| January 14, 2006 | Saturday | Zilhaj 13, 1426 |
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Violation of CDA rules
BCom syllabus
US actions in Iraq
Snippets
‘The death of science’
Indian consulate
MBA seats
Cultivating tobacco
Phone fault
Progressive reforms
Traffic mess
THE Kalabagh dam is currently being debated in the press and electronic media and has been covered extensively. However, there are a few issues on which a clarification is necessary.
First, it has been mentioned that the right bank outlet from the Kalabagh dam will provide irrigation water for the southern districts of the NWFP. This aspect was recently highlighted by Mr Shamsul Mulk, former chairman of Wapda, in a television interview. As far as I can recall, the original design of the Kalabagh dam prepared by international/national consultants in 1984 only catered for an outlet tunnel on the left bank for irrigation of the Thal area in Punjab.
When the NWFP government inquired about the provision of an outlet on the right bank, it was informed that it was not a feasible scheme. Because of the terrain it would involve construction of tunnels and some components of lift irrigation. Consequently, the cost would be very high.
I would like to know whether a provision for an outlet tunnel on the right bank was part of the original design submitted by the consultants. If not, then at what stage was it incorporated? Second, comparative analysis has been made of the advantages and disadvantages of the Kalabagh dam versus the Basha dam. It has been pointed out, among other things, by supporters of the Kalabagh dam that Basha would be very costly as it would involve realignment of the Karakoram Highway. It would also cost more on account of transmission of power.
To arrive at a realistic conclusion it would be necessary to carry out a detailed analysis of the comparative costs involved. For example, if the cost of realignment of the Karakoram Highway and transmission of power is worked out and compared to the costs which would be incurred on the Kalabagh dam project for acquiring land and resettlement of the affected people as well as the permanent loss of income from the inundated agricultural lands, what would be the result of this comparison? This is only one example. There are numerous other costs that can be calculated and compared.
Third, a sedimentation study, especially of the Kabul river, a component of the proposed Kalabagh dam, needs to be conducted to assess the sediment deposit. This is necessary because even in 1984 when the consultants submitted their report only mathematical model studies had been carried out at Wapda’s Nandipur station. That was not considered adequate. Now that more than two decades have elapsed and reportedly the Kabul river is carrying a much higher silt load due to deforestation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, it has become imperative to conduct a fresh study through a renowned and reliable international consultant.
This is a matter of serious concern for the people of the NWFP because they apprehend that due to heavier silt loads the bed levels of the Kabul and Indus rivers, as well as of their tributaries, will rise and lead to flooding as well as waterlogging.
MUHAMMAD AZAM KHAN
Peshawar
I AM thankful to Dawn for being neutral on the Kalabagh dam issue and for printing the important TCWR report for the public.
The Kalabagh controversy can be analyzed in two ways. First, politically. The KBD is getting strong opposition from three of our four provinces. The assemblies of the opposing provinces have passed nine resolutions to oppose the KBD project. Almost all political parties, mainly the PPP, the ANP, Ponam, the MMA, the MQM, Sindhi nationalist parties oppose the project. The recent strikes and rallies in the three provinces have proved that the people of these provinces are against the dam at Kalabagh. Second, according to technical experts of the country, the KBD is the third preference after the Katzarah and the Basha dams. Technically, the KBD is not feasible. It has a high sedimentation load and hence a short lifespan/period. The KBD is uneconomical because of its high cost and short lifespan. Its design is based on an old feasibility report carried out in 1983-1988 before the 1991 Water Accord. The KBD will block the sub-surface flow of the Peshawar valley and will result in submergence of the valley. It should be noted that Wapda has accepted the flooding of Nowshera due to the back-water effect of the KBD and proposed Munda dam on the Swat river to preserve Nowshera from flooding. The land encompasses 110,200 acres and the people displaced are likely to number 250,000. These are figures much higher for Basha’s. Also, power generation of the KBD is wrongly stated to be 3,600 MW. It will be only 2,400 MW as the hydraulic head is reduced from 925 feet to 915 feet.
The estimated cost of the KBD in 2004 was stated to be $6.1 billion, the same as that estimated in 1984, ignoring the manifold rise in cost of materials and labour.
Thus the KBD is neither politically nor technically feasible. The government should concentrate on the planning and construction of the Basha dam (design period of 100 years, live storage 7.34 Maf, power generation 4,500MW) and Katzarah dam which are not only technically sound but also have the support of all the provinces.
MASOOD ZAMAN MANDOKHAIL
Lahore
THE Capital Development Authority, entrusted with the task of developing and beautifying Islamabad, seems nowadays to be doing the very opposite of it, thus increasing the city’s problems.
For instance, residents of sub-sector I-8/2, already suffering on account of the absence of a primary school, a playground and a children’s park, have been brought face to face with the problem of expansion of a small graveyard in their midst.
The graveyard has been allowed to be expanded. It seems the land grabbers’ mafia has undertaken their scheme in instalments.
This began with the removal of a Capital Development Authority display board on the site, banning further burials, perhaps to elicit public reaction. When there was silence, the objective became clear. A chunk of area from a small park has been taken away.
This was brought to the notice of the Capital Development Authority chairman who, accompanied by some of his senior officials, visited the place and assured us of action to fix a boundary around the original few graves.
He also stopped the work going on there. To our bewilderment and frustration, a wide stone-filled fort-like wall is now there for anyone to see.
This couldn’t have been possible without the CDA’s connivance. In this hopeless situation, the residents of sub-sector I-8/2, now look to higher-ups in the interior ministry to move in the matter the earliest.
RESIDENTS
SUB-SECTOR I-8/2,
Islamabad
THIS is with reference to the report “Changes in BCom syllabus approved” (Jan 7). The changes were required in the BCom syllabus to raise the standard of commerce education.
If we thoroughly study the new syllabus and compare it with the old one, it can easily be seen that we have lowered the standard of commerce education. The following are some of the points that will facilitate readers in understanding my views:
While it is good to exclude Urdu from the BCom final examination because it had no relevance to commerce education, the new syllabus merges cost accounting with advanced financial accounting, while it was studied separately in the old syllabus. Cost accounting consists of techniques, procedures and accounting records used to develop timely information about the cost of a product and of performing particular functions. When it is merged with advanced financial accounting, it means curtailing the costing syllabus. How can the authorities claim that these approved modifications will improve the standard of commerce education? All such topics as material, labour, and manufacturing overhead costs are excluded from the new syllabi.
Banking and finance that deal with the nature and functions of money, trade, inflation, international monitoring systems, importance and functions of central and commercial banks, LC, business finance, etc., have been shifted to BCom Part-II from Part-I.
I suggest we improve our examination papers. Question papers should cover the whole syllabus and major questions must be conceptual and objective in nature. Questions must be changed from year to year. When our examination structure will be strong and effective, no one will buy guide books or “solutions” of old papers.
ADNAN SAEED
Karachi
US leaders are claiming success for their controversial Iraq and Afghanistan policies following elections in the two countries. However, they should also mention the loss of millions of lives and the destruction of property. All this on the basis of faulty intelligence and false justifications.
Instead of reducing terrorism, the US actions have alienated more people all over the world.
Elections in Iraq have increased the tension between Shias, Sunnis and Kurds, thus creating political divisions, which might prolong the chaos and civil war.
The most practical way to rectify this situation is through bringing all groups together and giving equal rights to each group in governance, through consensus.
The people in power in Iraq, the OIC/UN/US are requested to look into this very important aspect of democracy and save the country from any further chaos.
S.M.H. RIZVI
Karachi
WHILE asking donations around the world for earthquake victims, the president and the prime minister of Pakistan are buying for themselves aircraft costing millions of dollars.
The NWFP law minister and a federal minister recently hosted lavish wedding feasts to celebrate the marriage of their nephew and son, respectively, in violation of the government/Supreme Court ban on wedding meals.
The NBP writes off a Rs9.42 million loan of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), one of the richest organizations of the country (Dawn, Dec 30, 2005).
A sum of Rs1.2 million was paid to the PIA chairman as reward for his “outstanding performance”, while PIA suffered losses during the period (Dawn, Dec 31, 2005).
A PIA spokesman says that the reward was given by PSO and not PIA (Dawn, Jan 4).
ABDUL SAMAD KHAN
Karachi
THE state of affairs in our educational institutions with particular reference to “imparting scientific knowledge” as revealed by Zubeida Mustafa in “The death of science” (Dec 21, 2005) is extremely depressing. She is absolutely correct that “science” is an antidote to irrational thinking and obscurantist behaviour, from which Muslim societies on the whole are suffering these days.
The existing backwardness of the Muslim world is a precise reflection of our apathy towards learning, although Islam lays great emphasis on acquisition of knowledge and learning. The first Surah revealed to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) begins with the words “O Muhammad Read in the Name of your Lord, who created you — created man, out of a mere clot of congealed blood. Read! And your Lord is Most Bountiful — He Who taught the use of the Pen taught man that which he knew not.”
A recent study shows that 800 million Muslims, or 60 per cent, are illiterate compared with only 20 per cent Christians. The 57 Muslim majority countries have average of only one college or institute of higher learning for every 2.3 million people, whereas India, with a similar population, has 13 times that number.
Over the past 105 years, 1.4 billion Muslims have produced six Nobel laureates and a mere 14 million Jews have produced 167 — 151 in science alone. Muslims constitute 22 per cent of the world’s population, but have only one per cent share of Nobel prizes, whereas the Jews constitute less than one quarter of one per cent of the world population but have a 22 per cent share of Nobel prizes. According to the UN Arab Development Report, half of Arab women cannot read, one in five Arabs live on less than $2 a day; only one per cent of the Arab population has a personal computer and only half of one per cent use Internet which is worse than anywhere but sub-Saharan Africa. At least six of the poorest of the poor countries have Muslim majority populations.
On the economic front situation is equally bad as the combined annual GDP of 57 Muslim countries remains under $2 trillion. Oil-rich Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar collectively produce goods and services (mostly oil) worth $430 billion; The Netherlands alone has a higher annual GDP, while Thailand produces goods and services worth $429 billion.
During the eighth and ninth centuries Muslims attained the height of knowledge and wisdom. Distinguished scientists and scholars of the mediaeval Muslim world produced great works in the fields of astronomy, astrology, geography, alchemy, mathematics, chemistry, philosophy, etc., and their works are the basis of the modern empirical science.
The only way out for us is to acquire knowledge and learning, which is incumbent on every Muslim, by placing more emphasis on the study of modern sciences so as to explore the universe for the welfare of mankind.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
DR S. M. Ismail is of the opinion that science in Pakistan died on Sept 5, 1965 (Dawn, Jan 2). We are in complete agreement with him that on account of the war of Sept 6, 1965 national resources were then directed to fight the aggression.
But the pertinent point is that the institutions and systems for running and managing the affairs of a country do not die after a war is over. These are rebuilt and restored for the uplift of the country. Britain and other countries of Europe affected by World War II did their best not only to revive their national institutions but also to improve them.
We did nothing after 1965 to set up laboratories and training of science teachers until the establishment of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for the promotion of science and technology.
It serves no useful purpose to hark back to the 1960s and fail to notice the sea change taking place for the promotion of science and technology in the public universities. This is expected to improve our socio-economic condition, particularly by adopting modern means and methods in agriculture on which 60 to 70 per cent Pakistanis depend for their livelihood.
DR M. JALALUDDIN & DR SULTAN-UL-ABEDIN
University of Karachi
THE government should take positive steps to reopen the Indian consulate in Karachi to facilitate the people of Sindh and Balochistan to get Indian visas without going to Islamabad. I suggest that the Indian government should relax its policy for Pakistani visitors and allow them to visit any number of cities instead of restricting them to apply for specific cities.
Moreover, police reporting should be done only once instead of the present multiple reporting when a Pakistani goes to or leaves an Indian city.
ASHFAQ SHARIF
Karachi
SOME time back Karachi University had conducted an entry test for the MBA programme. There were only 50 seats for which 2,000 candidates appeared. The university had cancelled the donor seats this year.
Karachi University has already cancelled the interview process and selected candidates without any interviews.
This has created doubts among candidates about the procedure for selection.
We request the Sindh governor and the education minister to order a fresh MBA entry test, and increase the number of seats to at least 200.
CONCERNED STUDENTS
Karachi
I WAS saddened to read in Dawn (Jan 5) that the Pakistan Tobacco Board is still active and promoting the cultivation of tobacco. Pakistan is a signatory to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The PTB should be thinking about a tobacco-free future and helping farmers find alternate crops.
N. A. JAFAREY
Karachi
I have lodged a complaint on 18, contacted the lineman, supervisor, SDO and DE for my office during the last one month but my phone 5742727 is still out of order. What else do I need to do to get it fixed?
SOHAIL AKRAM
Lahore
PRESIDENT Gen Pervez Musharraf, as an enlightened leader, rightfully wishes to see Pakistan emerge and move in step with the rest of the civilized world and be counted as an equal among the comity of nations. Unfortunately, every step taken to accomplish this vision is vehemently opposed by short-sighted mullahs.
First, it was the idea of repeal of or amendment to the Hudood Ordinance proposed by the president that evoked street demonstrations by the religious parties, backed by the readily available, rapidly deployable force of madressah students. Then came the meeting of Pakistan’s foreign minister with his Israeli counterpart in Egypt, the exclusion of the religion column from the passport, the holding of a mixed marathon in Gujranwala and, above all, the suspected invasion of Pakistan by a paltry Nato detachment sent for earthquake relief work.
By now it seems the clergy has run out of stamina to undertake street demonstrations. The holding of the Indo-Pakistan-Sri Lanka women’s cricket matches, the women’s netball tournament and the mixed marathon race, scheduled for next month, has not whipped up the wrath of the guardians of public morals.
The prevailing environment provides an opportunity for the president to introduce reforms that can turn Pakistan into a modern state.
SAYED GB SHAH BOKHARI
Peshawar
THE newly-built Dalmia Cement Road in Karachi is a boon for drivers. It is well built and smooth and takes motorists to Rashid Minhas Road without the bumps and potholes that existed earlier. However, as the road meets Rashid Minhas, there is a shopping mall on the left. This is a big source of nuisance and the traffic coming from the National Stadium comes to a halt.
People going into the mall park their cars on the turning, and this creates traffic jams.
Will the traffic authorities kindly see to it that cars and other vehicles are not parked at the turning so that no traffic jam is created?
JAMIL ZAHID
Karachi
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