| September 16, 2006 | Saturday | Sha'aban 22, 1427 |
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Unholy nexus
Should death penalty be abolished?
City government accountable
Saudi visa office
New map of the Middle East
Article 58(2)(b): a sword of Damocles
Tribute to Agha Shahi
PTCL clarifies
Azadi festival
Courier service
US media targeting Pakistan
Life as a bus
Credit card
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
DONORS mostly have their facts right, but usually give the wrong advice since it is based upon neo-liberalism, which promotes socially abstract analysis. Dawn’s report (Sept 12) suggests this is the case again with the World Bank study on vulnerable citizens.
The study recognizes the distressingly high level of poverty in Pakistan. But what it will not do is to acknowledge the large contribution of donors to poverty creation. Numerous examples can be given of poor citizens being saddled with debts for poverty reduction projects that actually do the reverse. The bigger boondoggles include the Social Action Programme, Access to Justice Programme’ LBOD’ Chashma Irrigation Project and now the Taunsa Barrage Rehabilitation Project. Smaller projects include the Chotiari Reservoir. Instead of reducing poverty, all end up with increasing poverty of the most vulnerable.
These projects are ‘approved’ by the government for obvious reasons. But why do many honest citizens also approve donor projects? For one, the donors arithmetic understates social costs and overstates economic benefits. For another, the inequitable distribution of costs and benefits is ignored.
The bank points to low spending on social protection. But this conveniently bypasses the central role of donor advice in such low spending on basic services. The best social protection is full employment through decent work. Tragically, the bank opposes even an adequate minimum national wage. Public sector employment could have been a benchmark for decent work but the push for privatisation does the reverse.
As long as donors ask the wrong questions, the poor can be certain that donors will remain a part of the problem rather than of the solution to their poverty. Mega city projects for Karachi are unlikely to be anything but disaster for its poor citizens.
ERCELAN
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter ‘Unholy nexus’ (Sept 6). The member-companies of the Pharma Bureau, comprising 25 big multinationals having half of the Pakistan pharma market, are signatory to the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA) Code of Ethics, and strictly follow the code.
Prof Murad M. Khan’s letter raises some illusions. First, we agree that it is wrong to provide expensive gifts like cars, laptops and airconditioners to influence prescriptions, but our member-companies do not indulge in such unethical activities.
Second, small gifts like diaries and calendars do not influence the physician to prescribe a particular brand at the cost of compromising the patient’s interest.
Third, it is perfectly ethical to sponsor physicians to international congresses and symposia, in line with the IFPMA guidelines. Literatures, reprints, product information are provided to the physicians to keep them abreast with the latest research and developments in the field of medicine.
These are legitimate services that the pharma industry provides as per global trends. Generally, a physician, keeping the patient’s interest above everything else, will prescribe only those medicines that are effective and safe, and is supported by evidence of clinical trials and studies.
Pharma Bureau has an in-house ethical subcommittee, and monitors the promotional activities of its member-companies to ensure compliance with the IFPMA code of ethics. Similarly, the ministry of health has an ethical committee comprising director-general of health as chairperson, and representatives of Pharma Bureau, Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, Pakistan Medical Association and Pakistan Chemist and Druggist Association as members. This committee is empowered to take appropriate action against complaints of violation of code of ethics.
According to Stephen Hawking: “The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.”
RIAZ HUSSAIN
Executive Director, Pharma Bureau, Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Karachi
YOUR coverage on death penalty (The Review, Sept 7-13) was thought-provoking. Much was said on innocent persons waiting to face the gallows. However, the rights of victims were not adequately addressed. A young colleague of mine was shot the other day while going home after work late evening. He was intercepted by a duo on a motorcycle. They asked for his mobile but before he could produce it, they started his body search.
The person conducting the search could not find the mobile on his person. He asked his partner if he could shoot. Immediately, on a simple nod from his partner, he shot the victim. They left on their motorcycle leaving the victim behind. Fortunately help arrived and my colleague survived.
Many such victims do not live to share their ordeal. Is death penalty too harsh for such crimes where the criminals shoot to death, merely for pleasure? If somebody is courageous enough to act in self-defence, it is doubtful that he will get away with the subsequent process of explanation and proving his innocence.
I would suggest the following:
1. The government should enable citizens to defend themselves. If cars, motorcycles and mobiles (hardly worth resistance) are being snatched in high numbers round-the-clock by persons with fire arms (unlicensed), it should be no big deal to arm the law-abiding tax-payers for self-defence.
2. The punishment for shooting for pleasure innocent people resulting in death should be death. What other punishment the groups advocating abolition of death penalty propose? Society should get rid of such murderers, considering that victims do have rights.
3. It should further be made a criminal offence for any establishment to buy a second-hand mobile without its original receipt, charger, original packing and the antecedents of the seller with copy of his CNIC.
SHARJEEL JAWAID
Karachi
THIS is with reference to a report in your newspaper titled “Exorbitant increase in prices for Ramazan: city govt notifies list” This will be a test of the city government in Karachi led by the MQM to alleviate the sufferings of the already downtrodden citizens of Karachi who are made to suffer frequent power outages, scarcity of water, havoc caused by rains, the declining physical infrastructure and now soaring prices of daily and essential items, especially in the month of Ramazan. It is a matter of great surprise and frustration that no authority exists that can effectively control prices, which are often left to the whim of union and association members to increase by whatever amount they choose according to their own interest.
The government is lacking in initiative in this regard and it will not be long when the rulers will have to be answerable to the population at large with elections so close.
I would advise the city government in Karachi, especially Nazim Mustafa Kamal, to take all measures possible to ensure stability and affordability of prices in the interest of the common man, whom the city council represents. The CDGK needs to take bold and daring initiatives like the former CDGK did in case of mutton and beef prices two years back under Naimatullah Khan. This will be MQM’s test to fulfil its electoral promise to the masses who are already burdened with soaring prices.
The common man living in the streets of Karachi, Lahore and other towns is not interested in foreign policy and what’s happening in Fata or the official economic figures released by the government. His problem is ‘survival’ and this is where the government should be accountable the most.
TARIQ JAWAID
Chicago, USA
I HAD to walk into the Saudi consulate visa office for the first time last month as my wife sought a visa to see our daughter in Saudi Arabia.
I was appalled to see the poor condition and mismanagement of the visa premises. There is no proper and adequate sitting arrangement in the hall even for senior citizens, no drinking water, no decent lavatory and no airconditioning. A few ceiling fans moved reluctantly at a leisurely speed of their choice.
Incidentally, a portion of the roof of the hall is open which, mercifully, allows some fresh air inside. Just imagine the perspiring crowds of visitors in the scorching summers of Karachi.
It may be mentioned that the consulate charges a good sum of Rs3,500 as visa fee and Rs1,000 is paid for vaccination by the people of Pakistan who come here from far and wide.
Even security guards on duty at the office had no arrangement for offering prayers and were seen doing so by the roadside. They drank water from a dirty cooler and performed duty in a drab environment.
As for management, a very limited time, i.e., from, 9am to 10.30am, is allowed with three days’ holidays. People are called for delivery of visa at 2.30pm.
The day I accompanied my wife, the visa-seekers were kept waiting from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, old men and women standing in a queue all the time without any facility at all. The agents who brought bags stuffed with Umrah documents had the upperhand.
Will the Saudi consulate look into the matter and improve things in their visa office for our mutual good?
M. ALEEM SHAIKH
Karachi
THE article published in US Armed Forces Journal discussing a changing map of the Middle East and South Asia, (Dawn, Aug 27) came as a surprise to many, but I wonder why that is so.
With the continuing unrest in Balochistan and the NWFP; their populations choosing tribal allegiances over national interest and the prejudice exhibited against one another by residents of the other provinces over the past several years, there is a general lack of national unity. Meanwhile the entire population is condoning global radicalisation and extremism as a “just war against the West”. Therefore it should not come as a surprise if the textbooks 20 years from now are published with a new map of the Middle East and South Asia.
It should be remembered that borders have in fact never been stable or set in stone. Pakistan’s own boundaries changed when East Pakistan declared its independence and new criss-crossing lines emerged across the USSR and former East European states when the Soviet empire fell. Even within the United Kingdom national boundary lines are becoming more consequential as Wales, Scotland and England are becoming increasingly independent of each other.
What needs to be noted however is that within the rich and powerful nations such as the UK and the US, individual provinces and states have maintained the integrity of the country as a whole, no matter how independent they have become of each other in running their daily affairs. They realise that survival and the retention of power will only be made possible if each entity is stuck to the other without compromising the union of the nation and its people.
Sadly this concept is lacking in Asian and Middle Eastern nations where ethnicity, customs, religious differences, tribal lords and powerful families are valued above national unity and interest. Perhaps there is still time for the peoples of the Middle East and South Asia to realise the benefits of sticking together by giving the due rights to those who have been deprived of them for so long. Without such actions the nations mentioned in the journal article should prepare themselves for the inevitable re-drawing of the map.
Dr SHAAZ MAHBOOB
Hillingdon, UK
I AM dismayed on reading the views of Saifuddin E. Contractor in his letter ‘Article 58(2)(b): dissenting view’ (Sept 10).
This article was inserted in the Constitution by a self-righteous dictator to perpetuate his dreadful hold on the parliament and the government. So much so that he applied this as a tool to dislodge his own hand-picked prime minister, the amiable and respected Muhammad Khan Junejo.
I disagree with the observation that the Constitution has retained its unspoiled spirit with the insertion of the above article. On the contrary, it has messed up the idea of parliamentary supremacy. I believe that for shutting the doors on extra-constitutional forces we must restore the 1973 Constitution in its pristine form as was approved unanimously by a sovereign parliament.
The history has proved that 58(2)(b) therapy is not only temporary but its indiscriminate use has turned out to be divisive for the federation.
M. H. SOLANGI
Karachi
Agha Shahi’s death has deprived Pakistan of its most accomplished diplomat and practitioner of foreign policy.
Having served the government of Pakistan on many diplomatic assignments during Mr Shahi’s tenure as foreign minister of Pakistan, I have no hesitation in saying that he was an embodiment of all the qualities of head and heart which Britain’s famous foreign secretary Sir Ernest Satow envisioned for his model diplomat.
As Pakistan’s ambassador in many important countries, he was most effective and highly respected in the country of his posting, especially the People’s Republic of China. Whenever he paid an official visit to London for talks with the British government, he was most punctual and he did not neglect the ritual of a morning walk in London’s Hyde Park.
He took a flight from Islamabad that got him to London in the morning hours. Before going to the high commission in Lownde’s Square he spent half an hour in doing a brisk walk in Hyde Park and I kept him company.
He then checked into the hotel, usually the Hyde Park Hotel, where he stayed during his London visit. I marvelled over the speed with which he disposed of official business at the high commission. I accompanied him during his official meetings with British officials.
He was precise in what he said in these meetings, extremely articulate and polite. The departments of international relations in the Universities in Karachi and Islamabad should set up chairs for Mr Agha Shahi and promote research on his foreign policy and his conduct of Pakistan’s foreign relations.
QUTUBUDDIN AZIZ
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter “Out of commission” (Sept 14), regarding the faulty telephone numbers 6645047 and 6648970. The PTCL would like to clarify that after publication of the letter the officer concerned visited the customer’s premises and found the drop wire is broken on the roof in the premises, faults rectified same day.
SALEEM KHAN PRO, STR-III
Karachi
I AM glad that The Learning Centre celebrated the Azadi festival in Karachi. Many students attended the celebration and they performed different skits and speeches. TV actors were also present at the event. Such festivals should be celebrated as they give students an opportunity to organise and participate in live performances.
SALEEM BALOCH
Karachi
A PARCEL was dispatched in my name by my brother Dr Abid N. Rana from Khanpur, Rahimyar Khan, on August 19, through SMS courier service bearing booking no. 29743.
It has still not been delivered to me after a lapse of many days.
The amazing fact about this snail-paced courier company is that it has no contact phone number in Quetta, and apparently no tracking system to know how and where the packet is lying or where it got lost on the way.
Its phone number 2836270 was disconnected years ago and the office has been working without a contact number since then.
Would somebody in SMS courier bother to inform me of the fate of this parcel or approximate delivery time in eons?
ASIF NAZIR RANA
Curator, Museum of Historical Geology
Quetta
THIS has reference to the latest smear campaign run by the American media through its powerful mouthpiece CNN. On Sept 12 there was a special news segment on CNN about how Pakistan is the breeding ground for future terrorists. They ran a documentary about a Lahore-based madressah where young boys were suspected of learning terror instead of Islam.
A spokesman for the madressah told CNN how the Islamic school network despised Gen Musharraf for trying to stop them from imparting jihadi doctrine. He further elaborated that it was justified for freedom-fighters to strike at western forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. While this is a very justified argument from our perspective, it is akin to lighting a matchstick near a haystack for Americans.
Quite obviously this programme and other propaganda tools being employed are meant to set the stage for the upcoming presidential elections. This time round the Democrats are expected to win, and so the virulent propaganda being spread is simply meant to garner public support for yet another misadventure in what is really the ‘war of terror’. After all that the Pakistan government has done for America we have not heard a single word of gratitude. Somehow now matter how much we bend over backwards, it’s never enough.
ALIYA ANJUM
Karachi
THE other day while driving home from work I noticed a public bus stuffed to the brim. It was spewing copious amounts of poisonous smoke, and people, including women, all but spilled out from the doors.
Right along side it I noticed another bus of a familiar dark green hue and having a myriad of logos. It was clean and moved almost soundlessly.
The windows were fogged up from the airconditioning inside. This one violated the crossing signal we were waiting for, yet the traffic policeman did not miss a beat.
I am sure every last one in the former bus paid at least Rs5 for the privilege of travelling in that moving heap of scrap and faced utility, property, water bills when he or she got home. I know for a fact that the people in the dark green bus did not pay a penny and would get all of their life’s necessities at a discounted rate.
Really, this sums up the state of affairs in our country. There is a dark green bus for some and there is a moving scrap heap for the rest of us.
If you can travel in that dark green bus, everything is fine. If you can’t, you are merely being killed little by little every day among the obscure caves of daily life.
TALHA BIN HAMID
Karachi
LAST month I received the monthly statement of Citibank Cards, delivered by their courier, on the 24th and the payment due date mentioned therein, to my surprise, was 23rd. I made the payment the same day.
Now this month’s statement, received earlier, shows the bank has charged me Rs600 for late payment. The Bank Alfalah did the same a few months ago. It seems the credit card companies have found in such malpractice an innovative way of making profit.
ASHFAK BOKHARI
Karachi
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