| July 8, 2006 | Saturday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 11, 1427 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Food adulteration
Anomalies in NSS
Karachi postal problems
PIA international flights
Empowering traffic cops
Nehr-i-Khayyam
Robbing Peter to pay Paul
Village school
Road crossing
MR Anwar Syed in his article ‘Of fathers and sons’ (July 2) has touched upon a very significant social aspect concerning civil societies of the Third World where western cultural incursions through satellite and Internet have brought about a sea-change in the relationship between parents and offspring. This ‘modernism’ has influenced the culture of Pakistan the most, so much so that even the far-flung countryside is affected by the onslaught through media explosion.
Until the 1970s the joint family system was more or less intact in our culture where a father, being head of the family, was considered an emblem of a hero, therefore a leading model. His presence in the home created an awe which usually deterred the sons to approach him in candid terms, as rightly stated by Mr Syed.
However, this reserve brought about a positive impact in the overall upbringing of the child. The respect for elders in society those days was an outcome of that informal training. With the media bang, the western culture sans family institution, which was restricted to ultra rich families, infiltrated every house, first through movies and then with easing of travelling activities that commenced in the Bhutto era.
I recollect that in the early 1970s when Indian movies were smuggled and exhibited clandestinely through video cassettes, a Hindi feature-film, ‘Kabhi Kabhi’, become extremely popular. It was for the first time that a middle class watched with profound amazement a family so intertwined and informal. The irony is that now a father because of ‘modern’ influence feels high when because of the attire and get-up he has adopted he is considered younger than his son. The father and son relationship thereby, I dare say, at present is no more based on reverence created by age distance or on equality of the western culture.
This transformation has not only destroyed the intrinsic cultural ethos such as reverence for family elders, esteem for a teacher; respect for a neighbour and womenfolk but with this has vanished the simple way of life that was hallmark of an eastern society. It also introduced ostentation in repulsive form that is conspicuous in every walk of life and most prominent in marriages.
Nowadays marriages have become an extremely costly affair as it is not dowry alone that hurts more, but most significant are the functions, i.e., engagement, ‘dholki’, ‘mehndi’, marriage, ‘valima’ where food served on each occasion can cost full outlay of a marriage solemnised in the past. The expenditure on photography and movies and beauty parlour on each occasion incurred by families of bridegroom alone can suffice to celebrate a number of middle class marriages, depending upon the status of parties.
Next to these extravagances the factor seen abused most on these occasions is the time.
Thus from the accessibility of knowledge, instead of learning the secrets of western societies’ advancement in science and technology and economic progress that made them world power, we have emulated only their ostentation and vulgarity.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
FOOD adulteration/contamination is a common problem in our society, resulting in serious but underestimated health hazards. The recent report from PCSIR labs (Dawn editorial, July 4) is alarming where 44 per cent of food samples tested at the canteens of schoolchildren were found to contain non-food grade colouring additives and more than one-third of water samples was contaminated.
Similarly, food adulteration around 50 per cent reported earlier by the Lahore city government (Dawn, Dec 10, 2005) and unwanted chemical treatment for some popular food commodities such as ginger (Dawn, June 14) just to give better appearance and increase weight of the commodity warrants serious attention of the authorities.
The negative impact of food adulteration on economy through its adverse effects on public health is obvious though neglected but its strong influence on our export has been underestimated.
The quality of Pakistani fruits, vegetables, spicy foods and grains is undoubtedly high; there is no match for our ‘basmati’ rice or our fruits/spices but we are unable to cash these in the booming global market of functional foods and dietary supplements used for healthcare because the quality of our products is not trusted owing to adulteration. We are gradually losing faith in our own products which can be judged from the fact that our high quality textile products are sold in Pakistan market after getting stamped here as ‘Made in Japan’.
In Germany, over 70 per cent physicians use herbal products/dietary supplements, and European herbal products like ‘Gingko’ for old age dementia is prescribed by our physicians who are reluctant to use indigenous natural products. The lack of trust in our own products or traditional knowledge can be judged from the fact that our physicians learned using ‘Ispaghol” (a popular indigenous herbal remedy for constipation) from the West. Pakistan is a rare country where we regulate the herbalists but not the herbal products; hence quality of products available in the market remains questionable due to adulteration.
I feel that we can attract foreign investment and curtail import if we can develop trust and faith in our own products and systems by adopting quality assurance measures. It is time the government implemented strict regulation of herbal products/dietary supplements, exploiting huge export potential. Food and drug inspectors can play a more effective role if there is provision for some incentive for an honest worker.
PROF ANWAR GILANI
Karachi
IN the current federal budget and with effect from June 5 the profit rates on all National Savings schemes have been enhanced. This is a good decision keeping in view the price hike and steep inflationary trends. The average middle class and retired government servants would heave a sigh of relief.
However, an anomaly is that suppose the rates of interest on NSS are revised again next year or after a couple of years, then the benefit of that increase will not be given to those purchasers who had bought certificates on or after June 5. Such purchasers would then have to re-invest their amounts after withdrawing the same from their previous certificates, thus sustaining a considerable monetary loss.
The solution and the best course of action for the ministry of finance is that whenever interest rates are revised, the old purchased certificates may also be given benefit of enhanced rates so that the old purchasers may not suffer. This action is likely to create confidence in the public to invest more in NSS rather than in other banks which are now offering very healthy interest rates.
DR ZAINAB RIZVI
Lahore
THIS has reference to Haji Ashfaq’s letter ‘NSS profit’(June 28). I fully endorse the concern expressed by Mr Ashfaq. It is the voice of all the senior citizens/pensioners whose livelihood is directly affected by this scheme.
The rate of return prior to July 2005 was 10.08 per cent and thereafter it was raised to 11.04 per cent. However, in the absence of any government directive, the senior citizens/ pensioners were left in ‘as-you-were’ position, bereft of any progressive benefit in line with inflationary trends.
If the same practice is continued this year as well, the oldies will be one step lower than those joining the ranks after July 1. Selling the existing certificates and buying the new ones entail unfavourable losses. This illogical injustice needs immediate redressal by the authorities concerned.
S.A. KAZMI
Karachi
I HAVE three accounts in the pension account of the National Savings Centre. When I approached my branch to transfer my accounts to the new rates’ scheme after prescribed deductions, I was flatly refused.
I tried to contact the director-general of the National Savings through e-mail at his Islamabad office. Somehow I could not reach him. I, like many other pensioners, would like a notification in this regard from the DG office.
PROF. S. Ahmed
Karachi
POST Master-General (Sindh) Muhammad Ahmed Mian’s clarification (June 28), in response to the letter (June 25) of Dr Choudhry Rehan Arif Raza on the subject, has left various public problems still unresolved.
In fact, there is only one sub-post office in Block-16 for postal services to about 1.5 million citizens living in 20 blocks of Karachi’s Gulistan-i-Jauhar, an area of hundreds of highrise residential and commercial buildings. The location of the post office is hidden amid deep residential streets and lies far from public view without any signboards giving indications from main road to reach it. This causes inconvenience to the public.
Mismanagement, indiscipline and shortage of staffs always persist in this post office due to which it never works after 3pm and never opens at 9am, only one staff member entertains all postal services on his convenience. The acceptance of utility bills and ordinary mails are often refused on account of non-availability of postal stamps, closing of stamping machine and fear of robbing due to no arrangement of security as this post office was repeatedly robbed of cash previously. Further, the incoming mails at residents in Gulistan-i-Jauhar are delivered once a week only on account of manpower shortage, excused by PO-75290.
For the residents of Gulistan-i-Jauhar the alternative choice of post office, specially during evening hours till l0pm, lies at Shah Faisal Colony, near the PAF base Faisal, Karachi airport and Gulshan-i-Iqbal. Most of said post offices close from 3pm to 7pm and show reluctance on acceptance of utility bills due to lack of security arrangements for safe cash dealings.
The question arises why the residents of Gulistan-i-Jauhar should suffer time and money for going to distant post offices because of existing in-house problems of the PMG (Sindh), perhaps not yet in his knowledge? Why the long prevailing problems at PO- 75290 are not resolved with provision of one GPO and a few more POs spread over the area, needed by citizens?
The authorities concerned are requested to take cognizance of the matter.
SYED MUHAMMAD REHAN
Karachi
MY episode of travelling by PIA international flight PK-787 with my family on June 18 from Karachi to London was very thrilling. When I got seated in economy plus class, I noticed that in the upper portion there were about 10 rows of six seats each, totalling 60 seats altogether. Out of these, only 15 seats were occupied, including my family.
When I, out of curiosity, took a round of economy class, I found that there also the position was the same. According to a rough estimate, if all unoccupied seats of economy plus, economy class and business class are taken together, then the loss in terms of money works out to Rs8 million to Rs9 million on one flight only.
In front of economy plus class there were two wash-rooms. As soon as one of the passengers came out after using one wash-room close to the cabinet side, an airhostess came running from the business class and declared that the same wash-room was not to be used as its water was dropping in the business class. Hence, its use was prohibited.
Coming back home on July 2, I had to travel by PIA flight No. PK-788 from London to Karachi. When I reached the counter for my boarding card, the first objection raised was that I was supposed to go by the June 30 flight. I said that I had got my ticket extended for the flight on July 2 and that computer slips were attached to the ticket and seats were confirmed twice.
The lady stared at me and said that it was not enough. A sticker regarding change in flight should have been pasted on to the ticket. I suddenly realized the delicacy of the situation, changed my tone and with all humility at my command requested the lady to forgive me for the lapse, as I was not aware of the procedure. I knew that many passengers on the waiting list were keen to get a ticket for the said flight. The lady, on my changed humble attitude, issued the boarding card and directed me to run for Gate No. 35, as the flight is ready to take off. I ran towards the Gate No. 35 and when I reached, there was an announcement that flight had been delayed due to some technical reasons. After sometime the passengers were allowed to board the plane.
On entering the plane I saw a strange scene. About 18 to 20 rows of economy class having five seats in each row had been cordoned off in a manner that no one could enter the area. What was the reason of doing so? No staff member could give any plausible explanation. Everyone was making his own guess. In my economy plus class the position was not different from that of June 18. This time the washroom on the right was giving a deserted look as because of some defect it was permanently closed. As there were only 10 to 12 passengers against the total capacity of 60 passengers, one washroom could suffice.
All this forced me to ponder how long our national airline would continue to sustain heavy losses by declaring about every flight to be full when it actually goes half empty. Who is to be blamed for this sorry state of affairs and how good governance could be enforced?
This reminded me of another event. On May 24 about midnight I was sitting with friends in the departure lounge to catch an international flight when an announcement was made that the flights for Manchester and New York were ready for take-off and passengers were requested to board the plane. We started counting the passengers who were hardly 45. It transpires that bureaucracy in every flight keeps a sizable number of seats unoccupied for top-brass government officials or ministers, etc., which always goes empty.
Under the thick clouds of despair and despondency, I can only see a silver lining in the personalities of the president and the prime minister whom I appeal to take immediate stock of the situation and ensure that good governance is enforced in PIA to uplift the standard of service and performance and, thereby, enhance the image and prestige of PIA as a national airline of Pakistan.
SHAIKH MANZAR ALAM
Karachi
IT was upsetting to read the letters by Sana Zubairi and Adnan Abbasi (July 5). What is so distressing about the incidents they mentioned is that traffic violators go scott-free and no action whatsoever is taken against them due to negligence of the police.
Rash drivers who have no regard for life should be meted out such severe punishment that they will think twice before committing the violation again.
The only way to discipline them is with fear of punishment and the authorities cannot seem to do this. Thus, they have no respect for the law and as a result innocent lives are lost.
On the other hand, traffic policemen are ill-equipped to deal with these traffic violators besides other factors such as low salaries, lack of facilities and also the fear of being taken to task for punishing influential people.
Recently there was a drive to ensure that all motorbike riders wear helmets. What happened to that law and why is it still not being enforced? In fact, even pillion riders should be required to wear helmets, as is done in Bangkok and other countries.
It seems that this drive was only initiated so that a certain few could benefit from the sale of helmets before the deadline. Similarly, the recent drive against smoke-emitting vehicles also seems to have petered out.
In the end, one can only blame the higher-ups in the local government, i.e., the city nazim and the governor, for the loss of precious lives. They are responsible for the lives of the citizens of this city through proper management and ensuring that the law is obeyed.
It seems that they can only make tall claims about the progress of Karachi towards becoming a mega-city, while they are unable to tackle simple law and order and traffic violation problems.
Tyrone Mascarenhas
Karachi
IN the heart of Karach’s Clifton, the Nehr Khayyam was built to draw away subsoil water which damaged roads and buildings. Over the years this canal was converted into a gutter drain as nearby buildings illegally connected their sewers. The sludge ultimately lands in the Boating Basin.
Recently there is a rush to make an underground channel and sell the land at lucrative prices. Since the construction is in progress, it is recommended that the channel be made to bypass the Boating Basin and drain directly into the sea.
This measure will improve the water quality in the basin and rid the area of the rancid smell of raw sewage.
RAFI ADAMJEE
Karachi
WAPDA has been asked to provide 100 MW electricity to the KESC. I think there can’t be a better use of the proverb “To rob Peter to pay Paul”. Does Wapda have surplus? If yes, why is there loadshedding in the areas covered by it?
We learn from newspapers, FM channels and TV that the areas under Wapda are suffering the worst loadshedding. What will Wapda do to oblige the power-that-be who has ordered it to provide 100 MW to the KESC? Will it resort to more loadshedding in its areas? Are the people whose power will be cut children of a lesser god?
The July 4 issue of Dawn carried the versions of Wapda as well as of the KESC regarding the power situation. Wapda blames the federal government, while the KESC blames the past management and also “some elements in the power utility in connivance with external elements”.
Wapda blames the ministry of water and power and Nepra for the crisis and claims that these organisations did not pay heed to the warnings Wapda had been giving them since 2002.
Why not investigate those in the ministry and Nepra who are responsible for the crisis and also expose the elements pointed to by the KESC?
ZAFARUL HAQ MEMON
Karachi
I WONDER why the government has not taken notice of Sheikh Muhai village (Khairpur) where for decades a teacher has not come to the only school that has a beautiful building, though little children daily walk for miles in indifferent weather in order to quench the thirst of knowledge.
I would request the authorities concerned to look into the matter and urgently depute a sincere teacher to save young talents from going to waste.
MIAN NIZAMUDDIN PIRZADA
Sheikh Muhai
ON Sharea Faisal, Karachi, in particular between signal-free distances, pedestrians have to wait for long to cross the road and some time they meet with fatal accidents while crossing the road.
It is very much required to mark zebra crossings at reasonable intervals and also place electronic signals for walk-and-stop.
This service is badly and urgently required for thousands of citizens, including women, senior citizens, children and even emergency cases.
It is hoped that prompt action will be taken in this regard.
SHAIKH FAKHRUDDIN SADRIWALA
Karachi
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.