| January 15, 2007 | Monday | Zilhaj 24, 1427 |
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Development of renewable energy
Shifting blame
Bush’s milestone
Industrialisation?
New curriculum of history
Putting things right
Bangladesh suffers
Garage mafia
Indecent language
Act fast
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
PRESIDENT Musharraf has given in his recent address to the Army Medical College a strong, timely warning against sectarian, divisive forces in the Muslim world. The warning is timely, since yet another disaster for the Arab/Muslim world is unfolding in the form of the sectarian conflict in Iraq, exceeding in its potential the incalculable damage already inflicted upon the country by invasion and military occupation.
While the neo-con objective of asserting undisputed hegemony over the strategically important, oil-rich Iraq may have been foiled by the unexpected resistance it encountered, the same objective may now be in American sights with the help of the sectarian conflict which threatens to tear Iraq and the region apart.
It is of utmost importance that neighbouring Arab/Muslim states, including Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, reach an understanding for exerting all their influence for halting the suicidal, sectarian violence, in close cooperation with the Iraqi government. These states should put a stop to any supplies of men, money or material flowing from their countries to either side and, what is more, do their utmost to persuade the militant groups on either side of the incalculable damage which is being done to the interests of both the communities of Iraq and of the Arab/Islamic world by their senseless conflict.
Iran must play its part in persuading the Maliki government of the need to pay greater heed to the concerns of the Sunni community with regard to constitutional amendments, oil reserves, autonomous regions and greater representation in the government. The sectarian majority should be more than generous if they wish to avail themselves of their first opportunity of having an effective say in the running of a united Iraq.
The possibility that Iran would reinforce its efforts to defuse the sectarian conflict, in conjunction with Saudi Arabia and other regional states, would not be helped by the decision of the Bush administration to step up the confrontation with Iran in Iraq and outside. This latest US decision to “stay the course” on the completely wrong track is in marked contrast to the farsighted recommendation of the Baker-Hamilton Commission to engage Syria and Iran in bringing peace to Iraq.
In spite of its troubled past, Iraq did not have in recent history in the pre-occupation period a record of sectarian conflict, not even the minor Shia-Sunni riots which sometimes disfigured certain places in India and Pakistan during the days of Muharram. More than one respected western analyst has maintained recently that while the Kurdish entity may in certain circumstances drift away from a united Iraq, the Arab nationalism of both the Shia and Sunni communities would dominate and overcome their sectarian affiliations.
The only possible exit strategy for the US military presence in Iraq, consistent with the need for preventing Iraq’s descent into greater chaos, would entail an agreement involving the regional states and the major powers for the implementation of the phased withdrawal suggested by the Baker-Hamilton Commission and the induction of a United Nations force for the purpose of overseeing an orderly transition to political and administrative normalcy in Iraq.
MAHDI MASUD
Karachi
PAKISTAN is lagging far behind as far as the development of renewable sources of energy is concerned. Dwindling domestic gas reserves and increasing cost of imported fuel is posing serious threat to the country’s economy and prosperity.
In such a scenario development of renewable sources of energy has assumed vital importance.
Here it will not be out of place to mention that in the past several programmes were launched to tap the renewable sources of energy. Efforts were made to popularise the use of bio-gas and harness wind/solar energy etc but without any success.
In this backdrop, there is an urgent need for analysing the situation for achieving a breakthrough.
One of the apparent reasons for failure seems to be that the programmes were chalked out and implemented by the federal government ministry/agency without the collaboration of the target groups.
Provincial/local government institutions should have been given priority for implementing such a programme, success of which was contingent upon the support/acceptance of local communities.
To ameliorate the situation, it is proposed that the federal government may undertake planning, research and development with the collaboration of provincial governments. It may also provide financial support to the provinces for implementing the programmes.
Taking into consideration the local conditions and for the sake of specialisation each province may work for tapping a specific source of energy. The province of Sindh may start projects for harnessing wind energy.
The province of Punjab may work on the development of bio-gas projects and generation of electricity from agricultural/domestic waste. The task of harnessing solar energy may be assigned to Balochistan, and the NWFP may concentrate on the generation of hydroelectricity.
Each of the provincial governments may establish a centre of excellence for promoting study/research in their chosen fields and also establish demonstration projects at suitable places.
To promote new ideas as well as to stimulate interest in people, annual exhibition may be organised at national/provincial and district levels. Schools, colleges and NGOs may also be encouraged to organise such activities.
Initially municipal corporations/committees (now city district government) may be asked to start at least one project. Subsequently, similar directives may be issued to union councils.
Financial assistance may be extended to them, as well as to NGOs, for initiating projects of tapping renewable energy resources.
S.A. KHAN
Karachi
IN her letter, 'Shifting blame is not the solution', Dr Tahmina Rashid has said there are restrictions on Muslim women's mobility, acceptance in public space and choice of profession, among other things (Jan 1).
In an Islamic society, women are free to have their own activities and their own space and female drivers are getting increasingly common in Pakistan. In education, even President Musharraf recently acknowledged that girl students were doing far better than boys and, if this continues, it may become necessary to fix a quota for the latter. Women are now becoming fighter pilots, too.
Thus, they aren't as oppressed a lot as Dr Rashid has made them out to be, but she needs to be reminded that motherhood is the most important role for a woman and usually lasts from the late teens till the end of her life. While the Prophet (PBUH) has placed Heaven at the feet of mothers, Napoleon had said: "The future destiny of the child is always the work of the mother." It is so very important for the child and the nation that a kid gets the best possible upbringing.
How can a woman who works from 9 to 5 every day be expected to provide that? Can a baby-sitter be a substitute for a mother who takes such pains for her offspring before and after its birth? Some women even in America are now staying at home instead of working, for this reason.
It is a fallacy based on western materialism that a woman couldn't have any importance unless she worked in an office or a factory etc. Some examples of the West's follies are worth mentioning. To enable women to work outside their homes, various 'infant formulas' were developed but now they are being urged to breast-feed their young ones because these substitutes cause problems. Similarly, many women in the advanced countries started marrying late or totally avoided having children to rise higher in their careers but the population growth rates have plummeted, causing much alarm.
If we women are prepared to trust in God's ability to provide sustenance and devote ourselves to preparing the best human element for the country and Ummah, He will certainly open up unimaginable new sources of mineral and other wealth for us. Personal and professional (within pragmatic bounds) growth could still occur alongside our duty as mothers.
RIFFAT REHMAN
Karachi
“SADDAM’S execution is an important milestone on Iraq’s course to become democracy”, so professed the all-knowing Bush within minutes of the execution. At least he knew that to say so was not clinically illegal.
But the milestone is not entirely meant for Iraq. The first priority belonged to Bush, however different it may look to him – a commitment that he would now bring democracy to the dictatorial countries with a smile, and not by war. But this was not to be.
The Iraqi war has now exceeded the duration of the World War I. Another possibility cannot be discounted, for Bush’s uncalled-for haste for the end of Saddam – to give life to his deal “to stay the course in Iraq” for the new Iraqi policy which he promised and is crafting nowadays.
Bush loves democracy but prefers to sell most of his armaments to the dictatorial regimes. A book recently published in the US, 100 Ways America is Screwing up the World ”, says that “between 1997 and 2004, 75 per cent of the total US armament was sold to the Third World countries, most of them undemocratic”, quoting official figures. If one can, one may draw a line between Bush’s love for democratic countries and his favoured regimes. But, still, Bush may be right when he said he had been left with no important milestone for his Republican party for the next year’s elections – he threw all the stones towards Afghanistan, Lebanon, Somalia and Iraq itself for one and the same of his reasons.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
THIS government has taken some positive steps in the last several years towards industrialisation in order to increase the economic growth rate and counter unemployment. For this, the government has allotted a number of industrial estates around the country. One of them, of high strategic importance, is the North Karachi SITE industrial area located off the Superhighway in the vicinity of the city of Karachi.
The land of both phases I and II was sold to the businessmen in 2002. Phase I has been developed and has been in operation for many years. In the case of Phase II, the government has allotted the land, taken full payment and developed roads, but they are not giving possession.
Due to this delay, we haven’t been able to start construction of factories. This delay has also affected the productivity and economic growth of the whole country. According to information received, possession of the plots will only be given after the president or the prime minister honours a ceremony. Could this not by done the governor or the chief minister instead?
ABDUL SATTAR ISMAIL
Karachi
ACCORDING to a report (Dawn, Jan 10), the federal education ministry has sent curriculum guidelines to the provincial textbook boards for formulation of books about the teaching of history in Classes VI to VIII.
The book for class VI will cover the period from the Indus Valley civilisation to the end of the Delhi Sultanate (1,500 BC to AD 1,526). It is said to focus in particular on the civilisations of Moenjodaro and Harappa and would emphasise its “peaceful nature as indicated by the absence of the weapons of warfare and tools for hunting.”
The two lessons apparently being imparted from this are: (i) There is no need for having military weapons or being prepared for war and (ii) Rather than killing animals for food, we should become vegetarians or lacto-vegetarians at best, instead of meat-eaters.
Such a move is in line with America’s efforts to emasculate the Muslims, for which much pain is being taken by it to have the educational curricula of Islamic countries cleansed of references to jihad or warfare, while any struggle for freedom has become a sin called ‘terrorism’. It also reflects the government’s current policy of appeasing India.
However, our education minister is either unaware or is ignoring the fact that this stance is totally opposed to what has been prescribed in the Holy Quran about both defence preparedness and forging peace. The Quranic prescription is a very realistic one, practised – except for some hegemons – by virtually every nation today and is even more important for the Muslims, in view of their predicament in Palestine, Kashmir, Lebanon, Chechnya, Kosovo, Somalia and other places.
In Surah Infal, verses 60-61, God says: “Against them (the enemies) make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war . . .. But, if the enemy inclines towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in Allah…”
Abdullah Yusuf Ali has explained it to mean that, in general, “In every fight, physical, moral or spiritual, arm yourself with the best weapons and the best arms against your enemy, so as to instil wholesome respect into him for you and the cause you stand for.” Also that, “while we must always be ready for the good fight lest it be forced on us, even in the midst of the fight we must always be ready for peace if there is any inclination towards peace on the other side.”
I don’t see what better philosophy could there be for the security of Pakistan and the entire Muslim, indeed even the non-Muslim, world. As a former army general, the education minister should be still more appreciative of such an approach.
Apart from that, I do agree with his decision to include material about major Sufi orders and saints and the role played by them in the spread of Islam and their contribution towards the evolution of Muslim culture in the subcontinent. Their tolerance, peacefulness, emphasis upon self-control and self-knowledge and love for people of all faiths should be emphasised in particular, as also their loyalty and obedience to Allah and His Prophet (PBUH), rather than to worldly rulers or powers.
PRO BONO PUBLICO
Karachi
IT is a common observation that the service of privatised utility providers such as the KESC and the PTCL has been deteriorating at the expense of customers. These privatised units claim improvement in their service and performance. However, the ground realities are altogether different as is experienced by the customers.
I live in Phase 4 of the DHA where electricity breakdowns are common and similarly the telephone network is giving constant problems such as crossing of lines and noise in the line. Despite having lodged several complaints with the PTCL, there has been no satisfactory response and the telephones continue to give the same problems for the last one month. As a result, the Internet is also affected and is not functioning.
I would like to remind the officials of these service providers that while there is inconvenience and mental torture to the consumers, there is also a loss of revenues to these companies. I urge the officials of the KESC and the PTCL to come up with the claims of improved performance and put things right.
IRTIZA RIZVI
Karachi
BANGLADESH will continue to suffer from anarchy as long as RAW keeps interfering and is assisted by the Awami League.
The country’s economy is a total mess due to perforated borders. A weak Bangladesh is what India wants. Kolkata, where the economy of Bangladesh is decided, is controlled by noble Hindu businessmen who continue to strangulate the nation’s life line.
The present generation is now realising that although their-country is independent, it has been enslaved by its present day Mir Jaffer and Mir Sadiq.
ASAD MAHMUD
Abu Dhabi, UAE
THE eastern side of 200-wide Shara-i-Raees Ahmed Jafri from the Edhi Centre to the abandoned Roti Plant had been allocated for mass transit scheme but after a lapse of reasonable time it is now in the clinches of the garage mafia, vendors and others.
This precious land may still be utilised for the same or any resembling purpose if authorities concerned are willing to do so keeping the right of possessors to provide with alternative place for their business and residence.
AZHAR ARIF
Karachi
THERE was a time when the whole family would sit in front of the TV to watch Pakistani plays which were based on a good story and used decent and cultured language. Not anymore.
I was shocked and saddened to watch a Pakistani drama on a private channel on Jan 5 afternoon. One of the characters used abusive language (haramzadi) while targeting the picture of his divorced wife. It is a multi-meaning word and could mean anything in English.
Our script writers and people connected with production of plays appear to have been attracted, influenced and become copy-cats of the foreign culture which negates everything we believe in. One may accept glamour (within bounds) but certainly not indecent and uncultured language, which is bound to have negative influence on your minds. Regrettably, our writers and directors (not all) do not come up to the old saying that naqal ra aqal baaid.
It is regrettable that the government does not pay attention to such things as are eating into our essentials. Should not our censor board, if it exists, be firm in carrying out its responsibilities?
KHAN A. SHAMSHAD
Karachi
THE latest American attacks in Somalia and on the Iranian mission in Iraq are serious pointers. Someone must do something, someone must act fast to contain Mr Bush. He needs a psychiatrist real bad. He needs help, so somebody please help him. He is destroying world peace and adding to the mess already created by no one but himself. Has he achieved anything so far except misery, pain and ignominy yet he is not embarrassed. In fact he is opening more fronts. Americans are the smartest nation - can’t they put a stop to all this?
MRS RAHMAN
Karachi
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