| February 1, 2006 | Wednesday | Muharram 2, 1427 |
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Town planning
Prioritization first
Cotton committee
Wali Khan
Tribute to Allama Qasimi
Tinted car windows
Marathon madness
Rude police
Pindi U-turn
Penalizing road offenders
PIA affairs
Airline food
MR Majid Ali Khan’s proposal for setting up environment departments in the State Bank of Pakistan and in other banks is most timely and worthwhile (Jan. 28).
A news item in this newspaper informed us that the capacity for writing competent environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports among consultants is lacking (Jan 28). Hence, it is of the utmost importance for banks to set up environment departments, headed by senior qualified environmental Engineers, to examine EIA at their ends before sanctioning a loan for a project. This will be essential for protecting the environment.
The environmental protection agency (EPA) in Karachi was established in 1989. Till today, there is not an iota of improvement in the city’s environmental quality. The “smart” programme of the EPA to control industrial pollution is a total failure.
People with degrees in organic chemistry, microbiology and in medicine have intruded in the field of environmental engineering, making a mockery of the field.
Apart from banks, various institutes operating in Karachi and imparting education in computer engineering, business administration, accountancy and civil engineering should also provide education in the field of environmental engineering.
Environmental engineers will then be in all aspects of activity and would then be able to tackle environmental pollution problems, where the EPA has miserably failed.
In India, one can find highly qualified environmental engineers in all government departments, multinationals and industries.
The Sindh education department has to take the initiative in this regard by issuing notification requiring all private institutes to impart education in environmental engineering.
BILAL AHMED
Karachi
THIS refers to the news item “People made to suffer exhausting traffic mess” (Jan 10). In our cities, streets are broken, gutters are overflowing, water and electricity and gas are in short supply, education and health facilities out of reach of the poor, employment for the youth is just not available.
Conditions in villages are still worse. Whatever are in short supplies in our cities do not exist at all in villages. All deficiencies are now apparent and it is not only transportation, but all sectors are in a mess and need efforts by all to rebuild the city collectively, working directly with the eligible professionals to make it worth living for all.
The reason for this mess is that all human activities are linked and interlinked and more so in this knowledge-based era, as such, this needs evaluation of the effects and counter-effects among various projects in the city itself and simultaneously consider the effects and counter-effects of national and provincial projects over city projects and vice versa and need corrections by eligible professionals vide provisions of the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners.
As far as traffic generation is concerned, at a particular place this depends on the land use adopted there.
For example, Rashid Minhas Road, Karachi, was functioning well, but soon after the approval was given for locating the Sindbad amusement park and the Alladin amusement park they jointly generated a huge traffic on certain days in a week and this is now blocking Rashid Minhas Road for hours. Such actions and reactions between projects can only be foreseen by qualified and experienced town planners and that also when handling development in totality.
Such examples of wrong decisions can be given for all other sectors.
To develop the country, with safe and economic living, healthy and aesthetic and simultaneously to provide satisfaction and comforts to people both in cities and villages needs actions to be taken.
First, a suitable town planning law should be enacted, covering the country providing for the preparation of plans, approval of plans and implementation of plans as per letter and sprit.
Second, to train adequate number of professionals to take up town planning for cities and villages needs multidisciplinary teams of professionals through Pakistan Engineering Council and PCATP provisions, headed by the president of Pakistan in case of a “ national plan “, and headed by governors in case of” provincial plans” and headed by nazims in case of ”regional plans.”
Owing to the absence of town planning law and the resultant maladministration and corruption all over, town planning professional jobs in government and private sectors are grabbed by the mafia who manage individual projects in isolation of others.
It is time we corrected our mistakes through redevelopment using a tried tool known as ”regional planning and development” in the greater interest of the people and the country.
AFTAB MUHAMMAD KHAN
Karachi
THE incumbent Karachi city nazim has a huge task ahead of him. He has inherited a system from Karachi’s ex-nazim who had set the wheel of development in Karachi rolling. However, towards the end of his tenure, perhaps due to political expediency, the former nazim initiated/laid down foundation stones of many new projects. This is not to say that these projects weren’t necessary for the city but the hurry with which they were announced had a whiff of political aroma.
My request to the present city nazim is to undertake all such projects on an urgent basis as could not be completed during the last term. Numerous dug-up roads for months all over the city, incomplete flyovers (Hino Chowk), underpass at (Schon Circle) and the surrounding infrastructure which got affected adversely due to these overambitious undertakings should be put in order on a priority basis. Once these are done, only then should any new “adventure” be undertaken. Any fresh mega project will further aggravate the existing chaotic traffic scenario in Karachi.
If required, advice from experts from abroad should be sought as the ill-planned initiation puts a large number of people in torment and untold misery day in and day out for an extended period. The Schon Circle underpass is a classic example of utter mismanagement. Even today roads around this project are a shambles and the tile work on the underpass has yet to be started. To say the least, before emblazoning “KPT underpass” over it, the entire project should have been completed and the traffic all around streamlined. The agony of citizens should be addressed in the shortest possible time.
The least that can be done without investing heavily is to keep the city clean of garbage, wall-chalking and encroachments.
Only publicizing new projects does not constitute working for the betterment of citizens. The best possible use should be made of the resources available.
WG. CDR. (retd)
ARIF MAJEED
Karachi
I AM following with considerable interest the views of your readers and the KPT’s comments on the KPT fountain built in Karachi. Maybe, it is a welcome addition in Pakistan to be proud of, but the unilateral action by the KPT to oust the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee from its leased land on M.T. Khan Road, Karachi, is most unwelcome. The PCCC has been forced to move out of its majestic building after more than 50 years of existence to a rented plaza on main Sharea Faisal, Karachi, which from no angle is a friendly-environment cotton fibre research.
The PCCC established PICRT to extend fibre-testing facilities with the most modern equipment.
The foundation stone was laid by Khwaja Nazimuddin, the then governor-general of Pakistan, and the formal inauguration was done by Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, the then prime minister.
The PCCC has had the honour to be visited by world famous scientists and dignitaries from abroad.
In the present cotton production, the PCCC has played a very vital role, in addition to the provincial governments. Yet all this made no difference to the decision-makers.
Why has the KPT pushed the committee out of its own building and laboratories is a mystery. If the lease of the land on which the PCCC stood for over half-a-century was nearing expiry, the PCCC should have been given a chance in the national interest and not thrown out so unceremoniously.
It shows we do not attach any importance to our research institutions to maintain or protect them in all respects.
Pakistan’s economy depends on cotton production and export, which initially depends on our research institutions. Let the PCCC get back its location instead of giving it a new building to house its offices and laboratories with sophisticated equipment.
M. SHAFIQ AHMED
Karachi
ABDUL Wali Khan was a man of great political acumen and wisdom. He was most of the time misunderstood by the ruling elite.
I had not met Wali Khan nor I had come across him face to face. But one incident wanders about in my administrative portfolio.
When I was working as DC-cum-political agent, Loralai, in 1987-88, we had strictly, I mean strictly, imposed a ban on all sorts of firing, including aerial, in Loralai’s headquarters Bari and all taluka headquarters/ populated areas.
To be fair, not even aerial firing during wedding ceremonies in both Pakhtun and Baloch areas was allowed.
A couple of grooms had to spend their wedding nights in police lock-ups, so much so that my cook also saw himself behind bars for violating the orders regarding aerial firing on his son’s birth.
Mr Wali Khan was to visit Loralai on a political mission. The local leaders of his party sought an NOC for aerial firing in Loralai town, which was turned down by the SDM.
Hell was let loose and the local partymen vouched to welcome Wali Khan by heavy aerial firing.
Their leader asked his followers to find out whether the DC was discriminating against the ANP or whether the ban was for all and sundry.
His local rank and file were honest in telling him that even MNAs and MPAs were not allowed to resort to firing in the air. After this, he advised his followers to abide by the prohibition.
The end result was that the rally passed off peacefully with a sane politician in charge.
MUNAWAR OPEL
Karachi
IT was heartening to read the Dawn report “Tribute paid to Allama Qasimi” (Jan 21) about a seminar organized by that Allama Ghulam Mustafa Qasimi Chair of the Sindh University, Jamshoro, on Jan 19 to pay homage to the eminent scholar in recognition of services he had rendered for the cause of enlightenment and education.
The display of immeasurable sentiments by the rightful heirs of the Allama's legacy is praiseworthy. However, the purpose of establishing a chair in the name of a scholar will not be served by praising him or publishing his biography alone but can be appropriately served when the exalted cause for which he stood throughout his life is sustained in right earnest, i.e., the spread of knowledge and learning.
These chairs, therefore, may be authorized to function as mini-educational institutions/ centres of excellence within universities, headed by eminent scholars and working directly under the patronage of vice-chancellors. Since more emphasis is being given nowadays by the Higher Education Commission to producing at least 1,000 PhDs a year, the chairs that are now existing almost in all public sector universities should be entrusted with the assignment of producing at least 10 scholars a year in the relevant discipline (this number can be increased subject to availability of facilities).
For achieving this objective, funds may be made available by the HEC so that small libraries and other amenities can be established within the premises.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
I OFFER my sympathies to DIG Karachi Niaz Ahmed Siddiki who has been asked to stop the anti-tinted glasses campaign by Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui on the complaint of Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain, state minister for religious affairs.
As regards the reference that the minister’s car had “zero-level” tinted glass this seems to be a new term and I have never heard of it before.
The problem lies with our national character and the fact that ordinary, helpless citizens are subject to the law but the rich and the influential are above it. We all tend to cry over the sorry state of institutions in this country but the fact is that we ourselves and the politicians we elect weaken such institutions and don’t allow them to work.
LT-COL (retd) MIR SAADAT ULLAH
Karachi
I USED to hold Minister of State for Religious Affairs Aamer Liaquat Hussain in very high esteem till I read about his ‘brush’ with the police in Karachi and how he reacted to his car being stopped because it had tinted glasses and wrong number plates. To my disappointment, he is just another “alim be-amal”.
IHSAN NADIEM
Lahore
ONE must compliment your editorial (Jan 27) regarding the incident involving the minister of state for religious affairs who was caught by the police red-handed while driving illegally in a car with tinted glasses and non-standardized number plates.
The Sindh chief minister can consider apologizing to the people for his inability to implement the law which he is supposed to uphold according to the oath he has taken. Second, the prime minister could consider asking the minister concerned to account for irresponsible behaviour.
Third, the MQM party chief can consider expelling the minister.
S. AHMAD
Karachi
ONCE again, obscurantists who have been holding the country’s progress hostage to their ignorance have come out on the streets and wrecked public property. The usual baton charge and arrests have followed. In a few days we will revert back to normal and these people will be free to terrorize the people once again. I must confess I am impressed by their boundless energy and free time for which I would like to suggest the following.
All of them and their leaders who attempted to wreck the marathon should be sentenced to run and complete the 42-km marathon; a contingent of police or preferably military jawans can ensure that each one actually finishes the run.
WASIF M. KHAN
Lahore
I PARKED my car in front of the chemist’s shop at the Pearl Contintental Hotel to buy a few toiletry items without realizing that it had been converted into a no-parking zone. A traffic police truck was about to tow my car away and I dashed outside the shop to prevent that from happening. I was booked by an uncouth police officer. I asked him why he booked me and he shot back: “Tumhey pata nahin yeh ‘no-parking’ area hai?”.
I think people should do something against such rude policemen. I suggest all those people who have been at one time or the other verbally abused, harassed or intimidated by policemen should get together and take their stories to the media.
There must, undoubtedly, be many such people who would have been abused in this manner.
KAMRAN SANI
Karachi
TRAFFIC jams and road crossings get some attention but no one bothers about killer U-turns. For example, a U-turn on Jhelum Road, Rawalpindi Cantonment near the official residence of the chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), has now become extremely dangerous because of speeding incoming traffic into the cantonment and excessive number of vehicles.
Actually, two out of three U-turns on Jhelum Road opposite the CJCSC House and Golf Road were closed about two years ago, thus replacing three U-turns with one.
The number of vehicles has increased many times during this period. Consequently, all types of vehicles in two to three parallel rows rush to take the U-turn simultaneously.
Military and traffic police are posted at this U-turn at times but only to control traffic for smooth and safe passage of VIPs. I appeal to the authorities concerned to install a traffic control light or construct a speed breaker with traffic warning signs to control incoming traffic.
GHULAM MUHAMMAD
Rawalpindi
MAY I suggest that TV stations (all channels) run sustained ‘road traffic rules’ information slots during all commercials in all the main spoken languages? In the UK where I live TV broadcasters have a duty to inform, educate and entertain the viewers. Public information programmes are broadcast during commercials, using professionally produced video graphics.
MAQSOOD ALAM ZAMIR
Karachi
I BOUGHT an e-ticket for travelling from Lahore to Karachi by PIA flight 3072 on Jan 16. I could not report in time at the counter because of some misunderstanding about the departure of the flight. The departure was delayed for about nine hours about which I was not informed, although they claim they did (in that case PIA can check the record of the cellphone company). The result, I missed the flight.
When I tried to take the next flight, much to my surprise I was denied boarding and told that somebody having the same name had already travelled on flight 3072 on my ticket. I reported the matter to the station manager, and asked how it was possible for a person to be allowed boarding without proper identification. He suggested that I must buy another ticket in order to take the next flight and in the meantime he would investigate this matter.
I bought another ticket and travelled by PK 307 the same day.
On Jan 18 I lodged a complaint, No. 395-70106, with PIA but have not heard anything from them till date.
HASHIM GHANI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Mr Ainul Abedin’s letter “Airline food” (Jan 29).
It is to be noted that PIA has provision for passengers to indicate food preferences while making reservations.
This facility is available on our website and can also be requested from the travel agents and PIA sales outlets.
Any passenger who takes the “statins” group of medicines may feel free to ask for his choice of food to be served on board a PIA flight.
CAPT HASSAN JAFFERY
PIA, Karachi
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