| July 15, 2007 | Sunday | Jamadi-us-Sani 29, 1428 |
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Car buyers
Foot & mouth disease
A controversial knighthood
Inequality & development
From death cell
In memoriam
Pfizer story
Flight to Saidu Sharif
KPT fountain
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
AS one who has written a long and authoritative article on the Durand Line and possesses the copy of the real map of the Durand Line now in the possession of the India Office Library, London, which a corps commander wanted me to give it to him and who has crossed and re-crossed the Durand Line innumerable times, I am now of the firm and considered opinion that the Durand Line should now be obliterated and consigned to oblivion.
As a student of international law, whose bright pupils have now become judges of the high courts and the Supreme Court of Pakistan, I am fully aware of the doctrine which I taught to my students, that is, Pacta Sunt Servanda, i.e., 'treaties are to be kept’.
I am also aware of the fact that there are certain treaties from which the parties have reneged for the last several hundred years — normally a country does not renege from treaties.
Afghanistan can thus follow the doctrine of Clausula Rebus Sic Stantibus — the doctrine that a treaty is intended to be binding only as long as there is no vital change in the circumstances assumed by the parties at the time of the conclusion of the treaty and the doctrine of Force Majeure -- that is, 'events beyond human control’.
I also do not subscribe to the doctrine that the Durand Line Treaty was only for 100 years and so now it has to lapse. Nor do I subscribe to the theory that Amir Abdur Rahman signed it under duress as he was a person who could not be coerced at all. If you read the proceedings of the negotiations, he himself ceded Parachinar and its environs because of the presence of the minority community there. It may also be mentioned that the successors of Amir Abdur Rahman affirmed the Durand Line Treaty.
However, in the present changed international milieu, the Durand Line should be consigned to oblivion so that the people of both the countries, that is Afghanistan and Pakistan, who are so close to each other should be able to interact with each other for mutual benefit. After all, the Khiljis, the Lodhis, the Suris and Ahmed Shah Durrani did not need a passport and visa to enter Pakistan.
Finally, I would like to make two more proposals:
First, like Israel, Afghanistan and the Frontier Province should follow an open-door policy with regard to the Pathans in Rohilkhand, both in Pakistan and in India, as this will lead to their development, economic and otherwise. After all, if an Israeli president can be from Iran and is Persian-speaking and an Israeli foreign minister can be from Bombay, the highly sophisticated Rohillas who were in the forefront of the Pakistan Movement, such as Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, Nawab Ismail Khan, Nawab Siddiq Ali Khan and my own mother Noorus Sabah Begum, they can also play a very important role in the development of Afghanistan. After all, it was they who conquered parts of India and created states of Bhopal, Junagarh, Tonk, Rampur, Jaora and even Sherpur.
Second, I am of the opinion that the Fakhry Line, which substantially divided Iran with Afghanistan and which was devised by Turkish diplomat Fakhri Pasha, should also be abolished.
It may be of interest for the readers to know that during the Taliban period the present writer was requested by Iran to mediate between Iran and Afghanistan. At first I did not understand the Persian word 'mianjigiri' for mediator but then they phoned the consulate and also used the word 'salisi'.
This will ultimately create the PIA — an alliance of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan -- which no power or even a superpower shall dare to attack or even confront.
However, if we do not follow this policy, I can only say as they say in Latin: Qued dues vult perdere prins dementat, ‘those whom the gods want to destroy, they first turn mad’.
SAMIN KHAN
Karachi
CAR buyers in Pakistan have long been forced to buy inefficient and low quality local cars by the government in order to support the local vendor industry. Concessions have been given to local assemblers through a restrictive import regime and by turning a blind eye towards assemblers adopting monopolistic pricing strategies and through supply side manipulations.
After such an easy start, it’s time the consumers and the government exert some pressure on the local assemblers to improve their standards and introduce some innovation in this market.
Immediate recommendations should be made in the following areas:
a. Hybrid cars: both Toyota and Honda manufacture and sell hybrid cars capable of over 100 miles per gallon fuel economy and very clean emissions. Toyota and Honda should be given targets to introduce hybrid cars in Pakistan within a short period of time; otherwise the government should allow imports of these vehicles at low to zero duties.
2) Safety: crash testing, airbags, seatbelts and passenger compartment safety standards should be made mandatory for all locally-manufactured cars. To date, there are no official statistics on whether local assemblers crash-test their cars before release. They may argue that these cars are tested when designed in Japan, however, since a majority of the parts are local and there are modifications on ride height etc to suit local conditions, these cars must be re-tested to ensure safety.
3) Recalls: local manufacturers must analyse their products in the field and take preventative measures if faults are found in a particular model. Liability must be shifted to the assemblers if due care is not taken at an appropriate time.
4) Inspection: money and time need to be spent on the government’s vehicle testing infrastructure and on the technical training of its inspectors. Remuneration of regulators must be above the norm to avoid corruptibility.
It's a crime that hybrid cars are not being introduced in a developing country like ours, whereas, Japanese manufacturers are putting all these focus on the US and the EU where consumers can actually afford to fuel their cars.
It is our government’s responsibility to the public to exert pressure on the local car assemblers to move in the right direction.
HAIDER ALI KHAN
Asia Strategy Institute
Karachi
FOOT and mouth disease is a viral, highly infectious disease of cloven-footed animals. Exotic-blooded animals are highly susceptible to disease.
Dairy animals kept at commercial colonies are easily attacked by the disease, due to unhygienic conditions, shortage of sweet water, providing hard/dry fodder and not observing quarantine measures at farm level.
The disease is causing heavy production losses in dairy animals and mortality in calves about 20 per cent occurs.
In my experience the animals, affected with endo parasites and coccidiasis are highly susceptible to disease. Non-availability of quality vaccines against foot and mouth disease is a major problem.
From our country, specially from the Landhi Cattle Colony, Karachi, samples were sent to Perbright (UK), a viral reference laboratory, for investigation and typing. The result of typing was type – AO Asia-I positive.
Now it is clear that the types/sub-types of virus available are AO and Asia-I. The vaccines having types AO and Asia-I will be effective and can control the disease outbreaks.
The locally-produced vaccines are not found effective, the imported vaccines are more effective, but are very costly, a poor farmer cannot afford and there is always risk of entry of a new organism.
Because this dairy farming in Karachi is a very big industry and about one million dairy animals are always at direct risk of the disease.
It is in the interest of poorer farmers and livestock development of the area that “research institute for dairy development” with additional facilities of modern technology to produce high quality vaccine against foot and mouth disease may be established at Karachi by the federal government or PARC or with joint venture with any donor agency so that this growing industry is saved from economic losses.
DR BAZ MUHAMMAD JUNEJO
Karachi
IN his article, `A controversial knighthood’ (July 1), Prof Anwar Syed has said that he has never read Salman Rushdie’s book, The Satanic Verses, yet he has tried to downplay its significance by saying no less than three times that it was written 20 years ago.
He also says that Salman Rushdie is not a historian or an academic scholar but imagines events and persons and writes fiction.
In contrast, noted scholar Karen Armstrong, who had actually read that book, had staunchly defended the Holy Prophet (PBUH) against Rushdie’s attacks and solidly rebutted the writer’s vituperations in her book, Muhammad: A biography of the Prophet. One can see the irony of how she, a non-Muslim, has written so lovingly about the Prophet (PBUH) and also come out strongly in his defence.
Prof Syed has also argued that if the Muslim protesters against Rushdie’s knighthood really loved the Prophet (PBUH), then they should have manifested their affection by following his teachings, lifestyle and personal conduct. Every year, millions of Muslims from all over the world go for Haj and Umra during which time they also visit his mausoleum, among other things, and nearly fall upon each other to kiss its walls. What is this, if not a sign of intense love?
Apart from that, mehfil-i-milads are held throughout the year and, in addition, people write, recite or listen to `naat’ at many different gatherings or in the media. If the columnist visits mosques, Sufi circles or attends the milads, etc, he will certainly find many Muslims whose lives are lived fully or largely in accord with Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) teachings.
Yet another example is that, in contrast to the Jews and Christians who normally refer to their prophets merely as Moses or Jesus, the Muslims show greater regard by saying, ‘Prophet Muhammad’ followed by the salutation “peace be upon him”. This is love. Interestingly, some western journalists and writers, too, have started following this Islamic practice, which can be seen in their articles or dispatches in Dawn. Prof Syed should note Simmon’s words: “Reverence is the very first element of religion….”
S. QADRI
Karachi
I ENDORSE Shahid Javed Burki’s views in ‘Inequality and development’ (June 26) that when the private sector is assigned a role in Pakistan, whatever happens to the economy is not the result of what Islamabad does but what entrepreneurs think and do.
It has been assumed that growth of trade and commerce will automatically bring prosperity. Based on this erroneous assumption, every policy is being formulated for the interest of businessmen and industrialists.
Therefore, while drafting budget, not only proposals and suggestions are invited from the business class but ultimately it is they who get incentives in the shape of rebates and refunds, without contributing substantially to the national exchequer.
The contribution they used to make in the shape of direct tax (income tax) has been gradually converted into indirect taxation, recovered through various withholdings and deductions at custom stage. Since indirect tax is easy to collect, therefore, on the one hand, collecting authorities get credit for achieving the target without much efforts and earn a feather in the cap and, on the other hand, facilitating the businessmen as it is not burden on them.
This tax is finally recovered from the consumer of the goods and not paid by the trader who, in many cases after recovering it, do not deposit it into the government treasury either with the connivance or ineptness of tax officials. This is their extraordinary income in addition to fabulous profits they make from the sale without any check and hindrance.
Thus, viewed from the above perspective, the government’s claim of reduction in poverty on account of rise in per capita income to $925 is nothing but a self-delusion. If at all any improvement this so-called increase in per capita has brought, it is in the wealth of the haves instead of the trickledown to the have nots.
The critique, ‘Myth of $925 per capita income’ (Business pages, July 1) has discussed how this growth has been distributed among the rich. The extremely poor segment of society has, on the contrary, swelled because of no-hold-barred increase in the prices of kitchen items such as flour, rice, sugar, ghee/oil and pulses.
This year the country has achieved bumper wheat crop. Therefore, increase of its price defies the logic of demand and supply. When the finance adviser was questioned in a post-budget session about this unreasonable hike, he had the cheek to justify it with higher prices of wheat in the neighbouring countries.
Mr Burki has rightly rebuffed Dr Ishrat Hussain’s overoptimism in countries’ resources which mainly depend on remittances from expatriates, a non-perennial source and not on the built-in strength of the economy based on sufficient national savings, availability of basic infrastructure and power, skilled human accessibility of social services to the masses, i.e. education, health care and social security.
Qualities of roads, bridges and dams constructed during the last few years are so substandard that most of them could not sustain the onslaught of moderate-sized calamities. Almost every year newly-built roads etc in Balochistan have been severely damaged in rains with no concomitant action.
It is correct to suggest that we have not only under-invested in institutional development but have destroyed even those institutions that were left behind by the British. Thus whatever tall claims are made, it is undeniable truth that conditions still don’t exist which can help sustainable high growth and equitable distribution of wealth; a vital step to alleviate poverty.
The GDP has not even a trickledown impact on the underprivileged as the income generated through this has been pocketed by the rich. Unless a long-term multi-pronged and focused strategy is devised with the help of NGOs, educationists, economists and local leadership, the incidence of poverty will continue increasing and with that will multiply the wide-ranging social afflictions as, according to Marcus Aurelius (AD 121 180), “poverty is the mother of crime” and, according to John F. Kennedy, “if a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich”.
DR ALI AKBAR M. DHAKAN
Karachi
IT IS said that the `death cell’ is the last stop/destination for any human being, where you stare death in the face or more appropriately death stares you in the face every day and causes you sleepless night. People say you are what your surroundings make you, but citing my personal example and experience, I would say: your surroundings are how you see them.
In the last more than five years, I have spent in what is called the “grave of living dead”, I often considered myself to be living in the hostel of a university. I was 17 years old and just matriculate when I landed in jail after being falsely implicated in a blind murder case.
For me, jail proved to be a college as I did intermediate when my case was under trial; and the death cell literally turned into a university as first I did my bachelors in political science and law and this year I got my master’s degree in international relations and managed to secure seventh position in Hazara University.
Having personal experience of living in the death cell, I cannot but admire the wonderful writing of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto which he penned from the death cell in much worse circumstances than those which I had to endure.
I hope you will give some space to my small achievement in your prestigious newspaper as an inspiration for others who are passing through difficult times in life.
SOHAIL FIDA
Death Cell No. 19,
Central Prison,
Haripur
THE Montessori system in Pakistan has suffered a severe blow in the sudden death of Mrs Arifa Saifee, one of our faculty members, on June 24.
Mrs Saifee did her primary training with Miss M. Stevenson in Washington and established one of the very early 'Montessori Houses of Children' in Pakistan, in Karachi.
She remained a profound influence of the Montessori philosophy on the children who came to her, the teachers whom she trained and her colleagues all her life.
Arifa Saifee will be ever missed with great affection and regard by all who knew her. May her soul rest in peace. Ameen.
FARIDA AKBAR
Director,
Montessori Teachers Training Centre,
Karachi
PFIZER is the world’s largest pharmaceutical company and its goal is to become the most valuable company on the earth. They claim to be a responsible corporate citizen and as such demand the highest standards of ethical behaviour and integrity in all dealings with customers, clients, colleagues, suppliers, partners, the public and governments.
At the time of earthquake in Pakistan in 2005 their chief executive visited Pakistan and announced grants of $2 million in cash and $10 million of Pfizer medicines in kind. For this, the US State Department nominated Pfizer for their prestigious award for corporate excellence.
This is its public face but how different is the reality – oppressive conduct towards its subsidiary and its minority shareholders in Pakistan; selling raw material at exorbitant prices, resulting in huge losses to the local company and denying any returns to its shareholders. And as a result, the consumers in Pakistan have to pay much more for Pfizer products in Pakistan than their counterparts in India. What an example of ethical behaviour?
Is this a case of robbing the poor of Pakistan to feed the rich and also earn kudos for being generous and philanthropic in the process?
NAZIM H. HAJI
Karachi
MANY persons have been suffering due to suspension of PIA flights from Islamabad/ Peshawar to Saidu Sharif/ Swat/Northern Areaa as roads are in bad condition.
People will be greatly helped if flights from Islamabad/Peshawar to Saidu Sharif/ Swat are resumed.
RAJA NASEER ASAD
Rawalpindi
APROPOS of Kh. Tajammul Hussain’s letter (June 29), it is clarified that the KPT closed down the port fountain due to monsoon swell and gusty cyclonic winds. The fountain will restart operation from Sept 1.
During this period, the fountain will also undergo maintenance work. The cruise in the monsoon season is also not possible due to the rough sea. The step is being taken for the safety of the general public.
MANAGER,
Public Affairs
Karachi Port Trust
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