| December 29, 2005 | Thursday | Ziqa’ad 26, 1426 |
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Stranded Pakistanis
Pakistan cricket team
Hospital complaint
Solid waste management
Israel in Europe
CSS examinations
Metric system of time
‘Signal-free’ road
KESC matters
Tea smuggling
Electricity supply
Taiser Town ballotting
Basic banking account
AT present passions are extremely high on both sides of the divide on the issue of the Kalabagh dam. Fears are being expressed that even the federation of the country itself is at stake. Unfortunately we as a nation lack in imagination and innovative thinking on national issues, whether political or economic. As it is, the debate on Kalabagh is not likely to end any time soon, while the existing Tarbela and Mangla dams are fast losing their storage capacities.
Till the matter of future dams is settled we must resort to thinking about alternative methods to tackle the problem. One method could be to augment our present water resources by dredging the bottoms of upstream river beds and lakes. The sand and mud accumulated due to silting are not difficult to remove. Dredging machinery is mounted on floating crafts as well as on plants mounted on land. The material removed from the bottom can be utilized in raising the banks of lakes and the rivers.
There are various type of dredging machines known as bucket- ladder dredge, suction dredge, dipper dredge and grab dredge. In the case of the construction of the Panama Canal, the dipper dredge method was used. Dredging vessels for lakes and rivers can be conveniently made in our shipyard in pieces to be assembled at site.
As regards the efficient utilization of irrigation water we must get rid of old inefficient methods and quickly resort to drip and sprinkle irrigation systems in addition to lining of canals and watercourses. This will increase our irrigation efficiency about three-fold. This is the only way we can avoid the impending crises.
SYED FEROZ SHAH
Karachi
FOR a long time it has been a tradition in Pakistan for the security establishment to declare civilian political leaders as and national security risks. In the 1950s it was Fazlul Haq and H.S. Suhrawardy, in the 1960s it was the turn of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in the 1970s and 1980s it was the turn of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and in the 1990s Benazir Bhutto was stigmatized as a national security risk. Quite recently it was the turn of Nawaz Sharif who was accused of revealing national secrets to foreign leaders.
However, till today, nobody has questioned the establishment on the definition of “national security risk”. Is it not true that the Kalabagh dam project that the establishment is building is universally opposed in the three smaller provinces? Is it not enough that three provincial assemblies have passed resolutions against it? Why is the military so intent on breaking every bond that binds the provinces together? The people of Sindh are already heavily antagonized. The most popular political party, with the largest number of seats, has been denied the right to govern, and districts have been bifurcated.
The military is already engaged in conflicts in the NWFP and Balochistan. Will the current attempts to build the KBD not take things in Sindh to boiling point? By any definition the military establishment’s attempt to build the dam at the expense of the goodwill of the people of the smaller provinces may harm national security and harmony.
TAHIR JAFFER KHAN
Lahore
MR S. Faiyazuddin Ahmad in his letter (Dec 21) stresses that repartition of “stranded Pakistanis” is required under an ideology because South Asian Muslims stood as one solid rock behind the Quaid-i-Azam from Peshawar to Ras Kumari and from Quetta to Chittagong.
If an ideology was the force behind the creation of Pakistan, then why that ideology did not work in 1971 and save Pakistan from disintegration only two decades after its inception?
The correspondent considers the denial of the right to come to Pakistan a betrayal. The first hurdle was placed by prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan under the Liaquat-Nehru Pact in 1950. Under the agreement a ban was imposed on cross-border migration.
The fact is that South Asian Muslims trusted the Quaid and struggled under the flag of the All-India Muslim League.
The Quaid achieved two objectives. One was the creation of Pakistan comprising the subcontinent’s Muslim majority areas and the other ensuring security of minorities in India.
There was no mention of all South Asian Muslims coming to Pakistan because it was impossible and illogical.
There was much sympathy for the refugees who went to East Pakistan at the time of partition.
Many families underwent a severe trauma during the 1947 riots in Bihar from where they initially moved to Kolkata and finally migrated to East Pakistan.
But during the 1971 crisis they were pitched against the people of Bangladash with whom they had shared their socio-economic life. They are being misguided by leaders and journalists even today.
MANZOOR CHANDIO
Karachi
THE Pakistan cricket team is growing by the day in stature and esteem. It is remarkable to note the distance that Pakistan has come in the past 12 months.
Indeed Pakistan’s success in the recently-concluded series can be attributed to the collective efforts of the players who had welded themselves into a formidable combination and played with a fierce collective passion. Every player made a valuable contribution as England were outgunned in every department.
Inzamam has been in ripe form showing great poise at critical junctures. The visitors were almost resigned to the fact he would score runs as they failed to break through his masterful defence. He is being mentioned by cricket pundits like Imran Khan in the same breath as Lara and Tendulkar. Inzamam has excelled as a captain as well. Calm and very soft-spoken, he inspires trust among players.
Shoaib’s passion and commitment had been the driving force behind Pakistan winning the series. It was nice to see him creating trouble for the opposition batsmen rather than for himself and the Pakistan Cricket Board.
It seems that he has learnt to control his wild side. He was outstanding and looked like taking a wicket with almost every delivery. England’s batsmen were kept on tenterhooks throughout the series by his subtle variations.
Kamran Akmal came to the party when it mattered most. As an opener he appears to be thriving on the responsibility, and the way he hacked England’s bowling attack to pieces by him he seems to be one who could fill Gilchrist’s boots. He has shown the ambition and dedication needed to reach the top.
Our team is going from strength to strength and this is only the beginning of the success story. Pakistan cricket is on the verge of something very special, a golden era.
NIZAMUDDIN DEHLIVI
Jaranwala
WITH reference to the letter (Dec 24) by Dr Farhat Abbas, medical director of the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), in response to the complaint published in Dawn (Dec 20) about my mother’s treatment, it is a pity that AKUH could find all the relevant information within 48 hours of publication of the letter but could not respond to my three letters dated Oct 24, Nov. 1 and 2 and several emails by Dr Ashfaq Razzaq despite having our contact details.
I do not agree with many aspects of Dr Abbas’s response. The reality is that AKUH did not agree to admit the patient and undertake surgery until part-payment was made and the rest assured.
The claim that the complications suffered by my mother in CCU were age-related or due to other medical conditions is inaccurate. The fact is that the stated life-threatening complication occurred owing to the failure of monitoring of blood electrolyte levels and had no association with age or other illness.
As a clinician and someone who has worked for the institution, I fell it is high time AKUH made efforts to address the underlying issues in clinical and administrative mismanagement which should be unacceptable at any hospital, leave alone one that claims to provide world-class care.
RAFAT HUSSAIN
Associate professor,
University of New England,
Australia
DR M. Jalaluddin’s suggestions (Dec 27) on solid waste management are indeed very good. They promise employment and also will provide a product badly needed for our agriculture.
Philanthropists and conscious individuals should certainly give his suggestions serious consideration.
Additionally, I would suggest that we have a large arid hinterland which could do with proper management of organic waste and run-off water to increase agricultural production.
We should seriously consider diverting our drainage system to move inland rather than polluting our sea. It takes as much energy to move matter either way because we do not have a steep enough slope for it to move to the sea.
Likewise, we can as easily move the run-offs to the hinterland which will help “green” it and plant trees on both sides of nullahs to provide fruit, fuel and furniture.
As is being done in Canada, we should require householders to bag their organic waste in separate bags which could then be picked up by compost companies or the city government as a first stage separation, leaving the glass, plastic, metals and paper for the rag pickers.
NIZAR MECKLAI
Newmarket, Ontario
THIS is apropos of Mr S.M. Kazim Naqvi’s letter “Israel in Europe” (Dec 19), on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s views suspecting the very idea of Jews’ persecution in World War II as a farce and disputing their unlawful settlement by the Allies in Palestine. He is right that the Jews could have been settled in Uganda or somewhere else instead of Palestine, which now they claim to be their “right of inheritance”.
Mr Naqvi, however, has fallen into serious error while describing the history of Palestine. Prophet Jacob shifted from Palestine to Egypt along with his entire family, which was stated to comprise 68 persons, on the request of his son Prophet Joseph, as he had already relented towards his refractory brothers, accepting their apologies. This is elucidating in Surah Al-Yousif (91), (92) and (93) as under:
“They said: By Allah, verily Allah hath preferred you above us, and we were indeed sinful”. Yousif said: “Have no fear this day. May Allah forgive you, and He is the most Merciful of those who show mercy. Go with this shirt of mine and lay it on my father’s face, he will become (again) a seer; and come back to me with all the members of your family”.
At that time of migration, Prophet Joseph (18th century BC) was allocated the important portfolio of a minister in the cabinet of the king who at that time was of the non-local Amalikite dynasty.
The Jews enjoyed complete ascendancy in Egypt till the country was conquered by a warring clan of the northeast Egyptian delta, the Pharaohs (14th century BC).
The population of Jews in Egypt over a period of 500 years multiplied and in the days of the Prophet Moses their male population alone was 600,000.
It was Pharaoh Rameses II, then his son Mernepath (13th century BC) who oppressed the Jews. In the days of Pharaoh Marnepath the Exodus finally took place. In their period in Egypt, they held political sway and enjoyed the best of everything.
After getting freedom from bondage, the Jews by the time of Prophets David and Solomon (10th century BC) were well established and prospering in the lands comprising Palestine. It was after the death of Prophet Solomon that they put aside all his teachings and were subject to the anger of God Almighty. Their great kingdom was divided and ultimately destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (589 BC), the cause of the first Diaspora.
In 1917 (not 1916) Great Britain, partly out of sincere sympathy for Zionism and partly in an effort to rally Jewish support for the Allies in World War I, offered David Ben Gurion and his fellow Zionist the first concrete opportunity to realize their dream of creating a ‘Jewish homeland’.
In a 117-word note to Lord Walter Rothschild, head of the British branch of the great Jewish banking family, Arthur Balfour, Lloyd George’s foreign secretary, promised: “His Majesty’s government views with favour for the establishment in the Palestine of the national home for the Jewish people.” The promise is known as the Balfour Declaration.
ALTAMASH MANZOOR
H. KURESHI
Karachi
THIS refers to Mr Waqas Ahmed Langah’s letter “Revamping CSS exams” (Dec 20). The correspondent has rightly said that some federal departments should be added to the CSS groups like the Intelligence Bureau, FIA, NAB and the Pakistan motorway police.
Doing this will increase the number of seats and give the qualifying candidates some assurance of getting a job.
He has further pleaded for major changes to the system of examination, such as the relaxation of age up to 30 years, ending the quota system and discarding optional subjects.
Except for the age limit, I think that the other provisions should stay because our educational standard is not at a level where we can take a decision like doing away with the quota system.
Every province has its own educational standard and even the cities have their own, so we cannot assume all the candidates to be of equal calibre.
Discarding optional subjects will make this examination easy and the candidates will not make the effort that they should for the superior services.
SOHAIL AHMED PATHAN
Hyderabad
THE world rightly opted for a metric system for most measures (except time), doing away with haphazard measures in the old units.
Priority should now be given to introducing a metric measure of time with each day having 10 metric hours instead of the present 24 hours.
Each metric hour may have 100 metric minutes with each metric minute of 100 metric seconds thus making a day of 100,000 metric seconds, instead of the present 86,400 seconds.
MADHU AGRAWAL
Delhi
WHILE city nazims all over the country want to convert as many portions of roads as possible into “signal-free” roads, pedestrians are literally dying to cross such roads. In the past, the signals provided a place to cross when they turned red but now there is no respite in traffic.
City nazims are requested not to make any more road portions signal-free unless they also implement plans at the same time on how pedestrians will cross those roads.
ANJUM FASIH
Karachi
TO our good fortune the KESC has been privatized and the new management has assumed charge. The actions of the CEO reported so far are commendable and in the right direction.
However, the old elements in the lower management cadres, short on integrity and efficiency, may seek to influence the new management and jeopardize the process of change.
The KESC should remember the old proverb: “The wise learn from others’ mistakes.”
AN ENGINEER
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter “Tea smuggling” (Dec 27). The menace of smuggling is slowly destroying local industry. From the border with China in the north, and along with the frontier with Iran and Afghanistan, practically everything is being smuggled into the country.
The only solution to end the menace is to reduce custom duties and taxes to such an extent that smuggling becomes unprofitable.
SHAKIR LAKHANI
Karachi
I WOULD like to draw the attention of the new management of the KESC towards the present miserable condition of the electricity supply in Saadi Town (in the vicinity of Malir Cantonment), Karachi.
The KESC regularized the ‘‘kunda’’ connections in our town at fixed rates in 2000, irrespective of a non-functional Pakland Society (the owner of the area). Since then, off and on teams from different offices of the KESC came and disconnected the ‘‘kundas’’ without information.
The residents of Saadi Town and their union members visited a number of KESC offices about proper installation of poles and about planning for the area.
A map of our town was also sent up. The KESC high-ups told us that until the society concerned agreed on payment of a big amount, no pole would be installed in our town. The society is taking no interest in this matter. Still we saw that six months ago five poles with wires were installed on Street 14 without any planning. Nobody has benefited by these poles.
It is a matter of debate that thousands of katchi abadis and goths currently benefit from the “kunda” system, even in the vicinity of our town, but no official money is paid by them to the KESC whereas the residents of Saadi Town have submitted applications for new connections and are currently paying their bills after the regularization of ‘‘kunda’’ connections but are living under pressure.
It is not fair to disconnect ‘‘kunda’’ connections without prior intimation. If necessary, the KESC could arrange checking or rechecking after three months but this should be done in a systematic way.
MRS IFFAT ALI AKBAR
Karachi
IT is regrettable that the Malir Development Project (MDP), Karachi, has collected millions of rupees from people for allotting plots in Taiser Town through balloting but more than three months have elapsed and there is no sign of balloting.
A couple of weeks ago it was announced that balloting would be held but for unknown reasons it was cancelled.
As Taiser Town is planned for low-income people, balloting must be fair through an agency like Nadra so that poor people may be benefited.
MUHAMMAD LATIF MEHDI
Karachi
QUOTED in the article “No major changes likely in monetary policy” (Economic & Business Review, Dec 12-18), is the former SBP governor, Mr Ishrat Hussain, who had announced a new basic banking account for small savers in the banks which could be opened with only Rs1,000. Small savings banking accounts are the need of all citizens because the reasons that maintaining a minimum of Rs5,000 to Rs10,000 to have a bank account is not possible in these days of an ever-rising cost of living.
The newly-appointed governor must not be unmindful of the economic conditions prevailing in our country. The announcement of the former governor must be implemented immediately to help small savers. If the proposed amount is further reduced to Rs500, it will be a blessing.
GHEEWALA
Karachi
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