| February 07, 2007 | Wednesday | Muharram 18, 1428 |
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Plight of pensioners
Electricity theft and KESC
Renewable energy
Pakistan and the Afghan war
Karachi my love
Banking charges
National language
Improvement in ties with India
Passionate, not extremist
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
IT is surprising that the president embarked on a tour of several Middle Eastern countries and then of Malaysia and Indonesia at a time when his own country is on fire and people are upset due to the shocking string of suicide bombings in the NWFP and rising terrorism in Balochistan.
It also comes at a time when our relations with Afghanistan are under tremendous strain and fixing them first has far greater priority for the Pakistanis’ peace of mind and security than helping around with another good cause.
The stated purpose of the tour is to share his ideas with some leaders regarding the Palestinian and other problems of the region. Coming so soon after a new initiative on the Middle East by the US Secretary of State, it appears to be linked to it.
That Dr Rice is trying to forge a new alliance mainly against Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas and, to a lesser extent Syria, by enlisting the ‘moderate’ allies like Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan is clear by now. The ultimate reasons for all this flurry of activity seems to be two. First, Israel’s discomfort after the drubbing by Hezbollah in last summer’s war that has led to the resignation of its army chief and immense pressure on the PM and defence minister to follow suit.
Second, America’s difficulty in Iraq that is compounded by Iran’s nuclear programme and increasing influence in the region. Thus, Israel would be keenly seeking Washington’s help to ease the various pressures being felt by it, while the US would be interested in not only shoring up its proxy’s position but also to corner Iran and destroy Hamas and Hezbollah.
The job of both countries would become much easier if the help of some important Muslim countries could be enlisted. It may be argued that Musharraf did not meet the three anti-US parties since they cannot be expected to toe his line on Israel and Iraq; this is further strengthened by another factor that he chose to dash off to the distant Malaysia and Indonesia, both of whom, unlike the Arabs, have no significant influence on any of the Middle Eastern states shows that it probably is meant to making them recognise Israel.
One other possibility could be to seek Muslim troops for Iraq so that the US and the UK could save their own necks. Regardless of that, if all the major Muslim countries that still haven’t recognised the Jewish state can be made to do that, it would make life much easier for Tel Aviv and Washington.
This would also isolate Hamas and Hezbollah and curtail Iran’s inroads over there and in Iraq. If that is really the plan of Bush, Olmert and Musharraf, it is very regrettable that the neocons and Zionists are being strengthened at the cost of their main Muslim victims.
Another problem is that Gen Musharraf has apparently not held any consultations with the Palestinian PM who represents the will of the majority of his people, until this writing. If that is true, then how could they trust him with being an honest broker and how could any other party, such as the Kashmiris, rely on him?
QAMAR I.
Karachi
DURING the last week I had to visit the National Bank of Pakistan’s Chowrangi branch, Karachi, for three days on three different dates. Seeing the plight of pensioners was a heart-breaking sight. Retired men and women standing in haphazard queues for hours together was really appalling. These senior citizens surely deserve a better treatment.
Upon inquiry, based on personal interest only and on condition of anonymity, I was informed by one of the staff members about the problems of the branch itself. According to him, there are more than 15,000 pensioners, salary accounts and regular A/C holders who need to be serviced by insufficient existing number of staff members.
In the light of the above details and in order to ensure hassle-free functioning, I would like to take the liberty of suggesting that: (a) the number of staff members should be increased in the branch to facilitate pensions and salary reimbursements only, (b) additional space and separate counters should be provided, along with comfortable chairs etc., to allow for a proper queue and wait with ease to reach the pension counter.
NAQI MUSTAFA
Karachi
I AM an ex-employee of grade 17 of the Pakistan Railways who has recently joined the ranks of pensioners. I had no idea how painful and frustrating experiences are in store for pensioners, especially when we have to go to the bank to collect our pension. The Chowrangi branch of the National Bank of Pakistan is the bank where hundreds of people like me have to face tension, hassle and humiliations on a monthly basis. A jam-packed hall, with pensioners and regular account holders, has no room to stand, not to talk about sitting.
Why can’t the bank high-ups be more merciful towards us? Why can’t they provide more waiting space? Why can’t they hire more staff members? And, above all, why can’t they have a separate building for pensioners of various ministries?
AHMED ANWAR NOOR
Karachi
IS there anybody to solve our problem. EOBI employees have lived a very hard life during service days. Now also there is no end to torture. We are very poor people. Very old. Sometimes very sick. We go to Karachi’s Golimar Chowrangi branch of the National Bank for our pension.
There are many, many people — and a big rush. Only one counter and one cashier for all men and women. We wait for many hours to get our pension. This is not a good system.
We get very tired, hungry. and thirsty. Come to the National Bank and see for yourself. How much rush. What a great problem.
Please do something for us, we will pray to God for you.
BEGUM FARHAT ALI
Karachi
I WOULD like to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned the power theft by a shop in Civil Lines along Dr Daudpota Road in Karachi. An application was earlier submitted to the commercial manager, Saddar SDV Zone, Karim Chamber, CL-5/6c IV, 107 Civil Lines, Karachi, whom I have also met in person regarding the power theft.
This application has also been received by the legal department of the KESC on July 9, 2006. The reminder of this was again sent to the relevant departments on Nov 4, 2006, i.e., to the law department, commercial manager, Saddar Zone, director of engineering, general manager of customer services and GM, network, KESC Ltd, Karachi. It has been received by all these departments.
The power was disconnected to the said shop in April 2006. The billd received from the month of May 2006 up till December 2006 show the present reading as (3,666), previous reading (3,666) and the units billed is nil.
On Jan 12, 2007 again an application was addressed to the SDO, KESC Ltd, Saddar Zone, in which I stated that the correct bill should be issued to the person consuming the electricity and if any supplementary bill is issued later, I will not be responsible for any outstanding payments, as the owner of the shop, but the sole responsibility will be with the KESC. Thus I have repeatedly brought to their notice this incidence of power theft.
The present position is that power is being consumed illegally by the occupant of the shop by bypassing the electricity meter, a perfect example of power theft. It is also stated that I have dialled the number 118 given by the KESC for electricity theft, but to no avail.
Also, litigation regarding ownership etc of the shop in question is pending in the court of law to which I am a party. I would like to request the CEO of the KESC to direct his office to pursue this matter and recover all outstanding dues immediately.
ROCKIE DIAS
Karachi
THE policy for development of renewable energy for power generation, announced in December last, is a step in the right direction. It depicts the interest of the government in the development of this important source of energy.
However, with a view to averting the impending power crisis, the renewable energy development policy may be made more comprehensive. Research and training are of vital importance for the promotion of any technology. In this connection technical colleges/universities should be extended adequate financial and technical assistance for developing research and teaching facilities.
Moreover, there should be provision in the policy for involving the local government institutions in the development of this important sector. These institutions, namely town committees, union councils, etc, must have at least one renewable energy demonstration project.
Financial and technical assistance should be extended by the federal/provincial government for starting model demonstration projects by them. Community-based organisations operating almost in every nook and corner of the country may also be associated in the task of promoting renewable energy technologies. They may also be provided grant-in-aid for installation of small windmills, solar lights or bio-gas plants, etc.
For educating the masses about the environment-friendly clean source of energy, policy may be prepared for launching campaign through the media. Furthermore, in this connection, technical colleges and universities may be encouraged to hold annual exhibitions and put up demonstration projects in their premises.
Besides, the policy should also highlight the strategy for promoting the local manufacturing of windmills, solar cookers, water heater, etc. It is hoped that the above policy measure would optimise the development of renewable energy technologies in the country.
SOHAIL A. KHAN
Karachi
WHILE agreeing with all points of my teacher, Dr Dushka H. Saiyid, has discussed in her article ‘Pakistan and the Afghan war’ (Feb 2), I disagree with her advice to Nato and the Americans that they should increase surveillance, both electronically and physically, of the border from the Afghanistan side, and also seal it.
The border sealing would not be workable in this age of globalisation and free flow of information. Keeping in mind the history of sealing the borders on different pretexts, one cannot hope that securing the border will prove productive. The action will only lead to division of Pakhtuns living on both sides of the border.
Throughout the centuries, governments have used separation walls and security fences for limiting the movement of marauding armies and keeping away people from each other. The Great Wall of China in the ancient times and the Berlin Wall in the modern times are two famous and infamous walls which separated people.
Israel is the most ‘out of bounds’ country as its borders abutting Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt are heavily manned, fenced and mined. The country has also erected barriers around the Gaza City and constructed a big wall to separate the West Bank from it. Yet it is not secure.
Perhaps, dividing people on different pretexts is in the interest of world powers. When the world powers find no religious pretext, they divide people on an ideological basis. Vietnam, Germany and Korea are some examples.
Although Vietnam and Germany retained their reunification, the Korean Demilitarized Zone still separates Koreans on the basis of ideology. There are talks about ending the Line of Control to unify Kashmiris, then what is the logic behind sealing the Durand Line.
In retrospect, the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is a particularly contentious issue. Afghanistan and the Pakhtun nationalists in Pakistan have never accepted the Durand Line, demarcated by the colonial masters, between Afghanistan and British India.
Time and again, Pakhtun nationalists have demanded the border should be abolished. Named after Sir Mortimer Durand, the foreign secretary of the British Indian government, the border was aimed at disuniting the Pakhtun people whom the British colonisers feared.
Only recently former NWFP governor Khalilur Rahman said the Durand Line agreement had expired in 1993. He said: “The Durand Line agreement, signed in 1893, was for 100 years and he had asked President General Pervez Musharraf to talk to the Afghan government for extending the agreement.”
The sealing of the Durand Line would not only divide 15 million Afghan Pakhtuns and 28 million Pakistani Pakhtuns but would also convert the soft border into a strictly regulated border.
The sealing of the border would be against the Treaty of Gandamak signed on May 26, 1879 between British India and the then Afghan ruler. The treaty guarantees free movement of people living on both sides of the border.
MANZOOR CHANDIO
Karachi
I HAVE gone through, with immense interest, the letter by Moinuddin Khan (Jan 29). I fully endorse his assorted ideas and opinions for glorifying ‘Hamara Karachi’.
I am afraid he is not the first man to come up with these noble views. Such matters have echoed time and again and lost in the labyrinth of oblivion. Mr Cowasjee and so many persons of eminence from different walks of life have been writing profusely on this subject through your columns tirelessly.
But to what effect? Who is responsible for this abnegation? Our people, our government, the social workers or NGOs? I think all are at fault. Concerted efforts from all cornered could make this once beautiful city to regain its past glory. G.B. Shaw has rightly said: “We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for future”. We are failing bitterly in our duty.
The main thing which cultures, educates and ennobles the masses is good reading habits. This can only be achieved through public libraries. The public library possess tremendous power to inculcate civic sense, refinement, love for education, learning, research, truth and beauty.
The few so-called public libraries in the city of Karachi are insufficient to serve the millions of souls residing in this megacity. A piece of land near NIPA was earmarked for this purpose. It is said that plot is being utilised for some other ‘noble’ cause. Ignorance and negligence always take a heavy toll and we are paying dearly.
I agree that the fun and frolics will soon be over and forgotten. The only things that have pre-eminence and last indefinitely are printed words to inspire and motivate present and coming generations. In the words of Paulo Coelho: “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”.
M. KHURSHID ALAM
Toronto, Canada
TWO days ago my laptop was stolen from my car and my Union Bank (now Standard Chartered) cheque book along with it. Next morning, I reported the stolen cheque book and requested cancellation of the unissued cheques.
The online banker informed me that the cancellation charges are Rs1,000. Still recovering from my previous loss, I was really surprised to be charged so much for such a small request. Banks can hide behind whatever inward looking policies they make. I feel that first I was illegally robbed on the road, and then I was legally robbed by my bank.
I request the banking ombudsman to look into these exorbitantly high bank charges. Greater ills ail our society; I thought I would touch upon a small one.
MUGHIS AHMED
Karachi
THIS has reference to Prof Zafar Umer Zuberi’s letter ‘White paper on education’ (Jan 20 ). I fully support his views about making Urdu as practical national language of Pakistan. After giving several arguments in favour of Urdu, at the end, he wrote that “Urdu being language of the Pakistan Movement deserves national treatment at the highest level.”
I will just elaborate this point by giving some statistics from a well- documented book entitled Tehrik-i-Pakistan Aur Sahafat” (The Pakistan Movement and Journalism) by a famous writer of Balochistan, Dr Inamul Haque Kausar.
He gave a list of newspapers and periodicals numbering 131 which supported the Muslim League and the Pakistan Movement before partition of the subcontinent. The following is the language-wise numbers of the print media which educated Muslim masses for Pakistan: Urdu 74, English 24, Bengali five, Sindhi three, Gujrati and others 23 (total 131).
Daily newspapers and periodicals in Urdu were published from Delhi, UP, Punjab, Peshawar, Quetta, Karachi, Bombay, Bihar, Hyderabad (Sindh) and Hyderabad (Deccan).
The Urdu press represented 65 per cent of the Muslim print media while English newspapers and periodicals were only 24 per cent of the entire Muslim press. Furthermore, almost all national songs for Pakistan were written in Urdu for propagation of the Pakistan Movement. Thus before the establishment of Pakistan, Urdu served as the most powerful language for the movement.
As Urdu is already declared as the national language of Pakistan, it should also be practically adopted as such, giving English only secondary importance which it deserves. May good sense prevail on our rulers and Pakistan may become a ‘nation state’ as advocated by Prof Zuberi.
SHAIKH ABDUL HAMID
Karachi
RECENTLY the Indian press reported President Musharraf as having said, among other things, during a press conference in Rawalpindi: “Our relations have never been this good before in our history and we are happy about that”. Well, what is meant by good relations? During the period till the 1965 war those who applied for India visa at the Karachi deputy high commission in Karachi before 11am used to get the visa after 3pm on the same day. Until people are able to get a visa like that, without any hassle and without any delay, it is difficult for common people to share the views of our worthy president.
A READER
Karachi
THIS is with reference to A.R. Siddiqi’s column ‘What lies ahead for the fateful triangle’ (Jan 28) in which he declared the NWFP as a province of the extremists. In fact, the NWFP was the only peaceful province of Pakistan at the time of partition because of the non-violent movement of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan.
We Pakhtoons are proud to have had among us one of the four great personalities in the world, namely Bacha Khan, who worked for peace through non-violence. The other three were Mahatma Gandhi, Martin King Luther Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
We Pakhtuns are not extremists, rather we are passionate people. If there are any extremists among us, they are the gift of Gen Ziaul Haq. Not a single Pakhtun was involved in the events of 9/11 or 7/7. Most of the Pakistanis captured in terrorist activities in foreign countries either belong to Lahore or Karachi.
NAIF SULTAN
Swabi
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