| January 16, 2006 | Monday | Zilhaj 15, 1426 |
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Fuel price and airlines
Science in the Muslim world
Clifton beach park
NBP and the PCB
‘Call out the fire brigade’
Kalabagh controversy
Isn’t it strange?
A pedestrian’s plea
New universities
Time to tell the public
APROPOS of Mr Kunwar Khalid Yunus’s comment “Karachi turning into a ghetto” (Jan 10), I agree that any city, not just Karachi, should have proper planning to ensure comfortable, hygienic and peaceful living far all residents.
However, a few of his statements are contradictory and contentious. For example, on the one hand, he has talked of Mumbai’s overpopulation, dirty and irregular settlements and resemblance to Karachi, on the other hand he has praised the authorities in Maharashtra for formulating policies as far back as 1955 which, he says, shifted the pressure of migration on Mumbai to places all over India. If that were true, things would not have been as bad as they actually are.
Incidentally, the same issue of Dawn contained a report titled “India’s richest city struggles to cast off Slumbai slur.” It shows that slums cover more than a third of that city of 17 million, “blighted by decades of urban neglect.”
Reportedly, there are 45,000 migrant workers flooding into that city every month, compared to the writer’s estimate of 25,000-30,000 for Karachi, whose population he has put at over 15 million, although a more realistic figure appears to be 12 million. Only 20,000 houses have been built for slum dwellers in Mumbai during the last 15 years against the actual need of 1.5 million, revealed a former Indian government adviser.
Visitors to Mumbai say there are more street dwellers over there than in Karachi. Things aren’t as good in India as some people make them out to be, as was also noted by an American friend of Mr Shahid Javed Burki after a visit to India, whom the latter quoted in a recent column.
In addition to listing some other factors responsible far Karachi’s problems, Mr Yunus has also tried to shift considerable blame on to the federal government and Punjab by saying two things. One, “Punjab has not bothered to settle its own rural provincial population in its capital or in other cities”, implying it wants them go to Karachi and, second, “the federal government has to come to the rescue of Karachi in a way seen in Islamabad and Lahore. Both are almost free of katchi badis.” This appears to suggest that the two have colluded to keep these cities slum-free at the cost of Karachi.
Tokyo, Jakarta, Tehran, Manila, Dhaka, Bangkok, Seoul and Shanghai are some of the other Asian cities that have attracted a huge number of rural people, many of them containing nearly 10-20 per cent of their entire country’s population. Therefore, Karachi’s size as the hub of Asia’s fourth most populous city is no surprise. An extraordinary complicating factor is that the Afghan, Burmese and other refugees and Bangladeshi economic migrants in this city number around three million, i.e., about 25 per cent of its population, so, the rural Pakistanis aren’t really to blame.
The legislator had also cited an example where, according to him, whenever attempts were made to remove a slum located behind the Hydri shopping area in Karachi, “political pressure from powerful Islamabad quarters thwarted he operation.” I remember that in the 1990s when the MQM was in power over here, one of its ministers was approached by some people urging him to order the shifting of a factory set up illegally in a residential area of Karachi that was a source of great pollution.
The minister said there were hundreds of people working in that factory and shifting it would cause a big social problem. Didn’t that amount to condoning a totally unlawful act that was causing health problems like TB, asthma and other respiratory illnesses to hundreds of law-abiding residents in a large neighbourhood for no fault of theirs?
Evidently, Islamabad or Punjab must not be held responsible for anything that goes wrong in Karachi or elsewhere in the country. Mr Yunus must realize that Karachi, being a port city as well as an industrial and commercial centre, offers employment opportunities that attract people from inside and outside Pakistan, just as happens in Mumbai.
We must be thankful for these opportunities which were also availed of by the migrants from India after 1947, causing much resentment to the old Sindhis. Karachi is a mini-Pakistan and solutions can and must be found to remove the difficulties of its residents and turn it into another Tokyo through selflessness, love, proper planning and hard work but without ethnic or provincial biases.
M.Y KHAN
Karachi
THE rise in fuel prices is a reality which the airlines of the world have to learn to live with. Cutting costs that relate to in-flight passenger services is not the answer, but will only lead to further loss of revenues. These are times where airlines have to restrain themselves from adding up their liabilities by delaying acquisition of expensive new aircraft. These aircraft, though fuel-efficient, involve huge capital investment and this advantage is offset by subsequent payment schedules that drain the airlines ability to offer essential passenger services.
The only option left is to continue to offer these services and cut down on huge corporate expenses. Passengers are not bothered if the airline head office does not have an escalator to the first floor executive corridor, or with the luxurious perks and privileges of their executives.
Airline hubs need to be relocated to points where bulk of revenue passenger and cargo traffic originates so as to cut costs involved in positioning of aircraft. An airline that fails to take tough commercial decisions and is hostage to political agendas will fade out because this is a luxury that the industry cannot afford.
The aviation industry of Pakistan is in a serious crisis. The ground reality is that there is no scope for tourism as long as the law and order situation persists and the confidence of tourist is not restored. The Oct 8 earthquake has further aggravated the situation because the northern areas are not easily accessible. The only revenue traffic available is the Pakistani ethnic traveller, which the management of our national airline does not seem to be interested in. A commercial airline must only be interested in its revenue and not the colour of skin of those who pay for their services. Airlines need to hire executives familiar with aviation and enough experience to assess both employee requirements and passenger priorities.
The government of Pakistan as the majority share-holder needs to set its priorities right if it wants to sustain and keep the national flag carrier flying.
HANIF KHAN
Norholt, Middlesex, UK
ACCORDING to your editorial “Science in the Muslim world” (Jan 8), the conference held at Karachi has called on the OIC to establish institutions for scientific research. Earlier, the OIC summit, concluded on Dec 9 in Makkah, decided to take steps towards developing science and technology and to narrow the gap between Muslim countries and the developed world. In the summit, President Musharraf underscored the need for establishing a network of centres of excellence in science and technology in the Muslim world and King Abdullah expressed the desire to revive the past glory of the Muslim ummah.
It is heartening that the government of Pakistan took immediate step to implement the OIC recommendations by deciding to establish six engineering universities of international standard in collaboration with world class centres of excellence. This step will usher in an era of science and technology in the country. Some of the OIC countries, which are endowed with natural resources, are in a position to set up similar universities in each of the 57 Muslim countries. It is hoped they will also show a positive response.
Regarding your remarks about Muslims having led the world in science when Europe was still in the dark ages, I would say that in our history of 1,500 years the eminent Muslim scientists can be counted on finger tips. It is true that they produced valuable works in their respective fields appropriate to their times, but the knowledge was taken over and overtaken by Europeans and we quietly bypassed the Renaissance and Industrial Revolution. Consequently, as noted by Syed Mohibbullah Shah in “An agenda for the OIC” (Dec 23), “OIC countries with 20 per cent of world population produce less than five per cent of global wealth. The Ottoman and Mughal empires once accounted for 30 per cent of world wealth” (though it was never spent on education, science and technology). The Muslims comprising 20 per cent of the world population have produced less than 10 Nobel laureates, while the Jews with a total population of only 20 million have about 160.
Ms Zubeida Mustafa, in her article “The death of science” (Dec 21), says: “Science forms the foundation of technology and if the society has to progress it will have to teach science to create technology.”
Probably the above reasons prompted the Muslim autocracies not to promote science and hopefully they would not deter the OIC countries to make investments in the development of science and technology.
FAQIR AHMAD PARACHA
Peshawar
THE newly-inaugurated Clifton beach park in Karachi is a splendid addition to the city’s landscape. However, it becomes obvious after paying a single visit that it was opened to the public in haste. It lacks all the basic amenities. Whether it is toilets, a prayer place or a shop, there is virtually nothing inside.
The western half of the park does not have a single trash can and a majority of its lawns are not yet green.
The most alarming problem requiring immediate attention is the presence of sewerage water taps in the lawns. These taps are in abundance and do not bear any warning signs. I am quite sure that more than 75 per cent even of literate visitors to the park do not know that the taps discharge sewage water for watering the lawns, let alone illiterate visitors and children. In the absence of availability of water for washing and drinking purposes, use of these taps for such purposes is an obvious possibility. I wandered from gate to gate to find someone responsible enough to take charge of the situation but couldn’t get anyone except for a few security people at the entrance, who had no idea as to who was in charge.
I hope people responsible for the maintenance of the park will react to the situation by immediately making these taps inaccessible.
USAIDUR REHMAN USMANI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the news item “NAB writes off PCB’s Rs9.42m”, about the remission to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) by the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP).
The NBP did not write off any loan of the PCB. It extended a loan of Rs100 million to the PCB on Jan 7, 1996 to facilitate holding of World Cup matches where sale of tickets was entrusted to the NBP. The PCB adjusted the loan in 1997 and paid mark-up of Rs12.549 million but a portion of the mark-up was not paid by them because, according to their contention, they had a claim of Rs29.4 million for un-reconciled tickets supplied to the NBP during the World Cup matches.
In order to settle this nine-year-old dispute, which resulted from the inability of the then NBP management and the PCB to reconcile their records, the NBP agreed to forgo only its claim of mark-up of Rs9.426 million against withdrawal of the PCB’s claim against the bank.
NADEEM ILYAS
Executive vice-president, NBP,
Karachi
THE medical profession should thank Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee for blowing the danger whistle and bringing the letter of the General Medical Council (GMC), UK to the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) under the spotlight.
This matter is serious because Pakistani doctors have brought a good name to the country by their professional ability and hard work abroad, especially in the UK. They have written books which are on the websites today, they have invented surgical instruments, they are on the editorial boards of medical journals, hold important offices in international medical organizations and are major participants in medical conferences. In the UK no Pakistani doctor has been “struck off” the medical register of the GMC. They enjoy a good reputation being more sympathetic as general practioners (GPs).
Our teaching system is inter-linked to the British Royal Colleges and post-graduate studies are essential to keep us abreast. We have to take serious note of the GMC letter and take initiate and effective steps. The GMC, UK, has played a great role in establishing high medical teaching standards all along and even greater attention is being paid to this since Sir Graeme Catto took over the presidentship.
The “anonimyzed” letter to the GMC (UK) about “Decline in the standards of medical education and health services during the last 10-15 years” warns that UK citizens shall suffer if Pakistani doctors are allowed to work.
Instead of debating the above question I would suggest that for the final year MBBS examinations in Pakistan, external examiners should be appointed from the Royal Medical College of England, RMC of Glasgow, and the RMC of Edinburgh and Ireland. This step shall upgrade and maintain our standards. Such a system is in vogue in central European universities where examiners are invited from other countries. The professors are happy to come for such visits and also deliver lectures for the benefit of their colleagues, and develop personal contacts
The second complaint is about the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP). Some time back President Pervez Musharraf was invited by the college and informed about the recognition of its post-graduate degrees by the GMC (UK) at an equivalent status. The college has to confirm the claim. In order to maintain the status in future, the college has to appoint examiners from the UK.
The third complaint is about the recognition of private medical colleges by the PMDC. This matter requires a through inquiry. It is time the PMDC was re-organized to achieve similar prestige as enjoyed by the GMC in the UK.
DR A. HAYE SAEED
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Mr S.M. Naseem’s article “Kalabagh: the question of alternatives” (Jan 6) in which he has clearly given alternatives to the construction of KBD. His four arguments — investment in education sector, increasing rate of inflation, economic discontent in smaller provinces and development without basic natural resources — form a strong case against this huge project which will cost $15 billion.
However, these arguments can only work when Pakistan is not in dire need of water. Our water storage capacity is being reduced day by day and if we proceed in the same direction, we will end up with a disaster.
Though the aforementioned four points are necessary for a developed Pakistan, one wishes Mr Naseem had suggested alternatives to the construction of new water reservoirs, such as the lining of our canal system, due to which a large quantity of water is being wasted, and other such measures to increase our water storage capacity and reduce wastage of water.
IRFAN NAWAZ MEMON
Karachi
WHEN there were no development projects, there was no voice of protest raised by Nawab Bugti, Sardar Mengal or Sardar Marri. But this is un-understandable why they have started raising a hue and cry at the time when the province is witnessing mega development projects going on in full swing in Balochistan. Ever since President Musharraf took over in 1999, the allocation of developments fund for Balochistan has remained the highest as compared to Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP.
Balochistan got about 14 per cent in 2005, 12.7 per cent in 2004, 11.7 per cent in 2003, 5.1 per cent in 2002 and 2.7 per cent in 2001. As compared to Balochistan, all other province’s development quote has been reduced from two to six per cent.
Punjab has sacrificed the most. In 2001 Punjab’s share was 11.8 per cent which was reduced to 7.8 per cent in 2004 and 6.7 per cent in 2005. Similarly, Sindh’s quota was enhanced up to 12.8 per cent in 2004 as compared to its 8.1 per cent in 2002.
Statistics show that Punjab and the NWFP continue to pool their resources for Balochistan’s uplift and instead the sardars pay thanks to the central government for concentrating resources on the so far neglected Balochistan, they have started a campaign against the federation, that too with the enemy’s connivance. It means non-development suits the sardars to prolong their tyrannical rules in their territories.
Imran Jamali
Rojhan Jamali
I AM a resident of Garden East in Karachi and my apartment building is just opposite the zoological garden. The footpath adjacent to and opposite the zoo was dug up around two months ago to make way for gutter pipes. Now even after two months, I can still see the abandoned pipes and mounds of mud heaped on what was once called a “footpath”. The problem doesn’t end there. The other half of the dug up footpath is covered with filth which includes dead animals to tattered clothing and sewage water.
For students like me who have to use a bus to commute, not using that ‘garbage-path’ is unavoidable. The horrors that I and many other people have to face everyday cannot be fully expressed.
The authorities concerned should wake up, look into this grave matter and act so as to end our prolonged suffering.
AGGRAVATED RESIDENT
Karachi
APROPOS of the establishment of six new universities (Dawn, Jan 10), I appreciate the government’s decision to open these new engineering universities which will be of international standards. I would, however, like to draw the government’s attention to the fact that the existing engineering universities in Pakistan first deserve the government’s attention. Why shouldn’t their laboratories, faculty and other facilities first be brought in line with international standards?
There are many public sector engineering universities/colleges that have not yet been given accreditation status by the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) because they have not established laboratories and do not have a faculty of high standard. Shouldn‘t these institutions be developed first? After all they are also the government’s responsibility.
TAUSEEF UR REHMAN
Taxila
THE president and the prime minister had a talk with the MQM chief for about two hours after which Mr Altaf Hussain, in a telephonic speech, said that General Musharraf had told him that there shall be no KBD.
Why does the president not give such a statement to the public himself instead of telling the MQM chief to pass on the message? Mr President, tell the Pakistanis about the KBD and the action in Balochistan yourself.
DR KHALID BUTT
Karachi
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