| May 15, 2006 | Monday | Rabi-us-Sani 16, 1427 |
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Pakistan’s ranking
Irtedad bill
PhD degree
Politics disturbing peace
Defects in new passports
Army’s role
Peshawar airport
Death in Germany
Farmers’ protest
Discussions on TV channels
Underage drivers
School exams
NEWS headlines about disagreements on the available water and ongoing shortages among different government bodies are ironic. Not only do the provincial governments disagree with each other, but also with Irsa on the current and expected flows in the Indus River; to the level that Punjab has threatened to leave the Indus Rivers System Authority (Dawn, May 10). These differences are neither unexpected nor new.
Since water has become an issue of common interest and discussion, a jungle of values for ‘available water’ and water shortages is sufficient to confuse and discourage anybody, including the policymakers, from understanding the water situation of Pakistan.
We are already late in solving this important issue. And this is due to a technical reason. Our irrigation systems were designed to deliver whatever flows in the river, depending upon the canal capacity and seasonal authorised discharge (run of the river operations).
Hence, actual demands, reservoir storage, groundwater availability and water wasted to the saline aquifer have been outside the daily operations of the original network. Most of these parameters were grossly included in the design and subsequent changes would be expected to be considered in operations, improving and expanding over time.
During the last 10 years I have not only discussed this issue in many publications, but have also presented comprehensive water accounts for the whole Indus basin, provinces and the main canals (PhD thesis 2004).
These accounts consider water diverted from the rivers, actual available from all resources (rainfall, rivers and groundwater) and crop water demand based on the actual cropped areas reported by the provincial irrigation, agriculture and revenue departments.
These calculations provide actual water stress or excess in agriculture on a monthly basis and existing unaccounted uses of water. Also, compute water recycling through groundwater reservoir and water quantities contributing to waterlogging and evaporating without any beneficial use in the system.
As our operational system is inherently handicapped to adopt and learn from the research, I propose some practical steps which can be taken to move towards better projections of water availability and water stress in agriculture. Hopefully it will help to get out of two-sided constraints in understanding how much water we have; meaningless simple arithmetic based on average flows on the one side and complicated computations beyond systems’ capacity on the other.
These steps should be part of water planning by the provinces. One can pray that the national water policy and strategy come down one step from the idealistic targets and slogans and propose deliverables to the national water managers. With the process of computerisation and improved water information already in place, following steps are within the existing capacity of the departments:
1. Each province submit its indent to Irsa for the river flows based on water allocated in the 1991 Water Allocation Accord (WAA) and also make the document public. In addition to that, provinces compile and make public 10-daily indents of the sub-divisional officers for all main canals. The provinces should mention that the required water is expected from the reservoir releases or direct river flows.
2. Irsa provides historical data of river flows and its statistical patterns to the provincial irrigation departments and makes it public. It is time to include rainfall patterns as essential information (already available with MET offices). For the running season Irsa provides actual and expected daily river water flowing through all barrages.
3. Provinces update daily main canal diversions and their indents on a 10-day basis. Each province should also provide data on the actual (could be estimated but not projected values) cropped areas of each main canal and gross crop water demand on a 10-day basis.
4. Provincial irrigation and agriculture departments jointly prepare monthly and seasonal statements indicating net water required and used from different sources. The seasonal statements should also include the net agriculture production.
5. The above data allows the calculation of water deficit with respect to three different demands; entitlements by WAA, provincial indents summed from the local irrigation indents (in fact design targets) and crop water requirements. Other organisations such as Wapda can be involved if Irsa feels some areas are outside its jurisdiction.
6. At a later stage the revenue from each canal can be added. Seasonal water balances and demands of other sectors can also be included.
The above exercise, if implemented for a few seasons, will contribute considerably to public awareness about water availability and agriculture demand/ supply situation.
DR ZAIGHAM HABIB
Water resources specialist
Lahore
I FAIL to understand why, in spite of our having a powerful foreign affairs set up, no concerted action seems to have been taken to bring the authors of “Pakistan, a Failed State” to book.
Pakistan’s plus points are far, far too many which these two words ‘failed state‘ hide. Consider these facts: Pakistan’s per capita spending on charity is the second highest in the world after the United States. The overall social and economic climate allows opportunities to people to move from the lower to the higher echelons with ease, which is difficult to parallel. Class barriers are easy to break.
Pakistan has been the world champion in cricket, bridge, squash, hockey and snookers. Pakistan has developed the atomic bomb, first-class cruise missiles, and a fighter jet in collaboration with China, which is a good match for the F-16. Spare parts for Boeing are being manufactured here. Karachi alone has more than 25 business schools and universities, which include medical and engineering universities. The enrolment in these runs in thousands.
Return on successful industrial and business units can be in the vicinity of 20 per cent whereas in most countries it is around 10 per cent or less. In a failed state can a climate exist in which sports, precision engineering, institutions of professional studies and investment in business flourish to such an extent?
Pakistan has its weak points but if the good points are hidden and the weak points highlighted, it would be plain cheating. Both Iraq and Afghanistan will take another hundred years to catch up with Pakistan.
AZMAT ANSARI
Karachi
THE MMA has taken steps to table an Irtedad Bill in the National Assembly, asking for death for a Muslim apostate rescinding Islam. The proposed bill is signed by 32 members of the NA, including Mr. Liaquat Baloch, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maulana Abdul Malik, Mr. Asadullah Bhutto, Mr. Farid Piracha, Sahibzada Abul Khair and Mr Muhammad Zubair – all scholars of Islam. I admit my utter incompetence in such religious matters and would, therefore, seek guidance in this respect. Kindly enlighten me on the following:
1. Is such proposed punishment ordained in the Holy Quran for all cases of apostasy — irtedad — or for only those who became outwardly Muslim for the time being to spy upon Muslims and then returned to the ‘mushrikeen (impostors)’ to brief them about the Muslims’ battle strategy, strengths and weakness, etc.?
2. Was anyone executed for ‘irtedad’ during the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)? If yes, was the act of apostasy harmful for the Muslims?
3. Therefore, from 1 and 2 above, if the irtedad of a person does not bring any harm to other Muslims, should he even then be put to death?
4. If a person has made up his mind to leave Islam, would it not be better to let him declare so rather than he keep it secret and the other Muslims unwittingly share their secrets with him considering him to be one of them?
5. Will not such a law be tantamount to negation of the Quranic saying ‘la ikra fideen’?
6. Will such a law not further tarnish the image of Islam — a religion of peace — in the world, particularly in the West?
7. Is the present time of political crisis in the country opportune for introducing such a bill?
COL (retd) RIAZ JAFRI
Rawalpindi
THIS refers to a news item titled ‘PhD degree awarded in computer science’ (May 5). The news gives an impression that the Ghulam Ishaq Khan (GIK) Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology has become the first institution in the country to award a PhD degree in the field of computer science, which is not correct.
The NED University of Engineering and Technology registered a faculty member as a PhD scholar in June 2000 with the approval of advanced studies and research board of the university to carry out research work in the field of ‘formalisation of software development process’.
Upon completion of research work by the faculty member, his thesis was evaluated by the foreign referees in accordance with the requirements prescribed by the Higher Education Commission. After receipt of the acceptance report by the referees, a final examination was conducted and examination report placed before the university syndicate at its meeting held on Nov 27, 2004. It approved the award of a PhD degree to the faculty member in the field of ‘formalization of software development process’. The degree was formally awarded to him at the university convocation held on Nov 30, 2004.
JAVED AZIZ KHAN
Registrar NED UET, Karachi
LIVING in Karachi these days one can imagine how those innocent and unfortunate souls in the Greek legend would have felt while placed between Scylla, the six-headed monster sitting menacingly on a rock, and the dreary place called Charybdis.
One feels sandwiched between two ‘Muttahidas’. One of which has mass support because of its ethnic appeal, while the other is making a vain effort to wean the people from its secular counterpart. It is as if Karachi is the only place in the Islamic Republic where citizens must be made to conform to the MMA’s version of Islam and not that of the local clerics who have popularised their own method of ‘azaan’.
In this tug-of-war the two political parties have given free rein to their respective students wings to take the fight to educational institutions and to maim and murder opponents without fear of God or government.
The two Muttahidas should realise their folly and refrain from disturbing academic peace. Or else the federal government should ensure that the province takes immediate and non-partisan spirit action.
JAFAR WAFA
Karachi
THE new machine-readable passports are defective in many respects.
The passport number has been printed in small type at a very insignificant place, whereas the booklet number, which does not need to be quoted, is printed more prominently.
The passports also do not contain the signature/thumb-impression and address of the passport holder. This makes the document seem incomplete. These anomalies should be rectified.
A. SALIM KHAN
Karachi
I HAVE a simple question to ask Lt-Col (retd) Safir Siddiqui (‘Army’s role’, May 7). Several countries fought in the two World Wars and each of them lost millions of soldiers who died defending their respective homelands. Do these countries have defence housing colonies as we do? Also, which other country has so many active and retired armed personnel involved in civil administration?
S. M. SALEEM
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter by Lt-Col (r) Safir A. Siddiqui. Land is indeed the core issue here and the army has denied civilians due ownership rights for its own. In Okara, farmers were denied the land they had tilled for centuries for the sake of the Depalpur army stud farms. The land around Karachi’s National Stadium has been taken over to build houses for army officers. The area behind Karachi’s Regent Plaza has been walled and a sign which reads “Army Welfare Trust” has been erected.
Some 800 families were displaced from their canal-irrigated lands in Bahawalpur. This land was then allotted to army generals. The case of these 800 families is still pending in the courts. As for purchasing the land at the going rate, one wonders how much the army actually paid for the 2,438 square acres in Islamabad where the new GHQ is to be built.
ASLAM MINHAS
Karachi
THIS has reference to Brig (retd) Khalid Hassan’s letter ‘Role of the army’ (May 12). While correctly attributing the rise of the Kalashnikov culture to the instigation of the Afghan war, the correspondent has conveniently ignored the support provided to religious and ethnic groups by Gen Zia. The decade of dictatorial rule by him is a dark chapter in the history of Pakistan that must not be forgotten when discussing the role of the military in Pakistan.
Moreover, the denationalisation and subsequent sale of state assets at throwaway prices by Gen Zia resembles the neo-liberal privatisation campaign launched by the present regime. The people in the army are trained for army service, not civil. The competence of the ‘one per cent’ of retired military officers, who according to the writer acquire jobs on merit, should also be clarified.
One of my friends interned with a military officer in a government department. During the course of his one-month internship, he was assigned the job of writing a report on some issue. The report was then forwarded by the ‘competent’ officer with a mere change in the name of author, without even any acknowledgement provided to my friend, leaving much to say about the intellectual integrity of the army officer, if nothing else. I agree with the extension of the right to life to retired army officers, but please allow us, the citizens of Pakistan, to enjoy the very same right as well.
UMER A. CHAUDHRY
Lahore
PESHAWAR is not only a provincial capital, it also has significant historic and strategic importance. It is often referred to as the gateway to Central Asia. Peshawar airport, however, does not match any of the above characteristics.
Despite being one of the oldest airports of the country, it has not seen any notable improvement or expansion. The airport now also caters to international flights but is deficient in buildings and passenger facilities.
It may be argued that Peshawar airport does not generate enough income. The point is that unless adequate facilities and investment are provided, returns cannot be expected. Also everything cannot be based on commercial principles. I am sure if Peshawar is given a modern airport, it will boost traffic and in the course of time, the airport will become a hub for flights to Central Asia.
PROF MOHAMMAD ISHAQ
Karachi
IT is disturbing to note that religious parties are trying to capitalise on the death of Aamir Cheema, the Pakistani who died in his jail cell in Germany.
According to news reports, students belonging to a madressah run by the Jamaat-i-Islami burned German flags and denounced Germany, Denmark and the US as ‘infidel states’. Meanwhile, Aamir Cheema has been labelled a hero of Islam.
Their leaders do not realise that these actions can harm the good relations between Germany and Pakistan. Like other Muslims, Amir Cheema too felt grief over the publication of the blasphemous cartoons.
But he should have lodged a complaint with the management of the newspaper regarding the publication of the cartoons.
M. MUNAEEM JAMAL
Karachi
THIS refers to the news item regarding protest by farmers in the Multan region for over the purchase price of wheat. If growers are not happy with the wheat price, they will not cultivate it in the next season.
We can live without sugar, but no one can live without wheat flour. We cannot afford a man-made wheat crisis.
FAISAL YOUSAF ZIA
Karachi
THIS has reference to Ahmad Razi Siddiqui’s article “Discussions on TV channels” (April 22) in which he has maintained that talk shows on current political issues are one-sided. Monotonous viewpoints are repeated although people are quite familiar with the faces of the ex-bureaucrats and ex-military personnel who are often invited to TV talk shows to offer their views and analyses on different issues.
There is a growing realisation among the viewers that new and updated information from experts and scholars should also be presented on the channels. Some Pakistanis hold very influential positions abroad. They can be asked to contribute to TV discussions.
MAQSUD KHAN
Islamabad
TRAFFIC accidents are very common in Karachi. There are many reasons for this including the fact that children are driving cars. Some boys are so young that they can’t properly use the rearview mirror as their feet barely reach the brake and acceleration pedals. They have no road sense and they are not mature enough to handle a crisis situation. These children create trouble for other drivers and become the cause of accidents.
I would like to request parents not to allow their underage children to drive. The government should also create a strict law against this trend and take prompt steps against underage drivers and their parents.
FOZIA RIAZ KHAN
Karachi
THE government of Sindh has announced that all the school examinations should finish by May 15. Every school has made its own timetable for final exams. After the announcement on April 25 both the teachers and students are suffering.
It is not possible for students to appear for exams without preparing for them. Teachers are trying their best to reschedule the timetable and prepare students for the exams as soon as possible.
Since January 2006 the government has declared many unwanted holidays. This has already affected the study schedule. I wonder if the government even realises how our children’s future is being harmed by its policies.
MUSHARFA MUNIR
Karachi
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