| March 28, 2007 | Wednesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 8, 1428 |
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FO, please wake up
Women-only cab service
Tribute to Ahmad Ali Khan
LDA vs nazim
PhD in political science
Export strategy by 2013
Potholes on the road
PIA chairman resigns
Appeal to Imran Khan
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
KNOWN to the world for discovering a germ theory of diseases and the creation of the first anti-rabies vaccine, great French scientist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) had once said: “Chance favours only the prepared mind.”
It is not clear whether Zulfikar Ali Bhutto knew this, but he changed the post- Tashkent circumstances in his favour as a prepared mind.
Before becoming an influential leader, Mr Bhutto, as the youngest cabinet member, had proved his abilities and solved many problems Pakistan faced at that time.
He had led a delegation to the United Nations, addressed the United Nations’ Sixth Committee an Aggression and led Pakistan’s deputation to the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Seas.
He joined the martial law government of Ayub Khan and became the most trusted lieutenant of the general.
As foreign minister, he negotiated the Indus Water Treaty with India and an oil exploration agreement with the Soviet Union.
He made strong relations with China by saying goodbye to pro-West foreign policy. In return, China gave military and economic assistance to the country.
Mr Bhutto represented Pakistan at the UN Security Council during war with India and tore apart Security Council resolutions on Kashmir by staging a walkout from the hall. Earlier, he delivered his popular speech of “we will fight for a thousand years.”
However, when Gen Ayub agreed with Indian prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on exchange of prisoners of war and withdrawal of armed forces to pre-war boundaries, Mr Bhutto opposed the idea and resigned from his cabinet. He came to the people as the prepared mind and found the circumstances in his favour. As a political scientist, he proved himself the man for the occasion.
It is not known if the chief justice of Pakistan, who has done a lot of good work, is prepared for a chance like Bhutto. He also has many feathers in his cap to be mentioned here.
The most striking is the clearance of the huge backlog of cases in the Supreme Court by him. When he took over, there were a total of 25,808 cases, appeals and petitions, pending before the Supreme Court. Later, the figure went up to the 38,139 cases.
The chief justice decided over 20,000 cases a year and reduced the backlog of cases to 10,389 till his suspension.
He is the only judge in the country, or perhaps in the world, who took 6,000 suo motu notices on issues relating to human rights abuses.
His landmark cases, as he told Dawn recently, include hearing petitions against rising oil and pharmaceutical prices involving the interests of large multinationals, preventing public parks from being converted into exclusive (mini) golf clubs or commercial complexes, strictly enforcing building regulations and decreeing the demolition of elitist encroachments on public lands, prohibiting the cutting of forests in the construction of an elitist township known as New Murree in the foothills above Islamabad, instituting inquiries into disappearances, providing relief to rape victims, banning forced marriages and the exchange of girls and women to settle disputes according to local customs.
He also annulled the privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills and gave landmark verdicts on Basant and wedding feasts.
Some important cases, including the Gwadar land scam and certain constitutional issues and the privatisation of the Habib Bank were also pending with him.
Moments like this do not come often but for the chief justice it is the shinning one. Some prepared minds even chase such moments while only the unprepared minds miss the chance.
MANZOOR CHANDIO
Karachi
TWO news items, one a report by Mr lhtasham ul Haque captioned ‘Crisis needs careful handling: Boucher’ and the other captioned ‘Australia backs Musharraf’ (Dawn, March 16), while important for their news value are also significant in the context of the question as to what constitutes interference in the internal affairs of a country.
The first news item referred to the news conference addressed by the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Mr Richard Boucher, in Islamabad in which he described the current judicial crisis in Pakistan as sensitive and also said that they (meaning the US) viewed with sensitivity the allegations against the chief justice and all this needed to be handled very carefully.
The second news item reported the statement of Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer in which he hoped that Gen Musharraf would ‘hold on’ in the face of current protests over suspension of the chief justice of Pakistan.
It is clear from the two news items that both Mr Boucher and Mr Downer were in a way advising the government what to do in the circumstances at present obtaining in the country. To my mind, both the gentlemen have exceeded the bounds of their office and it did not behoove them to do so as, in diplomatic terms, the words uttered by them amounted to interfering in the internal affairs of another country.
One would have expected the ministry of foreign affairs in Pakistan to take notice of these statements and to issue an appropriate response. Apparently no such thing happened. Perhaps the ministry, which is normally very sensitive about statements of this type coming from other quarters, deliberately chose to avoid commenting upon the two statements referred to above.
I would request our foreign office to adopt a principled approach in such matters because showing supineness in some cases and aggressiveness in other tends to erode the moral authority of the organisation.
NASEERUDDIN KHALID
Islamabad
IN any country where they operate, women cabbies are considered safer than male taxi drivers.
If our women are in the police, army, navy and the air force, surely they will readily drive taxies exclusively for women in big cities.
I know many middle-class mothers having cars, but no reliable driver, take their children to schools, colleges and universities. As their husbands cannot be spared by the employers in the morning and the evening, housewives are thus overburdened. They will, therefore, welcome transport for and by ‘she only’.
An intelligent person can easily organise a fleet of taxies for not only students, women working in banks and offices but also for incoming and outgoing women air passengers. It will provide immediate lucrative job to many and reduce poverty.
All one has to do is to find how many girls go to school from a locality and whether their parents are to use services of women cabbies. Terms should be reasonable. More students from an area going short distances should get the benefit. Vehicles reserved for them may be parked inside the institution with the permission of the principal or headmistress to save gas and to avoid traffic congestion.
Mrs Roy in Mumbai started with sleek silver and white taxies sporting a blue and pink logo named ‘Forsche’ of a German manufacturer. Here one may adopt green and white logo under another cooperating car-maker. This enterprise can begin with about eight taxies and may go up to 50 or 100 taxies subject to response from big hotels, clubs and foreign visitors.
W. H. ANSARI
Karachi
THE passing away of Khan Saab was sad for us. The hallmark of his style was honesty, mellowed with wisdom but never compromised with stratagem — a fine distinction, well understood by him. It won Dawn a reputation which is the envy of South Asian newspapers.
He belonged to an age that produced men like Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Akhtar Hameed Khan, Mushfiq Khwaja, Shanul Haq Haqqee and Zamir Niazi, able men all, with a shared trait of integrity. And talking of their ability, since we at OUP have published the works of most of these people, I have always been struck by the extent of their erudition and talent, which rise far above what is the norm in our country. Khan Saab himself wrote impeccable English, and his Urdu was equally perfect. The introduction he wrote for the translation of Sajjad Zaheer’s book, Roshnai, published by us, is a gem worthy of Zaheer’s masterpiece.
I have often wondered what there was in the brew of air, water, light and culture of those days that produced people like Khan Saab. How did competencies like his flower?
The middle class was much smaller than it is now, the elite less affluent, there was no Internet, fewer English-medium private schools, far less exposure to the West in the form of education in universities abroad and parents who bore little resemblance to today’s stressed out and ambitious parents who impel their children towards lucrative careers.
How is it then that the present standards of education and proficiency in language, not just in English but also in Urdu, have not been boosted by all the modern advantages? Today’s brew has yet to produce the harmony of character and brilliance of mind that was embodied in Khan Saab.
With apologies to Blake, one wonders: What immortal hand or eye/Could frame their exquisite harmonies?
AMEENA SAIYID
Managing Director,
Oxford University Press,
Pakistan
A NUMBER of letters have appeared in various newspapers mentioning the LDA’s harassment of industries located on Multan Road. The jurisdictions of the LDA and district nazim are in blatant conflict with each other. Both civic bodies are targeting the same industrial units to extort money under one or the other pretext.
While the LDA demands that all layout plans of industrial units be approved by it, the nazim’s office insists that same to be vetted by it. The LDA continues to issue summonses and warrants to various industries to pay for commercialisation charges running into millions of rupees. It is not only the new industries, even the old ones established thirty years and earlier have been victimised by the LDA.
The businesses are already under tremendous stress to stay afloat. Still the LDA does not miss an opportunity to harass the business community. The interesting part is that district nazim is also the chairman of the LDA.
The mismanagement by one of the wings under him has escaped his attention, which only proves the system has broken down.
There is no one to address the grievances of the industries and to save them from harassment by the civic bodies. An all round disgust against the system exists among the business community.
I think it is time the business community joined hands with the lawyers’ community to get rid of the yoke of the ‘business-friendly’ and ‘enlightened’ government.
MEHRAN LEGHARI
Lahore
IN his article entitled ‘PhD paradox’ (Magazine, March 18) Dr Abdul Qadeer Malik has righty concluded that “a PhD scholar has the requisite training to develop an analytical mind … to conduct research independently.” Further, he has also stressed on “producing more and more such (PhD) scholars.” But, unfortunately, pursuing a PhD degree in the social sciences, particularly in political science, in Pakistan is not an easy job. That is not to say that no hard work or a certain level of capability is required to qualify as a PhD student. The issue is that even those who are capable enough of pursuing a PhD, they have to face many problems and discouraging elements.
Some of the professors are so obsessed with the ‘quality assurance’ that they hardly award any PhD degree to someone throughout their life. That is why our universities have not been able to produce a substantial number of PhD scholars in the discipline of political science. Resultantly, hardly a department of political science has gathered a critical mass for establishing the department on a strong footing.
Moreover, in some political science departments the situation is so grim that students are made to wait for such a long period of time, about seven to 10 years or even more in some of the cases, that the students come to lose their enthusiasm and vigour with which they had embarked on the journey. In some cases the authoritative professors go a step further and keep on trying to find some excuse for a total denial to pursue the degree.
One of the consequences is that Pakistan’s political culture has not been able to establish a developed and dynamic political system. Our political culture is extremely backward. The reason behind this backwardness is a dearth of political analysts and scientists in the country. Due to this factor there is a huge gap between supply and demand of serious political debate and discourse. There is no comparison between the available number of political scientists and the required ones. For a well-established and developed political culture, sufficient number of political scientists and quantity of political discourse is an imperative. We can look at the developed political cultures and societies in this regard.
To meet the challenges posed to our nation by the national and international political realities, there is a dire need that the professors of political science realise the critical importance of producing political scientists in the country while not compromising on the quality assuring standards. To this end, there has to be an enabling and conducive environment in the respective departments.
MUHAMMAD AZAM
Islamabad
A REPORT in Dawn (March 7) stated that “Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz approved a strategy aimed at increasing the country’s exports to $40-45bn by the fiscal year 2013 from the current $16.5bn”.
The $16.5bn export level refers to that made in FY06. In this case the strategy approved by the prime minister translates into a seven-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in exports of 13.5-15.5 per cent or an average annual increment of $3.3-4bn (absolute terms).
Looking at the past seven years (during President Musharraf’s regime), Pakistan achieved a CAGR of 11.2 per cent or an average annual increment in exports of $1.2 billion.
For the sake of argument, taking the pinnacle years of the country’s history in terms of economic performance (FY02-FY06), the CAGR and average incremental increase in exports comes out to 15.8 per cent and $1.8bn respectively (single year high of $2.1bn).
During the first seven months of FY07, total exports stood at $9.6bn. The best the country can do for the full year (and that too being rather optimistic) is meet the initial target of $18.5bn, a growth of 12.5 per cent ($2bn) over FY06 export levels.
Now, taking the new more-or-less known base of 18.5bn figure for FY07, the remaining six-year CAGR and incremental average increase required will come out to 13.7-16 per cent and $3.6bn-4.4bn respectively.
Never in Pakistan’s history has the country achieved a single year growth in exports of over $2.5bn, let alone $3.5bn.
How it will go on to achieve a growth in excess of $3.5bn and that too for the next six years in succession is something beyond imagination.
JAWAD HALEEM
Karachi
I TRAVEL daily on the Margalla Road (Khayaban-i-Iqbal). This road was expanded and two new lanes were added adjacent to Sector F-10. The new section of the road was recently opened for traffic.
However, in only about a month or so the poor quality of workmanship has become apparent. A number of potholes have appeared on the road, much to the detriment of passing vehicles.
The same thing happened with the Kashmir highway which was resurfaced a couple of months back after great inconvenience to the motorists. Now it, too, needs rework.
It is strange we can’t even build durable roads, and that too in our capital city.
AMATUL BASEER
Islamabad
THIS is with reference to news report ‘PIA chairman Kirmani resigns’ (March 27). At a time when the nation is feeling utterly disgusted and hopeless, the news about PIA chaiman’s resignation is certainly most welcome. Other useless people in important positions must follow him. It will be a great service to our nation.
AFTAB S. ALAM
USA
TARIQ Kirmani’s resignation will hopefully pave the way for the induction of a commercial airline. As regards his performance, it is best to let bygones be bygones.
His successor should, however, learn to say no and send packing all the political appointees thrust upon PIA. In these hard times when PIA faces competition with airlines having access to cheaper fuel and a stagnant number of foreign tourists, it is imperative to be more productive. We wish PIA good luck. It will again emerge as Asia’s leading airline.
MUHAMMAD ALI BAIG
Karachi
THE controversial head of the country’s once celebrated and financially viable corporation has resigned, leaving the organisation almost in a crippled shape.
Due to bad financial management, coupled with conceit, PIA has landed in serious financial and management crisis with lucrative routes in Europe have been closed to it on account of lack of maintenance of planes. The outgoing chairman owes an explanation to the nation.
DR ALI AKBAR DHAKAN
Karachi
I WOULD request you to consider becoming the head of Pakistan cricket in the wake of the team’s recent humiliating debacle in the World Cup and the series of tragic events that followed after.
I understand your political mission and I do respect you for it, but if you really want to do something for Pakistan, then you will have to make the bitter decision to leave politics for cricket.
If you don’t take over at this crucial time, the mishandling of the sport and its players by ineligible people could mean the end of cricket in Pakistan which is the fate that other sports such as squash and hockey have suffered.
I am sure you would never wish to see your first love be brutally murdered by ineligible persons placed in charge.
Our cricket-loving nation does not just want our team to win every time they play: what we all want is for every PCB official and player to be honest and accountable to himself, his job and his nation.
AZHAR ALI JATOI
Karachi
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