| August 26, 2007 | Sunday | Sha’aban 12, 1428 |
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Ombudsman institution
Mealy bugs on cotton
Of missing persons
Cheap remarks
Security while travelling by air
Gizri graveyard
DHA today
Road in a shambles
Ramazan package
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
THIS is with reference to Parvez Rahim’s letter, ‘Grim outlook for labour’ (Aug 7). The letter is a long comment on PILER’s recent report, ‘Denial and discrimination: Labour Rights in Pakistan’.
We at Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) appreciate Mr Rahim’s interest in labour issues. Major portion of the letter is his comments and own interpretation of issues related to labour. But a couple of points need explanation.
He has contented that changes in labour laws through Finance Bill 2006 are not anti- labour. It may be a case of how one looks at things: a glass half full or half empty.
PILER, being a major institute working on labour issues for the last 25 years has a different point of view. We stand that the government by changing Factories Act has increased daily working hours from 10 ½ to 12 hours (spread over). Though word rest and intervals have been mentioned but as we all know the reality that workers are never allowed to avail themselves of this ‘luxury’ and very brief break is provided instead. And the rest of the time is hard labour.
It was only after a long struggle of labour that eight-hour-a-day work was recognised. This new change has now increased the hours to 12 and if we add two hours travel, then a worker would end up spending 14 hours only for the work. We think this change would negatively affect workers who are already marginalised.
Similarly, the government has made enormous increase in overtime from 150 to 624 hours by amending Shops and Establishment Ordinance. We consider this change inhuman. The argument that this will provide an opportunity to do more work is nonsense as workers are also humans. They are not machines and cannot be compelled to work endlessly.
It is not a way to help people to earn more by increasing working period and overtime hours. If the government or employers are sincere with worker, then they should raise wages rather than increasing regular and overtime working hours. This increase in a country where wages are already very low can prove self-exploitative, as workers may like to work extended hours to earn more money, thus compromise on their health, family time and rest.
We also did not see any positive aspect in allowing employers to keep women at work places till 10pm . This will discourage women -- who are already very few -- and result in decrease in their workforce, as well in other exploitations to them. It is a reality that working women in our society have to do household chores and take care of children. Working late hours will create socio-cultural problems for them and may result in decrease in women employment.
Mr Rahim’s comments that women workers used to be retained till late evening in contravention of law but now it has been legalised is self-explanatory. It means an illegal practice has been legalised.
The changes in Shops and Establishment Ordinance 1969 has provided employers a liberty with regard to one weekly holiday. Earlier, it used to be one fixed weekly off-day but now it can be any day of the week. We believe that this will result in no holiday in a week as employers may allow two days in a month or not at all.
We also understand that the amendments to the Employees Old Age Benefits Act 1976, under which now it will be applicable to establishments employing 20 or more persons, will limit the coverage and the most marginalised labour force working at small establishments will be excluded. Although establishments with fewer than 20 employees can also get coverage voluntarily, there is a difference between voluntarily and mandatory.
We regret to note that labour rights are being curtailed throughout the world, especially in South Asian countries, where governments are engaged in anti-labour legislations in the name of attracting foreign investment and implementing liberal economic agenda.
The changes in labour laws in Pakistan were also part of that global agenda where capital is important, not the labour
ZULFIQAR ALI SHAH
Manager, Research, Education and Training, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research
Karachi
ON the eve of the announcement of a donation worth $500 million for the poverty alleviation programme in Pakistan, the World Bank official also commented on the misuse of these funds, according to information available with them. It is a matter of shame for the department concerned and highly embarassing for the government to hear of such comments from foreign agencies.
While the news of rampant corruption in other departments of the government is a reality, no effective measures to check the departmental anomalies seem visible. It has been customary to nominate an ombudsman at the federal level where he is assigned to function as an internal auditor.
Imagine the federal departments and then the four provinces, can one man possibly monitor the entire sphere. In the past some ombudsmen presented qualified reports which were read out in the Senate, besides being presented to the prime minister, but it is not known whether the issues were addressed by the government.
It is time the prime minister considered dropping the single ombudsman in order to enlarge his function by setting up a public monitoring committee (PMC). Appropriately represented in the federal capital and four provincial capitals, the PMC should be manned ideally by retired professionals of integrity from different walks of life in the private sector.
The operating cost of the PMC should be budgeted according to the recommendations of the chairman of the PMC, who will be responsible for a regular monthly presentation of their performance to the prime minister, and a quarterly compilation and submission of the same to the president. If the prime minister will kindly consider making PMC reports public, it will be highly appreciative of him. .
Hopefully, this setup will help scare the black sheep in the various departments and will ultimately pave the way for prompt and honest delivery of service to the government.
M. M. KHAN
Karachi
THE incidence of mealy bugs up to 32.83 per cent on cotton (Dawn, Aug 18) is going to cause a serious economic loss. The mealy bugs attack mango, guava, custard, apple, etc. Now it is reported on cotton for the first time, causing serious loss to the growers and to Pakistan as cotton is the best foreign exchange earner.
We have tried to control mealy bugs with washing powder (100gm), kerosene (25ml) dissolved in a litre of water as spray on mango, in addition to various pesticides. The soapy foam under the influence of heat turned into soapy flakes and fell from the leaves. The mealy bugs inhabit on the undersurface of leaves and secrete ‘honey dew’ which fall on the upper surface of leaves lying immediately underneath. The airborne spores of a special group of fungi causing sooty mould disease germinate and develop into black masses which make the green leaves look black.
The female mealy bugs creep on the stem and ultimately on the foliage for sucking juice from soft and tender parts of plants. The male mealy bugs are winged and fly to visit the females from one plant to another. Spraying of fungicides is usually ineffective because of the protective white powdery mass covering the body of the mealy bugs. The bugs shelter on the undersurface of leaves to avoid intense sun rays during day, thus escaping the effect of spraying.
Spraying of any fungicide lethal to the mealy bugs have to be applied first on the lower parts of stems in contact with soil, where bugs survive in plant litter. This would prevent the female mealy bugs from creeping and crawling on the stem and then upwards on the leaves. We found hot sticky coaltar when applied regularly on the trunks of mango trees effective in stopping the march of female mealy bugs on stems and leaves of mango. The research article published by us on the control of mealy bugs of mango can be seen in International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology 2006, Vol. 24(4): 1013
DR M. JALALUDDIN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the front-page news (Aug 22) regarding the release of two missing persons, namely Hafiz Abdul Basit and Aleem Nasir. It is pertinent to mention here that Hafiz Abdul Basit had been in illegal confinement since January 2004, and authorities denied his whereabouts persistently.
Hats off to the independent judiciary, especially to the chief justice of Pakistan who made the authorities produce these persons and, thereafter, released them.
We cannot imagine the agonies and miseries of the families who have been deprived of company of their loved ones without knowing whether they are alive or dead.
These persons were deprived of their liberty without lawful authority on flimsy reasons or personal grudge of personnel of intelligence agencies.
A person kept in confinement illegally for more than 3 1/2 years is sheer mockery of law and the Constitution of Pakistan. It is still to determine that how these persons would be compensated?
It is a settled principle of law that even chief executive of the country is not above law, whereas agencies and their personnel are trying to negate this long lasting principle. This callous behaviour is not appreciated in civilised society and will bring a bad name to our country.
M. W. AWAN
Multan
THIS is with reference to contemptuous remarks passed by Sher Afgan Niazi towards the Supreme Court of Pakistan. One cannot imagine a member of cabinet speaking in the way Mr Niazi did on television.
If the prime minister does not expel him from the cabinet, the comments will be taken as the view of the government. If the prime minister fails to act appropriately, then the people of Pakistan shall reject the Q League in the upcoming elections.
Earlier to this, Naeem Bukhari committed contempt with mala fide through his letter, and the legal community along with the people of Pakistan rejected his contentions. The legal community socially boycotted Mr Bukhari whose image was also lowered in the eyes of the general public.
Now the minimum response by the people of Pakistan, especially voters, in Mr. Niazi’s constituency shall be to reject him in the forthcoming elections. A person who is a turncoat of the PPP has no respect for the judiciary and cannot be a true representative of the people of Pakistan.
MALIK WAQAR HAIDER
Multan
DESPITE sophisticated security arrangements at airports the world over, airports and aircraft still remain vulnerable to terrorist attack. The structure of an aircraft makes it highly susceptible to damage from devices primed to explode during flight. Once a plane is airborne, it is isolated from counteraction or rescue by military or police forces.
A great amount of help can be rendered by the people who travel by air in preventing terrorist and criminal activities at the airport, as well as inside the aircraft. By taking simple security precautions before arriving at the airport, while at the airport and in the aircraft during the flight people can prevent a terrorist attack, as well as ensure their personal security. Here are some guidelines to remember:
a. When you are preparing for your trip, remember to pack your baggage carefully, check each item in each bag and suitcase and ensure that nothing is kept, especially handgun, explosive and bladed weapons in it for which you can be caught at the airport during security check. b. Don’t accept any gift or parcel for taking it with you, which is wrapped.
c. Always arrive at the airport two hours before your flight’s scheduled departure; heightened airport security measures increase the time needed to check in. However, consult your airline for more specific arrival times.
During your time at the airport, it’s important to make sure you don’t inadvertently aid a potential hijacker. Some of the principal things to keep in mind while you are at an airport are:
a. Watch your bags and personal belongings at all times.
b. Do not accept packages from strangers. Giving a package containing a bomb or some other such item to a stranger is a favourite ploy of potential hijacker or terrorist. If you see unattended bags or packages anywhere at the airport terminal or parking area, immediately report them to security officials or other airport authority.
c. Report any suspicious activities or individuals at the airport or parking lot to airport security.
d. Don’t ever joke about having a bomb or firearm while at the airport terminal or on the airport grounds. Don’t discuss terrorism, weapons, explosives, or other threats while through the security checkpoints. The mere mention of such words as ‘guns’ and ‘bombs’ can compel security personnel to detain and question you.
e. Beware of what you discuss with strangers or what may be overheard by others.
Although aircraft parked at the tarmac are thoroughly checked by the airport security before passengers are boarded but there is always the risk of handguns and explosives being smuggled on board an aircraft by routes that bypasses the equipment for cargo and baggage inspection. The plane cleaning and maintenance staff is obvious candidates as couriers for this purpose if the terrorists blackmail them. While you are on the airplane to commence your journey take the following security precautions:
a. Check your seat from all sides, including the overhead storage bin (hand-baggage hold) for any unusual/suspicious object hidden or concealed there.
b. Be observant during the flight. If you see any passenger looking suspicious from his/her actions, body language, quietly tell about your suspicion to a cabin crew without looking or pointing out towards the suspect.
c. Be mentally prepared during the flight to face a hijacking situation and try to make a mental plan about your reactions as suggested in a letter ((July 19).
SQN LDR (r) S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
WHILE recent rains have brought devastation and a complete breakdown of the system in some manner or the other for the living, even the dead are not let alone or spared. I write this to bring attention to the Gizri graveyard, located off Gizri Boulevard, which like the rest of Defence has been completely devastated and is in ruins.
The walls of the graveyard have collapsed at several places and the rubble from the same has buried many graves, damaging them and making them inaccessible to their visitors.
Furthermore, the rains have opened up hundreds of graves, forcing them to resurface and lie unattended. This number is far exceeded by the actual graves where the rains have caused landslides in such a manner that if immediate attention is not paid, the graveyard will further slide and fall smashing into the boundaries.
If immediate attention is not paid, it will be a catastrophe and a true reflection of a sad state of affairs. The DHA has shown carelessness and ignorance. No effort has been made for the much-needed immediate repair and maintenance of the Gizri graveyard.
I urge the authorities to look into this, if not for the living, at least for saving the soul of the dead.
MASOOD HAMID
Karachi
THE DHA presents the most amazing contrast in the city of Karachi. We see large and small mansions amidst broken roads, flowing sewage and large piles of garbage. As rainwater accumulated, the DHA dug out more roads to pump out the water, and in the process cut through some roads that had weathered the earlier onslaught of rain, thereby rendering them unusable. To add to this canvas of contrast, a note of absurdity is witnessed every day in the form of a scattered battalion of sweepers armed with brooms attached to a long broomstick sweeping the roads here and there. Then there are the many white DHA vehicles running about for some unknown errands.
My question to all the residents of the DHA is: how does one make the DHA accountable to its residents? There is a Seaview Residents Society, and I am sure there is some DHA residents associations/society. Can these groups come together and chalk out a plan for developing a mechanism that would have the DHA accountable to its residents? Let us not forget that we the residents of DHA do not have any elected councillor in the city government.
KAUSAR S. KHAN
Karachi
IT is with extreme disappointment that I am turning to Dawn. The service lane of Shahra-i-Quaideen has been used by heavy traffic, including trucks and buses, for two years when a flyover from Allahwala Chowrangi to Sharea Faisal was being built. This service lane has been ruined and left with deep ditches. To make the matter worse, people have been dumping garbage on it.
Now for the past two years this road has been totally neglected. It is causing serious health hazards to the area residents as flies and mosquitoes are breeding in the midst of heaps of garbage which is spread all over, including the side streets, with gusty wind and heavy rains.
The area nazim, who was approached twice, promised to start the repair work within two weeks but more than seven months have passed and no improvement has been done. The condition of this road has become even worse and it is difficult for the charity patients who come from far-off places likr Sukkur to receive free treatment and medication at Markaz-i-Nafsiyat located on this road.
I appeal to the authorities concerned to do the needful.
DR SHAHIN HAYE HUSSAIN
Karachi
THE federal cabinet has recently approved Ramazan package 2007 for the people of Pakistan. The people will have the benefits of this package through a network of 3,400 utility stores. The government will bear the subsidy up to Rs1,490 million.
The total estimated population of Pakistan based on Economic Survey 2005-06 is 153.96 million. If we roughly divide the subsidy by the state population figure, then will get Rs9.68 subsidy for each Pakistani. If we further divide this subsidy by 30 to get each day subsidy for Ramazan, then each Pakistani will have 32 paisas subsidy.
This state favour will not serve the purpose. I do not think the network of 3,400 utility stores will play any vital role in facilitating people when the population is above 150 million.
I do not think that even 300 times subsidy will have any useful purpose. Therefore, I suggest to the government to introduce a fixed price policy for quality products in Ramazan and do not allow any person to challenge the writ of the state by overcharging the fixed product price.
KHALID MUSTAFA
Islamabad
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