| March 01, 2007 | Thursday | Safar 11, 1428 |
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Samjhota Express tragedy
Old Geneva accord musical chairs
EMI Pakistan
Exposed sewage channels
Threat to public health
LDA’s harassment
Sharing benefits
Behbood certificate
Egoism takes lives
Not doing enough
Endangering human life
School friend
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 proposed Organ and Tissue Transplantation Ordinance is just a signature away from becoming law of the land. Although Professor Adib Rizvi and his team have been lobbying for 18 years to get a law passed to outlaw organ trade in Pakistan, this Ordinance is a far cry from what is being sought. To quote Faiz: yai who sahar to nahi kay jis key aarzoo lay kar, chalay thay yar kay mil jaya gee kahin na kahin.
The Transplant Ordinance, if promulgated in its present form, will in effect legalise organ trade in Pakistan. Although, on the face of it, the ordinance condemns organ trade, it also leaves wide open windows of opportunity for such trade to continue. Just to quote one example, the proposed law allows donations of organs between individuals who are considered to be related by virtue of having the same wet mother.
It is not difficult to imagine a dialysis-dependent wealthy industrialist from a city to ‘produce’ several desperately poor village-dwelling ‘siblings’ related to him through this route, all willing to ‘donate’ their kidneys to their rich brother.
Addressing the issue of regulation of such procurements, the ordinance also proposes setting up of evaluation committees where again it falters.
These committees are to be composed of a surgeon, a physician and a community notable. Two out of the three individuals of the committee may stand to benefit directly out of the procedure of a paid transplant, and that too to the tune of hundreds of thousands of rupees per transplant.
This committee is the prime example of conflict of interest and exposes the true nature of this proposed ordinance.
At best this ordinance in its present form is the handiwork of some non-technical and thoroughly unprofessional lower divisional clerks in the ministry of health deputed to rush it through, or at worst it reflects the extent of penetration of Pakistan’s well-known “organ trade mafia” in the upper echelons of power in Islamabad who want to effectively legalise this horrific trade in the country. Either way, it is the country’s name that is at stake here, as well as the health of the poorest of the poor.
Pakistan needs the tissue and organ transplantation law but not in the shape in which it is being presented.
DR AAMIR JAFAREY
Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture, SIUT, Karachi
THE Indian authorities must have learned many lessons after the tragedies of Godhra train fire in 2002, Mumbai train blasts in July, 2006 and terrorist attack on Samjhota Express this year on Feb 19.
News reports and letters published in the press clearly reveal that security arrangements for Samjhota Express in Delhi were lax which provided a good opportunity for terrorists to achieve their mission.
Samjhota Express was not a normal train: it was a special train and needed special security measures. After the partition of India in August 1947, migrants from both the countries were brought in special trains from Delhi to Lahore and vice versa, and were escorted by soldiers to protect them from violent mobs.
The recent tragedy at Panipat is sadly reminiscent of that time.
The ill-fated Samjhota Express was carrying 757 passengers, which is equal to the number of passengers of two jumbo jet airliners.
Although it is not possible to institute airport-like security measures on every railway station or train, it is not difficult to protect a train on which all the passengers are embarking and disembarking at the same stations.
The passengers could have been made to go through security checks like it is done at the airports. They should have been allowed to board the train only after having their baggage scanned by X-ray machines and walking through electronic metal and chemical detectors.
Train compartments should have been electronically-scanned to detect any explosive material. In addition, sniffer dogs should have been used to detect explosive or other chemicals in the baggage before it was loaded on the train.
To ensure security of passengers in the train en route, guards should have been detailed in each compartment instead of sealing the doors and fixing iron bars in the windows.
In view of the past incidents in Godhra, Madrid, London, Mubmai and now Panipat, there is a need to develop additional security for the railway systems in both India and Pakistan.
Terrorists have yet again demonstrated that transportation systems are targets, and their notice must not be ignored.
SQN LDR (r) S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
APROPOS of a news item: ‘Winning of Afghan war essential for West: Nato’ (Dawn, Feb 23), the Nato secretary-general, Jaap De Hoop Scheffer, disclosed his concerns whilst in Kabul: “If we don’t succeed in Afghanistan, I am quite sure that the ‘spoilers’ will come to us to the Netherlands, to Belgium, to the UK, (as) they came to the US.”
Mr Scheffer might be aware of the two most important principles of war, i.e., the favourable friction of the terrain and the manoeuvrable space required for the success of the military campaign. Hence he might have guessed that the war-experienced opponents have better chances to overrun them shortly. It is, therefore, apprehended that some foul play is in the offing. Our strategists must firm up control on the Durrand Line.
In 1979 I happened to be in Washington visiting Pentagon. Soviet onslaught in Afghanistan had just taken place. I asked an old lady staffer as to what will be the fate of Afghanistan. She said: “Don’t worry. It would be their Vietnam.” The lady appeared to be prophetic, but it was a different game altogether.
The growth of Soviet nuclear strategic assets made the western world so scary that the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty was signed between Moscow and Washington in 1987.
The Soviets were about to meet their ‘Vietnam’ in Kabul at the hands of Islamic bloc jihadis, but they shrewdly managed an escape route out of it playing a master piece, “the Geneva Accord musical chairs,” in April 1988 as a quid pro quo to the INF treaty.
Russia remained Russia; however they donned Soviet regalia for some time. The Russian press is now blurting: “Enough. We are back. If you think you can do everything without us, forget it. That’s all over.” (Feb 21).
Mr Scheffer would be better off if he heeds to the NWFP governor’s advice of political dialogue with the opponents, as his real ‘spoilers’ hail from the North Pole.
MOHAMMAD AHMAD
Karachi
THIS has reference to Ms Murium Javed’s letter ‘EMI Pakistan’ (Jan 22). While we appreciate Ms Javed’s cognizance of the core reason for the company’s tragic closure on Aug 12, 1994, essentially due to massive copyright infringement of our product, we seek this opportunity to further elaborate on some of the other points she has mentioned.
It has been a trying task to revive the company, in an economy where the general price index has sky-rocketed at a perpetual rate of 12 per cent annually. The readers will be surprised to learn that the audio-cassette retail price today stays almost at par with the pricing structure of 1995. The company has relaunched with a revised distribution strategy, which is applicable to all its existing and future repertoire.
The musical album in question, ’One Light Year at Snail Speed’, is technically by far one of the most accomplished products released in recent years. Hence the label’s conviction in its support.
However, the product being in English language only has certain territorial and demographical limitations concerning its distribution.
EMI (Pakistan) Ltd is constantly striving to push the product into existing and new outlets. For a niche product, like the album in question, the distribution model of ‘blanket flooding’ is not a prudent strategy. As mentioned, we are committed to the product and in that context are offering it full support.
However, as there are pocket areas which may, even in the case of a mass market product, be overlooked, we are listing an email address and a cell number (0321 8201963; email : exile@cyber.net.pk) where distribution and marketing queries can be forwarded.
UMER SHEIKH
EMI (Pakistan) Ltd
OVER a month back, the contractor of the city district government, Karachi, constructed sewage channels in Block-8 of Clifton. Not only these sewage channels and manholes are overflowing, due to blocked downstream pipes, they have been left open.
Within a radius of 200 feet of Shadman Homes, sewage is overflowing at four places. The exposed sewage channels and manholes have blocked the entry points of many houses. In addition, they pose a major threat to children, who play in the streets.
It is spine-chilling to see children playing near exposed sewage channels and manholes, as just a moment’s fall in these structures would prove fatal right away.
I urge the city nazim to visit Block-8 of Clifton, see the degree of hazardousness posed by exposed channels and manholes and order the contractor to cover the channels and manholes without any further loss of time, and provide ramps for passage of vehicles at driveway entry points (e.g., driveway, in front of Shadman Homes), which becomes necessary due to the unplanned locations of manholes.
UZAIR HUSSAIN
Karachi
TWO highly detrimental factors have crept into our society: plastic shopping bags and false morality: writes Mr Ayaz Amir in his column ‘Useful trades’ (Feb 9). These have become so pervasive that even a person with an average understanding does not miss the significance of his message.
I would, however, like to add that one more pernicious taboo has also infiltrated our culture as an obsession, i.e., betel-nut and its by products, such as betel-leaf (paan) and ‘gutka’, that are equally causing severe damage to its social fabric.
For the last few years some ingeniously unscrupulous people in order to make quick buck have produced many by-products of substandard betel nuts by mixing certain intoxicants: one of the most harmful of which is ‘gutka’. (Not long ago customs authorities had impounded a huge quantity of such inferior betel-nuts whose ultimate fate is still not made public).
The other derivatives of betel-nut are different types of ‘paan masalas’ mixed with some cheap dry fruits served specially in functions as a fashion. It would be interesting to know that some ‘paan’ shops because of adding certain additive drugs have become so popular that customers always prefer only their products.
Although in the past betel-leaf — whose main ingredients are green leaf, betel-nut, ‘katha’, lime with sugar and certain fragrances — was used in urban centres but over the years its usages have spread to every nook and corner of the country. The huge consumption of betel-nut and its by-products is evident from mushroom sprouting of ‘paan’ shops all over the country, including the small towns and far-flung villages.
These outlets serve not only cigarettes and ‘paan’ but also sell different types of intoxicants, including the most lethal ‘gutka’.
Now the use of these dangerous substances has become so widespread that even while travelling one can find every second person, whether pedestrian or driving a vehicle, chewing betel-leaf or ‘gutka’ and occasionally spitting on the road, at times hitting some innocent passerby.
Unfortunately the users do not only create terrible impression by chewing ad infinitum but are also oblivious of the dreadful impact they do perpetrate on their health and the hygiene of surroundings. The more obnoxious scenario is depicted at public places, in general, and government offices, in particular, where, despite spittoons, people prefer spitting on the walls and stairways as a matter of right, leaving it blood-red.
The betel-leaf and betel-nuts are not only a serious health hazard with, of course, financial implications for its user, but chewing this substance also disfigures his person. In addition, the country loses every year a lot of precious foreign exchange on import of this stuff.
Although the production and use of ‘gutka’ has been officially banned, due to negligence of law-enforcers this unlawful business is flourishing day by day and with this is increasing the number of patients having mouth and lung cancer.
In order to discourage the use of these hazardous products, the government should organise campaigns in association with NGOs working in this field and the print and electronic media.
Besides, penal action should simultaneously be initiated against those who are involved in illegal activities of its manufacture and sale. Furthermore, Dr Javaid A. Khan’s suggestion, in his letter ‘Tobacco investments’ (Feb 9), that tobacco is the single largest preventable cause of decease and death in the country and, therefore, investment in this sectors has to be discouraged also merits serious consideration.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
THE Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is more like a bane than a blessing for the citizens. Recently it issued notices to various industrial units in the Multan Road industrial area ahead of Niazbeg Thokar, reprimanded them for carrying out their businesses without paying the commercial fee.
Industrialists were upbraided and asked to appear before the authority’s minions. Industries operating since 1977, when the LDA had not even extended its limits that far, have also been asked to pay the fee.
This not only shows department’s highhandedness, but also its ignorance of rules and apathy towards taxpayers.
When some of the distraught owners of industries approached the department, they met with total callousness by an odd assistant director who offered no explanation other than saying that the district nazim had ordered the action.
It seems that the district government is bent upon tormenting the business community which is already burdened with innumerable heavy taxes.
How can small and medium sized industries pay hundreds of thousands rupees for a kanal of land to carry out their small businesses?
The LDA and the CDG appear to be on an extortion binge and they are using tricks that will only make the government unpopular.
Would someone in the government take notice of this situation and rein in the extortionists?
MEHRAN LEGHARI
Lahore
ACCORDING to a news item, the Muslim Commercial Bank earned Rs12.14 billion profit after tax in the year 2006.
It is worth mentioning here that the bank’s profit has experienced a momentous growth of 36.1 per cent.
Being a customer/depositor of this bank, I have a right to ask why the rate of interest has not been increased to benefit the customer/ depositor.
The State Bank of Pakistan is observing the whole situation as a silent spectator, without exercising any of its monitoring authority.
Moreover, downsizing has created a shortage of experienced and compassionate staff, therefore every little financial transaction or task is taking a long time.
The State Bank of Pakistan should direct the Muslim Commercial Bank authorities that they must increase the rate of interest as well as the number of appropriate experienced bank staff.
SCHEHRYAR AHMED
Gujranwala
A PENALTY is levied on encashment of Behbood certificates. But why when the encashed amount is reinvested in the same certificate, in the same name and on the same date, simply to avail the profit at the increased rate allowed by the government from time to time to provide relief to the old and widows against unabated rising cost of living?
The imposition of a penalty is not only unjustified, it is also harsh.
Application of the automatic increased rate of profit to the certificate already purchased earlier is the only convenient way of providing relief to the needy.
ABDUL AZIZ SIDDIQUI
Karachi
ACCORDING to a report, three people died and four dozens were injured, mainly in central Punjab, as a result of kite-flying and firing related to the Basant celebrations (Dawn, Feb 24).
Before that, there had been incidents of loss of life and injuries in Lahore. The ban was relaxed only in Lahore but official patronage emboldened the people elsewhere to go ahead with these activities.
It may be recalled that after the holding of Lahore marathon, President Musharraf had, against the Supreme Court ban on kite flying, said that the festival would be celebrated.
It was a foregone conclusion that many casualties would be caused as a result.
This shows that the sayings of some of our leaders are more important than the lives of Pakistanis.
A PAKISTANI
Karachi
AMERICANS and Europeans have been criticising Pakistan for not doing enough in Afghanistan, and now the Canadian government has also joined in.
These countries spend billions of dollars on bombs, bullets and killing machines on a yearly basis and yet when it comes to relief and reconstruction work, which could stabilise their position, they can hardly spare a few billion dollars and that, too, spread over many years.
Yet they want to spread peace and tranquillity all around the world. Honestly, there should be a limit to how absurd one can get.
S.R.H. HASHMI
Karachi
I AM a resident of a building in Phase VI, DHA, Karachi. On the roof of the building a popular telecom company has put up a booster. Surprisingly, there is no supervisory staff or security guard of the company present on the premises.
The metal pole which is hooked to a powerful diesel-powered generator poses a serious fire hazard. Is this negligence not endangering human life?
ASSAD GONDAL
Karachi
I AM looking for my old school friend Siddiq Mirza. We both attended the Government Secondary School on Jail Road, Karachi where his uncle Mirza Ishaq Baig was the principal.
I recall that Siddiq lived next to Radio Pakistan at the time and his father was a veterinarian. I would be grateful if someone could help me get in touch with my school friend.
FAIZAN ABBASI
Karachi
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