Pakistan motorway police in order to ensure appointments on merit and to ameliorate the trend of apathy among students desiring to join the CSS.
Third, the quota system should be abolished and a purely merit-based system should be adopted so that no discrimination is done to anybody and no undue advantage can be taken.
Fourth, the examination system should be revamped and the ability of candidates must be evaluated on an equal basis Optional subjects should be discarded and the examination, comprehensive in its nature, should be based on compulsory subjects. It will be a fair system of examining the relative ability of candidates.
Finally, members of the FPSC board should develop a mechanism for feedback. I would suggest that they should get the views of those who have qualified and are now undergoing training. Because they have passed through this process, they can best suggest how to bring improvements.
WAQAS AHMED LANGAH
Hafizabad
THIS has reference to Mr Salahuddin Mirza’s letter “Hatim Tai” (Dec 10) inquiring about the nationality of Hatim Tai, one of the most gallant, magnanimous, and charitable characters of mediaeval times.
Hatim b. Abdullah b. Sad Abu Saffana was a chief of noble birth and a prolific Christian poet and the leader of the Tai tribe whose territory lay to the northeast of Medinah. Hatim lived in the second half of the sixth century AD and died before the birth of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
In the pre-Islamic era, as the legend goes, he was always victorious in his undertakings, magnanimous towards the conquered and proverbial for his generosity and hospitality. According to a fable, his mother Ghunayya too was a very generous lady. Hatim left many verses mostly in praise of liberality and altruism but regrettably most of his actual works are lost.
In the days of the Holy Prophet the people of Tai were led by Adiyy b. Hatim al Tai. After return from Makkah, the Holy Prophet had sent several expeditions under the leadership of Hazrat Ali b. Talib, including against the tribe of Tai. Hearing the Muslims approach, Adiyy b. Hatim loaded his goods, family, and children on his camel, leaving behind his clan, and joined fellow Christians in Syria (Al-Sham). Indeed, Adiyy escaped at the very time that Ali b. Abu Talib destroyed the idol Lat. Thus, Muslims seized the territory of Tai and detained a number of captives, including the daughter of Hatim and sister of Adiyy and a large amount of booty.
While in Medinah, Adiyy’s sister one day approached the Holy Prophet and said to him: “O Prophet of God! My father has perished and my supporter has deserted. Be merciful to me, that God may be merciful to you”. When the Prophet learned that her supporter was Adiyy b. Hatim al Tai, the fugitive, he refused to talk to her saying that “her supporter is the man who runs away from God and His apostle”. She tried once more, and this time she succeeded. In conversation, the Prophet mentioned to her father’s old prestige and noble reputation in pre-Islamic days. He praised him for the good name his hospitality had given to all Arabs.
The Prophet then granted the daughter of Hatim freedom, and also provided her with respectable attire and money to meet her needs, and sent her to her people with the first Syria-bound caravan. Upon joining her brother, she mentioned to him the noble treatment Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had accorded her. Adiyy was so impressed by the Prophet’s graciousness that he returned with her to Medinah and immediately accepted Islam.
Soon after, the character of Hatim Tai turned out to be exceptionally popular in the literature of the Muslim world, and there are scarcely any works which do not include stories of his proverbial generosity. In the subcontinent, Hatim Tai has become a synonym of generosity and chivalry and has been the central theme of many popular movies.
ALTAMASH MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
IT IS astonishing that the Oil Companies Advisory Committee, formed by foreign bidders, reviews and fixes prices of oil and its products twice a month, based on the international floating index price, and has no interest when the price falls.
The committee seems to be interested in only enhancing the miseries of the consumer by raising the prices on the pretext that due to an upward price trend this is inevitable to cope with the price index.
Some time in 2002 the government awarded six oilfields to international bidders and since then a hide-and-seek game of increasing prices has been going on. Petroleum officials never comment or raise any objection on the matter as the government coffer is being benefited at the expense of the public.
Is the oil advisory committee answerable to any authority in Pakistan? It only seems interested in pocketing money. I would appreciate a comment from the petroleum ministry about why the benefit of a fall in prices is not passed on to the consumer.
SARFARAZ ZIA ANSARI
Karachi
WE are very fond of making laws and putting them aside. There is a complete lack of commitment to applying them to the simplest things.
Some of the laws say: rickshaws should not remove their silencers; all smoke-emitting buses and trucks should stop operating; no heavy traffic should enter Karachi during peak hours; all buses should pick and drop passengers only at bus stops; no overloading should be allowed on buses and mini-buses; and sale of “gutka” should be banned.
All the above and many other laws have been made a mockery of. This is extremely poor governance on the part of the implementing authorities.
If we cannot manage all this together, then we should take one order and enforce it for at least six months. This may then change a few of the offenders. The city is getting out of control and a change is a must before it is too late.
DILAWAR HUSAIN
Karachi
THIS is the headline that made news in India and in the world. Indian MPs were caught red-handed when reporers of the Aaj Tak offered the deputies between Rs15,000 and Rs100,000. All this reminded of Thelka.com when Indian politicians and military officials were caught on tape back in 2001.
India calls itself the largest democracy in the world. The US offered India a nuclear deal in July and President Bush said that India was a true democracy. He is right but what is this MPs for sale business?
In my opinion the Indian image has been hurt by this incident and this might start a new chapter in Indian history; former foreign minister Natwar Singh has already been accused on the basis of the Volcker report.
USMAN FAYYAZ
Lahore
THIS refers to the letter (Dec 13) on student politics at the QAU. To keep the record straight, it is stated that the Quaid-i-Azam University is a research-based, semester system university where students are enrolled from all over Pakistan. The demanding academic and educational environment does not allow any political activity on the campus. However, some co-curricular activities are allowed under the supervision of senior faculty members. No political activity is allowed in any manner.
Regarding the complaint of Mr M. K. Sial about his ward being threatened, it is stated that the vice-chancellor had a conversation with Mr Sial over the telephone on Dec 12, and assured him of necessary measures in this regard.
The relevant officers and heads of departments were instructed to contact the students and take necessary action.
In the meantime, the matter has been referred to the university’s discipline committee to take appropriate action under the rules and regulations. The university administration would not shy away from its legal and administrative duties to maintain peace and a conducive academic environment on the campus.
NAZIR HUSSAIN
In charge public relations Quaid-i-Azam University
Islamabad
IT IS always very pleasing to see two estranged friends resume their relationship or at least strive for a rapprochement.
After about a year of escalating tensions between our friends China and Japan, it was good to watch Dawn’s front-page photograph (Dec 13) showing their prime ministers flanking the Malaysian premier who was holding their hands during the Asean plus Three summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Happily enough, they all appeared to be enjoying themselves.
Other very heartening gestures witnessed at the Asean summit were a rare handshake between the leaders of the two countries, which was followed later on by Mr Koizumi leaning across and asking to borrow the Chinese prime minister’s pen to sign the summit pact (Dawn, Dec 15). One fervently wishes that in the interests of Japan and China, as also that of Asia and of global peace, these friends of ours will soon be able to mend their ties, helped by well-wishers like Malaysia and Pakistan.
KHALID CHAUDHRY
Karachi
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