| May 16, 2006 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 17, 1427 |
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HEC directives
Failed state?
Conversion
Payment of utility bills
World Stroke Day
Salaried class
Punishing sugar hoarders
Getting a passport
Portraits’ display
Water shortage
THIS has reference to Mr Javid Husain’s article ‘National security redefined’ (April 29). The writer has redefined national security in the light of existing realities being faced by Pakistan internally and externally. Old notions of national security are being replaced by new ones based on the emergence of new challenges thrown up by the force of globalisation and the emergence of new social and political forces on the domestic front. Yet, it seems that Pakistan is not ready to adjust its national security policies to the changing kaleidoscope of the national, regional, and international political environment.
The concept of national security has undergone much change since the end of the Cold War and the rising tide of globalisation making the national borders irrelevant. Globalisation has changed the traditional concept and structures of national security with military at the heart of the security policies. National security has now been unbundled and mostly seen in terms of human, economic, and cultural terms rather than as mere defence of territorial space by the military.
Globalisation has constricted the state and diminished its capacity to produce security on its own. With the commercialisation of military technology and the emergence of private industrial military complexes, security has become a commodity and countries have to purchase it but at the cost of surrendering their sovereignty.
Pakistan needs to address new emerging issues of human rights, identity, nationality, economic insecurity, population movements, religious intolerance, construction of controversial dams, etc. President General Musharraf himself has admitted that Pakistan faces more internal threats to its security than external ones. While discussing the domestic roots of national security, Barry Buzan argues that states now have to worry not just about their military strength and the security of their ruling families, but also about he competitiveness of their economy, the reproduction of their cultures, the welfare, health and education of their citizens and the stability of their ecologies.
For better understanding, if we disaggregate national security, it is divided into state security and societal security. The former is based on territorial security whereas the latter is centred on the identity. Weakening of territorial security, due to influences of globalisation, has left identities ever more exposed and threatened.
As an ally of the US in the war against terror Pakistan has been exposed to several outside influences, including economic, social, cultural, political and military. Its societal security, which is deemed to be the prime responsibility of the state to provide, has collapsed and people feel more vulnerable and insecure than ever before.
Our rulers have cold-shouldered societal security while state security through the militarisation of state apparatus has dominated the national security agenda.
Therefore, whenever the identities of people, whether religious, sectarian, political, ethnic or cultural, are threatened by the state, people react by fighting back. In this regard, the loss of East Pakistan in 1971 is a glaring example. This also holds true in the case of Balochistan and Waziristan where people are fighting for their rights to protect their identities and socio-economic and political rights.
We need to shun the militarised concept of security and expand its horizons by incorporating the principles of freedom, human rights, welfare, socio-economic justice, and empowerment of the marginalised. Unless this is done people will be justified in thinking that it is their own state, not the enemy from outside, that is the primary security threat.
It is hoped that a security policy will be developed that is guided by national needs based on socio-economic justice and adherence to rule of law. Otherwise, not only will our national security be in jeopardy but the country’s very survival will at stake. We have already seen states more powerful than Pakistan crumble under the weight of declining economies, alienation of people and soaring military expenditure.
MANZOOR ALI ISRAN
Shah Abdul Latif University
Khairpur
THIS refers to the opinion of A. Khan on HEC directives (letter, May 11). The problem doesn’t lie only in the massive involvement of political parties in our education system; interference by the armed forces is responsible for the chaotic situation.
One needs only to look at the existing hierarchies in Pakistani universities where retired armed forces personnel have been appointed for ‘supervision’. Non-civilian personnel cannot pave the way for social restructuring and qualitative education.
Their presence in educational institutions creates hurdles in the social democratic process as well as the productive growth of the students. Because of them provocative thoughts and intellectual mind are always pushed behind in the mainstream of development.
I agree with the correspondent that “our universities are not fully autonomous”. And they will not be until we struggle for social, institutional and structural reforms. The social processes in any vibrant society enhance the capabilities of an individual where she/he performs her/his role and responsibilities in a more productive way. But when a person’s potential is not encouraged, apathy sets in.
In this particular situation, negative influences from militant groups, armed forces and political parties have played with innocent minds to fulfil their own objectives.
USMAN
Islamabad
A US-based journal has rated Pakistan as a ‘failed state’. The government has rejected the rating as faulty and dismissed it as a shoddy piece of political propaganda (Dawn, May 4). A US official has come to Pakistan’s rescue, stating that ‘Pakistan is not a failed state’ (Dawn, May 6). However, to resolve the controversy let us examine the ground realities.
The president of Pakistan is a general in uniform. He seized power in a coup, had himself elected as a president in a referendum.
He then contrived a political party — the PML(Q) — which is composed of turncoats, opportunists and the like. Some of them are even alleged to be loan defaulters. Majority in the National Assembly is achieved by taking in the MQM — a party remote-controlled from London. Nevertheless, the assembly is usually bypassed while decisions are taken by the president himself, the National Security Council and corps commanders’ forum. There is no democracy.
The prime minister is heading a cabinet of 70-plus ministers, ministers of state and advisers. All organs of government legislative, executive or judiciary are malfunctioning. Corruption has been institutionalised. There is wide gap between the haves and have-nots.
About 40 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line, while two per cent own about 50 per cent of national income and wealth. The benefits of economic development are not reaching the common people.
Pakistan is rated as the second most corrupt country and one of the 30 poorest countries in the world. There are rapes, killings, loot and plunder all around. Since the present government came to power, over 30 policemen associated with the Karachi operation have been killed (Dawn, Feb 28). Culprits are seldom caught.
There are no schools for about 40 per cent poor children but 8,000 ghost schools are flourishing with far more ghost teachers. Similarly, there are ghost dispensaries and ghost doctors. There are bonded labour camps, private jails and private armies owned by feudal lords.
The ruling elite is above the law. Similarly, mill owners, black-marketeers, profiteers and smugglers are above government writ.
There is an insurgency underway in Waziristan Agency and Balochistan. What else are these symptoms of if not to a ‘failed state’?
ABDUL SAMAD KHAN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the article by Ms Sheherbano about the kidnapping and conversion of Zeeshan.
We feel saddened for what Zeeshan had to go through for no fault of his. In fact, we feel guilty for the torment he is bearing. Why have we allowed Islam to be hijacked by ‘maulvis’ who are unaware of the teaching of the Holy Quran and Sunnah? They should be put on trial in a court of law and punished for maligning Islam and shaming Muslims.
The Holy Quran says: “There is no compulsion in religion”. How can we then force religion upon someone at gunpoint. What if a Muslim has to meet the same fate? Is this what ‘Da’wa’ is?
We have been studying Da’wa in our Islamyat lessons. The Holy Quran says: “Invite to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious.” Surely most so-called ‘maulvis’ don’t know the meanings of the Arabic they learned by rote.
We request the government to look into this matter and punish the culprits so that Zeeshan and others like him can be united with their families and lead a safe and happy life.
15 STUDENTS
Lahore
THE news that the Supreme Court of Pakistan has now taken notice of the ordeals of payment of utility bills is apt to be hailed by consumers of these services (Dawn, May 9).
While the workable solutions are being sought, let the State Bank make it mandatory for all scheduled and private banks and their branches in the city to accept utility bills from 9am to 5pm. Post offices can be provided security where it is necessary. The staff putting in extra hours for this work in banks or post offices should be given an special allowance so that they work happily.
Women should have a separate counter in banks so that they do not have to stand in long queues with men and wait for their turn to come at one counter. Likewise, where possible, senior citizens should also have a separate counter to pay their bills without having to stand in long queues with others.
The dates for payment within due date and after the expiry of due date for payment should be well-spaced, as it causes all consumers to rush to make payments to escape late payment charges.
It should also be explored whether a counter can be opened at petrol pumps and at government hospitals where banks are operating for the facility of patients. Thus, motorists who come to buy petrol or gas and patients and staff in hospitals can take a few moments to pay their bills to reduce the rush at every bank in the city.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
MAY 16 marks World Stroke Day. Stroke is one of the most unfortunate diseases to have. A stroke occurs when a part of the brain gets damaged due to haemorrhage or lack of blood flow. Patients can be left crippled and paralysed, unable to speak or understand, bereft of their senses.
Despite being the third most common cause of death and most common cause of disability throughout the worldwide, stroke has received little attention from health-care authorities.
For a long time, it has been dismissed as a ‘you-cannot-do-anything-about-it’ kind of disease.
We must recognise that stroke is one of the major health-care issues in our country. There is hardly any family in Pakistan that does not have a stroke victim within its extended circle. Estimates suggest there are more than 300,000 new stroke patients in Pakistan every year.
Due to poor medical care up to 40 per cent die within six months, while the remaining 60 per cent are added to a pool of disabled people. Stroke is rampant in Pakistan because of the prevalence of high blood pressure.
According to a widely-cited national health survey conducted in 1994, every third Pakistani over the age of 45 is hypertensive, and most of these patients are either unaware of their condition or do not have it under control.
Many people learn of their high blood pressure after they have a stroke or heart attack, which is too late. In Pakistan there are five million diabetic patients and around 20 million smokers, both are major risk factors for stroke.
Research has shown that more than 50 per cent of strokes can be prevented by effective blood pressure control and management of risk factors. This demands a mass awareness campaign to ensure that every Pakistani gets his or her blood pressure checked and adequately treated. Stroke is a treatable problem and large numbers of patients are able to go back to work after suffering from one. This is made possible by high quality acute stroke management, dedicated hospital care, and intensive rehabilitation.
Stroke is a huge economic, medical and social burden in our society, and needs immediate attention from health-care authorities. A national stroke prevention programme — along the lines of established programmes like the TB control, AIDS control, malaria control and the mental health programme — would represent an effective step towards reducing mortality and disability related to stroke.
Such a programme would devote itself to public awareness campaigns, development and dissemination of prevention guidelines, and clinical research related to stroke in Pakistan.
It is equally important that the upcoming national health survey planned by the Pakistan Medical Research Council should focus on identification of stroke cases, risk factors and stroke-related disabilities. This information will be invaluable for future health policy formulation and planning.
All health administrators, government officials and health advocates must join hands in a multi-sector collaboration to advance stroke care and prevention in Pakistan and reduce this crippling disease.
DR MOHAMMAD WASAY and DR SAAD SHAFQAT
Pakistan Stroke Society
Karachi
WITH the rising cost of living and high inflation, I feel that it’s the salaried people who suffer the most. Therefore, the government must provide some relief in the upcoming budget for salaried people.
A major chunk of the middle income group’s salary is eaten away by income tax. The government should do away with this direct tax as salaried people are already paying indirect tax on groceries, household, medicine, utility bills, telephone, mobile phones and petrol.
If the above is not possible, then the tax law should at least be modified. The present system is too complicated even for educated people to understand. In any case, the government should do away with the slab system as most people try to find ways to avoid going to into higher income slab.
Tax should be five per cent and collected on the gross annual income (including house rent, utility, conveyance and bonus) for the sake of simplification. Incomes less than Rs100,000 should be exempted while the balance should be taxed.
NAVEED SHEIKH
Karachi
THE public accounts committee or no public accounts committee, nothing will happen to the hoarders of the sugar that are involved in the sugar scam which raised the price of sugar from Rs25 to Rs42 a kilo. As mill owners are a powerful group of politicians — some are even federal ministers — it will be foolish of the public to think that any legal action will be taken against them. Why else will NAB have dropped the case against them in the first place?
The only way to teach these hoarders a lesson is to boycott sugar. Sugar is consumed by us in two major areas; one is tea and other sweetmeats. We can do away with both at least during the summer months. Or we can at least reduce the consumption of sugar by using less sugar — one spoon instead of the two — in our tea. And where possible, sugar should be replaced with salt. This will help to replace the body salts lost due to sweating in the sweltering months.
Imagine the impact this boycott will have on the sugar bags stagnating in shops and warehouses with no buyers around. Such a situation will sound the death toll for most sugar mill owners.
COL. (retd) RIAZ JAFRI
Rawalpindi
TO highlight the bizarre process of filing for a bio-metric passport, I’ve highlighted the 10-step and four-hour-long process currently in place.
1. Collect the form from an NBP branch. If the window is closed, enter via the front door and bribe the security guard to get you a form (10 minutes) 2. Fill the form by yourself (10 minutes) 3. Pay the fees but ignore the ‘agents’ who have special access to the front of the line, in connivance with the window operator (30 minutes) 4. Collect the token number by visiting one of the many token collection windows. Only one will be serving your residence area, so you have to try several windows (10 minutes) 5. Make photocopies of your passport and NIC card (10 minutes) 6. Wait for the thumb impression line to announce your token number (15 minutes) 7. Wait for photographing line to announce your token number (45 minutes) 8. Wait in the form-filling line for your token number to be announced (120 minutes) 9. Get all the documents stapled and stamped at another window (10 minutes) 10. Wait for the assistant director to announce your token number for final validation (10 minutes)
FARZAL ALI MUHAMMAD
Karachi
I am rather shocked to see portraits of professional entertainers alongside portraits of saviours of the nation on a lavishly decorated wall of the Women’s University facing The Mall, Rawalpindi Cantonment.
This display is also ill-advised because the portraits are constantly exposed to dust, dirt, traffic smoke, mud-splashing by vehicles during rains, etc. It is a sad reflection on the decision makers who have wasted public funds and belittled saviours of the nation.
GHULAM MUHAMMAD
Rawalpindi
THERE has been an acute water shortage on D.D. Chaudhry Road in Lyari, Karachi since 2002 due to low pressure supply from the Moosa Lane pumping station. This is despite the fact that the area’s 3,000 residents have been paying all taxes regularly.
Many written complaints to officials of the water board, as well as to other relevant government functionaries, have been submitted from time to time. But so far no remedial measures have been adopted.
MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM BHUTTO
Karachi
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