| June 16, 2007 | Saturday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 30, 1428 |
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US official and our politicians
For the poor and vulnerable
Peace process
Two steps forward, one step back
Milk prices
Problems of starting a small business
Mind your language
Home mortgage
Inter exam results
PCO firms
Mishandling by Siemens
Sweltering heat
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 quite interesting to observe that our leaders, especially those belonging to the government party, time and again lecture the people about how responsible the western media is and how Pakistani media should be following their path. Incidents I would like to remind them when the US media was responsible and at which price, and where they followed the government's lines.
a. During Vietnam War, the US media not only showed the battlefield but also the impact of that unnecessary war on the US soldiers with the graphic scenes. As a result, public anger increased and anti-war rhetoric made the government pull the troops back from the war.
b. During the first Gulf war the media was kept far away from the reality, but the graphic scenes of the dying and burning Iraqi soldiers due to the allied bombardment, when they were running from Kuwait, significantly increased the public opinion against the wars.
c. The Los Angeles riots of the early 90s, due to the Los Angeles police (LAPD) beating of Mr Rodney King, was another example of the media’s graphic coverage of the incidents where the beatings, lootings and killings were all seen by the people. That also put government in trouble and they had to strictly scrutinise LAPD and fix lots of problems.
d. The second Iraq war was heavily cheer-led by the US media since it was the interest of strong corporate lobbies which control the media here. One example of the media cheer-leading is that during the Iraq war, 67 per cent people believed that 911 was done by the Iraqi leadership after every proof and confession of the US president to the contrary. Ms Tahirkheli was saying that the western media does not cover the dead bodies in Iraq. She is intentionally or unintentionally forgetting the fact that (a) Iraq is not their country, when things happened in their country, they showed those graphic scenes and (b) the US media is itself responsible for cheer-leading the war and not telling the truth to the people.
I can observe a huge difference between the Pakistani and western media. The way I see, the western media is mostly driven by the corporate interest, though there are exceptions like Amy Goodman, Symour Hersh and many others, while I sense that the Pakistani private media is only driven by Pakistan’s national interest.
I think it is time our leadership (and the self-imposed leaders) realised that people of Pakistan are not naive and they understand why suddenly the government started shedding tears on the ‘bad conduct’ of the media and why all the time the government leaders keep on lecturing about how private channels should behave.
MISBAH AZAM
Tempe, USA
MR Richard Boucher, US Assistant Secretary of State, has arrived in Pakistan. The amount of media coverage his visit is attracting indicates as if this is a momentous occasion. The dailies in the country are vying with one another to file reports on who has met Mr Boucher, what was discussed in those meetings and what statements did he come out with in those encounters.
According to media reports, majority of the main opposition politicians, as well as some belonging to the government, have already exchanged views with him on the current political situation in the country.
The opposition leaders have pleaded with him to exert pressure on Gen Musharraf to hold transparent and fair elections and also conveyed their reservations about their unlikelihood should the present political dispensation continue to rule the country etc. With so many Pakistani politicians trying to court Mr Boucher, he could not be faulted if he felt himself to be the political czar of Pakistan.
No wonder, therefore, that he had a meeting with the chief election commissioner and went to the extent of examining the voters’ lists. He is also reported to have said that the US is pressuring Gen Musharraf to hold fair polls etc.
It is not at all surprising that important politicians of the country are making a beeline for a meeting with Mr Boucher with the objective of securing statements from him which favour their viewpoints on the current domestic political scenario.
Quest for favourable statements from even very low level US officials has been a common practice in our country's history. However, what should be a matter of concern for all serious Pakistani citizens is that our foreign office is behaving as if it did not exist at all. There has not been even a whimper of protest by its spokesperson that statements made by Mr Boucher constitute interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan. To what level of supineness can our ministry of foreign affairs descend?
KHALID
Islamabad
THIS has reference to the news report on food subsidies (June 12). With a monthly relief of Rs2 per head, a needy person will not even be able to buy an extra roti a month. This is cruel and outrageous to say the least.
I have no doubt in my mind that while plugging in the food subsidy figure of Rs1.8 billion for the over 71 million “poor and vulnerable Pakistanis”, the minister of state for finance, Omer Khan, had no understanding of the value of two rupees or else he would not have told the National Assembly that the budget was about “relief and the people”. The government should be ashamed of churning out such an unrealistic budget. This also speaks volumes for the anti-people attitude of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
To compensate for his sins of commissions and omissions in this budget, I suggest the state minister abandon his palatial house and shun his legacy and lifestyle for at least a few days and live the life of a poor and vulnerable person. This way, he will truly understand what it means to be the poor and vulnerable.
Western books and foreign degrees are no substitute for real life experience. Mr Khan should not forget his lessons learnt abroad. This budget will be of no relief to the poor and will only add to their miseries. The increasing gap between the haves and havez-nots will explode one day or the other. It is high time the ruling elite took measures for a more equitable economic system so that budgets provided some real relief to the poor and vulnerable.
MUHAMMAD FAROOQ
Mississauga, Canada
AZAD Kashmir Prime Minister Attiq Ahmad's stance of "not finding fault" with Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's statement that India cannot give a timeframe for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute is disappointing to say the least.
Sardar Attiq's latest interaction with the media in which he praised the ongoing peace process and predicted "major developments" towards the resolution of the Kashmir dispute is nothing but an attempt to liven up the sham and already dead peace process between India and Pakistan.
To a keen observer, as well as to the common man, it is clear that the ongoing peace process has politically weakened Pakistan's standing in South Asia and has done irreparable damage to the cause of Kashmiri Muslims who have been fighting hard to rid their land of foreign occupation.
On the one hand, the Pakistan government is constantly accusing India of the unrest in Balochistan and the anti-Pakistan sentiments in Afghanistan and, on the other hand, it is willing to carry forward the peace process with a neighbour which is opposed to Pakistan's role in regional and global politics.
This is evident from recent statements from the Indian government with regard to the Sri Lankan government asking help from Pakistan to curb violence at home. One wonders if the leaders of a country are willing to give up claim on their land, what one should expect from enemies.
MOEZ MOBEEN
Islamabad
DESPITE many tall claims made by the economic torch- bearers and policymakers of our country, we never fail to “shoot ourselves in the foot” as soon as there is even the slightest hint of progress being made. Although this may seem harsh, there is no other way to describe the absolute sense of helplessness I feel in trying to understand the confused state of mind that our economic and budgetary experts seem to be in at present.
My ire is addressed at the amendment to the baggage rules that would reduce the limit of used cars imported into the country from a justifiable five years to just two years.
It is perplexing how on the one hand we talk about the booming growth in the automobile industry of country, yet on the other we are taking every possible measure to restrict the feasibility of operating in Pakistan for the many foreign organisations which have set up a production base in the country bringing in the much-needed foreign investment as well as modern works processes.
The positive impact of Pakistan’s robust and growing local auto manufacturing industry on the nation’s economy has become quite evident, specifically in terms of employment, skills sets and government revenue, both directly and through various feeder industries, e.g. auto parts.
It would, therefore, be in the best interests of the country’s economy and the government’s continued commitment to the growth of local industry to protect the interests of this significant segment by encouraging local production rather than providing advantages to profiteers, who will benefit only their own selves from the import of such cars into the country.
ALEFYA NAJMI
Karachi
A FEW days ago a multinational committed mass murder in broad daylight, but unfortunately no one has taken any notice of it. The murder I refer to is the death of the young children of this country because their parents could not afford to buy milk because the company has increased its price by 11 per cent without any valid explanation.
Perhaps it is because the company wants to be a 100-billion- rupee company by 2014 or maybe it wants to achieve the 2014 target sooner. Following in the footsteps of this world-famous company, the others in this business have matched its price.
Furthermore, all these companies do not print the price of their product as required by law. So I request the lawyers of this country to exercise their newly-found power and bring these companies to justice.
KHALED A.KHAN
Lahore
I HAVE been working with a website development company for six months; we are a small business and were paying a hefty sum to have this company develop our website for us because we heard they were good.
After starting correspondence in January, delays ensued and there was some lack of availability on their part, which disheartened us. However, a face-to-face meeting with their COO in late April reassured me that there would no longer be any delays and that they were willing to start work on our website.
I was cognizant of the fact that they were a busy company with many clients and though it would take a while, they would deliver on the project. I returned from a business trip 15 days after this meeting to expect at least a proposal regarding the site, yet had received nothing.
After appealing to the COO about this lack of attention to our company, they finally sent me a proposal on May 30. I approved this proposal a week later, and received acknowledgement from them, as well as a renewed commitment to complete my website within a given timeframe. Today, one week after their renewed assurance to deliver, I received an audacious two-line email, stating the following:
"After our last exchange, we sent across a proposal which has just been approved by you. Regrettably, we will not be able to take on the project and would like to retract our proposal. We are genuinely sorry for any inconvenience this may cause." (June 14)
I am appalled at their unprofessional attitude and just wanted to advise other small business to beware of such nuisances. It is difficult to start up a small business in Pakistan as it is, and such ridiculous behaviour only makes it worse.
MADIHA SULTAN
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter, ‘Mind your language’, (June 14). Sometimes bloopers do creep in the print media as well and serve as a source of ‘'spontaneous humour’'. These bloopers have no reason to be adjudged on a linguistic basis as these normally do not reflect upon the linguistic proficiency of the erring person but rather reflect upon his state of mind at the time of writing. Let more bloopers occur if we are lucky enough to enjoy some 'spontaneous fun' in the print media.
MAZHAR BUTT
Karachi
THIS refers to Shaista Naqvi’s letter, ‘Mind your language’ (June 14). She has highlighted some grammatical errors published in this paper. I believe the writer has taken the easiest task, that is, to criticise.
She further compared the newspaper’s language to that of British Raj’s Khansamas, which clearly elucidates that she is mentally stuck in the same era. She seems to have little or no knowledge about how a newspaper is published. It’s not a single person’s task and involves various processes, therefore, human errors can always occur.
I strongly believe that we should appreciate the press for providing us unbiased news and services; we must also refrain from pointing out petty mistakes.
ARSALAN ALI KHAN
Karachi
THE home mortgage financing, with a high rate of return, is a failure in Pakistan. Neither it is on the basis of ‘rent sharing’ nor is it based on ‘demising partnership’.
The monthly instalment(s) of a home mortgage financing, if based on 20 to 25 years and/or on 20 per cent + 80 per cent equity, should not be more than a monthly rent of the same mortgaged property. But this is not available in Pakistan’s banking; rather it is 300 per cent to 400 per cent or three to four times more than the monthly rent.
This situation cannot make the home mortgage financing popular. In England, the mortgage based on 20 per cent + 80 per cent equity of 20 to 25 years is less or equal to the monthly rent of the mortgaged property.
Only in the likewise position the home mortgage financing can be useful and/or popular for the common people.
SAALIM SALAM ANSARI
Karachi
THOSE students who have passed Intermediate examinations in 2004 have not been issued Intermediate certificates even after three years. Nobody in the Board of Intermediate is willing to give the reason for this inordinate delay. They only say that the notification has not been issued in this matter and they cannot do anything.
Who have to issue the notification and why have they not issued it even after three years? The students and parents are in anguish where to lodge their complaint.
Babar Rahim
Karachi
I WOULD like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the fact that security deposits made by PCO franchise holders are not being refunded. It is a clear violation of the PTA rules. One such case is of Super PCO (telecard), Clifton, Karachi.
Despite many visits and hundreds of calls to the company offices by affected people regarding the refund of the amount, there is no response for the last one-and-a-half years.
I request the PTA to take legal action and bind the PCO companies to refund the public money within a month.
IMRAN
Karachi
ONCE again addition of 80 MW power supply expected from the DHA Cogeneration Company Limited (DCL) by June 30 is reportedly delayed by three months due to mishandling by Siemens co-partner in the DCL (Dawn, May 29).
And yet there is no accountability, instead the penalty to be paid to the KESC for the default at the rate Rs116.95 per kilowatt has been waived off.
One wonders why this favour is extended to Siemens. What is going on in the power utility sector? The consumers are never given any relief even when their bills are highly inflated. They are asked to pay the bills at any cost. But the Siemens are being allowed to get away after creating the worst-ever energy crisis. One certainly needs an explanation both from the KESC and the Siemens. How long will the consumers be made to suffer for mismanagement of operations?
I appeal to the president , the prime minister, the Sindh governor and the federal minister for water and power to look into the matter and carry out transparent accountability and punish the culprits who are conspiring to create darkness in the city round the clock through loadshedding.
SHAMIM SAGHEER
Karachi
APROPOS of a news item of a satellite channel, the Chief Minister’s House, Lahore, Club Road, GOR I and GOR II and the Governor’s House are exempt from loadshedding.
Three different feeders are hooked with all these VVIP places so that if there is loadshedding on one feeder, the second can work and if two are not working, the third can work. So miseries/tentions are only for the masses. Why can’t our rulers bear all this? Are they from some other world?
IMRAN MALIK
Lahore
JUNE 9 was the hottest day in Lahore's history. The sweltering heat has made life miserable for the people. However, the soaring temperatures are not unexpected. With constant disturbing of the ecosystem, that’s what we are going to get.
Over the last decade we have consistently plundered the greenery of the city. Thousands of trees have been chopped off mercilessly. There is mushroom growth of vehicles in the city, causing the air to become more polluted.
Still all is not lost. I suggest there should be launch of a campaign called ‘Green Lahore’. The government and civil society should join hands to make city greener. New trees should be planted and further chopping of the trees should be strictly banned.
The public transport system should be improved. Our neighbouring countries have a metro system. The government should strive to provide decent transport to people so that there are fewer loads of cars on the roads. It should be compulsory for all public transport vehicles to switch over to CNG
DR MUHAMMAD SAJJAD BAQAR
Lahore
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