| September 22, 2007 | Saturday | Ramazan 09, 1428 |
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Pharmacist: the drug expert
Looking at KCCI building
Manhole covers
A joke too far
Baloch Colony bridge
Preventing infant abduction in hospitals
Double standards
Disciplined cricket
Uniformed president
Restoration of faulty phone
Advertising budget
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
THERE is an urgent need to make necessary amendments to the Sindh Tenancy Act 1950, last time amended in 2002 under pressure of the ADB. The Act was passed in 1950 by the Sindh Assembly after a protest by peasants, workers, students, left and democratic political activists. The protest included the sit-ins and demos in front of the assembly.
Basically the Act provides legal framework for ‘harmonious’ relationship between landlords and haris (peasants).
Hari movements, left and democratic political groups, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and other civil society organisations are demanding since the late 80s to update the Act in the interest of the haris; especially after reports confirming bonded haris in the agriculture sector.
In 1999-2000 the Asian Development Bank studied the bonded labour situation in the agriculture sector and confirmed the reports of bonded haris, especially in the four districts of Thatta, Badin, Mirpurkhas and Sanghar. The ADB suggested certain amendments to the Sindh Tenancy Act 2002 and offered loans to eradicate bonded labour in the agriculture sector from the reported four districts.
Very interestingly the Sindh government for the first time officially recognised the existence of bonded labour and accepted the loan worth $50 million for the Sindh Rural Development Project (SRDP) to eradicate bonded labour in Sindh. Action Aid Pakistan has already published the people’s review of the above-mentioned SRDP.
However, the amendments to the Act did not solve the real problem because both the parties were out of scene. Recently, the speaker of the Sindh Assembly has referred the matter again to a 13-member select committee to suggest necessary amendments to the Act. The draft amendment addresses the following issues:
— Instead of introduction of the Act as a law harmonising the relationship between haris (peasants / tenants) and zamindars (landlords), it should be for protection of hari rights based on experiences of 57 years.
— A significant and basic change in the mode of production through the use of mechanised cultivation.
— Definition of zamindar (landlord) and hari (peasant/tenant), including recognising the rights of women haris. It also includes the shifting of tenancy right to legal heirs of the haris according to heirship law as the ownership rights shift.
— In case the landlord uses the land for any other purpose as stated in the Act, such as fruit farm, then the hari must be adequately compensated according to the increased value of land.
— Based on experiences of the past, participants were of the view that the Act should provide an implementing mechanism and vigilance system.
— Hari courts on the pattern of labour courts should be established.
— Legal aid should be arranged for haris.
— The issues of agriculture labour should also be addressed and necessary legislation should be done.
— The decision to sell the produce (identifying the purchaser) compulsorily be made jointly by zamindar and haris
— There should be a transparent and clear documentation system for financial transaction between a hari (peasant) and a zamindar (landlord).
— ‘Haq shifa’ that gives priority right to a hari to buy the land under his/her cultivation should be made mandatory.
— Social security for haris and crop insurance.
— Further to request the Sindh Assembly speaker to give maximum time to the select committee for comprehensive work on this important issue as the committee can take on board all stakeholders, especially the haris and their advocates.
ADAM MALIK
Karachi
I AM happy to know when I came back from abroad that the Punjab Governor took a bold step to promote rationale drug use, or in common language to promote pharmacy culture by endorsing a revision in the Drug Act of 1976 which barred medical stores from selling 145 vital drugs.
As a pharmacist outside Pakistan and also a registered pharmacist here, I believe every drug requires counselling about its use — adverse effects, indications, interactions with other drugs and with food as well — and it is widely accepted that the pharmacist is the last person to check the prescribed medication because after the drug being dispensed from a medical store the patient goes back home and takes it accordingly.
So it’s not just a matter of giving drugs at the medical store to patients but it’s a matter of their lives. A drug is not like a daily commodity that is consumed by people, it is used by the sick and any wrong dispensing will increase their problem.
I worked in hospitals in Pakistan and abroad too, more people are actually aware about the importance of pharmacist in implementing the rationale drug use both inside and outside of the hospital in countries other than Pakistan because sadly the chemist got hold on the pharmacist’s area in Pakistan like in dispensing, distribution, wholesale, etc.
Simply, pharmacists are always there to help out patients when they need them most or even when they don’t know who is actually the pharmacist and what his role is.
Pharmacists should also take the responsibility and go through the continuous education programmes, specially from the pharmacy council, to enhance their knowledge and skills that is required for the pharmacist to be called as.
DRUG EXPERT
Kuala Lumpur
THE other day I happened to drive through Shahrah-i-Liaquat and noticed the building of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It wore a dirty old look with banners, posters, wall-chalking on the outer walls. Broken window glasses, panes and rusty grilles and dirty walls.
The entrance had a dirty old door with broken grilles, ‘paan’ spits all around.
I happened to notice that the building was inaugurated by an Indian leader (I think it was Mahatma Gandhi) before partition.
This was a sorry state of a building which belongs to the business community of Karachi which contributes a major share to Pakistan’s economy.
Every year some of the biggest businessmen of our country run for the presidency of the Karachi chamber and yet it seemed that no one really cared about the outlook of the building of the chamber.
A few metres away were a few local and multinational banks which wore a good tidy bright look amidst the populated and polluted road.
Karachi being the industrial hub and Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry being one of the organisations promoting and safeguarding interest of the business people of Karachi should have been a prime building.
Everyone would blame the government for doing something or the other but the business community should have taken care of one building that belonged to them.
WAQAS AHMED PAI
Karachi
IT was once again shocking news (Sept 16) of a boy losing his life after falling into an uncovered manhole near the Karimabad bridge, Karachi, on Saturday afternoon.
Theft of manhole covers, made of metal, is a common feature for obvious reasons. Even covers made up of concrete and steel give way for poor construction at the cost of innocent lives.
The countries like ours where poverty and ill education prevail should adopt more practical means to stop stealing of manhole covers. Fibreglass polyester mouldings for manhole covers is the ideal answer to the safety of our roads and little angels — our own children.
Manhole covers, moulded from fibreglass polyester, will stand rough and tough of traffic and it will fetch no money, once stolen for sale, for such fibreglass manhole covers cannot be recycled or used for any other purpose. The fabricators of covers do not require high technique or machinery. Fortunately, all the basic raw materials, excluding fibreglass, are produced in our country.
The city government agencies should adopt this very useful technology to save precious lives of our children. I would even request our social NGOs to come forward and take up such projects , area-wise, and serve the humanity at large.
ASGHAR Z. ATTARWALA
Karachi
THIS is apropos of M. J. Akbar’s article, ‘A joke too far’ (Sept 18), criticising PPP Chairperson and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and praising former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, terming him a real opposition leader against the military dictator, President Gen Pervez Musharraf .
Mr Akbar has not been able to evaluate rationally the birth of the APDM and the differences of the PPP chairperson with the PML-N and its leadership.
The PPP has already taken a clear stance as in the power game the establishment has never preferred the PPP and always supported right-wing parties.
I think Mr Sharif was also responsible for strengthening the rule of Gen Musharraf when he had struck a secret deal with the military dictator and packed his luggage to Saudi Arabia.
When the Supreme Court gave a verdict in favour of the former PM, the PPP also welcomed the verdict and the former PM’s arrival in the country.
Mr Sharif joked with himself when he first denied having made any deal with the government about quitting Pakistan but later admitted the fact after the press conference of Saudi envoy and Saad Harare. His sudden acceptance demoralised the PML – N workers.
If the present establishment wants to negotiate with the PPP leadership, it is its compulsion because today it is following the PPP agenda of starting a dialogue with India and increasing the women’s seats and discarding the marriage of convenience with the clergy class, which always supports a military junta .
RAZA MIRANI
Karachi
Regular huge traffic jams and slow movement on the Baloch Colony bridge are quite hazardous. The bridge cannot sustain the load of vehicles in a very slow movement. Some very urgent measures should be taken to protect this bridge.
The most interesting thing is that it is the only bridge which has traffic light signals, and even buses stop over this bridge.
Whereas bridges are constructed for fast passing of the vehicles.
The authorities concerned should take this matter very urgently while all vehicles should avoid using this bridge in rush hours.
MUJEEB HAROON
Karachi
HOSPITALS face unique challenges when it comes to preventing infant abduction. More or less the incidents of infant abduction occur in every part of the world. In Pakistan news regarding kidnapping of newborn babies from hospitals also keep on appearing in the press from time to time.
Recently a report was published saying a newborn baby was kidnapped from Shah Bhittai Hospital in Hyderabad by a woman who had been staying in the same ward. Another report said: ‘Poor man loses wife, baby and hope’ (Nov 30, 2006), in which a five-day-old baby was kidnapped from a private hospital, Darul Sehat, in Gulistan- i-Jauhar, Karachi, by a hospital receptionist.
Here are some guidelines for preventing such abduction: Every hospital must develop a written incident plan to respond to infant abduction; attach ID bracelets to infant, and parents must wear identification wristband with number that matches the bracelet of the child, all this for providing additional security for the infant.
Instead of being carried into arms, infants should be transported in a bassinet, with an identification tag with number that matches the bracelet of the child.
Besides taking colour photograph, sample of the infant’s cord blood and description of the infant, take readable footprints of each infant within a maximum of two hours of the birth. Footprints are an excellent form of identification if an abducted infant if recovered.
Hospitals should also install close-circuit television surveillance colour cameras using recording by either tape or digital technology to record activities in the hallways of the birthing unit, including the interior and the exterior of the hospital.
Hospitals should provide written guidelines to parents of newborn babies regarding measures they should take to prevent abduction of their infant while in the hospital. Always place infants in direct line-of-sight supervision by a reasonable staff member, the mother or mother’s personal attendant (having hospital’s pass).
If the mother is asleep and her attendant is also not present and the infant is returned to the room, the staff should be careful to fully awaken her before leaving the room.
In addition to intercom, a panic button should be installed in the mother’s room to alert the hospital staff/security by the mother in case of any emergency, especially if the infant is found missing from the room.
SQN LDR (r) S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Safeer Ullah Khan’s letter, ‘Double standard’ (Sept 13). Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani,
PPP-P MNA, did not escape dramatically from the Supreme Court building after his request for bail in the jirga case was turned down. The facts are:
1. The Supreme Court in its hearing on Sept 3 directed Mr Bijarani to approach the Sindh High Court for bail.
2. The mediation document clearly reflects that compensation for murder is fixed in cash and not in the shape of minor girls.
3. The allegation of trading off any girls has been vehemently denied by both the disputing parties in their statements.
4. The proceedings of this politically-motivated case have not yet commenced in the trial court, therefore branding him guilty at this premature stage is absurd.
No doubt, the enlightened leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party is firmly committed to protecting women’s rights, but it is against all norms of natural justice to condemn someone until proven guilty by a competent court of law. I would advise Mr Khan to refrain from unjust criticism.
MIR SHABBIR ALI BIJARANI
Karachi
INTELLIGENT and disciplined cricket helped Pakistan thrash Australia by six wickets in their super eight match of the Twenty20 World Cup at the Wanderers Stadium on Tuesday.
The stars of the day were Man of the Match Misbahul Haq, Shoaib Malik and Sohail Tanivir.
Misbah’s innings also included the biggest six of the tournament so far.
Pakistan virtually assured themselves of a place in the semi-finals. Now we have many hopes from our team.
But the team should not keep on changing if any player could not perform well. The player has to come forward and play their own game, not under pressure.
And they should play in a positive way to go for a victory. Also, the team management should think about the players putting on weight which is affecting their fielding.
FAKIHA JAVED
Karachi
IS it not like a some one swearing to rob for the last time? By acknowledging to take off uniform after re-election, the president has himself admitted its unlawfulness. Too little too late.
DR TAHIR R. KHALID
Canada
THIS refers to my woes caused by my dead telephone and total lack of interest in rectifying the fault by the phone department.
After developing excessive noise and hum, the telephone went dead on Aug 12. Thereafter three visits to the customer care centre produced no result.
On Sept 1, along with all the noise and hum, the dial tone was restored with the added feature that the CLI facility was missing.
More visits were made to report this progress, needless to say, without result.
Then a great thing happened. The phone bill arrived, precisely on time, with the colourful front page promising “new spirit, a new day, a new style — pleasant changes”. What good will all this manifestation of goodwill do to my useless phone?
Customer Care Centres are under divisional engineers who appear to be cloaked in mystery and have not done any good to me at least.
Why should there not be a list in each centre showing names, phone numbers and addresses of officers, in order of seniority, up to the chairman or president of the PTCL, whom a neglected customer turns to for redress of his problems.
Here an interesting point may be noted. On the reverse of the telephone bill a long list of all sorts of managers is given (Greek and Latin to me) but they are all revenue experts.
The PTCL’s pound of flesh must be absolutely guaranteed whatever is the condition of the phone to which the bill refers. In short, the bill must be paid even if it is line rent for a line which is existing or stolen.
Having crossed the age of 75, do I qualify for some out-of-the-way facility as senior citizen when I appear before some public dealing department? I am afraid not.
If traffic jams, road encroachments, power outage, PIA’s performance, etc., have been noticed by our chief justice, then should we, the Karachi subscribers to the PTCL, expect similar favour?
The phone causing all the woes is 463 8325.
AMANAT HASAN
Karachi
I WOULD like the media adviser to the government of Punjab to let us know the total provincial budget for health and education and what’s the ratio of advertising budget?
We see the heavy campaigns of the government of Punjab on almost all TV channels, it seems more like an election campaign.
The people of Punjab want to know what are their leaders doing with their tax money?
IMRAN MALIK
Lahore
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