| May 10, 2007 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 22, 1428 |
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The conqueror of Kashmir?
Lawyers to do more
US let Pakistan go nuclear
Bridge over Rohri Canal
Jinnah House & consulate in Mumbai
Change in road names
Well done
Diary pages
Poisonous pills
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
YOUR editorial ‘Flawed power plan’ (May 5) rightly points out that “for seven years, the planners in Islamabad did next to nothing to increase power generation”. How can we solve anything if we do not get out of these ‘ad hoc’ policies?
These last seven years have seen a very false ‘mirage’ of prosperity by making the country become addicted to easy credits which has caused enormous rise in costs of real estates and costs of living, with increasing use (or misuse) of airconditioning.
It is really unfortunate that instead of designing environmentally-friendly green buildings, we now have buildings, without exception, requiring enormous energy to keep them in operation (worst example of ‘red’ buildings) and the authorities interpret this as ‘prosperity’.
Every summer, it is the same story. The high temperatures, starting in April and continuing till August, result in existing large power stations at Kot Addu and Guddu lose up to 30 per cent capacity, which accentuates the power shortages further.
Every year at this time it is brought to the notice of the authorities that other countries with similar high temperature problem, notably Brazil and Saudi Arabia (in addition to the US), have utilised the well-proven technology of conditioning of inlet air for gas turbine–based combined cycle stations to get capacity and efficiency enhancements and thus ‘gain’ nearly 30 per cent capacity at a cost of only $200-250 per kW vs standard cost of $600 to 700 per kW of new power plant capacity.
Also, while getting the increased capacities, the overall power plant operates more efficiently, further saving five to seven per cent fuel cost for the entire operation.
If this technology can provide 500-600 MW additional power in peak summer in Kot Addu and Guddu power stations and at a controlled cost, this would go a long way in meeting the power crisis. How can the authorities continue to ignore such fast track and economical solution so that at least next year in March we have additional power available and at highly efficient utilisation of our scarce natural gas.
We have to accept well-known concepts of energy conservation, both in power generation sector and in industrial and commercial processes.
Whereas utility thermal power generation must only be based on efficient combined cycle technology, with the above- described conditioning of inlet air for peak capacity and highest efficiency on a year-round basis, present industrial and commercial installations should also be highlighted for gross inefficiency associated with such projects.
Industrial power generation and most so-called cogeneration installations are very inefficient, and attempt should be made to ‘guide’ the industries to reduce their costs by enforcing efficient technologies, instead of going to the government for subsidies to reduce their costs of production.
The present Sui gas prices are very low in comparison to international gas prices and if we cannot keep our production costs in control at this time, what will happen in the next fout to five years when we would have sold all our resources in our greed for present grandeur and thus would be fully dependent on internationally-controlled market economies?
Similarly, red building syndrome must be discouraged and all building owners be forced to adopt efficient technologies if they want to utilise our wonderful natural gas supply system.
But neither the government nor the gas companies care as to how the gas is being utilised.
The recent example of a government-owned red building opting to install a very inefficient power generation system (when they originally had an efficient installation 20 years back) should be an eye-opener in this day of efficiency and environmental-friendly requirements.
The coming mega projects covering very large building complexes also need to be designed around minimum levels of ‘green building requirements’.
How can Pakistan sustain such cruel onslaughts on its energy security with high demands of energy resources due to poorly-designed buildings with inefficient electrical and mechanical installation.
We have to get out of this ‘ad hoc’ panic decision-making process and attempt to solve the serious energy crisis by enforcing sensible energy conservation procedures and ensuring high efficiency with best available technologies.
AINUL ABEDIN
Karachi
MR Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry? Perhaps the future conqueror of Kashmir will not get the kind of receptions our ‘non-functional’ chief justice is getting throughout the country. He is now due in our city on Saturday, and the programme drawn up for his benefit is fantastic.
The hero – hero because he is facing certain charges against him in the Supreme Court – will land at Karachi airport and then be driven to Malir where he will address the Malir Bar members. Then in triumph, our hero will go to the Quaid-i-Azam’s mazar – like that general or statesman of the future who certainly will, when he conquers Kashmir and unites it with Pakistan.
As he drives in a motorcade, he will have the pleasure of seeing thirsty people slaking their thirst in May heat from the cold drinking water to be made available at the kiosks which the organisers of the rally have decided to set up.
After saluting the father of the nation, Mr Chaudhry will then proceed to the Sindh High Court, and from there to the Karachi Bar Association office. In that process, great thoroughfares like Sharea Faisal and M.A. Jinnah Road will have the honour of being trampled upon by his admirers and his well-wishers, who will raise their children on their shoulders and above to enable to them to have a glimpse of the non-functional chief justice.
What a spectacle! Until now, I suffered from the notion that the lawyers did not suffer from a lack of sense of proportions that is a characteristic of the Pakistani people. I must now revise my opinion.
RIZWAN YASSIN
Karachi
THIS has reference to Khwaja Zaheer Ahmad’s letter, ‘The dormant mischief’ (May 1). The president’s reference has done one thing very good — it has woken up the lawyers’ fraternity, which had hitherto been lying dormant.
In fact, some of their big wigs had served as catalysts in getting the doctrine of necessity qualified from the honourable courts.
During the last four decades the legal fraternity had been almost in deep slumber and their recent awakening, or should we say a U- turn, is now helping civil society to talk about the rule of law and the Constitution.
The interpretation of the relevant laws, the Constitution and the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), has enhanced the awareness of a common citizen about what is lawful and what is not, and for this we need to commend the lawyers.
Your esteemed paper, in particular, and the press, in general, have rendered a great service by publishing the interpretation of legal positions as written for public understanding by renowned lawyers and retired judges.
I now understand better why civil society calls the legal fraternity an intelligentsia group. I hope that, in addition to this reference matter, the wise amongst them will continue to resist and highlight in our courts all illegalities that the Pakistani nation may face in future.
A small letter in a newspaper or a petition in a court of law will do the job of awakening our civil society.
Suo motu notices by courts can help to curb the dormant mischief as Khwaja Zaheer Ahmad likes to call it and we, the citizens of Pakistan, like to ask the lawyers to do more as the Americans continue to ask Pakistan to do more in their war on terrorism.
AIR CDRE (r) ISHTIAQ AHMAD KHAN
Chaillianwala
Mandi Bahudin
THIS has reference to the news report, ‘US let Pakistan go nuclear: ex-CIA official’ (May 4). The report tells how America ignores ‘bad guys’ doing bad things. It would always do just as it has been doing like in case of Pakistan and Israel. The policy is: you can get away with murder if it is in their larger interest.
Pakistan was a bad guy – or to be more exact – it became a bad guy in 1989 when the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan, which Pakistan was fighting for them, was over, their purpose was served, the time to betray had come, ditching the ally of allies was opportune, to hang the dog a bad name was to be found – and lo, they had found it. Pakistan had made an Islamic bomb.
Pakistan became a good guy again when it joined, or was made to join, the coalition force to fight the war on terror in Afghanistan since 2001. Pakistan had to fight it. It was the victim of terrorism already. Some enemy within who had meshed potatoes in their head for brains was eating like termite the fabric of unity and solidarity of Pakistan’s society. It had to defeat that enemy – so it joined the coalition – at the cost of being a victim of terrorism itself, and the cost was heavy.
The other glaring example is Israel which pursued the nuclear programme right from the early 1950s, especially after the 1956 Suez War supported, aided and fought with it by Britain and France against Egypt.
Incidentally, it was France which was the biggest arms supplier to Israel and which had helped Israel to go nuclear. The US chose to ignore the ‘bad thing’. In fact, the US encouraged France to help Israel and winked at Tel Aviv. The US wanted to secure it from Arabs. Pakistan and Israel are similar cases for the US as far as nuclearisation is concerned. There may be some other likenesses too but for a Pakistani researcher, here ends the similarity. Pakistan will be a bad guy again as soon as war on terror in Afghanistan is over (or will it ever be?). Israel will always be a good guy as it will keep fighting Muslim Arabs or keeping them at bay.
M.K. NAQVI
Karachi
THE bridge constructed over the Rohri Canal several years back leading to Naushehro Feroze-Padidan Road has become dangerous for vehicular traffic. There are large craters on one side of the bridge. The railing has also been damaged and as a result a very narrow passage is left for vehicular traffic, which poses a great risk to passengers and vehicles.
The bridge is the only connecting source between Naushehro Feroze and Padidan Town. In case it collapses, it will be a great loss and inconvenience for the people of the area.
In spite of lapse of five to six years, neither the district government nor the Sindh government has made efforts to rebuild the bridge over the Rohri Canal near Naushehro Feroze.
To avoid the collapse of the bridge and any possible accident, the Sindh chief minister should direct the authorities concerned to take prompt action for construction of the bridge.
ABDUL RAZAQUE SIAL
Padidan
IN spite of repeated declarations and assertions of normalisation of relations between Pakistan and India, which would presumably involve trade, travel, tourism, coupled with exchange of information between the people of the two countries at levels based on mutual interest, normalisation in real terms continues to evade the people.
We are stuck in a stalemate caused by diverse political perceptions of our leaders. Neither government is bothered that the people of the two countries want to be friendly and have exchanges at all levels.
We belong to the same subcontinent and should have the political maturity to find a diplomatic solution which will extricate us from the present stalemate as India wants complete normalisation before addressing the Kashmir issue while Pakistan wants a resolution of the Kashmir issue prior to full normalisation.
Trade, travel and tourism should not be sacrificed at the altar of politics. There is no doubt that in due course of time closer links between the two people will dictate a just and equitable resolution of the elusive issue of Kashmir in which the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir must be given paramount importance.
The issue of release of Jinnah House in Mumbai for the Pakistan consulate and the consequent delay in a reciprocal consulate in Karachi has been a long outstanding issue.
Mr Jinnah by his will dated May 30, 1939 made a bequest of the house to his sister Fatima Jinnah.
It is clear that Jinnah House in Mumbai was given to Fatima Jinnah. It is not clear whether this property was declared as evacuee after Fatima Jinnah left India in 1947 along with Mr Jinnah and settled in Pakistan. Possession and control of the property was taken over and remains vested with the government of India while Fatima Jinnah was given Mohatta Palace at Karachi as an evacuee property in lieu of Jinnah House in Mumbai by the government of Pakistan. Mohatta Palace became the absolute property of Fatima Jinnah and constitutes a part of her estate.
The use of Jinnah House as a Pakistan consulate in Bombay does not appear to be practical as it would not be easily accessible due to its location.
It would serve a far more noble cause if it was dedicated to be used as an Indo-Pakistan museum, library and research centre on the struggle for independence, which would also cover Mr Jinnah's enormous contribution as he was undoubtedly an outstanding politician and statesman of vision whom the famous author Beverly Nichols referred to as "the most important man in Asia".
Apart from being the founding father of Pakistan, he was earlier a Congress leader and an eminent public figure in India whose contribution and efforts in the struggle for independence are a matter of record. The contribution of Mr Jinnah deserves to be recognised in India and this is the right time for the government of India to do so as it will bring the people of the two countries closer in their quest for normalisation of relations and to live in peace and harmony in the subcontinent.
LIAQUAT H. MERCHANT
Karachi
THE chaos on Karachi roads is most stressful, to put it mildly. It includes buses darting across the road to push the smaller vehicles off; buses parked abreast, and blocking the flow of traffic; cars with educated or illiterate drivers honking and over-taking from the left; exhausts spewed with great abundance from buses, rickshaws and other vehicles.
The state of the roads happily contributes to this mayhem – craters and ditches direct the traffic to swerve to right and left, and at times this is very sudden, for the driver is new to the road. Then there are ditches dug across the roads, to lay some cable/line or the other. DHA has the unique honour of having gutters protruding several inches above the road. (There is one which is a clear two feet above!)
In view of the unbridled chaos that prevails, I suggest DHA begin by renaming its roads. Khayaban-i-Ittehad can be re-named Khayaban-i-bad-nazmi. Other roads could bear the title Khayaban-i-batta-mizi, Khayaban-i-afra-tafri, Khaya-ban-i-dunga-mushti and Khaya-ban-i-be-niazi.
I am sure more suitable names can be proposed for other streets and roads. On the same line, I also suggest that Seaview Township be re-named Koora Township.
KAUSAR S KHAN
Karachi
I AM most pleasantly surprised to read Mr Khalid's letter, ‘Hats off’ (May 6), in which he has narrated how be had forgotten his wallet at the departure lounge at Karachi but was very lucky as it was later delivered to him at Islamabad with all contents intact.
We hardly ever hear such cases in our country and since I have been unlucky and been pick-pocketed twice during a short spell it has prompted me to write these few lines.
I think Mr Khalid must have done some good deed for which he was suitably rewarded as this is a rather unusual case.
All praise is due to the person who picked up the wallet and informed the family, undoubtedly an honest and virtuous person who has good upbringing and was brought up with the right values.
There is lately a lot of criticism about the working of PIA and I think they should highlight this event of efficiency, and suitably reward the flight and ground staff involved by giving them at least a certificate for meritorious services rendered.
MUNEER MUHAMMAD KHAN
Karachi
FOR the last few days, pages from Ayub Khan’s diary are being printed in a section of the press, taking one down the memory lane. These pages remind one of a page from his biography, Friends not Masters. Ayub Khan writes about the appointment of the chief of the army staff.
Two generals were shortlisted out of a list of about five candidates for the post, those were Gen Sher Ali Khan and Gen Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan. Finally, Gen Yahya Khan was appointed as army chief.
The reason given for rejecting Gen Sher Ali Khan in the words of Ayub Khan: “I cannot hand over command of Pakistan Army to a person who has come from across the border”.
Later on, Ayub Khan transferred total power to Gen Yahya Khan instead of to the speaker of the National Assembly when agitations against his rule got out of hand, thus violating his own constitution.
These two acts of Ayub Khan give a very clear picture of his mental attitude and prejudices. Now one is left only to repent that had Gen Sher Ali Khan been the army chief and had the power been transferred to the National Assembly speaker, then perhaps that would have saved us from the humiliation of surrender on that sad day of December 1971.
Now the people are waiting to see the pages of the diary containing the events and reasons to justify the transfer of power to Gen Yahya Khan instead of the National Assembly Speaker.
Because this is an extremely important event and no one will believe if anyone says that there is no mention of it in the diary.
ABID MAHMUD ANSARI
Islamabad
“KOHAT: a 19-year-old married woman committed suicide by taking poisonous pills in her room over some petty dispute with her husband” (May 3).
The instant availability of poisonous pills in her home speaks loud about her daily life, if not of the millions of other women in our country.
It appears that the recently-passed women’s bill in our parliament, at best, has only dressed up the women’s problems, as mass education is its only panacea.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
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