| June 02, 2006 | Friday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 5, 1427 |
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Pensioners’ plight
Slaughter of trees
Inefficient power plants
Sugar crisis
Dam trouble
Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue
DHA plots’ balloting
Pedestrian & cycling areas
Curse of karo-kari
Temple
Cricket flights
Pumping station sans power
‘Expanding the cabinet’
Frequent traffic jams
MR Shahid Javed Burki’s three articles on the Higher Education Commission are very thoughtful and informative. I specially waited for his third article on the social sciences (May 23). The field of social sciences has been neglected and special attention needs to be paid to it in order to achieve the goals and ideals of higher education and knowledge.
Mr Burki has highlighted many areas of the social sciences that deserve immediate attention for promotion of Pakistan economy. But his thrust is mainly on promotion of industry and productivity. One gets the impression that in his opinion the social sciences such as economics, history and sociology need to be promoted for the enhancement of capital only.
He explains how the social sciences can be helpful in developing new strategies, policies and plans for boosting our economy. There is no mention of philosophy, liberal arts, languages, law in his article. Nor does he give any hint for developing social sciences education for evolving good leadership and a fair justice system or for any other higher goals.
Evolving a vision for Pakistan, cultivating the art of statesmanship, creating civic sense, promoting the cause of civil liberties, enhan cing a proper sense of freedom and responsibility and, above all, understanding the meaningfulness of religious life and its function in our personal and public spheres and enhancing general enlightenment are equal if not more important goals.
The primary function of philosophy, liberal arts, social sciences, law is to develop a critique of our existing precepts and practices in order to evolve a proper vision for ourselves as individuals and as community and state in tune with the new challenges of time.
We have ushered willingly or unwillingly into a new global age of the 21st century marked by many pressures and challenges to our state, to our culture, to our religion, and to our lifestyle.
Philosophy, liberal arts, social sciences and education of law can help us in meeting these challenges by preparing us for critically reviewing the precepts, goals and ideals with which we identify ourselves, in order to develop a proper perspective for ourselves relevant to this new age.
The economic aspect of our life can also be benefited by these studies. All these fields of social sciences, including economics and technology, can transform some of our data-based knowledge into a pool of knowledge that can create a vision for making us a prosperous, healthy and dignified nation. Goals, ideals and objectives may be drawn from the vision. And plans, strategies and policies become subordinate to the goals, ideals and objectives.
Dr ARIFA FARID
University of Karachi
IT pained me to read Mr Ziaul Rahman Nagi’s letter (May 28). A retired army officer, now over 80 years of age and ailing, he is hard pressed to afford his costly medications and doctors’ consultation fees. As for other retired government servants and senior citizens, their miserable end beggars no description.
I am no political person and I have no truck with any political party in the country. But facts are stubborn things and they speak loudly for themselves. The Nawaz Sharif government, for the first time, had responded to the calls of senior citizens and pensioners. On Oct 1, 1999 while observing the Universal Day of Senior Citizens at the Convention Centre, Islamabad, Nawaz Sharif announced a package of concessions for the senior citizens/pensioners, including (a) 50 per cent fare concession on travel by rail and air, (b) 50 per cent concession in all government/PTDC hotels, (c) 10 per cent concession on items of personal use up to Rs2,000 purchased from the Utility Stores Corporation, (d) 70 years old pensioners to be paid at the present rate of their grade of retirement, (e) free entry to recreational centres and museums on showing special identity card, (f) free of charge enrolment in public libraries, (g) first priority for electricity, gas and telephone connections and (g) an excellent medical package to be announced (which, unfortunately, got stuck up somewhere since the change of government).
Add to this the relief in property tax given to widows and writing off mark-up on certain categories of loan from banks.
After over six years of its existence, it is yet to be seen what the Musharraf government does for senior citizens and pensioners.
MOHAMMAD ALEEM SHAIKH
Karachi
IT is frightening to know that there is going to be another slaughter of trees in Lahore. Due to the widening of the road along the Lahore canal, there will be a massive loss of majestic old trees. Among many things, Lahore is distinguished for its greenery. The shady trees along the canal are a treasure of the city.
Adding more lanes to Canal Road will not solve the traffic problem. The traffic should be streamlined and a more efficient traffic management system must be introduced. Lack of proper traffic control has led to a chaotic situation on the roads.
By merely placing traffic constables on important crossings will not control the mess on the roads.There is need to have independent metropolitan traffic police with modern gadgets to control traffic in a mega city like Lahore.
There is a need to develop parallel roads so that the rush on busy roads can be diverted. Flyovers should be built on important intersections to avoid traffic congestion. Parking plazas should be built on important commercial roads.
Trees have no role in the current traffic mess. We should not take our frustrations out on them. They are living though can’t speak. We have to stand up for the rights of our friends. Please leave them alone to provide shade and clean air to our future generations.
DR MUHAMMAD SAJJAD BAQAR
Lahore
MR Ainul Abedin’s solution (letter May 24) is to revamp the existing industrial and KESC power plants, and perhaps demolish the large commercial complexes to make them ‘efficient’. I wonder if he has performed a cost/benefit analysis for his solutions.
Industries and the KESC are both private business concerns. Businesses are not charitable organisations. Their objective is to maximize profits and lower costs.
If replacing the current infrastructure (to make it ‘efficient’) would add to the bottom line, they would gladly do it. That is obviously not the case.
Lastly, he mentions ‘greening’ of buildings. I suppose that can be accomplished by burning coal as he has recommended in one of his previous letters. Ex-president Carter is a wonderful man and I have a lot of respect for him.
As for his suggestions, they went nowhere. If anything, his famous fireside chat, that Mr Abedin refers to, was one of the reasons why he lost the election. Just last week a $4 billion energy project was announced here in the US to install a wind-farm along the Texas coast line (Bush territory).
If Mr Abedin is really serious, he needs to set up a model for others to follow. Chest-beating, bashing wind power and playing the blame game is not going to do it.
MIR ALI
Chicago, Illinois
THIS refers to your editorial and Mr Ayaz Amir’s column (May 26), which indicate that there is more to what meets the eye of the common man, as there is no actual shortage in the market to justify such a high price hike.
The easiest solution lies in the sudden reduction of sugar intake by all the consumers, which will force the hoarders to bring the price down.
Such a voluntary reduction in the consumption of sugar is fully justified, especially as the average consumption of sugar in Pakistan is claimed to be five times that of Bangladesh and nearly 70 per cent more than India, apart from the health hazard of diabetes.
It is also said that a good percentage of the crop is converted into ‘gur’, which is exported at good price to the north, while about 13 per cent of the extract cannot be converted into sugar and is lost as molasses.
The export of sugar and ‘gur’ can be controlled through regulations, while there is enough scope for utilisation
of molasses by refinement, adding some vitamin B and C, etc., and marketed as malt, which could be adopted as a sugar substitute for tea, milk, drinks and even to some extent in sweets.
Such measures can bring down the sugar price immediately, despite the possible world crisis, and increase the possibilities of export of sugar and malt.
It is requested that PCSIR and other research organisations be encouraged to look into the refinement of molasses, because such a possibility exists as malts are already being imported.
S.M. RIZVI
Karachi
PAKISTAN is opposed to India’s plans to construct the Baghliar dam on the grounds that India might at some point in time either flood Pakistan or stop its share of water.
It’s crying foul at every forum and the real reason is that Pakistan distrusts Indian designs.
Back home, three provinces are opposed to the construction of the Kalabagh dam because they don’t trust Punjab’s real intentions. Punjab is known for its broken promises, just look at the Chashma link canal.
Yet the president and the Punjab chief minister, in their infinite wisdom, are hell bent upon constructing the dam. The only reason seems to be that lands in Punjab allotted to the influential in the establishment need to be made fertile.
Dr JAMAAL N. MEMON
Larkana
THIS is with reference to your editorials ‘Lanka’s hour of reckoning’ (May 13) and ‘Another blow to Lanka peace’ (April 29).
I wish to reiterate my government’s determination to find a negotiated settlement to Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue. In this regard, the government has initiated a mechanism to reach consensus among all the political parties represented in the parliament of Sri Lanka, with a view to finding a common ground which is now called ‘Southern Consensus’, a necessary requirement to pass legislations to amend the present Constitution.
I regret to note your view that the hopes of finding a durable solution to the crisis have been dashed with the election of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was chosen by people of Sri Lanka in a free and fair election.
The president has never been against devolution of power to the provinces or against minorities. It might be of interest to know that it was the LTTE that broke away from the peace negotiations in 2003 for reasons better known to themselves at the time.
Expressions such as ‘peace trap’ have been used by the LTTE since and it appears that they have no real interest in the process of negotiations towards a solution, short of a separate state. Hence, there has been a series of provocative acts aimed at obtaining a military response from the security forces. The government of President Rajapaksa has exercised extreme caution and restraint. It should be noted that the European Parliament recently censured the LTTE and is expected to ban the LTTE in the European Union for its anti-peace activities. Meanwhile, it has commended the government for showing restraint.
I wish to disagree with the notion that harassment of ordinary Tamils is an ongoing process. None of the international human rights watchdogs have accused Sri Lanka of harassing Tamils. Whoever indulges in violence is dealt with by law-enforcement authorities and the judiciary, irrespective of the perpetrators’ or the victims’ ethnicity, cast, or ideology.
GEN. C.S. WEERASOORIYA
High Commissioner of Sri Lanka
Islamabad
THE GHQ-sponsored Defence Housing Authorities (DHAs) in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad initially allotted plots to military officers and certain categories of civilian government officers.
Now, DHAs have started to allot residential and commercial plots both to military officers and civilians, including expatriates, through balloting.
Generally, it involves the initial investment of a non-refundable application fee of Rs5, 000 and refundable deposit of Rs75,000 or so, which is refunded to unsuccessful applicants after keeping their money in banks for several months to earn more money through bank interest.
Obviously, it amounts to earning easy money through a game of chance which means gambling under the respectable cover of plots’ allotment through balloting.
Some private housing societies are also involved in a similar practice of making easy money.
I hope the federal government and the GHQ will take cognisance of this illegal and unethical practice of making easy money by exploitation of compatriots.
GHULAM MOHAMMAD
RAWALPINDI
ALL over the world governments are encouraging people to use bicycle as a means of transportation.
They are also encouraging people to walk to their place of work and keep the use of motor vehicles to a minimum. In many European cities there are separate cycling and walking areas where motor vehicles are not allowed.
This not only results in saving fuel costs and keeping the motor vehicle traffic to a minimum but also provides a healthy option to tens of thousands of daily commuters.
In Karachi the situation is just the opposite. There is not a single cycling or walking track along the road or elsewhere. The whole focus is on constructing flyovers and widening of roads to facilitate motor vehicles.
Pedestrians are left with no option but to risk their lives and walk on the road.
The construction of pedestrian zones, cycling and walking areas will add the much needed soul to the city and provide Karachiites a healthy alternative to cars.
NAZIR SIDDIQUI
Karachi
I WAS shocked to read the news ‘5 girls will be given to rivals over karo-kari’ (May 28). Are these hapless girls any animals to be treated in such an inhuman and shameless manner? Is this the kind of justice practised in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan? These ugly episodes tarnish Pakistan’s image in the world.
In some countries of Africa, during the Middle Ages when cannibalistic societies existed, such grotesque and sadistic fates attended hapless girls who had no protectors. Are we in Pakistan no better than the cannibals?
I would urge the apex court to intervene in the matter.
QUTUBUDDIN AZIZ
Karachi
THIS refers to the news report ‘Another temple is no more’ (Dawn, May 28). This raises serious questions which need to be addressed by the government in a manner acceptable to the civilised world.
The most important question is who authorised the chairman of the Evacuee Trust Property Board to sell an old Hindu shrine to the land mafia for demolition and construction of a commercial plaza? This is deplorable. To undo the wrong, an inquiry should be started.
GHULAM HUSSAIN
Lahore
THIS is with reference to Mr H. Khan’s letter regarding our national cricket team travelling to London on Etihad Airways instead of PIA. Mr Khan must realise that Etihad has daily flights to London whereas PIA only flies three times a week.
Ideally the team should patronise the national carrier but PIA has to put its house in order first. How can they justify three flights to London in a week as against Emirates’ seven daily flights to London?
MOHSIN IKRAM
Karachi
I WOULD like to draw the attention of the managing director of the water board, our city nazim and our chief minister to the unfinished water pumping station in Block 2, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Karachi. The pumping station was built in record time by the former city government last year, but the residents of Block 2 are still unable to get water through the pump because of a conflict between the city government and the KESC over the electricity connection.
According to KESC sources, it’s a matter of a million or less rupees that the city government has to pay the KESC for the electricity connection but, meanwhile, thousands of people in Block 2 are forced to spend thousands of rupees each to buy water from the tanker mafia.
Therefore, I would like to request the authorities, especially the city nazim, to look into this matter personally and resolve the issue of electricity supply to the pumping station. His kindness in this regard will always be appreciated by the residents of Block 2, Gulistan-i-Jauhar.
M. NAEEM KHAN
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Anwar Mooraj’s article ‘Expanding the cabinet’ (May 1). I agree with Mr Mooraj that there was no need to expand the cabinet. In fact, I was shocked when I read the news of the expansion in the cabinet.
In a country where almost 30 per cent of the population live in miserable conditions and people are helpless in the quagmire of poverty, it is really ludicrous to add to the burden of the poor people.
We already have an army of ministers and the expenditure of one minister can easily feed a good number of the population.
So I think we should decrease, not increase, the number of ministers.
ADNAN YOUNIS BUTT
Gujarkhan
I WOULD like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the frequent traffic jams at the railway crossing under the 7-Up bridge in Gulberg, Lahore. The crossing is closed every couple of hours, causing traffic jams which sometimes result in accidents and fights.
The notable part of this situation is that there is rarely a traffic constable deployed at the crossing. It is requested that immediate action be taken to solve this problem.
SHAHID FAROOQ AHMAD
Lahore
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