| March 22, 2006 | Wednesday | Safar 21, 1427 |
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Cartoons: a positive approach
Milk price hike
Savings and inflation
Sugar scam and NAB
Patient care
Civil hospital conditions
Hyderabad roads
Sectarianism
Shock-proof
Kite-flying
Stolen coins
Western culture
Vacancies and promotions
Chairlifts safety
World Water Day is being observed today with this year’s theme being water and culture. The theme draws attention to the fact that there are as many ways of viewing, using, and celebrating water as there are cultural traditions across the world.
Sacred water is at the heart of many religions and is used in different rites and ceremonies. Water has also been represented in art for centuries — in music, painting, writing, cinema — and it is an essential factor in many scientific endeavours as well.
Cultural traditions, indigenous practices, and societal values determine how people perceive and manage water in the world’s different regions. Water and wetlands have long shaped how people live their lives. The traditional links of people to their wetlands have determined customs and beliefs that still continue to influence the attitudes of contemporary local societies.
However, in most parts of the world, these linkages have weakened as increasingly technological solutions to water and food security and an increasingly urbanized population have led to the widespread deterioration and loss of wetlands. Regrettably, there is still insufficient recognition by many decision makers and wetland managers of the important role that socio-cultural aspects can and should play in the sustainable management of wetlands and water resources.
Water is an intrinsic part of most spiritual beliefs. Its uses and symbolism in religion are many and varied; its spiritual and healing properties are seen in rites and rituals; and its representations are as numerous as they are diverse. These different religious and cultural aspects of water reflect the vast array of civilizations that have made water the central element in their practices.
History provides ample evidence of the influence of water on the growth of civilization, and forecasts for the future suggest that water will become even more important to human advancement in the future. In both the past and present human progress has been conditional on advances in water science and their application through engineering and technology for the benefit of society.
Water is crucial for survival and prosperity; without it, there would be no food to eat, no clothes to wear, no nature to admire and live within, and nothing to help the human population remain healthy. But in many cultures, water is not only a part of life; it is the origin of life.
Creation myths are stories that describe the beginnings of humanity, earth, life and the universe, and water features prominently in a large number of them. In one Egyptian myth, a chaos of churning water, called the Nu, rose up and receded again. With each recession from the turbulence of the water a hill would emerge, giving birth to the first sunrise.
Many have speculated on the centrality of water in creation myths: in nearly every culture, water plays a vital role in explaining how life began, and how the Earth was given its current form of land, sky and sea. In all cultures, water is life, and represents fertility, growth and birth.
NASIR ALI PANHWAR
Karachi
BETWEEN Sharon’s deliberately provocative visit to the world’s third holiest Islamic site — the Aqsa Mosque — on Sept 28, 2000 and the publication of highly provocative caricatures in Denmark’s newspaper Jyllands-Posten, there is remarkable similarity of intent and reaction. Sharon’s visit was calculated to arouse intense anger among the Palestinians who well remembered the arson on the mosque a few years earlier by a man later let off as insane.
Just as Sharon foresaw, there was a spontaneous outburst by Palestinians, which provided Sharon the opportunity he was seeking to begin the shoot-to-kill “retaliation” that became synonymous with his character, even his very name.
Israel would like nothing better than to see the entire Muslim world embroiled in conflict with the West.
What other device would have served this purpose better than a widely publicized blasphemy against the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). Intrigues of this kind with their deadly effect come naturally to the Zionists (whose embodiment is the illegitimate state of Israel today).
Muslim reactions to situations of this kind are predictable. On the one hand are the rulers.
They are in most cases dictators and despots and depend on American support in terms of political and military backing as well as on dollar doles for continuing in power against the wishes of their own people.
Their too-late and too-little responses to the cartoon controversy have consisted talking vaguely about working through the UN and the OIC but above all wishing that the problem would just go away and be forgotten. They have no idea at all of how to deal with the situation.
Muslim masses, on the other hand, are simplistic, emotional and unsophisticated in their approach. They talk of breaking diplomatic relations with almost the entire western world without seriously thinking about seeking reasonable friends there.
They burn flags although such acts are counter-productive and tend to alienate the neutral and the unconcerned.
They burn effigies of western leaders without realizing that this causes no harm to them and does nothing for the cause. We have still not heard about the institution of a think-tank comprising politicians, ulema, diplomats, professors, for example, to think, discuss and work out an effective approach to such grave provocations, which do not appear to be ending any time soon.
We should get the support of scholars of other religions (including the Vatican and other churches) on the need to avoid ridiculing the prophets and holy books and to jointly condemn such trespasses.
We should hold an inter-faith conference on the subject with the aim of drawing up a code of conduct in matters of faiths and beliefs.
Legal proceedings should be initiated in western countries by Muslim citizens in the light of various provisions in the constitutions of the respective countries, as it is known that such provisions are part of the constitutions of many western countries, including Denmark, and can be invoked.
If all else fails, a voluntary boycott of goods and services from countries which persist in bad behaviour and take no steps to curb violations of civilized norms should be resorted to as against a general boycott which would be impractical and counter-productive.
WAJID NAEEMUDDIN
Karachi
I AM absolutely appalled that Dawn would publish a letter such as the one by Mr Zakir Ahmed (March 19).
Did you not realize that the correspondent was calling for the crucifixion of all those who were involved in the publication of the Danish cartoons? Since when has Dawn started encouraging this kind of extremism by giving it over 600 words in its editorial section?
Mr. Zakir Ahmed’s views and those of his extremist friends do not deserve to
be given voice in Pakistan’s leading English-language daily.
RABIA SHAKOOR
Chapel Hill, USA
RETAILERS of milk in Karachi have wilfully increased the price of milk by Rs2 per kg, and now it is being sold at the new price of Rs30 a kg instead of Rs28.
This rate was enhanced last year while the city government official rate was fixed at Rs22 a kg.
In March 2005 the former city nazim imposed Section 144 CrPC to ban overcharging of milk but this was maintained only for a month.
Thereafter no other action was taken against these profiteers. Karachiites are compelled to buy milk at higher rates.
The milk retailers’ plea is that this increase in prices is due to the extra cost in the price of fodder, shortage of cattle, fuel charges, etc.
But this affects the dairy industry all over the country, so why is this price hike exclusively for Karachi?
The city nazim revealed in an interview that a summary had already been sent to the governor of Sindh asking for a law against the profiteers of consumer commodities.
A committee should be formed consisting of representatives of the city government, NGOs, the dairy farmers’ association and economists to propose the actual price of milk that should be acceptable to everybody.
The Sindh government should give magisterial powers to town nazims so that appropriate action can be taken against overcharging retailers/wholesalers.
NISAR AHMED
Karachi
MR Ali Nawaz’s letter “Savings schemes” (Feb 23) was both timely and relevant.
It is surprising that a country which is headed by a financial expert has not done justice to the majority of the middle class that constitutes the bulk of small investors in various government savings schemes.
It does not take a Harvard graduate to figure out that in Pakistan, where the rate of real inflation is double digits, the return on government savings schemes is in single digits.
Mr Ali Nawaz makes eminent sense in his recommendation to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to consider restoring the rate of return on savings schemes to the original figure of 14 to 15 per cent.
This act of prudence on the part of the present government will give relief to millions of small investors whose family budgets are under tremendous strain due to escalating price of oil, electricity, gas and basic food items.
The impoverishment of our middle class — the so-called intelligentsia — will mean the slow erosion of the core of our society.
MUHAMMAD NADEEM
Karachi
THERE has been an unusual increase in the price of sugar. The product is selling in the open market at Rs42 to Rs45 per kg at the retail level against its previous retail rate of Rs21 per kg.
This is daylight robbery. Influential people — sugar mill owners — are stated to be involved in the sugar scandal.
The government took notice of the situation and the National Accountability Bureau was asked to inquire into the scandal.
It was resolved that NAB would take stern action against those parliamentarians responsible for creating the sugar shortage.
NAB had also claimed that it would expose influential people involved in the crisis. (Dawn, Feb 28).
In view of the above, one was surprised to read the news item (Dawn, March 14); “Sugar cartel’s threat forces NAB to drop probe”. NAB has announced closing of its investigation into the sugar scam.
This leads us to the fact that some of our leaders / parliamentarians are above the law and the government writ does not apply to them.
ABDUL SAMAD KHAN
Karachi
IT has been observed that doctors in developed countries consider it their duty to brief relatives of a patient on his or her health condition and the approach to treatment. It is unfortunate that this is not common in our conditions; may be a few doctors might be doing so, but a majority are not.
I know of an unfortunate case that recently occurred in which a woman patient in her 50s went to the OPD of a reputed hospital in Karachi to seek treatment for her sore mouth (due to blisters), varying blood pressure and breathlessness. The woman was immediately pushed into CCU for monitoring the blood pressure and her heart condition. She was given treatment and her consultant kept telling her that she would be kept in the CCU for a couple of days till her problem was diagnosed. So far so good.
It is unfortunate that her condition all of a sudden took a serious turn and the doctors said that she had developed some complications that would get redressed by the medication that was being given to her. Within seven days of her stay in the CCU, her condition got so serious that her husband was told to pray for her life. Ultimately, she died.
I request medical practitioners to offer their undiluted service to their patients, and also not hide the real facts of a case. Let the attendants of the patients be kept well-informed about the procedures being followed and the progress of the patient to allay apprehensions or false hopes. It should be mandatory for all hospitals to provide details on demand of the procedures followed and the treatment given to a patient during his/her stay in hospital.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
THE lifts in the surgical/ gynae and SIUT wards of the Civil Hospital, Karachi, are old and dangerous.
It is a common knowledge that millions of rupees are given to the Civil Hospital every year for patient care and general improvement but alas it seems the funds are diverted somewhere else.
If one goes round this hospital, one gets the impression that it is a God-forsaken place. Some of the observations are: (i) beds are without sheets, (ii)
mattresses are old and rotten, (iii) the rooms are filthy,
(iv) gutters are overflowing, (v) dogs and cats roam freely and (vi) no arrangements exist for safe and clean drinking water.
Medicines are either purchased by patients or provided by an organization of students free of cost. The government is only an onlooker.
The hospital deserves the attention of the city government on a priority basis.
LT-COL (r) SAFIR A. SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THE reconstruction of roads in Hyderabad brought hope to the deprived people of this city. However, it didn’t take more than a few months for PTCL authorities to take that hope away.
The increasing traffic in the city was eased a little by these roads, which have been dug up again by PTCL authorities. Does anybody have the authority to ask them why they did not co-ordinate with the municipal authorities?
Had the PTCL started work a few months earlier, the city would have saved money and its people would be enjoying good roads.
AISHA MEMON
Hyderabad
I STRONGLY disagree with Mr. Anis Siddiqui’s letter entitled “Sectarianism” (March 17). The nature of work and the research these organisations are doing forces them to look into every aspect of candidates for employment, including religion and sect. These organisations are not directly, indirectly or by any other means promoting sectarianism and dividing the nation. Instead they are playing a vital role in the development of the country.
ADIL NASEER
Karachi
RESIDENTS of multi-storeyed buildings in Karachi have been asked to prove that their buildings are earthquake-proof. The only way to find out if a building will be able to withstand an earthquake is to supervise its construction from start to finish and this was supposed to be done by the Karachi Building Control Authority. There is of course another method but I doubt if it will appeal to anyone: explode a high-intensity bomb within a radius of ten feet and see if the building remains standing.
SHAKIR LAKHANI
Karachi
REGARDING the letter “Basant” (Dawn, March 13) I would like to know what Mr Hassan Altaf wished to imply by quoting President Musharraf. There was no life endangering situation at the mixed-gender marathon. The issue of kite-flying is not about the peoples likes and dislikes, it is about their lives. People who lost their loved ones cannot close their eyes to this issue. Despite the ban and arrests, kite-flying continues.
AYMAN SIDDIQUI
Karachi
APROPOS of a news item published in Dawn Lahore (March 8) pertaining to stolen coins, it is clarified that Rana Abdul Jabbar is an employee of the Mint and he has not been arrested and is performing his duties.
The other persons mentioned, Abdul Waheed and Khalil, are not employees of the Mint.
RIAZ HASSAN KHAN
Master of the Mint
Lahore
THIS is with reference to the letter (March 16) about the influence of western culture on our country’s youth.
The problem is not imitation of western culture; the real problem is that these kids have grown up in a secluded environment with money to burn at their disposal.
Under their parents’ protection they are unaware of the many helpless people in the country lacking food and shelter.
These youngsters have no idea what a struggle life is.
They lack the values and social development that would only be instilled if their schools and parents encouraged them to interact with the less fortunate by doing volunteer work.
The youth should realise that there is sorrow in this world and that we all need to work to make this country a better place for ourselves and others.
HIRA WAJAHAT MALIK
Karachi
ACCORDING to a report, many posts in BPS 19 and 20 are lying vacant in Punjab and deserving officers are not being promoted.
Justice demands that the promotion board should convene its meeting at the earliest and all vacant seats should be filled through promotion.
It is cruel that instead of promoting deserving ex-PCS officers, the Punjab government is granting extension to retiring officers.
ABDUL SHAKOOR
Khanewal
DURING a visit to Karachis Safari Park with my family I was pleased to see the installation of chairlifts for the entertainment of the people. But then I observed that there were no safety belts.
God forbid if someone falls off a chairlift (which can go as high as 50 feet) there is nothing to protect him or her.
Safety belts should be an essential part of these chairlifts, as they are in developed countries.
QURBAN ALI ZARDARI
Karachi
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