| August 13, 2007 | Monday | Rajab 28, 1428 |
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Price spiral
Jheel Park: a dream
Excellent initiatives
Military Inc
Exultancy of the judiciary
KPT flyover at Hino Chowk
Rota virus: risk to health
Radicalism
Value of rupee
Kunda connections
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
MANY of us exert our minds to send the most thoughtful and touching messages to our family members, relatives and friends on their birthdays. However, there is one being, most deserving of similar efforts, about whom we hardly ever care to sit down and write our sentiments for.
She forms our very flesh and blood; to her we owe everything that we have. Worse still, on her birthday we unblushingly throw trash on her face and, this year, there is a real fear that some hard - hearted souls may even subject her to bomb attacks.
I am talking of our Mother, Pakistan, without whom we would lose our identity itself. The fruits and vegetables that we eat and the animals that thrive on these and end up on our dining tables, all come from its body. Thus,, in a profound way, each one of us is literally a son or daughter of the soil.
The value of Pakistan usually strikes us most when we are travelling or living in a distant land. Over there, we look for anything carrying the name ‘Pakistan’: a restaurant, grocery store or a supermarket. I fondly remember the time of my youth when I and a newly - befriended Indian young man would miss out on free dinner at the fourstar hotel we were staying at in Hong Kong during a seminar to have `desi' food at a small joint called ‘Pakistan Mess’. Sadly, our beloved country is beset by alarming problems these days, the worst of which is terrorism, spawned by some western powers' selfinterests, ambitions and follies that has made them paranoid, leading to a clash with Islamic nationalists worldwide.
How can we protect ourselves from this destructive course? While we can't control the behaviour of the foreign powers, except, perhaps to a small extent by reasoning with them, there are some important steps #rat could help us. It is only through wisdom, love and a selfless approach that effective counter - measures can be taken.
Our rulers, politicians and religious leaders can do a lot, as can the intellectuals, writers and the media. Those policies and actions must be shunned that cause disunity and alienation of sections of the populace. The foremost need is for President Musharraf to relinquish both his posts and, if he must, seek re election, because he has become the biggest trigger for the exponentially rising radicalism, terrorism and societal fragmentation.
Apart from that, the best antidote for every malady is love. We must remember that Pakistan is the land of the Sufis. The measure of their greatness and relevance is that they treated Muslims and nonalike with affection. That is why we find numerous Sikhs, Hindus and other nonstill visiting their shrines. It has been said: "The presence of those we love is as a double life...” Thus, the more people we love, the more lives we will add to our one earthly existence. The natural canvas for doing that is our nation. And, what makes a nation? "A common memory and a common ideal -these, more than a common blood, make a nation." We share a memory spanning several centuries and an ideal, Islam , on whose basis great men like Jinnah and lqbal fashioned Pakistan.
It’s so nice to be living in free country of our own. We owe everything to our Mother and, like children of one mama, we must learn to love and get along beautifully with one another. Long live, Pakistan.
KHALID CHAUDHRY
Karachi
OVER the last five years the prices of eatables have increased many times. Earlier the poor who required Rs4,000 to run their kitchens, now need around Rs15,000 a month.
We all should consider whether it is possible for the poor and low-income group to cope with this huge increase in the prices. High costs have overwhelmed the people of all classes except the rich, because they have become the wealthiest as a result of the government’s policies.
High cost is hitting the poor so hard that it has consumed their savings altogether. It is feared that if one loses his livelihood, he might reach the stage of starvation.
Exorbitant transport fares, most expensive milk, meat, pulses, vegetables and fruits, sugar and flour are some of the items hitting the people hard. Over the last few months almost 100 per cent increase has been witnessed in rice prices. In the last one year prices of cooking oil and ghee have been doubled. Prices of food, meals and all bakery items, including meals in ordinary hotels, have also increased sharply because of the tendency of increasing the prices of commodities artificially in the absence of any government mechanism to keep prices in check, as well as in the absence consumer protection organisations.
People would not have seen such an unbelievable dearness in the past history of Pakistan. People here too, like in every responsible country want that the prices should stay firm at least for few years so that they could lead their lives with peace and dignity.
ANWAR HUSSAIN
Karachi
WHILE we see sometimes the prime minister visiting grocery and vegetable shops to inquire about the prices, how come that such a concern at that high level allows continuous price spiral on packaged products like milk and yoghurt? Last year at about this time the one litre milk pack was selling for Rs36, today it is selling for Rs42, and this is not the end as every couple of months there is a couple of days of fabricated shortage of milk in the shops and then the fresh supply is sold at enhanced rate by rupee one.
Now milk and yoghurt are ever essential for everyone, how can the limited income
group of consumers bear such continuous spiral.
Another company, whose ‘dalda’ cooking oil of five kg tin was selling for Rs385 and suddenly the price is increased to Rs495, a 25 per cent increase.
No one in the commerce and finance ministries finds this a questionable act by such companies. Don't they have a system of sending cost audit teams to those companies and subject them to present their data and justification for such unprecedented increase in one go. If it is not checked now, their next increase will be by 50 per cent and open - ended. If the government does not have the facility of arranging cost audit, let them at least allow formation of consumer bodies and authorise them to make contact with the companies on such issues.
If this menace is not checked at this stage, it will surely cripple the common man.
M. M. KHAN
Karachi
IT was truly shocking to read about the construction of parking plazas in the Jheel Park. I had grown up in a part of Karachi that only had buildings and no parks within walking distance. As such, it was always a treat to find an opportunity get away from the concrete eyesore surrounding me to a refuge where I could be close to nature.
A trip to the Jheel Park used to be like a dreamtrue because I love lakes and greenery. If one drove or walked up from Tariq Road / Allama lqbal Road crossing, it would remain invisible till almost the end due to being below ground level and would suddenly appear magically like a wonderland at the last moment.
The anguish can, therefore, be easily understood at the prospect of losing this stuff of my dreams. I would urge the authorities concerned to not only end the nightmare of nature lovers by sparing this once beautiful park but also restore it to its earlier beauty as soon as possible.
The wise people have always attached immense importance to parks and gardens, as will be seen from the following examples. Sir Francis Bacon had said: "God Almighty first planted a garden, and, indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures," while Dorothy Gurney wrote: "One is nearer God's Heart in a garden/ Than anywhere else on earth."
Besides, psychologists believe that the presence of green spaces in cities helps soothe the residents' nerves. In this era of skyrocketing tensions and violence, we need more parks, not fewer.
K. NAQSHBANDI
Karachi
IT is good to see that despite the current political situation in our country, the higher authorities seem to be very much careful and determined about controlling, if not completely resolving, the problem of unemployment.
Keeping all other political issues at their own place in order to nip this rising problem of unemployment in the bud different initiatives are being taken which really help a lot to post-graduates in getting jobs though on contract basis.
The best example of this is the National Internship Programme (NIP) initiated by Prime Minister few months ago.
Now Institute Bankers of Pakistan (IBP) has initiated another such programme “National Talent Hunt Programme” (NIHP). In this connection an aptitude test is going to be conducted on the 14th of August.
According to this programme those students who qualify this test their names will be given to different banks as special candidates.
Hence whenever vacancies occur in these banks, the qualified students of this test will be given preference and hopefully they would get jobs. Literally this step of IBP is really commendable.
Because unless a holistic and unceasing approach is taken by higher authorities the problem of unemployment is very difficult to solve in our country.
Actually the mainspring of these programs is that those students who have just completed their post-graduation are given job opportunities.
Hope that IBP will conduct this programme with full integrity & honesty and on exact time.
BISHARAT ALI KUNBHAR
Karachi
I DO not understand what is basically wrong if the army is engaged in establishing factories, building roads and running hospitals. It is common knowledge that the US corps of engineers have been commercially active worldwide even when the army in the US is perceived to be away from politics. Such activities result in employment, economic growth and broadening of the tax base.
As an engineer I was shocked to learn that the author was uncomfortable with the FWO not being disbanded after completion of works relating to the Karakoram Highway, and is still engaged in construction activities. The fact is that we have no national organisation, public or private, other than the FWO which can undertake real construction projects. Turkish, Korean and Polish companies have been active locally in recent past due to absence of local construction competence.
Coming to the core function of any army, it is not supposed to lay down arms. We often quote Tipu Sultan (1750 1799): "In this world I would rather live two days like a tiger than two hundred years like a sheep".
However, in our short history some generals opted to die peacefully in their beds rather than writing history with their blood. Furthermore, it was an elected government which did not bring to book the ones who were duly indicted by a judicial commission.
SHARJEEL JAWAID
Karachi
THE Supreme Court’s verdict is a landmark in judicial history. Never before have our higher courts stood up to thwart the executive’s illegal actions. By reinstating Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, the SC has also spelt out without ambiguity that his suspension and sending him on forced leave is illegal.
It is a matter of compunction that in the past military dictators who dislodged civil governments and took over its reins were accorded legitimacy through the doctrine of necessity. The de facto (governments) superseded the de jure. Nonetheless, power to amend the Constitution was also given to the military dictator, viz, Gen Ziaul Haq, in the Nusrat Bhutto case.
It is vehemently said that the power to amend the Constitution cannot be given because the apex court does not have any such powers itself to amend the Constitution as the same is within the ambit of the legislative assembly. It is viewed with scepticism that an institution with no such powers could be competent to grant it to anyone. Superior courts may acknowledge the errors of the past.
In fact, the apex court has vide powers to strike down any statute which it considers violates the fundamentals of the Constitution and / or is brought about with the brute majority in the National Assembly to invigorate and fortify one man’s rule.
However, the Supreme Court stands vindicated on July 20 through its verdict reinstating the chief justice. The government on its part displayed acquiescence. President Musharraf has also accepted the verdict placidly in due earnest. Lawyers on their part should also show complacency and avoid uncalled-for rhetoric.
Any future petition they intend to move in the SC for democratising our system of governance would be welcome. Yet I may say that do not push the general so harshly towards the wall which may bring forth retaliation. And our aim at democratising could be rocked.
There are apprehensions in certain quarters that the general if humiliated by rhetorics may opt to impose emergency or even martial law, thus suspending or setting in abeyance the Constitution. It is wondered how the higher judiciary would react to such a dispensation.
This could entail also civil commotion and bloodshed.
SAIFUDDIN E. CONTRACTOR
Karachi
THE KPT's flyover at Hino Chowk, Korangi Road, has now been completed and opened for commuters. The main purpose of building this flyover was to facilitate the daily traffic flows but this has not happened. Traffic congestions created by trucks and trailers are getting worse by the day.
Also, there is no way on flyover for vehicles coming from Defence and Kala Pul and going towards Shaheed - i - Millat Express Way and Baloch Colony. Moreover, there is no way on the flyover for vehicles going towards Korangi Crossing from Defence and Kala Pul.
In my opinion if the two - way fly over was built, there would have been no problem for commuters. For this reason the commuters are compelled to use the same road which they were using earlier.
It has now become congested due to narrowing of road at Defence View point which is turning toward the Baloch Colony. The commuters are thus facing the same traffic jams as it was before the construction of the flyover. Millions of rupees have been wasted because the problem still exists.
SHAIKH M. IQBAL
Karachi
I WOULD like to draw attention to the possible danger of catching Rota virus. This is a disease that exists all over the world and is one of the primary causes of diarrhea and vomiting in children under five years of age in developing as well as developed countries.
The virus spreads through ingestion of unhygienic water and food. Stool of the infected persons before and after they have symptoms of the illness is another primary cause of the disease. In case a child becomes a rotavirus victim, it is recommended to keep him/her away from store-bought medicines for vomiting or diarrhea until or unless recommended by the doctor.
Good personal and public hygiene can help prevent Rotavirus. However, research shows that hygiene alone may not eliminate the probability of catching this infection, which renders vaccination as the only real mode of preparedness.
It is therefore suggested that the government should take effective measures to create awareness about this virus and vaccines should be made available to all in order to protect our kids against this deadly virus.
MUZAMIL R SHEIKH
Rawalpindi
“A WESTERN think tank warned that Musharraf’s bid to retain power could fuel religious radicalism” (Aug 2).
But such an inter-relationship between our religion and politics came calling only after the American 9/11.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
WE must take into account currency depreciation over the last five years also when analyzing our manufacturing output, trade and real estate sectors. While it is repeatedly stressed by many in Pakistan that the rupee has not depreciated in the last 5 years, and so forth, this argument needs to be looked at closely.
Indeed, the Pak rupee has remained quite steady in relation to the US dollar but it is of importance that due to various large-scale economic issues, the US dollar has lost significant value against many other currencies. One Canadian dollar was 37 rupees in early 2003 where it is wapping 57 rupees today gaining about 55%. Similarly, the Euro and the Australian dollar have risen sharply. Even the Indian rupee has risen by about 25 - 30 percent.
In this age of globalization, we really need to take a broader perspective rather than constrain all our analyses to United States, which is still among the largest economies along with the Eurozone, is not the only yardstick for us. Any depreciation in the rupee here would further erode our buying power internationally.
AYAZ KHAN
Waterloo, Canada
I AM a resident of Daulat Square Apartment in Gulshan i lqbal, Block 13 B, Karachi. The apartment had a major power breakdown on July 23 and 24, which was duly repaired and fixed by the KESC people in the due course of time.
While the entire building residents were criticising the KESC for taking so long in fixing the problem, I would like to highlight to the senior officials in the KESC, police, CDGK, Wapda and the provincial government that over 75 per cent of the residents of this building are using kunda connections, which was the main reason for the fire outbreak in power lines.
It is evident that when these residents overload the transmission system with excessive use of split airconditioners, which are all operating on kunda and beyond the approved load, the power lines are bound to suffer these kinds of breakdowns.
Like most Pakistanis, all residents are first in the row to criticise the KESC but fail to realise that they are committing the crime of power theft themselves with no conscience and accountability for their own actions.
The height of corruption and tampering with meters was observed when Philips held a competition in different localities to promote the use of energy saver bulbs, where they would award the person whose monthly residential electricity bill was the lowest.
Not surprising enough, one of the residents of this very building won the prize for having a Rs600 bill only, while I myself am a witness to ‘how’ their electric bill is so low, despite the installation of several split airconditioners.
It does not take rocket science to learn how they must have managed this while others living in the same locality are paying heavy amounts.
I would urge the authorities to penalise the culprits to set an example for others so that nobody takes a free ride this way.
BIN HISAAM
Karachi
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