| October 21, 2006 | Saturday | Ramazan 27, 1427 |
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UN: changing time
Tree plantation
Star city
Concern over harassment
F-16 fighters
Born to rule
Fake pesticides
Taiser Town
Share Eid with less fortunate
North Korea’s reaction
Pesticide in cola
Post office working
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
Your editorial on Iraq (Oct 16) sheds light on the current crisis very aptly by illustrating how the US and the UK have made a mess of a country and destabilised the whole world. However, one thing you have not pointed out and that is that there is method in the madness. Planning was done before the invasion to break Iraq into three countries so that it could not pose any threat to Israel, and this is precisely where the current situation is heading for.
US Secretary of State Condi Rice actually spoke her mind when she commented that a new Middle East is being born, and labelled the current crisis in the Middle East as mere birth pangs. The next plan is to break up Pakistan because only then the threat of Pakistan can be neutralised. Already a nuclear Pakistan is considered as a potential threat. This break-up of countries started with the Soviet Union, then Eastern European countries and now it is headed for Asia. India should not be very happy because they would be the next target after Pakistan.
Isn’t it ironic that the US comprises 54 states that are united and strong while the European Union is expanding every year, yet both the US and Europeans are bent upon encouraging division of countries all across the world? Insurgency is being encouraged everywhere. It is high time that India and Pakistan resolved the Kashmir problem as soon as possible because one day both of them will lose Kashmir and they will regret that day forever.
Neither the break-up of Pakistan or India would be good for either country. Only the people would suffer. Did India gain anything by breaking up Pakistan and Bangladesh? They still have to live with a nuclear neighbour, while the situation is equally volatile on the Bangladeshi side of the border.
We should realise one thing. There are nearly 180 million Muslims living in India, 200 million in Pakistan and about the same in Bangladesh. That makes up nearly 680 million of Muslims combined. So then why are we afraid and of what? If only a handful of Jews can control the US economy, why are Muslims feeling so helpless?
DR CHAUDHRY L. HUSSAIN>
Cardiff, UK
A team of 400 experts, backed by the US government, deliberated for over two years to finalise some recommendations that would allow the powerful nations to implement their decisions internationally without consulting the UN and the Security Council (Oct 3).
An examination of the recommendations indicate that they are mostly designed to serve the present US global policy or its intentions: “The us to maintain a robust defence by sustaining the military dominance” and also includes college-like education such as, ”when the US purchases large amounts of petroleum from the Middle East, two things happen. . . .”
Besides, it is not understood as to why the US needed 400 experts to deliberate for two years just to say so or similar other many things, but the consequences of the Iraqi fiasco can be read between the lines of the recommendations making them retrogressive in nature even to the League of Nation’s era.
The sponsors have not hesitated to formally divide the UN members into powerful and weak countries and making the UN irrelevant for major international problems by stealing its most important duties and responsibilities. Is it the reform of the UN for which the large majority of the people in the world were waiting for?
Under the circumstances one may fear that some NAM leaders may ponder to do their homework for a separate and independent UN for their non-aligned countries which, incidentally, is the biggest international political group in the world. “Change” has never lost to status quo.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
THE Sindh government is pursuing a tree plantation drive that will continue for a couple of months. Karachi city Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil has recently said that the city government would like the multinational and local companies to join hands.
We have involved schools in this project and some of them have already started tree plantation. May I suggest that we rope in fuel marketing companies into this campaign. The product they sell causes air pollution and diseases associated with it. Pakistan tobacco companies sell cigarettes which causes cancer. They have voluntarily planted more than a million trees to give us more oxygen and have also discontinued advertising their product in the newspapers and on television.
We have many multinational and national companies operating in this field, we should make it compulsory for every petrol pumps to plant and nurture at least 1,000 trees, 500 on each side of the petrol pump, equally spaced on the road median. They should maintain them for initial two years.
These trees will indicate to their customers that they are approaching a petrol pump or a CNG station. Different companies can be assigned different trees. This will be an automatic advertisement for these companies free of cost, without an ugly steel signboard, without wasting electricity and totally environment-friendly.
PSO’s logo is green and blue. They should plant lignum, which has blue flowers. Shell’s logo is red and yellow. They should plant ‘amaltas’, which has bright yellow flowers. Caltex’s logo is red and blue. They should plant gulmohar which has red and orange flowers. Total has red logo, they should plant African Tulip tree which bears deep red flowers. Other petrol and diesel companies should be asked to plant ‘neem’ trees. CNG stations should plant ‘peepal’ trees.
S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA,
Karachi
APROPOS of Shehri’s letter (Oct 8) I would, on behalf of my clients M/s S.H. Enterprises, like to say that the construction has been raised absolutely in accordance with the approved plan. The requirement of road widening factor has been dealt with and the Karachi Cantonment Board deducted 20-foot strips from Garden Road although our clients have paid for this strips of 20 feet at the time of conversion from old grant.
Our client’s share out of 36 feet comes to 18 feet as the road is required to be extended from both the sides and, in fact, our clients left two feet more than required. Our clients were surprised and shocked because our building plans were duly approved by the Karachi Cantonment Board on Dec 15, 2005 and so far the construction has been raised as per the approved building plans.
Our clients also obtained an NOC for sale after completing all the formalities and the project was advertised in national papers and units booked by respective allottees who now have vested right on their respective premises. However, our clients do understand the problems of traffic in future. Our clients also need to consider the present stage of construction, as well as relevant changes our clients may have to make.
Our clients are law-abiding and reputable citizen and are very sensible about the issue of traffic as well as all relevant matters. Our client’s have provided substantial space for parking as per the KCB by-laws. The project’s success entirely rests upon traffic flow and car parking, regarding which our clients never compromised in the past and nor will compromise in future.
Our clients are also contacting Master Plan group officers, Karachi Cantonment Board, M/s. AMMA Towers, and all others to resolve this issue.
MUHAMMAD SHAFI SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THIS refers to Mr Manzoor Ali Isran’s letter (Oct 11) in response to Prof (Dr) Kazi Khadim Hussain’s. Mr Isran has failed to appreciate that Prof Kazi at the very outset has distanced himself from a teacher/university administration controversy and restricted to the institution’s achievement over 30 years, therefore blaming him for not addressing the question of ‘harassment of academics’ is preposterous.
I agree that sheer development of infrastructure cannot be a criterion of judging educational standards but I would not hesitate to say that the writer has failed to mention even a single instance that can substantiate his arguments. His criticism for politicisation of faculty, favouritism and overall mismanagement is nothing but exaggeration: a mere cliche used only to justify his case.
The Sindh University is not only my alma mater but after completing my ‘doctorate in the seventies I have been its frequent visitor, being associated with the academics. I can proudly say that despite overall deteriorating educational standards of the country with reference to public-sector universities, which Mr Isran has candidly admitted, it is the Sindh University, Jamshoro, which is acknowledged as a premier institution of higher learning.
Dr ALI AKBAR M. DHAKAN
Karachi
THIS has reference to the letter ‘F-16 fighters’ (Sept 24) by the ‘Disillusioned’, raising a few pertinent points in respect of supply of weapon system to the PAF by the US, initially in the 1950s, their embargoes on later dates and now the purchase of F-16 fighters (second time).
The first time US military hardware was supplied in the mid-1950s under Mutual Assistance Programme against a treaty signed by Pakistan and the US in 1955 in which it was mutually agreed that the US would supply military equipment and, in return, was allowed to use Pakistan airfields to fly spy plane U-2.
After it was shot down by the Soviets in 1961, to continue the air surveillance the US provided two RB-57 which were specially designed with two extra booster engines with a flight ceiling of 90,000 feet. These were named Elliots. But, by 1965 the US space technological advancement had changed the whole scenario as through satellites they were performing the specific mission-oriented task and B-57 flights became outdated.
And, consequently, the US was at liberty to impose embargo on the plea that US military hardware was used by Pakistan against India in 1965 which was supplied to fight against communism and, thereby, absolved them from giving military aid/assistance to Pakistan.
In fact, the US has always been aware that whatever the weapon system they released, its primary use would be against India in case of any armed conflict as there was no other potential threat to Pakistan’s security.
If one critically examines the overall inter-state conflict environment and the then prevailing world geopolitical situation from the US point of view, there appeared to be no immediate or long-term US interest left in the region which would have caused them setbacks in any field of strategic performance in South Asia.
Now, the present sale of F-16 to Pakistan costing $5.1 billion spread over three years is a minor project financially but in India to set up a plant along with transfer of technology to produce F-18’s is a multi-billion dollar business.
Lastly, the writer’s apprehensions that US personnel would be sitting at PAF bases and monitoring flying operations and could disable the aircraft technically is not a correct perception as they had always been and would remain in advisory capacity and not allowed in the restricted areas.
However, the only problem likely to arise could be as to how many flying hours’ spares support would be made available for F-16 which has to be resolved as per finances allocated and US current priority of spares support policy to Third World countries.
Placing of embargo by the US is unpredictable but there had been America-based companies which had been supplying even the serially-controlled items after having arranged rejection at quality control channel at production line, therefore the supply line would likely to continue.
With regard to US support to Israel, as pointed out by the writer, there is formidable cause. As per statistical data, there are 400 billionaires in America out of which over 70 per cent come from the Jewish community who not only contribute over five billion dollars to Israel annually but have a say in the US economic affairs and are also major fund-raisers for congressmen, senators and president’s elections.
Further, there is a Jewish council which dictates terms to the party in power. Therefore, there appears to be no logic left to believe that as to why Israel is being supported by the superpower even they kill hundreds of innocents, including children and women, whenever they wish.
Coming back to the F-16 deal, as per my understanding the PAF did conduct a technical review and evaluation of all the fighter aeroplanes at present being produced by the western manufacturers, none competes F-16 technology in all fields of its flying mission performance and in case where some aircraft is equivalent, its cost is exorbitant and also the maintenance expenses would be unbearable.
Furthermore, American unofficial clearance would also be unavoidable for the manufacturing country which they may not get. Therefore, there appears to be no other option for the PAF except to go for F-16 and take a risk. Let us hope for the best.
IQTEDAR A. KHAN Air Cmdre (r)
Karachi
During the last press conference of October 11, President Musharraf unleashed several blunt remarks against the critics of his book. Although several of his remarks deserve a lot of deliberations, the one, I want to mention here must have jolted our several politicians.
Yes, his reply to the critics that the president must have written his book after his retirement, the president’s reply was very interesting: “Should I have written the book after my death?”
From one point of view, how innocent the answer is? It infers that Mr President has already assumed that he has to rule the country till his death and in the same capacity of ‘active general’.
How interesting his perception about his position and status is. Even the president of American cannot hold the office for more than two terms, i.e., period of four years each, maximum of eight years, but the president of Pakistan occupies the office till his death.
Probably he has been assigned some divine responsibility to lead the country which cannot produce any competent democratic leader or he is confident enough that nobody could dislodge him as long as he himself wishes to continue.
How long he wishes to continue, obviously, he has already manifested his intentions?
MUNAWAR ALI
Karachi
THIS has reference to a news item (Oct 2) that a team comprising police and agricultural department officials has seized expired pesticides from a godown of a multi-national company in Multan.
There have been many complaints about the business of fake/outdated pesticides in the country by unscrupulous dealers/distributors.
The sale of substandard, outdated and ineffective pesticides not only adversely affects the yield of the crops but it causes heavy loss to the economy of the country.
In order to control the evil of fake/substandard pesticide business in the country, the government should take serious action and those who are found involved in this business should be brought to book in order to save the agrarian community and the economy of Pakistan.
MUNAWWAR IQBAL
Karachi
TAISER Town, Karachi, is being developed by the Malir Development Authority (MDA). In this respect, a lottery was drawn last July for allotment of residential plots measuring 120 square yards, but handing over of the possession of these plots is being delayed as development work of the project has not been completed.
The cost of the plots is also in the process of being paid by the allottees in instalments. In the circumstances, handing over of the possession of the plots to the allottees and construction of houses thereon by them are to be delayed further.
I would like to suggest that the allottees should be asked to pay the balance cost in lump sum or increase the amount of instalments so that the outstanding development work is carried out speedily and possession of the plots is given to the allottees to enable them to construct houses immediately.
The delay like that of about 10 years caused in the development of the housing project on the National Highway in the east of Karachi city should be avoided in the case of Taiser Town.
G. RAZA
Karachi
AFTER the last year’s devastating earthquake, PTV announced a way to send Eid gifts for the devastated people of northern Pakistan. The project went by the name of ‘Teri Eidi Meri Eidi’.
NLC trucks were made to stop at particular places in cities and every Pakistani participated in the Eidi-giving project for their affected brothers and sisters.
God is still testing us. Sharing what He has given us is a virtue, and we should continue to help those in need rather than be passive observers.
I request all Pakistanis to remember their disadvantaged compatriots this Eidul Fitr and share some happiness with them by sending Eid gifts or relief.
The authorities concerned should take necessary steps in this regard and announce a way for Eid gifts to be sent to the earthquake victims.
FAIZA MUJAHID
Karachi
I CERTAINLY don’t favour North Korea acquiring nuclear power, but I can hardly condemn it since I also belong to a country that possesses the same power. However, what is quite amusing to note is the imposition of sanctions by the Security Council against North Korea, and the latter’s total rejection of these sanctions.
The United States, while inflicting brutalities against Iraq and Iran on the grounds of mere suspicion, is exhibiting a lot of restraint in the case of North Korea even though it has actually committed the offence. This clearly shows the double standards of the United States.
The North Korean representative’s bold stance in the Security Council meeting, where he termed the sanctions against his country as a “gangster-like resolution”(Dawn, Oct 15) should also serve as an example for our general-turned-president who readily accedes to every US demand for fear of being sent back to the Stone Age.
ZARTASHA KHIZAR VIRK
Lahore
PEPSI and Coca Cola, both brands, are banned by the south Indian government, after a random sample test confirmed that it contained a small amount of pesticide. Well done.
In our country, our PCSIR and NIH are still silent and have not come out with their results. Is it because these two brands are owned by the scion of a general and a sitting member of parliament?
AMAN
Islamabad
FOR more than six months Gulistan-i- Jauhar’s post office has not been delivering post in Block 13. Even registered letters are not being delivered.
The idea of having a post office is to render public service, but this post office is not performing its duties, and complaints of varying nature against the working of this particular post office also appeared in the past in the media.
I appeal to the post master-general, director-general and the minister concerned to look into the matter.
DR M.S. AHMAD
Karachi
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