| October 24, 2007 | Wednesday | Shawwal 11, 1428 |
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Ordeal of credit card customer
Telephone blues
Traffic engineering
Warning to India
Safety of road users
Call a spade a spade
Maldives
The new Don Quixote
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 in response to the letter (Oct 18) by Prof Maqsood Anwar Noorani, a transplant surgeon from the UK. He says he has keenly followed the organ transplantation debate taking place in the print and electronic media in Pakistan lately and laments the fact that the debate has “involved two groups, both pleading to protect their own interests” and no one has represented the poor patients who are the actual sufferers.
He seems to have missed the many TV programmes that carried interviews of the unfortunate kidney vendors who had to sell their organs to pay off debts, only to sink further into the debt burden, and the numerous interviews aired of patients who, after receiving their kidneys, were never entertained by the strictly-for-business hospitals. But considering the fact that Prof Noorani is in the UK, this is quite understandable.
What is not understandable, in fact utterly misleading, are the statistics quoted by Dr Noorani about the gender distribution of live, related kidney donation in Pakistan. The highest number of kidney transplantation between live, related individuals in Pakistan takes place at SIUT, the largest -public sector transplant institute in the country where the male-to-female donor ratio is 50:50, a figure arrived at after meticulous sociological research undertaken at the Institute.
This ratio has been achieved due to a diligent process of screening of female family members by a team of social workers and psychiatrists to rule out the possibility of coercive ‘donations’. Such screening is a basic ethical component for any transplant programme which deals with live organ donations, especially in a male-dominated society.
Dr Noorani’s statistics may be from his own limited experience and certainly do not represent the situation in the largest public-sector transplant programme in Pakistan.
His concerns about high costs of lifelong immune suppression for transplant recipient patients is a valid one and the newly- promulgated Organ Transplant Ordinance takes cognizance of this by introducing the concept of a fund for such patients.
He goes on to highlight the importance of basic health programmes for Pakistan. There is no denying the fact that immunisation and diarrhoea prevention are important but surely he is not suggesting that tertiary care be put in abeyance until all primary care issues are resolved. That is like suggesting the country not provide any higher education until we have 100 per cent basic literacy. Both have to go hand in hand.
Moving to cadaver (deceased) donations, Dr Noorani says the “unfit to survive will fall prey to middlemen and will be killed to supply organs to rich recipients by ruthless surgeons”. Surely he does not have such low opinion of the Pakistani nation! There are strict guidelines that are followed for deceased donations all over the world, why should they not work in Pakistan?
The last point that Dr Noorani makes is the one that the organ trade mafia of the country has been lobbying for all along: open the doors for live, unrelated ‘donation’ and allow ‘compensation’ to those who want to ‘donate’ their organs. Thanks to the efforts of the saner elements in our society, this door has been shut because of the Organ and Tissue Transplantation Ordinance. Prof Noorani had mentioned ‘two groups’ who were primarily involved in this discussion of organ transplantation. Reading through his letter it becomes quite apparent which of the two groups the professor belongs to.
DR AAMIR JAFAREY
Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture, SIUT,
Karachi
I AM a credit card holder and writing this letter to expose the pathetic service of the bank. On July 28 I received my monthly credit-card statement in which the last date of payment mentioned was the same date as the delivery of the bill, i.e. July 28.
I contacted the bank and informed them about the late receipt of the statement, with a request that late payment penalty should not be charged in the next month’s statement since the fault was not mine.
I also dropped a letter, with the payment cheque, addressing the head of the credit cards department, explaining this anomaly.
But when I received the following month’s statement, I was penalised Rs550 for making a late payment, without any response to my letter.
When I contacted the bank on Aug 16, an officer said it would take them another month to correct the mistake. I opted to wait for another month.
The amount of Rs550 was not reversed in September’s statement. I called the bank and the officer said verification from courier service was in process and as soon as it would be completed, the late payment charges would be reversed. He asked me to confirm it from the bank in 10 days.
I contacted the bank on Oct 2 and as usual came to know that the charges were not reversed. The officer said my complaint was still not verified from
the courier service that the statement was delivered to me late.
When I called the bank on Oct 3, I received a bombshell. The officer said the bank had decided not to reverse the late payment penalties from Sept 1 even if the bank delivered the statements late. I told him that the bill was sent to me before Sept 1, i.e. July 28, and asked him why I was not informed earlier about the decision when I was calling the bank constantly for which he had no answer.
I asked the officer to give me the phone number of credit cards’ manager which he did. I tried to contact the manager but the number (021-2273457) was either busy or directing me towards voice mailbox.
The Askari Bank may not be aware that telephone calls cost money and I was calling them to rectify their own fault. I could have repaid the amount I spent on the credit card had they corrected their mistake. But now I am forced to pay markup with every month’s payment. Who is responsible for the expenses I am bearing, not to mention the time and effort expended in pursuing the matter.
I am writing this letter on Oct 22 and have not received this month’s statement yet. This means the same torturing process, which is narrated above, is about to start again.
It looks as if the bank is ill - equipped and cannot bear the extra pressure of handling the credit cards. There is a strong need that it should either improve its service or shut its credit cards business down for its customers’ financial and mental relief.
MUNEEB MOBIN
Credit-card#:
5140 9940 3741 6009
Karachi
MY residence telephone nos 5886518 and 5892761 invariably go dead after every month or two. Being a print media professional, a telephone is essential for performing my duties. The department heads are never available.
If one is lucky to get through the designated number of the department head, always it is a lower rank official who answers the call claiming that the officer is not in. At times it takes two or three weeks to get the telephone back in order.
The number 5892761 has been dead for more than two weeks and I am still waiting it to be put right despite calls to various numbers of the Defence Telephone Department.
When the PTCL was sold to the private sector, one thought the service would improve. I hope PTCL owners will wake up and serve the consumer instead of sending profits back to their homeland.
R. U. SIDDIQUI
Karachi
MY telephone 4620213 has been dead for the last many weeks, despite complaints made to relevant authorities. What is amazing is that telephone 4624226 on the second floor is working while mine on the first floor isn’t. Will the PTCL look into the problem?
SHAHBUDDIN A. SIDDIQUI
Karachi
ASK any commuter about his/her greatest fear on Karachi roads today and the most frequent reply will probably be: ‘A massive traffic jam’ — not an accident as it used to be a decade ago.
No doubt, the Traffic Engineering (TE) Bureau and the city government have both worked hard to improve the road traffic, condition of roads and the city traffic jams but a lot more is required to be done in this regard.
I am not a student of TE but the traffic mess compounding every year compels us to think aloud.
To cite just our case of room for improvements, let us take the example of a one km road starting from the City School, PAF chapter, to the end of the Baloch Colony flyover.
This flyover is not designed to match the flow of traffic. There is maximum traffic (coming from Korangi and Defence) going over the flyover, then turning right (towards Karsaz) and then moving in all directions (Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Nazimabad-Liaqatabad signal-free corridor to the left, straight onwards to Drigh Road, Malir, Landhi and National Highway). There should have been an independent ‘double-tier two-traffic lane’, which is not there.
The same applies for the two up and down traffic lanes from Sharea-i-Faisal to this bridge for the traffic turning to their right (from Nursery towards Korangi and from Karsaz towards Bahadurabad).
It is a complex crossroads situation no doubt, but that is where TEB is required to come in and play its part in designing flyovers to ease the flow of traffic.
What a pity that instead of independent lanes turning right, a traffic signal is installed on the bridge, thus compelling all kinds of vehicles, including HTV, stalled on the bridge and its ramp, waiting for their turn at the signal in order to turn right or cross the bridge.
Flyovers are certainly not designed to withstand long queues of stalled traffic on them frequently, endangering their structures.
Especially ours with less than 50 per cent of project cost actually going towards construction (including labour material and all) and the rest as ‘bounty’.
To make things worse, the road island at the signal for traffic (turning right to Karsaaz) has been so poorly designed that only one vehicle can safely pass at a time. Therefore, most vehicles go the wrong way over this island. The signal is also not set correctly, thus blocking two lanes intended for the traffic going straight to Bahadurabad, putting extra load on the bridge.
Next, coming down from this bridge towards the City School, huge traffic jams occur on every school day caused by vehicles dropping and picking up the students.
Though there is enough space, for a wide service lane or multiple pick and drop lanes, on both sides of the main road, it is now occupied by some grass and a few plants.
The TEB is requested to carefully study the flow of traffic pattern on the Baloch Colony flyover for improvements to avoid traffic jams and overloading of this bridge before its collapse like the Shershah flyover.
A Karachiite
THIS has reference to Ghulam Muhammed’s letter, Warning to India’ (Oct 30), taking issue with the editorial of newfound daily Mint of Sept 25 calling upon the Indian government “to stop trying to deal with the generals in charge of Myanmar”.
Challenging the motives underlying ‘the sudden focus by the whole US media machinery on a defenceless Third World country’, the writer goes too far in accusing US of ‘instigating a public uprising through Buddhist clergy’.
By implication this also brings into question the genuine democratic upsurge these days in Myanmar (better read Burma).
The revolt and successful overthrow of a despotic regime in Nepal may be seen as a case in point.
The ruling junta or any analyst could have similarly seen outside interference then in Nepal.
The freedom struggle of people in held Kashmir is yet another instance where the Indian government has all along alleged foreign hand in what is truly a democratic upsurge.
The people of Pakistan, especially these days, feel for one with the people of Burma in throwing out for good the rule by the military junta.
We should strongly urge all the governments in Saarc countries to put all the pressure on the ruling military junta in Burma to give up in favour of a people’s regime.
Our political parties, if they care, should support the democratic struggle of the people of Burma and condemn the atrocities being committed against them.
AHMED RAZI SIDDIQUI
Karachi
CONGRATULATION to Dawn for its drive to awaken its readers, by publishing a container on fork — lift (Metropolitan, Oct 18). This container is not fixed with four fittings (twist locks) as per universal law of IMO.
On Aug 4, 2006 I lost my young son, when a container fell on his car.
Since then, I have studied container handling and made
it my life mission at the age of 70.
I visited foreign countries also and would like to share my little experience to awaken our people for the safety of road users.
As per international law, containers should be moved only on vehicles, fitted with four corner fittings as per the “International Convention of Safe Container”, dated Sept 6, 1977. Pakistan is also a signatory to this convention.
Only in the recent past the container overturned at Landhi-Quaidabad bridge, either due to jerk on the road, might be due to ‘road geometry’ — pit-holes, ‘khadda’ or any obstacle. The more recent one (on Sept 28) was at Faisalabad where in the Jhang Bazaar three persons died when a container overturned.
So, first, this movement is not only illegal, but highly risky. Even then a car is moving just under the shadow of lifted container and all this is in the presence of the police.
One has to remember : Mind like a parachute can only function when it is opened (An English proverb).
AHMED PAREKH
Karachi
“LET’S call a spade a spade”.
Your red pencil has been a little unkind to Shakespeare!
I had ended my article appearing in your columns on Oct 20, with the witches in Macbeth croaking:
Fair is foul and foul is fair
Hover, through the fog and filthy air
If white-washing mega corruption is fair — what is foul?
M. P. BHANDARA
Islamabad
AN AFP report, ‘Maldives cracks down on Islamic extremists’ (Oct 18), describes the country as practising a ‘liberal form of the religion’ (Islam).
Perhaps the AFP reporter is unaware that just outside the justice ministry in the capital couples are whipped for adultery and that non - Muslims are denied citizenship. Public practice of any religion, apart from Islam, is also prohibited.
It is only the tourists patronising the resort islands who experience the ‘liberal’ version of the religion.
ZOHRA YOUSUF
Karachi
ONCE upon a time the US used to be an (almost) ‘ideal country’ in the world preaching and practising the human rights, justice, freedom of speech, equality of rights (not only for man and woman alike but also) for all nations of the world, and almost all other ‘goodies’ thinkable.
The US had a number of outstanding presidents, still remembered for their good deeds, and some even sacrificed their lives working to achieve the above goals. Regardless of whether they succeeded in doing so in their lifetime or not, they will always be remembered in history for their outstanding works for betterment of humanity in ‘this world’.
Alas no more! In the later half of the last century and onwards, contrary to past history, the US in the last 60 or so years had a series of rather mad American presidents thrust upon it frequently. Of which the US citizens didn’t know how to get rid of, even when it became obvious and essential.
Just to cite a few examples, take the case of Lyndon. B Johnson. Murderer of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese and US soldiers too. Also presumed to be that of his predecessor J. F. Kennedy and his younger brother Robert Kennedy later. His actions in last years of his presidency justify all the suspicions of US public, in general, and those of the Kennedy family, in particular.
Next, one of their so - called most capable vice - presidents and, decades later, president as well, Mr Nixon is sure to be included high in the list of the mad US presidents. Just one single individual, his own secretary of state, Henry Kessinger, may be enough to testify to it.
Even without seeing the American - made movie on Nixon’s second term, particularly after the Watergate scandal, his well - documented erratic behaviour in the following years till his impeachment and ultimate resignation are evidence enough.
He was also probably the first US president openly suffering from ‘Islamo - phobia’. One must read his book on this subject and also must see the above movie (with absolute neutrality) in order to correctly assess his true mental state before his forced removal from the US presidency in the not - so - distant past.
‘The series’ would be incomplete without inclusion of ‘the twin presidents’, Bush senior and junior: the deeds of Bush Sr starting in the 1990s, with a brief break of the Clinton presidency in between, and its continuation by Bush Jr, ‘the new Don Quixote’ who must correct every wrong (in his own mind) in the world.
Remember incomplete agenda of the new World Order, commencing again from start of new (21st) century till today. They must be fresh in everybody’s mind, so need not be repeated here again. They both seem not to be least bothered about ‘prestige’ of their country, nor their own, if any left at all.
There is nobody to question them about their deeds whatsoever once they manage (by whatever means) to ascend to their ‘throne’ of US presidency high on the skies. Where ‘He’ (Satan) speaks to him personally and guides him to attack Afghanistan, Iraq, (Iran, Syria, etc.) as God Himself (as claimed by Bush Jr openly and frequently) declaring himself to be a very ‘good Christian’. It’s almost similar to Satan trying to misguide Abraham and his wife Bibi Haajra in Mina thousands of years ago. Fortunately for us he didn’t succeed then.
Worst of all, they now appear to be coming cheaper by the dozen in future. Which is very, very alarming and dangerous for the well - being of the US, world and the very existence of human race itself. You just need to scan the list of the aspirants of ‘US throne’ in the coming elections, along with their ‘naked slogans’, claims and ‘methods’ to pacify the world once they (God forbid) achieve the very lucrative throne of US presidency in the not - so - distant future.
God! Save the world from them. Ameen
IJTABA ZAIDI
Karachi
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