| November 17, 2006 | Friday | Shawwal 24, 1427 |
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Sugar production and marketing
Cricketing thoughts
Twilight of tolerance
Vegetable & fruit distribution system
University rankings
KPT clarifies
Modernised CNIC
Iqbal’s vision
For sake of transparency
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
MY article on Pakistan’s prospects captioned ‘Why Pakistan must succeed’ (Dawn’s Independence Day supplement, Aug 14), meant as a counter to the usual cynical or pessimistic prognosis of Pakistan’s affairs, was based, inter alia, on the assumption that (to paraphrase a statement made in another context) there was nothing wrong with Pakistan which could not be cured by what was right with Pakistan.
I must confess my deep disappointment at Transparency International’s latest ratings on the issue of perceived corruption, worldwide, which showed not an improvement as one hoped, but a further slide in Pakistan’s standing from 145 as last year to 147, in a list of 163 countries surveyed. Only 16 countries were ranked below Pakistan, including Haiti, Iraq, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The 146 countries above Pakistan in the list of one 163, including a large number of developing countries, were apparently assessed by Transparency as reflecting a less damaging performance by their public officials and political representatives in the sphere of public integrity.
One may assume that such reports as Transparency’s are not always accurate; that there is a considerable margin of error; that the Transparency’s methodology is not clear and that corruption prevails in most developing and developed countries. However, these reservations apply not only to Pakistan but also to the other countries assessed. The damage to Pakistan’s standing was accentuated by the fact that India, with somewhat similar social or economic features as Pakistan, was one of the countries which was given a major improvement in its rating (up to 74, with China at 71 and Iran at 106).
The significance of corruption goes much further than perception or image. It eats like a cancer into development programmes and constitutes a threat to national security, whether from external or domestic sources. In social term, it is the mother of all infirmities and vulnerabilities. While no government in Pakistan, or elsewhere, is in a position to weed out corruption, root and branch, the continuing deterioration in standards of public morality is not something we can live with. The various alibis given, such as a large government sector and low emoluments apply in lesser or greater measure to most of the developing countries, some of whom have performed much better than us in terms of the Transparency ratings.
The concern at the above report has been compounded by the scant attention apparently paid to it, at least publicly in Pakistan. One may be mistaken but one has not seen in the print media any authoritative comment, rebuttal or explanation from official sources or editorial comment from leading national dailies or expressions of concern in the correspondence columns. That the country seems to have taken this stigma, this source of concern, in its stride, has made the situation worse.
Considerable progress has been made in promoting rate of growth, doubling exports, harnessing foreign exchange reserves and attracting a measure of foreign direct investment.
Unless however the war against corruption is given higher priority and more time and resources, most of our efforts in nation-building and image-making would be nullified.
MAHDI MASUD
Karachi
WITH the advent of 2006-07 sugar season, a lot is being written and alleged about sugar agro-industry. Uncharitable comments devoid of economic and technical realities abound. The matter needs to be placed in its proper context.
It is after a long time that the government has come out with a policy at the right time on issues that affect this important agro-industry with large contribution to GDP and incomes of rural areas of Pakistan.
Several millions are direct beneficiaries. Removal of ad hoc restriction on bank credit ensures timely payment to growers from sugar manufactured in four months and sold in 12 months. Sugarcane is somewhat overpriced which would, however, result in optimum production of sugar ensuring realistic consumer price.
Sugarcane price forms 70 per cent of sugar production cost and to a large extent determines cost of production which reflects in end-price of sugar. Any obstruction in the free flow of sugarcane to the mills and free flow of sugar to the market has an immediate impact on the sale price of sugar. The policy has sought removal of impediments.
Cost of production is related also to sugar recovery from cane which within the cropping year should be optimum and economically efficient. The optimum crushing season in Pakistan is from Nov 15 to April 15 with peaks in December, January and February, a conditionality which is a part of sugarcane growing enterprise.
Sugar price is a function of its cost, of demand and supply and international prices. For a minimal cost of production, contributory elements have to be optimised. Sugarcane is still growing in October. It will not be harvested by growers, restricting capacity utilisation to as low as 30 per cent to 40 per cent which, in turn, requires use of expensive furnace oil. In addition, immature cane yielding 50 per cent of its sugar potential would make sugar more expensive.
Sugar has seen a large increase in prices all over the world with landed cost in Pakistan of up to Rs36/kg in the recent past. Structure of sugar economy at present will not permit reduction in sugar prices from the current ex-mill price of Rs32 to Rs34. Market mechanism of oversupply can cause a fall which would result in negativity for the manufacturing sector, also affecting incomes of and payment to growers.
It may be mentioned here that 70 per cent of sugar is consumed by commercial organisations. The government holding sugar stocks exceeding 600,000 tonnes has taken a correct policy decision of supplying sugar to consumer through utility stores at a lower price.
Let the agro-industry operate efficiently and smoothly ensuring availability of sugar at a reasonable price and be used as a conduit for poverty alleviation in rural areas instead of making it a victim of non-economic considerations.
MASOOD AHMED
Karachi
SINCE the retirement of Saeed Anwar and Aamir Suhail, Pakistani cricket authorities have not found a viable opening pair, despite trying many combinations. The basic fault lies in the fact that they have been introducing up and coming rookie players instead of identifying an established batsman.
Looking around, one finds that batsmen of repute like Trescothick opens for England, Smith for South Africa, Tendulkar for India, Jayasuria for Sri Lanka, Gilchrist for Australia and Chanderpaul for the West Indies. For Pakistan Yunus Khan goes in at number three (one down).
Since, in most cases, the first Pakistani wicket has been falling within the first or second over, Yunus Khan has been an opening batsman for all practical purposes. An opening batsman should not only possess the right temperament and correct technique, he should also be fearless enough not to be intimidated by aggressive bowlers. Yunus Khan has all these attributes and should be the first choice to open Pakistan innings. His presence would have a positive influence on the other batsman.
Shahid Afridi, we do not recall when he last produced a decent score. He has got into a rut and seems intractable. Since he has immense cricket potential, it would be tragic to lose him. There are two possible solutions to rectify his predicament. The first, a quick fix, is to prohibit him sternly from attempting sixers. Wide swings should be proscribed.
The second, a preferable and longer-lasting solution, would be to take him out of the line-up for a while. He should be amenable to psychiatric advice and hone his technique under guidance. The Pakistan Cricket Board should remedy him and not lose him.
We seem to be swimming against the current and refuse to learn from others. All cricket teams that possess top-class spinners use them in one-day matches. England’s new star Panesar participates in one-day internationals. Harbhajan Singh and Kumble are always there for India. Sri Lanka could not think being without Muralitharan. Shane Warne when available played for Australia in one-dayers. Vettori is indispensable to New Zealand.
Pakistan depends on all-rounders like Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik and Hafeez who are also spinners and has consistently ignored the specialist spinner Danish Kaneria in one-day matches. Surprisingly, we have forgotten the sterling performances of our great spinners like Saqlain, Mushtaq and Abdul Qadir.
With regard to the oncoming West Indies tour of Pakistan and in view of the expected absence of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, it is imperative that Kaneria should be included in one-day matches. He could prove to be our main strike bowler.
AFTAB H. ZAKI
Karachi
THOUSANDS of non-Pakistani readers like me all over the world look forward to articles by Mr Irfan Husain and Mr Ayaz Amir.
They are generally even-handed, fair and exhibit genuine desire for peace in the subcontinent.
However, there are some contentious points in Mr Husain’s latest column‘Twilight of tolerance’(Nov 11). He writes: “This rewriting of history was official policy under the BJP government, and was reflected in the textbooks published in those days. Mercifully, the Congress government has reversed this trend.”
The‘re-writing’ of history by the BJP was more an over-reactive correction to the deliberate inaccurate accounts of Indian history peddled by the ‘socialist secular’ historians of dubious academic standing.
Much of the Mughal rule in India was not benign; their deeds and misdeeds have been well recorded by Muslim historians of the Mughal era as well as by international historians, long before BJP’s birth and long before India’s independence.
I agree with Mr Husain’s longing for tolerance but falsifying history should not be a prerequisite.
It may interest Mr Husain to know that the ‘detoxification’ charade let loose by HRD minister Arjun Singh is now back with the antics of the socialist secular historians.
In West Bengal, for example, the Communists have reportedly corrected the school history books — while heroes like Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhas Bose are given one-liners (and martyrs like Shaheed Bhagat Singh are totally ignored), Marx, Lenin and (even) Ho Chi Minh are eulogised over several pages. While Hinduism is generally branded as a bunch of superstitious beliefs, Christianity and Islam are lauded as redemption for mankind.
JAY RAVI
Toronto, Canada
AS a result of protest over Bajaur, according to a report (Dawn, Nov 4), supplies of vegetables and fruits were suspended to Sabzimandi in Karachi and other markets, causing a loss of Rs70 million in trading. It is understood that 400 to 500 trucks loaded with the vegetables and fruits arrive daily at the Sabzimandi in normal days from the upcountry. In the peak season, the daily attendance is reported to be rising to 900 to 1,000 trucks. A truck carries 12 to 25 tons of fruit and vegetables worth Rs100,000 to 200,000. The supplies arriving by trucks are not only for consumption in Karachi but also for export shipments and for onward supplies to other destinations in the country.
This speaks volumes of our distribution system which is in place and which does not appear to be capable of sustaining any shockwaves. The whole country becomes hostage to a group of persons.
Our producers, may they be agriculturists or industrialists, have come to regard commission agents (ahrtis) as an integral part of their system. They depend on them for not only selling their products but also for providing fertilisers, pesticides and also for financial aid. It is understood that also for the supply of sugarcanes to sugar mills the farmers generally depend on the commission agents for recovering their dues from sugar mills.
In the absence of consumer societies, it is the middleman who fleeces not only the consumer but also the producer. A small farmer and a small producer suffer the most.
It appears that it has not been possible for the government to give much attention to reviewing the present distribution system. At the time of sugar crisis the government helped the consumer by providing subsidy and by providing stocks of sugar in the utility stores. I think time has come for carrying out a thorough review of our present distribution system.
We inherited some good institutions from the British. This included the scheme of cooperative societies, but we appear to have made a mess of this institution. In this connection we may recall that a woolen mill and a cycle factory were set up on a cooperative basis which achieved considerable success, but subsequently suffered neglect as was the case with some other projects also.
The cooperative department does not appear to be in good shape and its main attention has been on housing societies. One heard of a scam also some time ago of not paying back the deposits made by small stakeholders to some cooperative societies. It is understood that the government is still trying to make recoveries of these deposits.
The cooperative societies offer hope for taking the place of the present commission agent or the middleman but it is important that the Cooperative Societies Act of 1927 is reviewed in detail and new life is infused in it and in the whole concept of cooperation.
I wish luck to the government in its efforts to reach the small man through Khushal Bank and other means, but it is hoped that the government will also be willing to consider other measures.
MOHAMMED ANWAR KHAN
Karachi
THIS refers to the recent publication of university rankings by the HEC. Although, the HEC duly mentions the ‘inherently controversial’ nature of such rankings, but it fails to explain how the rankings will lead to an improvement in the quality of education?
Can the HEC respond to the following questions:
1. Is there any research-based evidence that rankings can be used as an instrument to improve quality of education? In fact, much evidence based on academic research points to the dysfunctional nature of such rankings.
2. Is there any evidence, say in North America, England , etc., that university rankings are done by agencies responsible for promoting quality in education? Have such global agencies and universities not expressed grave concern about the seriously misleading nature of rankings?
3. Is it not true that the newspapers/magazines mostly to promote their publications do university rankings globally?
4. Even if for argument’s sake, the methodology used by the HEC is a reliable indicator of the university quality, would it not have been better to work with the weaker universities to strengthen them rather than expose their weaknesses publicly which can only further damage their position?
Now that we have the “first-ever ranking of universities in Pakistan”, when can we expect rankings done by your prestigious newspaper using a ‘better’ methodology as is being done by the newspapers/magazines all over the world?
KARIM KHAN
Lahore
APROPOS of Mirza Yaseen Hussain Quzilbash’s letter ‘KPT pensioner’s woes’ (Nov 12), the factual position is clarified as under:
Previously the chemist shops in front of the KPT Hospital would resort to pilferage, selling short expiry/expired medicines. Emergency ward medicines were not supplied promptly or over-charged. Taking stock of these indulgences, an institutional approach was adopted to curb the malpractice.
An open tender was conducted, and the Bahria Pharmacy was qualified. It is now providing medicines the same day by generating automated demands and immediate response. Medicines out of stock are procured and provided to patients in packages by name with proper identification the same day. Only in rare cases out-of-stock medicines not available in the open market are arranged and supplied expeditiously.
The ex-pensioners have been accommodated on a personal basis. All their requirements are met in full. The complainant’s contention seems to be ill-founded.
SHAFIQUE AHMED FARIDI
Public Relations Officer,
Karachi Port Trust,
Karachi
THERE is no denying the fact that Nadra is doing a commendable job by looking after the registration work of the citizens throughout the country. Being an important document, CNIC is not only acclaimed and acceptable in the country but also it is needed at an international level such as embassies, consulates and immigration process.
The need is, therefore, felt for modernising the existing computerised cards. It is suggested that all CNICs should be bilingual (English and Urdu simultaneously) and some more important information such as passport number, blood group, mother’s name and emergency contact number should also be included in the computerised cards.
The authorities concerned are requested to look into the matter and give serious attention to modifying the existing cards.
M. MUMTAZ HUSSAIN
Karachi
ON Iqbal Day (Nov 9) I was passing an isolated road in Karachi; there was only one person alongside me on the road. Suddenly, two motorcyclists came from behind, rushed towards the person and snatched a cell phone, on which he was talking.
The motorcyclists were two young men who seemed to be from a well-to-do family.
I can’t help but wonder whether these youths are the shining stars of the nation that Iqbal can envisioned?
Such incidents, which are occurring on a daily basis, should serve as an eye-opener to think about doing something to optimise the youth’s potential.
The great oriental poet, philosopher, lawyer, political leader and visionary of the nation, Dr Iqbal envisioned a very significant and authentic youth. He imaged a dynamic youth at heart and in action, which he referred to as “amal-i-peham”.
He used revelatory and revolutionary expressions for the youth: eagle and shining star. He also described them as strong as iron, as high as the sky and as pure as the morning dewdrop.
He does so because he is conscious of the strengths and competency of the youth and, thus, he loves such youth as surmount the stars and wish to discover the new stars — the new worlds.
GASPER JAMES
Karachi
IN the name of transparency, all defence officers should declare their assets, including the plots and the agricultural land doled out to them through the Defence Housing Authority and other defence schemes, to the public and not to their respective service headquarters.
AHMAD R. SHAHID
London
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