| November 23, 2006 | Thursday | Ziqa'ad 1, 1427 |
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Plight of Japan’s elderly
Ban on pillion-riding
Whose bright idea was this?
Inadequate bus service
US exposes itself again
Masters of the game
PTCL giving a run around
Enlightened moderation?
TDAP blunder
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
THE visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao must be used to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations. Pakistan is very important for China because it is one of the mid-range powers of South Asia. Its geographical location puts it on the main route between China- Middle East and China-Central Asia.
To maintain economic and strategic connectivity with these regions, China requires safe passage through Pakistan. This has acquired greater relevance after China became the second largest importer of oil in the world.
On the strategic front, the Chinese dream of getting a foothold in the Indian Ocean, without having an aircraft carrier, is being fulfilled with the development of Gwadar port.
The trade volume between China and Pakistan reached $4.26 billion in 2005, 39 per cent more than that in the previous year. Trade between China and Pakistan amounted to $1.018 billion in January to March this year, up 42.3 per cent over the same period last year. China’s exports to Pakistan reached $2.47 billion, up 33 per cent year-on-year and imports from Pakistan reached $5.95 billion, 3.5 per cent up year-on-year. Chinese companies account for an important part of foreign investment in Pakistan. About 500 foreign companies are now operating in Pakistan, only 60 of which are Chinese.
In view of these statistics, it appears an opportunity is being ignored much to our detriment. China is not one of Pakistan’s major export markets, it does not even figure in the list of top 10 export destinations. As regards imports, China has become one of the top five import sources of Pakistan after opening of its economy. China supplies the bulk of cheap commercial goods all over the world and in the process for Pakistan as well despite a common preference for western goods in Pakistan’s market.
The net foreign private investment from China in Pakistan declined to an alarming $0.4 million in 2004-05 from $14.3 million. On the contrary, India looms large over China’s radar screen. Already the volume of Sino-Indian trade is over 3.5 times the volume of Sino-Pakistan trade. China has already become a major trading partner for India. Sino-Indian trade has improved and is expected to cross the $20 billion mark soon. This growing economic relationship has resulted in a shift in Chinese policy on some core issues.
China is a major world market, and Pakistan can serve as a base for Chinese companies to manufacture, assemble and export to the Middle East and Africa and beyond. Pakistan can work on offering industrial parks to Chinese entrepreneurs. Pakistan and China have the potential for cooperation in chemical, engineering, construction, rolling stock and in infrastructure such as roads, ports, bridges and housing.
Some components of the economic relation between the two countries are bilateral trade, mutual investments (direct/portfolio or both), joint ventures and aids/loans provided to each other. Taking into account these variables, contemporary China-Pakistan economic relation appears quite underdeveloped, though the military-strategic relationship between them is in good shape.
We cannot undermine the formidable Chinese foreign exchange reserves skyrocketing at $1 trillion which should ring gigantic alarm bells in our leader’s heads to capitalise on this vast bank of resources by encouraging establishment of Chinese assets in Pakistan in the capacity of investments of Chinese corporations and establishment of financial institutions to allow the banking industry to flourish.
If the current Pakistani financial environment is lucrative enough for Middle-eastern and UK-based organisations to try their stake, why can’t we encourage our Chinese counter-parts to replicate the same? An establishment of Chinese asset base in Pakistan is an inherent process to strengthen mutual economic ties that will give impetus to political cooperation.
Chinese companies can use Pakistan as a gateway for penetrating markets in Central Asian countries. The upcoming visit of President Hu Jintao heralds the signing of the much-awaited FTA, which will mean less or zero tariffs for many products, making the market more attractive.
During his stay, signing of various MoUs and cooperation agreements are on the agenda. China is expected to invest about $15 billion in Pakistan in various projects in the near future. We must move swiftly to concretise these into reality.
SIRAJUDDIN AZIZ
Karachi
NEARLY everyone on Earth is desirous of having a long life. But, the report, “Japan’s aging population causes depression” (Nov 1) takes the charm out of this prospect.
Known as the world’s most ‘elderly’ country, Japan has the highest number of old people as a proportion of total population anywhere. The life expectancy of women is 85, while for men it is 78, but caring for them has become very difficult, as the following examples show:
a. A Kyoto courtroom was reduced to tears in April when a 54-year-old man spoke of his deep affection for his 86-year-old mother, whom he admitted strangling with a towel before attempting suicide himself.
“If I am born again, I want to be born to the same mother,” he told the court where evidence detailed his struggle to earn a living while caring for his wheelchair-bound mother suffering from senile dementia. On realising he couldn’t pay the next month’s rent for his apartment, he decided there was no choice but for both of them to die.
b. Exhausted by caring for his ailing wife, a 73-year-old man hanged himself in Tokyo recently. His 72-year-old wife, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, was found alive with a plastic bag over her head.
It’s so heart-rending to learn about such incidents, that too in one of the most developed and affluent countries, where a lot of young people from Pakistan and other Asian countries dream of going for a better future. Police records show that nearly 11,000 Japanese people over the age of 60 committed suicide last year. A government study revealed this year that 30 per cent of carers aged over 65 had thought of committing suicide.
These are very depressing facts indeed and bring to mind the lines of an old Japanese poet:
Now, already, / Even while in the same world, / No one asks any more / What has happened to me / Who have thus been afflicted.
Fortunately, one of the things that the Asian countries have in common are most of their values and aspects of culture. These include respect for the old; devotedness of women, including looking after their parents-in-law, not sending the aged parents to old-people’s homes, etc.
Tokyo can benefit by employing a large number of nursing staff from the developing nations of Asia, since they would accept lower wages. These men and women could be taught Japanese language and customs before being assigned to care for old persons such as in the examples quoted above. From experience one can say that another very useful step would be to also teach them Shiatsu (the Japanese version of acupressure) so they could treat many health problems as well. This would be a win-win situation for all by easing the burden of caring for the elderly Japanese citizens while providing employment to the needy and earning the goodwill of many countries.
KHALID CHAUDHRY
Karachi
THE recent ban on pillion-riding by the city government is both ridiculous and shortsighted and once again exposes the government’s failure to enforce the rule of law. According to press reports, the ban has been imposed to curb street crime, especially mobile snatching, and anyone violating the ban can be fined up to Rs5,000 or sent to jail.
If curbing street crime was so simple, why not introduce a ban on using mobile phones on the streets or while travelling, or better still, simply ban the use of mobile phones outdoors?
The ban will be in effect for 15 days and opposition members had tried to table resolutions on the ban during a city council session. At least three resolutions were submitted, and although they were allowed to speak on the issue, it was not taken as a resolution for discussion, as the city government stated that the matter was related to the Sindh government.
Once again, one fails to see the logic in this, as the ban on pillion-riding is an issue of the citizens of Karachi and not the Sindh government alone. When citizens suffer, it is the responsibility of the city council to discuss the matter and table a resolution.
No doubt some effective steps have to be taken to curb street crime and mobile phone snatching, which at times leads to the death of the innocent victim, but the ban has simply fuelled corruption in the police force and made life more miserable for the low- and middle-income citizens.
A better solution has to be found, which is simply to block the snatched phone, crack down on the markets where they are sold and strictly enforce the rule of law. The Karachi city government seems to prefer ‘quick fix’ solutions rather than enforce the law. As the traffic police are unable to control and regulate the traffic during VIP visits, they decided the closure of all schools and colleges, without taking into consideration the negative effects of such a closure would have, especially when the president had announced that education was the key for development and progress. Ad hoc solutions are not the answer.
HELPLINE TRUST
Karachi
IT is another IDEAS exhibition and, therefore, another week of misery and frustration for Karachiites. To bring real flair to the festivities, even ambulances have been forbidden to ply on the VVIP routes. Which makes perfect sense because, after all, what right does a dying person has to override the pleasures of watching killing machines? The weapons on display in IDEAS are so effective that they will cause (God forbid) several deaths without firing a single shot.
Come to think of it, these weapons have already caused several million deaths from poverty and impoverishment amidst the vast expanses of Pakistan. I think Mr Bush missed the real location of weapons of mass destruction by just a couple of thousand miles.
TALHA BIN HAMID
Karachi
PRESIDENT Musharraf is requested to order the shifting of the Expo Centre to some location outside the Karachi city. This will allow the poor commuters to reach their offices etc. This will also restrict the level of education from further decline by way of restricting local school holidays to accommodate the safe and sound passage of the VVIPs.
BAKHTIAR AHMAD
Karachi
THE number of public buses being run by the city bus service in Lahore is less than the need of the people. Therefore, the public has to wait a long time for the bus. As a result, the buses are usually overloaded and the people face a lot of trouble on their way to their destinations.
Bus drivers and fare collectors do not care about the number of passengers already seated in the buses and they continue to overload more passengers.
To add to the misery, the buses are quite often out of order while on the road. This is obviously because of the bad condition of the buses. This can be avoided if a mechanic takes a proper look at the engine before starting the journey from the terminal.
The relevant authorities should consider this grave issue immediately and do something to increase the number of buses and provide ease to the public.
ZUBAIR AHMAD QURESHI
Lahore
US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, while referring to the nuclear deal with India approved recently by their Senate, has said: “A similar agreement with Pakistan is not going to be possible. This is a unique agreement with a unique country (India)” (Dawn, Nov 18).
Could any country be more unique for the US than Pakistan, which has taken upon itself the blame for the bombing of 80 of its citizens in Bajaur by an American drone?
Be that as it may, the US has once again exposed its hypocrisy towards the Muslims. As noted recently by a correspondent (Nov 14), abandonment of post-Soviet Afghanistan, collusion with Israel against Lebanon and the extrication of American forces in Somalian capital Mogadishu by our army are all examples of that. To that should be added its anti-Hamas policy in Palestine, the withdrawal of support for Chechnya or the persecution of Iran despite the CIA finding that there’s no proof of its nuclear arms plans (Nov 20).
It may be recalled that before this bill’s clearance by the US Congress, Islamabad had been lobbying hard and making a lot of noise to get a similar deal, so much so that some American officials had expressed their displeasure. To calm Pakistan down, the US then started dangling the prospect of a favourable consideration as a lollipop by saying that it could be possible in the future. But now, when the major obstacles have been cleared vis-à-vis New Delhi, Washington has suddenly made its real intentions known.
Not only that, but according to the same story, President Bush will be talking to the Chinese president, during their meeting, about the reports that China has agreed to provide similar assistance to Pakistan. Obviously, he would be doing this not to encourage China but to dissuade it from going ahead with its intentions.
Another noteworthy thing is the US reticence to supply F-16s to Pakistan with all the capabilities that normally go with the current models without placing similar constraints on the F-16 / F-18 offer made to India, along with the licence to manufacture them over there. For instance, they would not be able to penetrate heavily-defended airspace, thus precluding their use inside India, nor would they be able to carry nuclear bombs and would also be under constant and close American surveillance.
Thus, the American establishments have only kept exploiting us and making a fool out of us. It is only our own naïveté that we keep trusting them, while our rulers do that to earn Washington’s goodwill to stay in power. The then US president Richard Nixon had famously observed just before the dismemberment of Pakistan by India in 1971 that “Pakistanis are straightforward and sometimes extremely stupid. The Indians are more devious, sometimes so smart that we fall for their line” (Dawn, June 30, 2005). It’s not that we all are stupid but we are too trusting of others — which actually shows the purity of our hearts — sometimes managing to get hurt by taking it too far.
It may be further noted that several western and Pakistani analysts and correspondents, including Eric Margolis and Dr Tanvir Ahmad Khan, have kept warning that after taking care of Iran, the next target would be Pakistan because the neo-cons and Zionists cannot brook any Muslim country having nuclear weapons. This has again been confirmed recently by the noted American writer and journalist Seymour Hersh in a chat with Dawn’s US-based columnist Anjum Niaz (Magazine, Nov 12). We all, especially our rulers, must wake up to this reality and prepare for all eventualities.
MEEM SHEEN
Karachi
IT seems that there was a well-thought-out plan on the part of the MMA to help President Musharraf in a difficult situation. The Hasba bill controversy diverted the people’s attention from the internal situation of the country which has become very gloomy after the Bajaur and Dergai incidents.
Furthermore, the MMA government can now make the Hasba bill a big issue in the coming elections. They will tell the people that they were about to implement the real Islamic system but were not allowed to do so. The maulanas have truly mastered the game of politics.
HASEENULLAH
Charsadda
I BOUGHT a PTCL wireless phone (No. 042-5066810) a few weeks ago for using the Internet.
When I tried to use it, the system refused to authenticate the user name and password. I called the helpline and they asked me to call at 042-6660123.
I called them and they, in turn, asked me to call at 042-5020090. This time no one answered the call.
I was told by 6660123 that I should visit their Gulberg centre. When I visited them, they asked me to contact the DE (external) of the DHA, where I live, for this problem.
I called the DE external and he says this function does not come under him, telling me to contact the Gulberg centre again.
Now I am really tired of running between one office to the other. Could someone tell me once and for all who in the PTCL will be able to solve my problem?
FARHAN IQBAL
Lahore
SINDH TV was banned because it reported a criminal incident involving a sardar. Is this enlightened moderation? We have seen the expression of enlightened moderation in criminal attacks on journalists, doctors and common people by government functionaries.
Enlightened moderation can, therefore, be interpreted as the following: “If you support the government, you are above the law and if you don’t, you are potential criminal.”
SHAKEEL NIZAMANI
Newfoundland, Canada
THIS refers to the advertisement published on page 23 (Dawn, Nov 15) to commemorate the replacement of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). This advertisement was published in most of the national dailies of Pakistan on the same date in both Urdu and English languages.
What I would like to point out here is that the said advertisement announcing this vital change in the ministry of commerce contained a major blunder. The figures quoted in the visual were written in Pakistani rupees whereas it should have been in US dollars. The figure of Rs16,468,822,000 (2005-2006) in the advertisement is nowhere close to US$16.46 billion, which is our actual export figure for 2005-2006. Similarly, the figures for 1998-1999 and 1992-1993 in the advertisement were also stated in rupees whereas the actual figures are supposed to be in US dollars.
Responsibility for this mistake lies with the people in charge of advertising and media at TDAP as well as with the advertising agency that created the advertisement. This advertisement was seen not only by the entire population of Pakistan but by audiences abroad as well since some of our national dailies are read the world over.
Even if the mistake is corrected in follow-up advertisements, it is the first impression that counts. Many people who have seen the advertisement would not know that our actual export figures are much higher.
Moreover on the same day on page 22 in Dawn, there was a Pre-Qualification Notice from TDAP that started with “Export Promotion Bureau Karachi requires the …” and it ended with the logo of TDAP.
WASEEM MALIK
Islamabad
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