| January 21, 2006 | Saturday | Zilhaj 20, 1426 |
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Fuel price and airlines
Jerusalem in history
Unsubstantiated comments
Double standards
Celebrating the New Year
Unexploded missile
Pushing buttons
‘Early learning in mother tongue’
Expulsion of foreign students
Traffic jam deaths
PTCL wireless service
KPT fountain
‘The Afghan mess’
Benevolent fund
In view of this, the only solution for VIP traffic is either to use helicopters or to have a long flyover from the airport to a suitable point beyond the PIDC, with a few ramps, as was offered by a Malaysian company a few months back to build on a BOT basis at its own cost of $4m/km, which could be recovered within a few years through toll.
EVERY second or third week, there is news that the government plans to exploit commercially prized railway land — topmost being the officers’ colony of Mayo Gardens in Lahore. Commercial plazas and a five-star hotel are planned to be built there, ostensibly to generate funds for the railways working at a loss.
Earlier, the railway officers’ colony at Canal Bank was similarly made over to a private party at a throwaway price, but little besides a revamped golf course has so far materialized, without making a dent in the railway losses.
Meanwhile, train accidents are on the rise, working in the offices has deteriorated, the morale of the officers and staff is at the lowest ebb, and, for the first time in history, railway workshop workers’ salary was reportedly embezzled by a railway policeman. The Railways Police were introduced some years ago, replacing the watch and ward over which the department had full control. The railway workshops are headed by a senior army officer.
Pakistan Railway inherited from the British an immaculate system. The organization was managed in accordance with rules laid down in codes and manuals. Recruitment of officers was through the public service commission, while staff was recruited in lower cadres strictly on merit. Promotions were given through departmental examinations, the syllabus for which was laid down.
The staff was well looked after through benevolent fund schemes and institutes, with hospitals and schools provided. Many of the schools have now been leased out to private parties, sending them beyond the reach of the railway staff, adding to their low morale. Under the circumstances no amount of cash injected through the sale of railway land will improve its working. If an organization falls sick, it is the men working it that make it so.
As a retired railway officer, I remember that when the plan to build a central station in Karachi was scrapped in the 1960s and the railways tried to divert the land acquired from the Sindh government for building a housing society, the Sindh government took back the land under the rules that provided that it could only be used for the purpose for which it was allotted. This point must be checked before leasing/selling the precious railway land in Lahore for commercial purposes.
SURAIYA HAFEEZ
Lahore
THIS has reference Mr Hanif Khan’s letter “Fuel price and airlines” (Jan 16). Contrary to what the correspondent feels, PIA is cognizant of the fluctuation in fuel prices and is cutting unnecessary costs where it matters. However, it is not cutting costs relating to in-flight and other passenger service areas; rather, it is increasing passenger services to not only win customer satisfaction but also revenues. PIA is employing the principle of convenience, comfort and competitiveness. For example, its seat factor improved from 69 per cent in 2004 to 74 per cent in 2005; its fleet utilization was higher than the worldwide industry average, made possible due to improved maintenance and without compromising on safety. Flight punctuality was 87 per cent in 2005.
PIA has obtained the IATA operational safety audit (IOSA) certification, which will pave way for the airline to enter into code-sharing and join airline alliances.
In its endeavour to reduce costs, the management has cut down on many unnecessary expenses and undergone cost-benefit-effective restructuring. The effort to renovate the airline head office is meant to make the environment more conducive for working and is an ongoing process. A lift is being installed at the head office to cater for the handicapped, elderly people and guests and it is not meant for people working in the office. This has no correlation to salaries and allowances of airline personnel.
Contrary to what the correspondent thinks, the airline industry in Pakistan is booming and the pie is getting larger, as more and more people are take to flying. This is further evident from the fact that quite a few domestic carriers have sprung up and more are scheduled to come into operation.
As regards the reference to the “colour of skin”, there is no such thing. The PIA management has always valued the ethnic traveller and endeavoured to take maximum care of all passengers.
CAPT HASSAN JAFFERY
GM, Public Affairs & Comm,
PIA, Karachi
THIS is with reference to Mr Sharif al Mujahid’s “Jerusalem in history” (Jan 8) in which he has explored the momentous past of this most significant place on earth, revered by almost all major religions of the world. He appears, however, to consider Masjid al-Aqsa as the Dome of Rock.
In fact, Masjid al-Aqsa and Dome of Rock are two separate edifices in the same neighbourhood. The Dome of Rock or Bait-ul-Sukhra (al-Sukhra means rock) is situated on a raised ground; it is known as Bait-ul-Muqaddas. On this rock a dome was built by the fifth Omayyad caliph, Abdul Malik bin Marwan (685- 705).
Masjid al-Aqsa (Aqsa literally means remotest) was built on the ruins of Haikal. It comprises a gigantic congregational hall where devotees used to offer prayers. The construction work of this mosque was completed in the days of Caliph al-Walid-I (705-715). Subsequently, renovation of the building took place in the Abbasid period and after an earthquake in 1033, reconstruction was carried out by the Fatmids of Egypt. The Bait al-Sukhra could never be used as a mosque owing to non-availability of a clear space to assemble due to the presence of a huge rock in the middle.
ALTAMASH MANZOOR H.KURESHI
Karachi
THIS is in response to Professor Gary Becker’s comments published in Dawn of Dec 12, 2005. As members of the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business community with close personal and professional ties to Pakistan, the GSB Pakistan Club regrets the comments by the respected faculty member that somehow correlate terrorism and its underlying ideology to particular nations and a selected faith.
We believe that the author did not provide any evidence that linked Pakistan to any terrorist activity, yet he was quick to pass judgement that clearly implied that the doors of opportunity in the US be heavily curtailed for Pakistani students and skilled workers.
The US is already home to thousands of Pakistani students and young professionals who are leading peaceful lives. They continue to contribute to the American experience and call the US their home. If unsubstantiated assertions, based on narrow biases and pre-conceived stereotypes, are allowed to mould public opinion, then we run the risk of alienating these many moderate Pakistanis. It would be unfortunate if this sentiment, bordering on racism, is allowed to gather momentum.
BILAL WAQAR
On behalf of the University of Chicago GSB Pakistan Club, Chicago, IL, US
ACCORDING to the rules of Karachi’s DHA, nobody is allowed to use empty plots for any function/marriage (I believe this was done to promote the business of DHA marriage lawns) but there is one plot in 15th Street off Khayaban-i-Badban in Phase-V which is used for commercial activities like marriages and fashion shows. On Jan 15 the street was closed for all traffic in the evening due to some function and even the residents of that area were not allowed to use it.
I was stopped by an ASI of the traffic police at 7pm while going home and he requested me very courteously to use an alternative route. When I reached the other side, it was blocked by barricades with the DHA logo on it.
The whole area was very heavily guarded by Rangers and personnel in black uniforms, police and a lot of private security guards.
It is not understandable how this plot is being used for commercial activities almost every week, maybe twice a week, with the knowledge of the DHA. It is a residential area and late-night functions with music playing at full volume are very disturbing.
DANYIAL AHMED
Karachi
I HAVE been living in Karachi’s Defence Phase VII for over four years now. Every year on New Year’s Eve, I return home to find tankers and containers blocking every other road forcing me (and many others) to take longer alternate routes.
Khayaban-i-Ittehad, the road that leads to Sea View, is completely sealed off. What I don’t understand is why does the government want to prevent revellers from going to the beach and celebrating New Year’s Eve — something that happens in cities with beaches the world over.
People have the right to celebrate the advent of the New Year on the beach if they so wish. Given that many come from the middle or the lower middle class, they don’t have other options. It’s a shame to see the police doing their best to curb the enthusiasm of such people — all this as the TV channels broadcast New Year celebrations from across the world.
Next time around, hopefully the government will properly organize this event, and make the beach more secure and enjoyable.
DR S. A. ABBASI
Karachi
A PHOTOGRAPH on the front page of Dawn on Jan 15 showed an old man and some boys standing among the rubble of a destroyed mud house, posing next to an unexploded missile reportedly of US origin.
The missile was in upright position indicating that it had been placed that way specifically for the photograph.
Unexploded bombs and missiles are extremely dangerous and can detonate at the slightest disturbance.
Any professional security agency would have cordoned off a security perimeter to secure the area before trying to render the munition safe.
K. HUSSAN ZIA
Mississauga,
ON, Canada
PRESIDENT Musharraf pushed a button to start the highest water fountain in the world in a city which has probably the highest number of potholes. The president also pushed a button to start the draw of plots for Taiser Town. I wonder why for such a small occasion he caused problems for residents of the city.
DR KHALID BUTT
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the article ‘Early learning in mother tongue’ by Zubeida Mustafa (Jan 18). I am afraid I do not agree with her at all regarding the introduction of English in the early school years. Young children have an enormous capacity to learn languages as you can be see in European countries like Germany, France and Italy where children may learn up to seven languages in school.
My parents learnt Urdu, Arabic and Persian in their early school years, besides speaking Punjabi, their mother tongue, and learning English. Children learn their mother tongue, be it Punjabi, Sindhi or any other, if the parents speak it at home. The children will learn Urdu as they watch quite a bit of TV and will interact with people who speak Urdu all the time. However, English can only be taught at school and to think that can be introduced later is to be to overly optimistic.
That is why when one sees and hears on television news reporters or presenters talking in English one wonders where they learned the language. I, however, agree that whether the other curriculum should be in English or not is a matter that needs to be researched further. Secondly, the notion that parents should speak to their children in English is misplaced.
My view is that we are a nation which has not yet shaken off the yoke of British occupation. There is a great amount of hypocrisy in blaming the West for everything but at the same time making great attempts to speak English well. English should be learnt because it as an international language and is necessary for us to succeed in today’s world and should not be seen as a status symbol.
DR AZRA MAHMUD
Dublin, Ireland
PAKISTAN’s policy of expelling foreign students from madressahs seems to have come following the 7/7 London attacks. At that time, the foreign minister, in response to a question as to whether the bombers had any links with madressahs in Pakistan had said that the attackers had lived all their lives in the UK and become radicalized there, and if one of them had visited Pakistan for a month, that did not mean that the madressahs here were involved.
The question that comes to mind is that if the radicals living overseas are not connected with our religious schools, then what is the need really to expel foreign madressah students, especially since such a policy may well have its own negative impact. Regulation of madressahs is a better alternative.
KALEEM AHMED RIAZ
Karachi
In this way VIP traffic could use this flyover for short times, stopping other traffic during such periods, thus avoiding traffic jams on Sharea Faisal and other connecting roads.
After its cost is recovered, it could be utilized for operating LRT in two lanes, while the remaining two lanes could continue to cross-subsidize the LRT. Rails and other essential features could be fixed initially during the construction, filling the flange recess with bitumen to avoid any difficulty.
S.M.H. RIZVI
Karachi
A COUPLE of letters have appeared in these columns regarding the PTCL wireless service.
I have also been a victim of the overrated publicity of this system. I had the service installed at my residence mainly to keep the main landline free.
It has been now more than six months and all attempts to get an Internet connection through this service even by PTCL experts have proved futile.
The phone is now only a landline connection which was never really the requirement. TALAT RAHIM
Karachi
THIS refers to a KPT advertisement (Dawn, Jan 14) and your editorial (15 Jan). The president inaugurated the KPT fountain, built near Clifton beach, on Jan 15. What an irony. While the government is asking for donations around the world for earthquake victims, the KTP — an organization under government control — spends Rs225 million on the fountain just to shoot up sea water over 620 feet.
The fountain, tallest in the world, is said to be a “testimony to the president’s vision and will go a long way in making Pakistan a great destination”. But this achievement will not obliterate Pakistan’s image as the second most corrupt country and one of the 30 poorest countries of the world.
The KPT advertisement further states that “this gift will be cherished by the people of Karachi for years to come”. But how could it be a “gift” to the people and from whom? Anything developed/constructed at the cost of public money cannot be a ‘gift’ to the public.
Such projects are of no significance to the common citizen.
ABDUL SAMAD KHAN
Karachi
THE recent opening of a water fountain at Clifton Beach in Karachi by the Karachi Port Trust at a cost of Rs225 million is mind-boggling. Imagine the number of poor families that could have been given much-needed financial aid out of this money. We have in Karachi broken roads, missing or broken foot paths, gutters with no covers and tons of garbage lying around but we still are able to find Rs225 million to build a water fountain. The analogy that comes to mind is of a person spending a lot of money to buy a designer tie and not having money left over even to buy a pair of decent shoes.
KAUSAR S. KHAN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to your editorial “The Afghan mess” (Jan 18). It contains a factual error. The attack carried out in Kandahar that killed three Afghan National Army soldiers was not a suicide blast. The governor of Kandahar had told a news conference soon after the attack that it was carried out by a remote-control device.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for it as well and their self-styled spokesman Yousaf Ahmadi also clarified media reports saying that it was caused by a bomb fitted to a handcart and was not a suicide attack.
DAUD KHATTAK
Kabul
APROPOS of a letter(Oct 14, 2005) regarding non-payment of the benevolent fund, the reply is still the same: “Funds not received, find out next month.” The funds are payable on a monthly basis and the last payment was made up to and for January 2005.
We appeal to the authorities to be considerate to old citizens and provide funds as early as possible.
AFFECTED
Karachi
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