| December 28, 2005 | Wednesday | Ziqa’ad 25, 1426 |
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Punjab vs other provinces
Minorities and Constitution
Death of science
Peace mela at Khokrapar
A new name for the OIC
Saturday lift
Cricket undervalued?
Car leasing
However, one thing is laudable that at Sukkur the president admitted of past injustices to Sindh and offered constitutional and legal guarantees to restore Sindh’s confidence. He did not specify the nature of such past injustices, nor any measures to rectify their ill effects on Sindh.
To a layman, it is generally understood that the entire Indus water below Tarbela was allocated exclusively to Sindh and Balochistan, while all river waters above Punjnad to Punjab. If this is correct, then how is the siphoning off of Indus water from Chashma and barrages below, including the greater Thal Canal, totalling about 60 per cent average flow, proposed to be restored to Sindh and Balochistan through the guarantees now being offered?
This aspect, if clarified to the satisfaction of Sindh and Balochistan, will go a long way is resolving the present impasse. One possible way could be to give constitutional veto powers to Sindh and Balochistan on the control of the use of Indus water for Punjab, at the above control points. This is fully justified as the Indus River System Authority’s telemetry system and control have so far not offered a fair deal to the satisfaction of the lower riparians.
Besides, the figures of millions of acre feet required by different areas appear to have ignored the fact that some time back, when despite a serious drought, even with far less water availability in the country, better crops were achieved, through careful and modern methods of irrigation. This aspect should be seriously considered while proposing such costly dams.
Another aspect that deserves immediate consideration is the huge water storage capacity, almost equal to a large dam, already choked up at all the old irrigation weirs in Punjab, which could be easily restored by providing control gates at very small cost, using local know-how. Will the political and state authorities including the National Assembly and the Senate consider this aspect to avoid further bickering at the national level?
S.M.H. RIZVI
Karachi
(2)
KALABAGH dam advantages are very obvious but not without certain serious disadvantages worthy of serious consideration.
One, the rail and road link of Rawalpindi and Attock with Kohat will be disrupted.
Two, the strategic railway network linking Rawalpindi, Attock, Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan and Nowshera with Mari Indus and southern railway network will be lost.
Three, thousands of inhabitants of Punjab living alongside the Indus upstream of the Kalabagh dam site will be rendered homeless and jobless.
Four, a vast area (both upstream and downstream of the KBD) of Punjab and the NWFP will be waterlogged with salinity rendering several thousand inhabitants homeless and jobless.
Five, thousands of affected in Punjab and the NWFP will have to be rehabilitated.
Six, Ghazi-Barotha electricity output is likely to be reduced significantly due to rise in the water level at Barotha.
Seven, the useful life of the KBD will reportedly be 30 years due to silting.
Logically, the president and the prime minister should identify, quantify, and rectify or clarify the KBD disadvantages instead of convincing only the politicians, mostly non-affected . In addition, they may consider dredging of the existing silted dams, both big and small, before going for new dams.
GHULAM MUHAMMAD
Rawalpindi
POLITICIANS in other provinces doing politics at the cost of Punjab must change their parochial attitude. Punjab never received appreciation, not to speak of gratitude, for what it has been doing for the other provinces since independence. It faced a massive influx of people, along with vast destruction and death. The local population embraced, accommodated and integrated millions coming from UP and Delhi.
The integration of the provinces of West Pakistan into One Unit had placed a huge burden on Punjab. For 15 years, most of the development funds went to the smaller provinces to satisfy their demands. The extent of the financial drain became visible only after the restoration of the provinces in 1970. Yet Punjab was always accused of exploitation.
Punjab voted Z.A. Bhutto and his PPP into power, not only in the centre but also in the province itself. The NWFP and Balochistan did not. Yet he created the Senate only to neutralize Punjab’s majority in the National Assembly. And, to get the support of the NWFP and Balochistan for his Constitution, he bribed them with royalty on hydel electricity and natural gas, which were mostly consumed in Punjab. It was sheer exploitation and injustice because natural resources belong to the entire country, not to the provinces.
Moreover, the two provinces never made any investment in producing gas and electricity but get royalty on sales. What if Punjab asks for royalty on the river water passing through its territory? Or on the wheat (entirely its own produce) that it provides to other provinces?
Benazir Bhutto was not far behind her father in her bias against Punjab. She came to power twice with support from Punjab. Yet, she stopped work on the only two big projects that had been started in Punjab. As a result, the new terminal of Lahore airport took 10 years to complete and cost three times the original estimate. The Lahore-Rawalpindi Motorway was delayed for years, doubling its cost in the process.
Punjab accepted many rulers from outside due only to its generosity and regard for smaller provinces. It accepted even Zafarullah Jamali, whose only qualification was that he belonged to a province that has a population less than even that of Lahore. At a lower level, the Punjab police never had an IGP of its own for the first 25 years and several times even afterwards. The people of Punjab are very tolerant and generous. They don’t mind giving extra river water to Sindh when needed. (They conceded more water to Sindh under the 1991 accord.) They have been paying royalty to the NWFP on hydel electricity for decades without protest. They don’t grudge the tens of billions that are being spent on mega projects in Balochistan.
The people of Punjab have been doing more than expected and still more is expected of them. Every province wants to gain more at their cost. They are asked to make sacrifices again and again. What do they get in return? Baseless charges of exploitation.
The studies on the Kalabagh dam went on for 30 years without any objection from any province until a Pathan general (Fazle Haq) opposed it just to get the royalty on its electricity for his own province. Now politicians and journalists in other provinces have been clamouring vociferously against the Kalabagh dam. The NWFP wants royalty on hydel electricity that should go legitimately to Punjab. Sindh does not want a drop of water to go into any canal.
There is talk of “harm to the federation” if the construction of the Kalabagh dam is started. It is yet another attempt to blackmail Punjab.
MUHAMMAD ABD
AL-HAMEED
Lahore
MR FAIZ Gul Awan (Dec 24) writes that the Constitution of Pakistan bars non-Muslim citizens from becoming head of state which, he says, is discriminatory. He further states that the US hasn’t had any Afro-American president but at least there is no constitutional bar against that.
The correspondent is reminded that Pakistan is an ideological state created specifically so that the Muslims could conduct all their affairs according to Islamic teachings without interference by anybody. A non-Muslim ruler, due to his lack of understanding or sympathy for the religion’s teachings or the aspirations of its adherents, cannot be expected to take decisions and formulate policies that promote an Islamic way of life.
Besides, he would naturally be more loyal to his own faith that is likely to have competing interests with our religion. In return, the minorities are exempted from fighting for the defence of the country (unless they want to) or paying “zakat” , etc.
As far as the US is concerned, there has not only been no Afro-American president so far, there has not even been a female one or a foreign-born person who became a naturalized (immigrant) American. On the contrary, Muslim women have been or are at present heads of state or government in Islamic countries. Isn’t this forthright manner better than keeping the minorities or women out of power through silent discrimination?
Contrary to what Mr Awan believes, separating politics from religion is not a good principle. Islam is a complete way of life sent down by
the Creator Himself and
politics or anything else is merely a subset of this comprehensive and unique religion and must logically be subordinated to it.
We need to re-examine our knowledge and understanding of this great religion to avoid falling into errors or the trap of the West’s man-made secularism which millions have rejected even over there and converted to Islam. Interestingly, most of the white converts happen to be women — despite the adverse propaganda about women’s position in Islam — because they are particularly disillusioned with their condition and treatment as mere sex objects.
According to a recent report (Dawn, Dec 14) from Germany, over 1,000 people converted to Islam this year, which is a record. More than 60 per cent of all the converts to-date in that country are women and most of them are “university-educated and affluent,” says the director of the Central Institute of Islamic Archives in Germany. Why are some of us so fascinated by what people are increasingly rejecting in the West?
IRSHAD SIDDIQUE
Karachi
I APPRECIATE very much the sincere concern of Ms Zubeida Mustafa about the indifference to science studies at school level by the ministry of education. (Dawn, Dec 21).
For the promotion of science at school level, we need a scientist like Prof (Dr) Atta-ur-Rehman, chairman, Higher Education Commission (HEC).
Another dedicated scientist on the scene as pointed by the writer appears to be Prof (Dr) Hoodbhoy who is trying to convince the nation at large about the benefits accruing to the country through the teaching of science at the grass-roots’ level. The popularization of science at school level will, in fact, prepare youth for scientific inquiry.
It is a challenge to stop lowering the weightage of science at the school level. People should rally round for the uplift of science at the school level with the ministry of education.
The most essential items for the sustenance of human beings are derived from plants. It is a pity that an agricultural country like Pakistan is deficient in food (wheat, edible oil, etc).
The foundation stone of China’s progress was first built on agricultural economy (food autarky) followed by the development of agriculture-based industries. These, in turn, acted as a spur for industrial economy. The progress in S&T rests on agricultural and industrial development. We can follow the example set by China and the West. A better future for Pakistan lies in our hands today.
DR M. JALALUDDIN
Professor of Agriculture
University of Karachi
ABOUT three months ago the Indo-Pakistan Forum for Peace and Democracy (both Pakistani and Indian chapters) had decided to hold a mela (you may call it a “demonstration”) of goodwill at the Khokrapar border on Dec 23. It was decided that members of the forum from throughout Pakistan will assemble at Mirpurkhas on Dec 22 and in the morning of Dec 23 all of them will leave for the border via Umerkot and Khokrapar where they will sing songs of peace and amity with India, fly kites and light candles at sunset and, if possible, present a bouquet of flowers to the members of Indian side. Members of Indian chapter would likewise converge on the border on their side and do the same.
Permission had been taken from the director-general of Rangers to visit the border.
The members of the forum duly reached Mirpurkhas by the evening of Dec 22 and in the morning of Dec 23 they left on their mission in a convoy of cars and four-wheel drive vehicles. None of them had the foggiest idea that someone in authority would block their way and would try to prevent them from proceeding up to the border, specially in view of the on-going talks to normalize the relations with India. They were in for a shock.
When the caravan, consisting of about 40 vehicles and 250 persons, including about 30 women, reached Umerkot at 11am, it was found that the district administration was in no mood to permit them to proceed even up to Khokrapar; the district Nazim and the DPO escorted us to the rest-house in the Fort and tried to persuade us to go back. They said they had received no intimation from the relevant quarters to allow us to proceed further.
We pointed out that Khokrapar was a town well within the country and no permission of any authority should be required to move within the country but they said it was a sensitive area and, therefore, free movement was not permitted. This tussle continued till 2.15pm. In the meantime it was revealed that a lot of people had reached Umerkot from the interior of Sindh much before us but the district administration told them that the rally had been cancelled and they, therefore, returned disappointed before we reached the place. Eventually, the district administration allowed the caravan to proceed after delaying it for nearly three hours.
It is difficult to fathom whose interests the district nazim and the DPO were serving in thus trying to thwart the peaceful demonstration of goodwill. Surely, the two officers were acting contrary to the policy of the federal government which is trying to normalize relations between Pakistan and India. Their negative approach needs to be condemned.
A participant
Karachi
FROM the OIC summit in Putrajaya in 2003 to the extraordinary Makkah summit in December, the Muslim world has been talking about how it should react to the situation that has emerged in the wake of 9/11, with particular reference to the distorted image of Islam in the West and the increasing hostility shown to Muslims in many non-Muslim countries. It has been considered important and urgent to rejuvenate the OIC, not only in view of the challenges thrown up by recent events, but also because the organization has lost credibility and relevance, even in Muslim societies.
Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf is one among a handful of Muslim leaders who support awareness and tolerance in the masses and possess a definite vision for the emancipation of the world of Islam. The president recently expressed his views on the subject at the OIC summit in Makkah. He has said that with a new name, a new charter and more resources, the OIC could become a forward-looking, dynamic organization. He has also assured the summit of Pakistan’s complete support for the need to change the organization’s name, as he feels the present name does not convey the weight, power and importance of the organization.
Since it is the perception that counts, it would be in the fitness of things to substitute the term “Islamic” which denotes a “philosophical angle”, with “Muslim” which represents more of a “human face”:
Some names that could be considered in this context are: Organization of Muslim Countries (OMC), Muslim World Forum (MWF), World Muslim Forum (WMF), Group of Muslim Countries (GMC)’ Muslim World Union (MWU) and Union of Muslim World (UMW).
It is certainly very important to address the present nomenclature of the OIC as this will determine how the organization, its member-countries and their decisions and actions are perceived by the West in future.
SYED JAWAID IQBAL
Karachi
LIFTS in the State Life Square buildings in Karachi are not operated on Saturday, which is a closed day for this organization. As a result, office workers and occupants of the buildings 1-A, 1-B and 1-C suffer: 90 per cent of offices are open on Saturday.
State Life can provide the facility of a lift service on Saturdays at its own expense as it collects handsome rent, parking fee and other charges from the occupants.
KHALIL-UR-RAHMAN
Karachi
FOLLOWING Pakistan’s victory against England in the five days’ ODI series, I saw a picture of the Pakistan cricket captain shaking hands with President Musharraf and holding up a bank cheque for $2,000. Considering the enormous following of cricket, it is pathetic to see such small monetary value attached to an event like this. True, there are other benefits to the players like match fees, yet in today’s world of multi-million-dollar events in sports like football this reward is peanuts.
I wonder where the bulk of the money generated in such widely followed sports as cricket is ending up. The players need to be well rewarded. The standard of fielding in today’s cricket has gone up steeply since the 1960s/70s and players put themselves at considerable risk of injury at trying to save a four or even a single.
As an ex-captain playing at the club level in the 1960s, I can say without hesitation that it requires a lot of guts, courage and training to stop, let us say, a powerfully hit cover drive for a person standing in the cover region. For that matter, every field placing is subject to enormous onslaught and the hard cricket ball at times can be really merciless. l recall seeing one of the great Khans of the world of squash riding a Vespa scooter on his regular evening visit to the squash court at the Naval Fleet Club, Karachi, in the 1970s. It was not till Jonah Barrington, one-time world champion in squash, who launched a worldwide campaign to bring the game of squash to financial glory, that the game gained the level of prize money that it has today.
Cricket has got a much bigger following and we need someone to do to the world of cricket what the great Jonah Barrington did to the world of squash.
SHIRAZ SACHEDINA
Karachi
Car leasing and premium are being forced upon genuine buyers on the plea by dealers that a particular car is available only on lease/premium.
Leasing has brought many families hardship, including confiscation of cars by banks due to inability to pay loan instalments, created artificial demand, shortage and premium of cars.
If bank car loans worth billions of rupees had been invested in industries based on utilization of local mineral resources, lying unutilized or under-utilized, far greater long-term socio-economic benefits could be achieved for the people of Pakistan.
I hope the authorities concerned will examine this massive misuse of people’s money.
GHULAM MUHAMMAD
Rawalpindi
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