| June 20, 2006 | Tuesday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 23, 1427 |
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Environmental degradation
‘Shining Pakistan’
PIA flights to New York
Quaid’s great grandson
US role in Soviet fall
Sugar affair
Israeli killings
Malls close too early
What’s merit share?
Minimum wages
Service roads
MMA is part of govt
Journalist’s death
Seeking security
Street crimes
THE imposition of 15 per cent GST on computer hardware as announced in the budget speech will increase the prices of IT equipment in the country by 15 to 20 per cent. This will gravely impact the oft-repeated and much-trumpeted government policy of fostering information technology in the country.
This measure has come at a time when the IT industry is at a nascent stage and gearing up for a take-off in the booming international IT market. At the same time, huge investments have taken place and more are being planned by industries nationwide, particularly the banking, telecommunications and manufacturing concerns, so that they remain on the competitive edge at a time when international and national trading is being conducted online.
Software export will also suffer because of this measure. It is worth mentioning that Pakistan is earning a revenue of only $400 million or so from software export, while India has become a global giant with figures of around $30 billion per annum.
The measure is surprising as nearly 50 per cent of the consumption of IT equipment is by the government itself. By imposing a consumption tax in the shape of GST (which means the tax is paid by the end-user), the purpose of enhancing revenue to the government is defeated, as it will be taken out of one purse of the government and put into another kitty.
The new tax will impact the local assemblers of PCs who assemble a PC by using around 30-50 components. To track each component down for the purpose of GST would be tremendously tedious, and the administrative cost of doing so will ultimately be passed on to the consumer who are mostly home users, students and small companies. These people cannot afford any further price increases as they are already burdened with rising inflation.
Therefore, the proposed 15 per cent GST on computer hardware is basically a negative tax which is detrimental to the future growth of IT and the development of quality human resources within the country.
It is hoped that by the time the federal budget is finally passed the authorities will have had second thoughts and withdrawn this ill-advised measure.
AZIZ AHMED
Karachi
THIS has reference to three letters (June 1) ‘Leave Clifton Alone’, ‘Islamabad the beautiful’ and ‘Looming massacre in Lahore’. All three letters highlight not the government’s ignorance or inaction towards environmental issues but its deliberate actions to mar whatever is left of nature.
Over the years deforestation has led to pollution of rivers and lakes, lowering of water table, less rainfall, increase in average temperatures, urbanisation, increase in rural poverty and unemployment and substantial degradation in the quality of life. Development stints like the new Murree project and the proposed Margalla tunnel have the effect of imposing indirect taxes on air and water in the long run.
All this implies that only those with a certain level of income can enjoy nature in its true form. And all this is happening right now. Those who can afford it, drink mineral water, buy tankers, sleep and work in airconditioners, have generators for uninterrupted power supply, enjoy greener neighbourhoods and creek villas and go abroad or to northern areas for a change.
On the other hand, the masses are condemned to congested slums, work in miserable conditions, are exposed to air and noise pollution of traffic, deprived of basic recreational facilities and end up in pathetic government hospitals with gastroenteritis due to sewage-mixed water.
Various dam projects and desalination plants are only treating the symptoms and not the cause. All these issues need urgent and viable strategies.
TAHIR MAQBUL ZUBERI
Karachi
I AM surprised that people in Pakistan are not willing to believe it, but officials in the Malaysian government are acknowledging Pakistan’s extraordinary growth. The World Bank has counted Pakistan among the “10 booming economies of world”. Newsweek counts “Pakistan among five fastest growing economies of Asia”. Weekly Times Magazine calls Pakistan ‘shining Pakistan’.
Moody’s International has upgraded Pakistan’s rating two places in one go (that rarely happens, and is the first time for Pakistan). General Electric (GE) of the US, one of the biggest organisations in the world, has announced a big investment in Pakistan; BASL of Germany has announced it will enter into Pakistan’s economy in a big way. Deutch Bank has announced it will make one of its largest investments in the region and expand its network here. Daimer-Chrysler plans to invest $5.8 billion at Sheikhpura for the manufacturing of trucks and cars for local consumption as well as for export to the Middle East. Prime Transport Ltd of the UK is also spending £850 million for a taxi manufacturing plant in Lahore.
The vice president of the UAE (ruler of Dubai) has signed an MoU to invest $100 billion in Pakistan in the next 10 years. China has confirmed an investment of $20 billion over the next five years. The list is long but people in Pakistan are still pessimist (or biased) and don’t give credit to the present government. It is easy to compare these developments with what Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto did.
IJAZ TABASSUM
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
APROPOS of the letter ‘PIA flights to New York’ (June 11), the airline would like to clarify that the yields on Houston flight are low and the requirement for additional seats during the season is normally in one direction only. This makes operation of additional flights uneconomical for PIA. For this reason PIA is not in a position to start an extra flight to meet short-term requirements in one direction.
Prior to the implementation of the summer 2006 schedule, PIA was operating four flights to New York with one flight direct from Karachi. The summer 2006 schedule (effective March) was planned with five flights to be operated by B-777LR aircraft. One of these flights would have operated directly from Karachi to New York with no stopover.
However, due to restrictions imposed by US security passengers from Karachi could not benefit from the convenience of a non-stop flight. PIA faced difficulty in re- scheduling flights due to aircraft and crew constraints resulting in re-routing of Karachi-Manchester-New York flight via Islamabad. But from June 21 a flight will operate from Karachi to New York once again with only one stop at Manchester.
PIA is making all efforts to provide its customers with convenience through better schedules and comfort through the best possible service in the state of art latest technology airplanes at prices that are very competitive.
CAPT HASSAN JAFFERY
General manager, Public Affairs & Communication, PIA
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the news item “Assassins of Quaid’s great grandson convicted” (June 17). By definition, a great grandson is the son of a grandson. Mr Jinnah had only one child (Dina Wadia) whose son (Neville Wadia) is living in India. Mr Wadia’s son would, therefore, be the Quaid’s great grandson. Consequently, Mr Jinnah’s great grandson would have the surname Wadia, and not Jinnah. The late Sikander Jinnah was, therefore, not the great grandson of the Quaid.
SHAKIR LAKHANI
Karachi
I WAS shocked to read about the murder of the Quaid’s great grandson in January 1998. It was neither highwaymen nor terrorists who committed the crime rather the brave enforcers of the law of the land, namely the police. Had it been the former, they might have spared Mr Jinnah’s life out of respect for his great grandfather, but not the police. What an ungrateful nation we are for condoning the cold-blooded murder of the Quaid’s great grandson.
The killer cops have been let off the hook with a five-year prison sentence and some money as Diyaat. Also, there is no mention of their removal from government service. Had a kidnapper who kills his victim for failing to pay ransom been caught, he would have been hanged or sentenced to life, but not so the policemen who kill their victim for failing to pay bribe for his release.
Calling these crimes Qatl-i-Khata amounts to encouraging crimes committed by the police.
IQTADAR A. SHAH
Rawalpindi
MR Abdul Khalique Junejo is very right in his response (letter, June 15) to an article by Mr Tariq Fatemi. I am surprised that Mr Fatemi, who held several high-ranking assignments in the US during Gen Zia’s period, ignored such a clear fact of history.
Even a cobbler on streets of Pakistan or Afghanistan knows that the Mujahideen fought a proxy war for the United States. Of course, the Mujahideen had their own reasons to participate as well.
After the collapse of the USSR it was time to wrap up and leave. Hence the incident of the Ojheri camp (a Mujahideen ordnance depot well-stoked with sophisticated weapons supplied by the US), and the plane exploding in the sky over Bahawalpur.
Meanwhile, the Mujahideen are still surviving, in spite of the brutal US firepower.
MIRZA AHMED
Texas, USA
THIS is with reference to the news headings in Dawn (June 16) regarding sugar mills offering to release their stocks at import price. This is another trick to outmanoeuvre the government’s efforts, and in the process make quick money. The culture of protectionism and subsidies has already destroyed the market’s ability to withstand pressure, and to remain competitive both in terms of quality and cost. Added to this is its abuse by those who continue to fulfil their insatiable greed for making money by whatever means available.
A recent example of this are the uncalled-for escalation in the prices both of sugar and cement.
Had the sugar mill owners been sincere, instead of offering to release the stocks at the landed import prices they would have offered to the government at the price they paid for it to the exporters. This could have been a fair offer with modest profit for themselves. Instead, the mill owners are attempting to pocket the cost of freight and other such charges incidental to imports which they did not incur. And they are doing this at the expense of the masses. The comparison of the quality of sugar they produce at their mills with that of imported sugar is another story.
SYED ISRAR ALI
Karachi
I WAS thrilled to read the news item ‘Penalty imposed on 32 sugar mills’ (June 11). But was shocked to read the details concerning the Monopoly Control Authority had imposed a penalty ranging between Rs10,000 and Rs40,000 on these mills for providing either incomplete or no data about production, lifting and ex-factory price of sugar. What a colossal fine! I think this is a case of friendly fining.
The whole nation has suffered at the hands of the mill- owners but they are too powerful to be taken to task. I wonder, when the fine is so low, why they should bother providing vital information to the Monopoly Control Authority. They would have bothered if the fine had been in the range of Rs10-100 million. The authority should revise its fine so as to get information from the mill owners who are sucking the last drop of glucose (sugar) from the veins of the masses.
HAFEEZ AKHTAR
Lahore
THIS has reference to the killing of innocent Palestinians on June 9. The arrogant and inhuman response of Israeli defence minister clearly unveils the false claims of sincerity towards peace process pronounced by Knesset on various occasions.
Recent history is replete with countless attacks by Israeli armed forces in attempts to eliminate militants leading to civilian casualties. Meanwhile western peace brokers continue to instruct the Palestinians to resort to ‘peaceful’ means of settling the thorniest issues with Israel.
The fact of the matter is that there can be no long lasting peace if a defiant and brave Palestinian nation is brought under subjugation of an arrogant and irresponsible Israeli regime and its western collaborators. World history is full of examples that tell us that peace can only be achieved when the concurring parties enjoy equal status.
The Palestinians have a right to self-defence and self- governance like any other civilised nation. All regimes, including the US, must take cognizance of this simple truth.
DR NOMAN AHMED
Karachi
MY father flew into Karachi from Islamabad on Sunday especially for Father’s Day. He was caught up all day sorting out his business matters, so it was late evening by the time we children decided to take him out so he could pick a present for himself. However, we came back home empty-handed and embarrassed due to the decision by the local government to close down every shopping outlet in the city by 8pm.
As far as markets are concerned, the 8 o’clock shutdown sounds like a feasible idea. But to shut down malls like Park Towers and Forum exactly when the working-class gets time to have some fun, especially a Sunday night, is an appalling concept. Karachi is said to be the city of lights, how true can that be when everything shuts down before nightfall. How much fun is it to roam one’s favourite malls in the scorching heat around noon? The government should seriously re-think its rushed decision, or at least relax the 8pm restrictions on weekends and public holidays.
RABAIL QADEER BAIG
Karachi
THE recent row between the Sindh chief minister and the MQM has been resolved. According to some newspapers, one of the points of contention was the share of jobs. The issue was finally resolved when they settled on a 60:40 split, respectively.
Can one ask that what share will go to merit? How many jobs will be given purely on merit? Or will all jobs be grabbed by the ruling parties with nothing left for others?
AN UNEMPLOYED
Karachi
AS A wage earner in a small factory in Karachi, I am thankful to the president and the prime minister for increasing the minimum wages from Rs3,000 to Rs4,000 a month.
My family has four members, that is, myself, wife and two children. Can someone guide me how much amount should I spend for each necessity of life, i.e., shelter, food, clothing, education and medical expenses, so that my family is able to survive.
ABDUS SATTAR
Karachi
IN THIS age of science and technology when things have become so accessible to everyone, KPT authorities are leasing residential plots to the fishermen of Khadda, Lyari, opposite the ICI Bridge on main Mauripur Road, for a period of 25 years without keeping any provision of service roads, fresh air and other basic needs considered necessary for human beings, while the city government is allowing lease for 99 years. It is not understood why such a huge difference in the laws of the metropolis. Can anyone explain this ambiguity?
God forbid if fire erupts, no fire brigade would be able to enter these congested areas due to the narrow streets. This would cause a huge loss of lives and property. And thus the innocent residents of the area will be deprived of their basic right to safety.
The KPT authorities are requested to re-survey these plots in consultation with the KBCA, the FWO or other federal government agency, so as to make proper planning for future in order to provide basic facilities to the area people.
ABDUL RAZZAK MEMON
Karachi
IN a recent interview Qazi Hussain Ahmad claimed that the government is in the hands of America and his political party (MMA) is against the rules and regulations of America.
But he forgot that the MMA is also a part of the government. He said that his party condemns America. But when George W. Bush came to Pakistan, the MMA did not take out any processions against him. Only the political party led by Imran Khan raised its voice against the tour by Mr Bush.
Khalid Mehmood Soomro, the secretary of the MMA in Sindh, is one of the senators who were recently elected. Now if the government is the servant of America, why does the MMA accept the rules and regulations of this government?
AISAL M. SOOMRO
Larkana
THE death of tribal journalist Hayatullah Khan is tragic and the role of agencies suspicious, as his brother had been assured by local intelligence operatives and government officials that the family would hear something about him on or about June 15. The government should clarify the position.
The government has been warned time and again by people from different walks of life about its policies in the tribal areas and Balochistan. Clearly it is not concerned about what the common person thinks. I wonder where all this will lead to.
ARSHAD MAHMOOD
Islamabad
THIS refers to the letter ‘Seeking security’ (May 25) by Mr Khalid A. When there is fear that snakes are living amongst us we should keep our eyes open and try to identify these snakes, as well as their feeders, and take precautions against them.
SQN-LDR (r) S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
I AM a resident of Rafa-i-Aam Society, Malir Halt, Karachi. Our housing society is opposite airport and comes under the jurisdiction of the Al-Falah police. Street crimes are spreading rapidly in this small locality. People are being deprived of their cellphones during rush office hours in front of many people. On behalf of the residents of Rafa-i-Aam Society, I request the government to intervene in the matter.
A RESIDENT
Karachi
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