| January 30, 2007 | Tuesday | Muharram 10, 1428 |
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Making ‘mistakes’
World Bank & maritime sector
Murder of merit
Police website
Lessons for Muslims and US
Racism is everyone’s problem
The nation’s health
Is CAA awaiting a disaster?
Overcharging phone bills
West’s conflict with Iran
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
THIS letter is with reference to Dr Shershah Syed’s article (Jan 14) in Sunday’s Magazine titled ‘A commendable decision’. The article outlines changes that need to be made by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to save the country’s medical system, which is rife with corruption and inefficiency. I am gladdened by Dr Syed’s sense of responsibility and continuous effort to alert us about those entrusted with our ethical and professional development.
As a final year student whose primary objective is to contribute to the improvement of this country’s medical and health needs, I find it agonising to note the corrupt and degenerative state of affairs in medical universities. Moreover, it is worse still to find the few available talented doctors and professors fleeing abroad towards greener pastures — thus having reduced the nation’s meagre resources without contributing anything in return. The situation at our universities is deplorable as the standards of medical education and teaching methods leave much to be desired.
Moreover, teachers are obsessed with private practices or are apathetic towards their jobs and the students are set on finding short-cuts and illegal means of getting ahead. The paucity of provision of basic services to medical students prevents the instillation of basic, good clean habits amongst them. In most private medical colleges and universities hygiene in the cafeterias is deplorable with the washrooms being simply nightmarish. What sort of doctors will we produce this way where some students fall ill from appalling sanitation levels at their colleges while others buy and bribe their way towards obtaining degrees?
Along with the institutional changes in the PMDC proposed by Dr Syed, I would like to appeal for a change in attitude amongst the medical community. The best way forward is if both students and doctors work together towards coming up with new ideas.
I personally know of many medical students who would be willing to join the PMDC or any group of concerned doctors to facilitate with providing objective and constructive criticism as well as undertaking the daunting task of restoring order and ethics to the healthcare system.
I sincerely hope that in doing so we would come closer to providing affordable and reliable medical practices best suited to our country’s needs.
SAFIEH SHAH
Karachi
ACCORDING to a report, a Nato official has said that the recent attack on Pakistan’s military post in North Waziristan by Nato troops based in Afghanistan, causing three casualties, was a mistake and utmost caution would be observed to prevent such incidents in future (Jan 25).
The question is that the American and Nato troops have made numerous such ‘mistakes’ in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan after 9/11, killing and injuring thousands of people. Some years back the US had bombed a factory in Sudan saying it was making chemical weapons, which turned out to be a pharmaceutical plant manufacturing aspirin. However, the Muslim soldiers in these countries never made such a ‘mistake’ all this while because they aren’t arrogant or powerful enough to do that.
By now, Bush, Blair and many western leaders and officials have admitted explicitly or implicitly that the invasion of Iraq itself was a mistake -– no matter that it has taken close to a million Muslim lives. Isn’t time that the Muslims, too, started making such mistakes so that the western imperialists and crusaders learnt some lessons as well?
Despite President Gen Musharraf’s best efforts to please Washington, moves have now begun in the US legislature to twist Pakistan’s arms by withholding American military assistance for not doing enough against the Taliban and Al Qaeda. This comes barely two months after Islamabad signed a deal to buy new and used F-16 fighter planes and seems to be a replay of what had happened to the earlier deal in the 1990s when even our advance payment for such planes had been confiscated.
It surely is time for the president to reconsider his stance regarding the US and start making corrections. We should also try to find other, more reliable sources of armaments even if they cost more.
I. SIDDIQUE
Karachi
IT is commendable that Dawn published two extracts from the World Bank study report on the maritime sector of Pakistan, in particular about lack of professional expertise in the port and shipping sector and the public sector ship-owning hampering induction of private entrepreneurs.
There can’t be any disagreement on the report made by professional experts of the World Bank, identifying the main impediments to growth.
The donor agencies hire consultants and pay substantial amount to make recommendations but, sadly, none were implemented. It is intriguing that the exchequer is eventually burdened to pay for such reports which are neither considered seriously nor implemented.
It is so sad that all the three ports of Pakistan do not even have an under-graduate who is duly qualified in port management. The ports are being managed on conventional modes and only efficiency is exhibited where the private sector has leased operation on a BOT basis.
The ship-owning sector is in the doldrums, and the public sector is holding hostage the industry and marring its growth.
There is no denying the fact that not only the port and shipping industry but even the regulatory regime badly needs commercial maritime professionals to bring the industry at least at par with neighbouring countries.
In the meantime, the community is hopeful that the president and the prime minister will personally intervene and ensure implementation of the World Bank reports, discounting the favourites who are holding industry and trade hostage. Let a new day dawn on the maritime sector of Pakistan.
Well done World Bank, keep pressing. Thanks Dawn to bring public awareness.
ALI MOHAMMAD
Karachi
THIS is with reference to a news item in various newspapers regarding merit being abolished in federal government jobs (Jan 23). This is very wrong and pathetic. Formerly 10 per cent jobs were given to the meritorious students – those who were capable enough and worked hard to get such meritorious results.
These students possess obvious two qualities, firstly they have potential to accomplish and, secondly, also to work hard. We expect good performance and better results from them in their job responsibilities too. Their good performance is in the best interest of the people. Our nation is already notorious for nepotism and sifarish culture. We should decide to kill these two attitudes which are based on murdering the rights of the capable and thus depriving the nation benefiting from good services.
It is probably good to give six per cent job quota to Balochistan, but only if suitably qualified applicants are found there. To make up the loss done by the rule of sardars, this policy does not justify ignoring the rightful rights of others. Qualified persons from Balochistan should preferably be given jobs. This is fair.
The federal government’s decision to fill all federal vacancies on 100 per cent provincial and regional quotas will hit the province of Sindh hard because a great number of educated and qualified people are found here, and Punjab is the second to bear this loss due to the totally unfair decision. Was this decision to gain the favour of Balochistan or to compensate the loss those people have faced?
MRS TANVIR KHALID
Ex-senator
Karachi
I AM running a small firm dealing in construction business. For transporting personnel from Karachi to construction sites around the city and shifting tools and tackles at the project, I bought a truck. It is a commercial-registered vehicle. I have put a hood on it and have installed long folding seats to facilitate both the requirements.
Since day one I have been subjected to blackmailing by the police. Many a time it is caught on the road, and the constable or the officer says that the vehicle will be taken to the police station and the seats and the hood shall be removed as it is rot allowed. On paying ‘chai pani’ the vehicle is released.
I would like to get out of this painful situation. Can somebody guide me as to what violation is being done when I am purely using it for private purpose? Anybody else in my situation would have opted for the same solution. Am I creating any nuisance for the traffic or the traffic police? If anything wrong is being done by me, what is required to correct it?
Most of the people don’t know about the rights and wrongs about such things and are either violating the rules unknowingly or are being blackmailed for their ignorance. Is there any website to answer the ‘most frequently-asked questions of the Sindh police department? If not, why can’t there be one?
DILAWAR HUSAIN
Karachi
THIS refers to the articles, ‘Somalia: a new target’ by Dr Tanvir Ahmed Khan (Jan 22), ‘Truth about Durand Line’ by Mr Ghayoor Ahmed (Jan 18) and ‘The misunderstood war’ by Mr M.P. Bhandara (Jan 14).
In his article, Dr Khan has convincingly demonstrated that the US, along with Ethiopia, going against the opinion of many independent analysts, has become actively involved in Somalia, under the pretext of fighting Al Qaeda.
Also, that Washington’s ‘war on terror’ is deliberately refusing to address the causes underlying regional tensions and conflicts in Muslim countries, ignoring these states’ multi-ethic and multi-sectarian nature and whose diversity is no different than in countries elsewhere. It is simply exploiting them to further its predetermined anti-Muslim agenda.
However, one has a different take on the writer’s view that in Somalia, as elsewhere, Islam has failed to superimpose a collective entity on strife-prone tribes or groups. An analogy is of a government that writes down the best traffic laws but the people refuse to abide by them partly or fully, as often happens in Third World countries: it is no fault of the authority or of the laws but of the citizens. In his book, Islam and the Destiny of Man, which is reputed to have led thousands of upper class Britons to embracing Islam, the Sufic-minded and famous British convert Gai Eaton echoes Montgomery Watt: “Islam, more than any other great religion, has realised in actual life the idea of the charismatic community.” Thus, it all depends on sticking to Islamic teachings.
Unfortunately, the warlords in Somalia and Afghanistan have been following their selfish desires of acquiring power and wealth even by foul means, in defiance of Islamic precepts. Apart from that, poverty, in terms of a lack of money or of religious knowledge also tends to drive people away from faith, which can be understood from the Prophet’s (PBUH) saying: “Poverty may well become a cause of infidelity.”
The reality is that the Islamic Courts Union in Somalia was becoming very successful in restoring order to areas under its control and in driving out the warlords, thereby earning most Somalis’ gratitude and loyalty, as noted in my previous letter (Jan 18). The same was the case in Afghanistan during the Taliban rule, who had fostered peace and totally eradicated poppy cultivation which the western forces haven’t been able to do until now.
But, the Bush administration committed the folly of taking a crusading and hawkish approach to these countries. It refused to engage the Taliban, although it was only their code of hospitality that kept them from handing over Osama bin Laden, which has been beautifully explained in Mr Bhandara’s article. The other mistake was the Taliban’s overly strict application of Shariah: both of these factors reversed the gains made before 9/11.
Similarly, the secular and permissive atmosphere in Iran during the Shah’s reign was completely changed by the Islamic revolution. The foregoing examples show that once the people realise, after undergoing much suffering, the problems created by straying from Islam, they try to revert to it, if allowed to do so. However, I do agree with Dr Khan that most Somali people adhere to the Sufic strain of Islam. During travels in the West, I had met a Somali gentleman in his 30s who was one of the deputies (khalifa) of a Middle Eastern Sufi master and was spiritually very accomplished even at that young age.
The lessons for the US contained in all the three articles make eminent sense regarding the engaging of Islamists/Taliban in Somalia and Afghanistan. Apart from that, Kabul should desist from resurrecting the Durand Line issue on the basis that the Pathans in Pakistan and Afghanistan are a single ethnic unit and should be united in one state. Pakistan was created not on ethnic grounds but as an ideological state and 99 per cent of the votes cast by the Pathans in the NWFP in 1947 were in favour of joining this country. Afghanistan surely wouldn’t want its Tajiks and Uzbeks to secede just because of ethnicity.
MIAN PERWAIZ CHISHTI
Karachi
I READ with interest the letter by Girdhar Gopal (Jan 26) in response to Tasneem Zafar Faridi’s. I do believe both have it wrong. India is no better than Pakistan in its treatment of its minorities and lower class.
India’s sheer size amplifies its predicament. Being an Indian, I celebrate the fact that it is led by a Sikh and the ruling party is led by a Catholic of Italian origin. We have a Muslim president who is beloved by one and all in the country.
But scratch the surface, a large number of Indians still live in poverty and it’s not due to economic reasons alone. Caste and religion continue to keep a vast portion of people away from the economic boom.
But this is not a South Asian problem alone. Look at the African-Americans in the US and Muslims in Europe: racism is a global phenomenon. The riots in Paris, the images of Katrina and episodes of the reality show Big Brother have pinched the consciences of the great nations that berate us on the treatment of minorities and lower classes.
Class distinction has been every nation’s problem — both great and small. It will not go away by merely having a reservation policy or outlawing racism.
BRIJESH PRABHAKAR
Missouri, USA
ARDESHIR Cowasjee has very boldly written (Jan 21) on ‘The nation’s health’. At the end of his deliberations he writes: “None of the 80-odd who sit cramped around the oversized cabinet table with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and attempt to govern this country will rush to Doctors Talati and Pappas to ask questions. However, a copy of their report is being sent to Health Minister Mohammad Nasser Khan who is said to be ‘proactive’.”
So proactive is Mr Khan that he has not only approved the folly of the PM of building a Rs2 billion medical complex for the elite, but has also said that “once the tower is functional, it will provide medical facilities which previously were non-existent”.
Don’t these people know the present state of health system in the country? The persistently high maternal mortality and morbidity figures that we have been suffering for the last two-and-a-half decades, the high pre-natal and under-five mortality rates, the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, the empty Rural Health Centres and Basic Health Units waiting for the health providers.
Then there are the quacks all over the country who are making fools of the needy, especially those adding to the miserable ill-health of the nation by offering quick-fix health remedies on state-run television.
Most of us have failed to understand why the prime minister of this poor nation of 160 million people is on a crusade to make a mockery of the health system. We have already learnt by the failed experiment in the mid-70s that diverting healthcare finances towards tertiary care institutions or attempting to urbanise it is futile as it never improved the health indicators of the country.
I think Mr Cowasjee has made a mistake by appraising the PM and the health ministers of the above-mentioned report since an easy way out has already been discovered by the PM and his sycophants: if there is no bread to eat, why don’t poor people eat cake?
DR S. N. MASOOD
Karachi
I AM a frequent traveller and find it very worrisome that many passengers do not switch off their mobile phones during take-off or even during the flight. Many times the plane has not even landed and there are sounds of passengers opening their mobiles again.
The rule regarding shutting down cellphones merits a very strict compliance as there have reportedly been accidents due to signals interfering with the aircraft’s computer system. The last such accident attributed to a mobile phone was at Taipei airport which killed scores of passengers.
Pre-emptive measures are always better. I ask the Civil Aviation Authority to send disguised staff on board and fine all such airlines that take a lenient view of this serious lapse. The best thing would be for airlines to ask every passenger before leaving the departure gate to close their phones.
AHMED
Karachi
I WOULD like to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned the scam in the name of local calls in the telephone bills. The PTCL at its own is charging from the clients in the name of local calls. When asked, the PTCL’s reply was that it is charging according to the meters installed at the PTCL premises.
It is amusing to note that similar other organisations like the KESE and the gas company have installed meters at the premises of the clients. If the PTCL cannot install meters at the clients’ residences, it should attach a local list with the telephone bills which it is not doing at the moment.
M.F. KHAN
Karachi
AS a nation we must never forget the moral and strategic support the people of Iran and its government extended to Pakistan during our time of need in 1947, 1965 and 1971. Men of honour and sovereign nations need to take a moral, principled and ethical stance with neighbouring nations.
More Sunni Muslims have been killed by American and Nato bullets and missiles in Iraq than in the sad sectarian in-fighting that is taking place in Iraq today. It is obligatory for Pakistan to take a principled stand in case there is an unfortunate attack on Iran. One can only hope that whatever the provocation, there is no sectarian strife between Sunnis and Shias.
T. MALLICK
Lahore
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