| February 13, 2006 | Monday | Muharram 14, 1427 |
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Nadra working
Cricket & the nation
Bird flu virus
National Stadium
Train accidents
Pakistan’s memorable win
The savings farce
Foreign investment
Super Highway
Cartoon controversy
NoC for higher education
CNG
ONE appreciates the focus of the current government regarding higher education, but unfortunately top officials decreeing the future of higher education in Pakistan need to zoom out and take a strategic view of the issue. The tactics currently being implemented will nip many higher education institutions in the bud and will not lead to any noticeable improvement in quality.
The Higher Education Commission has embarked on a strange process of ranking/categorization of universities in Pakistan. Surprisingly. It has started this exercise with private sector universities. Parent alert advertisements published in newspapers time and again in the last year and a half, listing substandard universities, are tremendously disturbing for all concerned.
Every time a list like that is published, it dampens the morale of students, shakes the confidence of potential students, unnerves the existing faculty, makes new or potential faculty rethink their decisions and poor parents footing the bill are almost shocked out of their senses.
Does the HEC have the faintest idea of the kind of damage it is doing to education, to youth and to private sector institutions that have taken the initiative to bring about a positive change in the country? One tends to agree that every institution has its good and bad points but isnt it the duty of the HEC to help in the growth of institutions by supporting and guiding them rather than criticizing them? Has the HEC provided any funds for development of private sector institutions to improve their infrastructure, provided land on subsidized rates, and shared foreign faculty with private sector institutions?
Why are the poor higher education institutions in the private sector being victimized in the power struggle between the HEC and provincial education departments? Each province has its own resources and capabilities and provincial education departments are fully aware of the limitations and capabilities of their people and area and have set their requirements accordingly.
Im surprised that the provincial education departments have not still reacted to the accusations of the HEC printed in newspapers in the past fortnight. The HEC is not a regulatory body; it is a facilitating body to encourage growth and development in the field of education. It is not the supreme ruler of higher education. How do we know that the HEC is making the right decisions? Who is monitoring the performance of the HEC itself? Are there any international bodies doing it?
What is the HEC doing to close illegal institutions? Parents send their children to these universities in the hope of a bright and lucrative future but if their degree is not recognized, then it is a useless expenditure. What will be the fate of students of such institutions? Is the HEC incapable of removing or closing down illegal institutions? Doesn’t it have the authority to do so? If it doesn’t, then how can it have the authority to close down chartered degree awarding institutions?
BADIA RAZA
Via email
NADRA has a state-of-art information system. Its website is jazzy and presentable. Its call centre operates for long hours and the staff is very courteous. The reception counter is far more hospitable than any other government department.
However, there is one problem with the whole system. It simply doesn’t work. This is despite the fact that its services, especially for overseas Pakistanis, are far more expensive than of any other government department.
My experience with the organization started when I applied for a Pakistan-origin card back in October 2005, in Karachi, taking advantage of my presence in the country. At that time I was told I have to surrender my computerized national identity card. I told the person at the reception counter in Karachi that I had already surrendered my NIC at the Pakistan embassy in Singapore at the time by renunciation of citizenship and as evidence I showed the letter from the embassy mentioning my status.
After much pleading, my application was accepted. Subsequently, I called up the call centre a couple of times to get an update on my application.
I was told that my application was being processed and I would get the card in due course. After two-and-a-half months, I made another call to inquire about my application to be told that my file was blocked on the ground that I still hold my NIC.
I wrote a letter on Dec 17, 2005 to Nadra narrating the whole episode again. I attached the copy of “Renunciation of Citizenship” certificate issued by the department of immigration, ministry of interior, Islamabad, as evidence of my case.
Now I really dont know what to do when I have to travel out of Pakistan and come back to the country to visit my old parents and plead every time with a Pakistani embassy to issue me a visa for the country of my birth.
FAHIMUZ ZAMAN
Singapore
THIS refers to Mr Ayaz Amir’s column: ‘Cricket and the state of the nation’ (Feb 3) in which he claims that before Inzamam, Pakistan had two great captains of cricket: Kardar and Imran Khan. The fact is that the greatest captains ever were Mushtaq Mohammad and Javed Miandad.
The Indian cricket team led by Bishan Singh Bedi toured Pakistan in 1978-79 for a three-Test series that the latter won by 2-0 under Mushtaq’s superb captaincy. The two tests (one at Lahore and the other at Karachi) that the Indians lost were gems of Test cricket. The credit for Pakistan’s wins mainly goes to the highly positive approach of skipper Mushtaq Mohammad, his mastery of the game and astute and inspiring leadership.
The bold changes in batting order, the electrifying run- chase and the determination to win were simply breathtaking. Jealousy and intrigues brought Mushtaq’s tenure as captain to a premature end.
The other great captain, Javed Miandad, was the most successful in the history of Pakistan Test cricket. His sterling record bears ample testimony to this. In 34 tests as captain, he won 14 whereas the much-vaunted Imran Khan won 14 matches out of a total of 48 in which he captained the Pakistani team. If being supercilious, vain-glorious and over-bearing towards your team mates and spectators is a hallmark of great captains, then Kardar and Imran were really great but historical records show an entirely different picture.
JAVED AKRAM
Lahore
THE recent death of two children due to the bird flu virus in Turkey has once again alarmed the world health authorities about a possible pandemic.
According to the World Health Organization, children are highly susceptible to avian influenza virus H5N2 infection which has previously killed children in China and Hong Kong during the last few years. Many Asian countries have a large poultry bird population, including ducks, geese, parrots, parakeets and chicken which might harbour the virus and consequently could infect any person living in close contact with these birds. Children are particularly vulnerable to the disease as they love all birds kept at home or outside. Many children of nursery and kindergarten institutions in Karachi keep birds and there is every likelihood that these might harbour the bird flu virus.
It is recommended that all poultry birds should be removed from educational institutions to save children from a possible infectious outbreak. Children should not be allowed to go to the chicken market or any other place where ducks and other birds are kept. Ducks are the main source of spread of the virus to other birds and consequently to humans. Luckily till now no case of bird flu has been detected in Pakistan, but every precaution should be taken.
The health and education authorities should issue necessary instructions that the matter should be given priority and children saved from any possible infection.
DR ASHFAQ AHMAD
Virologist, Karachi
THROUGH this letter, I would like to draw the attention of the Pakistan Cricket Board to the pathetic lack of maintenance at the National Stadium, Karachi, which I visited to watch the fourth day of the test match.
One thought the organizers would have taken extra care, as this was a very important match, but that was not the case. Security was very poor and we are lucky that there was no outward incident.
Seats were not bad, but the general cleanliness and toilets were filthy, and of the five urinals, three were choked with overflowing gutters. There was not a single dustbin in the entire enclosure, and one was forced to drop the litter on the stadium floor, and the vendors selling cold drinks and snacks were wearing dirty and unwashed clothes.
It would seem that the organizers had just concentrated on looking after the comforts and needs of VVIPs and ignored the spectators’ basic needs.
I suggest that the organizers be taken to task by the PCB and made accountable. Immediate action must be taken to clean up the stadium before the next ODI and restore some respectability to our National Stadium.
A.H. MAKER
Karachi
THE Pakistan Railway is meeting with accidents so often that one now feels insecure travelling by train. The accident to the Karakoram Express was probably the sixth accident that has occurred to mainline trains within a very short time.
The railway minister simply issues a statement declaring the accident was due to sabotage.
If I am not making a mistake, some time back when the Indian railways met with an accident, the railway minister had resigned or offered to resign.
MOHAMMAD RAFI
Karachi
AFTER watching the first two Tests, one couldn’t help but wonder what the hype was all about. Sure, India and Pakistan were involved and more often than not that is just the sole ingredient required for a thrilling contest but on placid wickets where the bat did all the talking even that didn’t suffice, resulting in dull draws.
However, the third Test couldn’t have been more of a contrast to the first two, with the ball finally beating the bat and producing the kind of cricket usually associated with India-Pakistan encounters.
It all began with Pathan’s sensational hat trick in the first over and soon Pakistan were staring down the barrel at 39 for 6. ‘Cometh the hour, cometh the man’ seems to be Kamran Akmal’s motto and with an exhibition of shots all around the wicket he displayed possibly one of the best counter-attacking innings witnessed in the game.
Last year in Mohali he made a crucial hundred to save Pakistan the match and scored three hundred when England toured Pakistan emphasizing that a new star was born in Pakistani cricket. Pakistan was further helped by the lack of depth and variety in the mundane Indian bowling line-up. As in the previous two Tests, Younis and Yousuf plundered the Indian bowling with contributions coming from almost every batsman.
It has to be said here that playing three left-arm seamers, each with just about the same pace and style, was not the smartest thing done by the Indian think-tank. With no disrespect to the Indian bowlers, Pakistan lost most of their wickets in the first innings due to irresponsible and atrocious shots and once they had rectified that in the second innings, batting looked almost too easy.
After an auspicious start to his career, Abdul Razzak just seemed to have slowed down of late. But his dismissal of Tendulkar in the first innings reminded us all of the times when he had the better of the master batsman and the way he ripped through the Indian middle-order in the second Test is hopefully a sign of things to come.
Mohammed Asif showed why he is considered the most improved bowler in Pakistan. Unlike most Pakistani bowling greats he isn’t an “express” nor does he bowl those toe-crushing Yorkers. His success comes from doing the basics right, by maintaining an impeccable line outside the off stump and seaming the bowl both ways at just enough pace to trouble the batsman.
Shoaib Akhtar’s contribution, although finishing with modest figures of three for 108 in the match, was as significant as anybody else’s.
Individual accolades aside, it was heartening to see how the team gelled together. To bounce back from a precarious position and win the match by 341 runs speaks volume of the amount of unity and depth there is in the team. The body language of the players reflected a healthy atmosphere in the dressing room resulting in the players being able to lift themselves out of troublesome situations.
Cricket is, as much about the mind as it is about skill and Bob Woolmer seems to have instilled that mental confidence and stability in our team. Along with the team he too deserves tremendous credit for transforming an outfit that not long ago couldn’t have even envisioned coming this far.
AMMAR JEDDY
Karachi
I FREQUENTLY hear of the prime minister’s (alleged) reasons for reducing the rate of returns on savings from 18 per cent to 11.04 per cent for senior citizens, etc. ( returns from other savings being even lower/below eight per cent). He is said to have quoted a decrease in inflation for this senior-citizen-shattering decision.
Let us see how this applies. A clerk or other mid-level official somehow acquires a sum of Rs700,000 at the time he retires in the year 1998. He is jubilant as his savings certificates at 18 per cent yield Rs10,500 per month, just enough to make ends meet with difficulty.
In June 2005 as a retiree he is given the best possible return of 11.04 per cent, yielding Rs6,444 per month. An impossible sum to manage on with no other earning members in the family.
In fact, even if inflation were to be taken at four per cent, his monthly expenses would become Rs13,802 per month in 2005, against an income of Rs6,444.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that the current savings system seriously fails to reflect reality on the ground.
Will the prime minister please review the savings system with care, so that poor retirees can live with some level of dignity”?
ARDESHIR JEHANGIR VICCAJIC
Karachi
IN your editorial on this subject (Jan 22), you have mentioned the presence of a judicial system that can settle business disputes in a reasonable period of time.
There are many law suits where one of the parties is a major foreign investor and which are pending for more than 20 years without a decision from the original side. This is without doubt a major deterrent because even a nuisance suit can disturb all activities.
In May 2005 the National Assembly passed the Foreign Private Investment (Promotion and Protection) Bill which gave original jurisdiction to the provincial high courts in such matters. It set a time limit of six months in the High Court for a final judgment.
The Senate was required to pass it thereafter. Unfortunately, nothing has happened and this shows the apparent lack of interest of the government. It is time for the President to act and promulgate an ordinance if nothing else is possible and decide all cases where one of the parties in a dispute is a foreign investor. This will enhance the image of the country in the eyes of a foreign investor.
NAHEED IQBAL
Karachi
THE message ‘Better late than never’ that is displayed on the Super Highway is meant for commuters. It reminds them of the need to remain within permissible speed limits. However, this dictum has been more faithfully adopted by National Highway Authority. The refurbishing work initiated by them on the highway one-and-a-half years ago is nowhere near completion.
Initially a patch of about 20 kms of road on the left going towards Hyderabad was dug up and the right side was opened for two-way traffic. But even before revamping it two more patches of 10 to 15 kms on the same direction have been excavated. Traffic has become extremely disorderly and unmanageable.
The authorities are requested to refurbish at least the 20-km patchwork on which was started one-and-a-half years ago and open it at once for traffic before going for the other part of the road.
ALTAMASH MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
WE have to remind ourselves of the action of the idol worshippers of Makkah and their violent and abusive behaviour against the Muslims, who were at the time far fewer with little material strength. Despite the throwing of rubbish and stones on the very person of our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and the most insulting outrage, the Muslims, under the guidance of Allah’s messenger, not only stood firm, but even prayed for forgiveness for their tormentors. More than anything else, it was this moral high ground which won an ever-lasting victory for the Muslims.
Today Muslims need leadership which should gain international respect and gain moral victory rather than a knee-jerk reaction from the already millions of unhappy Muslims who readily vent their anger by senseless violence which can only add to their woes.
KHUSHWAQT-UL-MULK
Chitral
GOVERNMENT departments are giving permission to their employees for higher education/qualification by using the “no-objection certificate” formula. But these NoCs are questionable.
How? The answer is here - the NoCs are issued on these conditions: first, the NoC holder/official is responsible for all his/her educational expenses; second, the official’s duties will not be affected by his/her studies; third, he/she will be bound to serve his/her department for at least five years after completion of the degree.
These conditions are harsh. An official finds it difficult to pursue higher education but has to do it willy-nilly or else he will lose all opportunity for promotion.
It is suggested that the government may make “an education policy for government employees” in which they can get some facilities like full educational grants/scholarships, no education leave for the whole educational period without affecting their seniority, etc.
NOUMAN ABID CHUHAN Riyadh,
KSA
USING CNG in a car while travelling on the motorway between Lahore and Islamabad can be a problem. There is a dire need to increase the number of CNG filling stations on the motorway.
MEHBOOBULLAH
Lahore
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