| December 04, 2007 | Tuesday | Ziqa'ad 23, 1428 |
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Rescue from garbage
Hyderabad Gymkhana
Service of banks
‘Musho cracy’
Pakistan’s water deficit
President’s agenda
Urdu is alive
Killing mangroves
Irrational prescription
US’s blind spot
Lincoln
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 Mr Abdul Khalique Junejo’s article published in this newspaper on December 1 titled ‘Autonomy: is it good for Punjab alone?’
First of all I would like to thank Mr Junejo for such a wonderful article having an insightful analysis of the question of provincial autonomy and how Punjab is the biggest beneficiary of national resources. All this was substantiated with eye-opening statistics. In response to the figures Mr Junejo has given, I have nothing to strengthen or weaken the thesis statement he made in his article but I would like to give my perception of Punjab’s monopoly on national resources.
There has been too much talk about Punjab’s unjustified use of national resources and its progress at the cost of other three federating units. It may have been so but before we reach a conclusion, we need to see how an ordinary Punjabi has benefited from this whole notoriety-earning exercise — for the word Punjab is all inclusive that includes all and sundry who live here.
I believe I do have the eye to see when there is a change for good, though I may not have the figures to support my statements. The fact is that an ordinary Punjabi is as deprived of the fruits of “progress” mentioned by Mr Junejo and shown through advertisement run on the national TV at ordinary Pakistanis’ expense as ordinary people of other provinces are. The need of the hour is that we, especially the educated among us, try to recognise the common enemy, the enemy of the masses, the selected interest group that has dominated and controlled every institution this country has had and resultantly benefited from every measure the government has taken either at federal or provincial level. The interest group has its roots in all the four provinces as well as blood ties across provincial boundaries. Trying to find a solution of our problems without recognising this fact would be of little help. Mere blame game is not going to get us anywhere as a nation.
A look at the situation in Punjab might be of some help to understand the “progress” Punjab has seen over the decades. I come from a village near Okara, just 65 miles south west of Lahore. In our younger days, we used to pray for rain because we had classes in open and we would have a day off whenever it rained. Twenty one years down the road, things have not changed much there. This is one aspect of life of ordinary people of the Punjab and if we start looking at the sanitation facilities in the village, a few would have the nerve to read the details.
In one sentence what I can tell you is that the garbage heaps seem to have grown with me over the years: I gained in years and those heaps in quantity. This is not the only place that tells you the story of “progressing and shining Punjab.” Just 60 miles south east of Islamabad, in district Chakwal there are villages where people still have to go miles before they could get drinking water.
We need to draw a line between ordinary Punjabis and the Punjabi establishment (which shares its interests with the elite from the other provinces). There are few Punjabis who really think that they are represented by the self acclaimed Punjabi politicians. This fact came in the limelight when honourable Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary went to Lahore. The overwhelming response by the common people panicked those in control to an extent that they had to script the 12th May tragedy.
Looking at Pakistan’s situation by focusing on one province or another would serve the purpose of all those who aim at dividing and ruling. As a nation, from Karachi to Khyber, we have to rise above regionalism and recognise and deal with the common enemy accordingly. All the provinces have their role to play in making this country a better place to live.
ZULFQAR HYDER
Lahore
THE news of spread of dengue fever again in the city and increase in the number of deaths and patients getting admitted almost every other day is very disturbing. It is a very alarming situation and clearly points towards negligence on the part of the government. Mosquitoes have increased so greatly that even sprays in the house are only effective for an hour or so. Even young children and babies are getting bitten by the mosquitoes, which affects their health.
Garbage dumps, standing water, sewage flowing on roads and stagnant water on the roads cause an increase in the number of mosquitoes and even flies.
I would like to draw the attention of the officials concerned towards the garbage dumps in the so-called ‘kachra kundis’ and flowing sewage on roads in the area of Buffer Zone sector 15/A/5. The kachra kundis are not cleaned or fumigated at all and the rag pickers are seen going through the garbage dumps, spreading all the garbage on the roads and destroying the green belt which has now turned into a garbage dump.
Eid just being a few weeks away, it is time the government and the officials concerned took action and cleared the dumps and fumigated areas in order to protect citizens against diseases like dengue fever.
AISHA JALIL
Karachi
As being the citizen and member of Hyderabad Gymkhana, I want to get attention of the authority consulted with Hyderabad gymkhana. From last 2 years the quality of food is not so good enough for the members to eat. When I personally visit the kitchens of gymkhana, there was a tacky smell coming out. Cats and rats were roaming here and there, where the sensitive food items were placed. Even the chef was not dressed well.
After all that, I amassed to know that they were also using bad quality of oil in food items which is highly impure. We even give many complains to the President and sectary of Hyderabad Gymkhana but some how the complaint lost some where.
I want to ask the authority that is this a way to serve your members? On one hand they are giving the health facilities and on other hand they are giving us the awful food. We are the payers of H.G and what they are giving us?
I think the authorities are also aware of these matters. If yes! Then why they are not doing some thing serious? Sometimes! Even most probably they don’t give us good service. Hyderabad Gymkhana is now also involved and revolves around local politics through which the members are so much ineffectual.
Day by day they are getting bad and losing their standard.
I only want to request the committee of H.G to take some serious measures regarding this issue, because it’s the matter of our health and this is our right to get good quality and that is their obligation to serve us the best.
QAZI FAHAD NAEEM
Hyderabad
THIS is to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the fact that all banks working in Pakistan seem to ignore. ATMs are installed all over the world to provide convenience to bank customers, but in Pakistan this rule is followed in contrast to its real spirit.
Most ATMs in Karachi are either non-functional or mostly display a ‘sorry for inconvenience’ screens. The customer finds a computer-typed-and-printed address of other nearest ATMs pasted on the glass-wall; just to go and find the same sign on the other ATM wall which really irritates him.
Another trouble that I have seen customers of respective banks babble about is related with the minimum amount one can draw from these ATMs. Initially, the minimum amount one could draw when these ATMs were installed was Rs300, which now has been increased to minimum Rs500. The economic conditions prevailing in this country have already made it difficult for salaried class to make both ends meet with the pay they draw from the government’s bountiful exchequer. And now to add to their miseries the banks are increasing the minimum amount they can draw.
People need money the most at the end of the month and if the minimum amount is decreased to such a limit, which the banks deny the clients and force them to beg from friends or relatives who also suffer from the same situation and treatment from the banks.It would be very feasible if banks decrease this amount to zero, making it possible to draw all the money one needs. Or decrease it to as low as Rs100. After all banks are also running cashline and ready cash sort of cards to rob the hapless people. Why can’t they make it happen?
FAZAL ALI BUTT
Karachi
ATTORNEY-General (or perhaps the General’s Attorney) M. M. Qayyum’s statement that Gen Musharraf will take the oath of president under 1973 Constitution is ludicrous.
When the Constitution has been suspended, Mr Musharraf is taking the oath according to his own PCOs (personal continuance ordinance) to promote his own form of democracy: Mushocracy: A dictatorship of the Musharraf, by the Musharraf, for the Musharraf. Welcome to the new era of Mush’o’cracy.
Pakistani generals need to learn how to obey the Constitution before it is too late and the people of Pakistan take the matters in their own hands to safeguard and to restore the Constitution.
Musharraf’s hunger for power has disgraced the honour and good name of Pakistan all over the globe.
What would it take for Mr Musharraf to read the writing on the wall ‘Go Musharraf Go’?
Alas, things in Pakistan would have been different had Mr Musharraf not flunked his law paper during his military training. One can only hope that the new general on the block is not ambitious like his predecessors.
A. KHAN
Chicago
As Pakistan is an agrarian economy, it desperately needs a sufficient amount of water. We also know that during the past 30-40 years, the government hasn’t been able to make any decision in the formation of large dams due to some political reasons.
We waste a lot of water every year. Our neighbor on the contrary, has started projects like Bagliar dam, Woollier barrage and Kasha-kanga dam etc. By doing this, India has also stopped or retarded the flow of water in rivers which belongs to Pakistan. Water is necessary in all other areas i.e., in industrial development, for people’s daily use, for energy requirements etc.
The Pakistan government should take stock of the situation and start projects like kala bagh dam to make sure that in the coming years, Pakistan is able to produce sufficient power supply to its people.
We should also think about the wastage of water in fields, by applying drip water irrigation systems. The authorities concerned should take some prompt steps taken towards this issue
AYESHA MAROOF
Karachi
AFTER hearing Pervez Musharraf’s speech, I was pondering over his words that he has made Pakistan a better place than it was in 1999. I couldn’t agree with this statement.
In fact, Musharraf has created more mess than it was back in 1999 when he took charge. In 1999, it was one party in the government by mandate and Pakistan was moving forward towards democracy in a better way than it is now.
Today, we see three major parties, none sure of what and how the elections are going to be conducted. The caretaker governments are handpicked by Musharraf and his partners and it is obvious the caretakers would also care less about free and fair elections and follow the instructions of Musharraf. The suicide bombing issue was unheard of at that time but now it looms over all the processions and political gatherings.
Musharraf imposed emergency simply to validate his election as a president and it is very clear that no other threat was the reason of emergency. If Musharraf still insists it was because the Supreme Court was letting lose the terrorists, then why are those judges still serving as judges of the Supreme Court who actually gave judgments to free those alleged terrorists.
It is very sad to see that the army has been used for nine years to rule and in the end it was tyrannically used to ensure Musharraf a safe exit.
The army was played into the hands of Musharraf time and again and Musharraf has used it in every damn way to extend his rein. Emergency slammed on Pakistan’s face just to have a verdict which Musharraf wanted.
Heroes of the country were never treated as they were treated in Musharraf’s time ,specifically Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan.
Musharraf’s speech clearly hinted that the derailing of the process of his election was the main idea of the emergency not caring at all what the county is going to face due to such act. In 1999, there was no situation like Balochistan, Fata and now Swat. Musharraf should read the Hamood Rehman Commission report and should see what and how the East and West Pakistan were split.
Actions of our armed forces in Balochistan, Fata and Swat are not very different. No sanctions of such operations from our so-called Parliament, yet our armed forces are being used to oppress their own nation. The consequences are not going to be different than the 1971 split.
ASIM H. AKHUND
Karachi
LETTERS published lamenting the demise of Urdu in your newspaper often amuse me. In truth, the Pakistani elite are merely projecting their loss of Urdu onto the whole country. For Urdu is alive in this land. It is spoken in bazaars, chanted in mosques, sung in concerts at overflowing stadiums and screams through Urdu newspaper headlines. It is the language of instruction for the masses and sells millions of newspapers and audio cassettes. It dominates the media and, through it, moves dictators. Tellingly, it is the exclusive language of politics in the country.
Pakistan’s literati have, of course, opted out of this mass phenomenon. Their exit has, admittedly, frozen Urdu’s literature. Indeed, Faraz and Yusufi cut lonely figures today. But so long as the language remains alive on the Pakistani street, its rich literature is bound to be rediscovered. Urdu literature’s future cannot but be bright:
Ab is ke baad subho hai, aur subhe nau Majaaz;
Hum pay hai khatm shaam-e-ghareeban-e-Lukh’nau
The “demise” of Urdu among Pakistan’s elite is their loss. It is sad, but not important, really.
ALI SYEDAIN
Karachi
We visited the mangrove site near Keenjhar Lake recently and were shocked to see that a significant portion of the area has been cleared off the vegetation due to the ongoing repair and construction of a road adjacent to the lake. It is located far inland from the sea shore and probably constitutes the only basin mangrove stand of the Indus delta.
The mangroves, belonging to the species Avicennia marina, commonly called grey mangrove, grow in a small area of about twelve acres and have been subjected to severe grazing and cutting by the local dwellers. Earlier many tall trees and shrubs of this species grew in the area but not any more. Exactly two years ago we were lucky enough to see the last fully grown tree but that too was soon cut away and now what is left are only the shrubs of the young plants of this species.
In view of the unique location and vulnerable small size of the mangrove stand it is requested that the Sindh Forest Department, IUCN and WWF take immediate steps to prevent any further reclamation of the area and deterioration of the mangroves.
Its ideal location near the recreation centre and guest house of the lake may invite investors to build a hotel or other structures for tourist attraction and entertainment in future thereby eliminating all the mangroves present in the area forever.
It may be interesting to point out that the University of Karachi already requested the government as early as of July 2003 to declare this area protected. Besides, if this area is properly managed and conserved, it will encourage ecotourism because of its unique location and biodiversity.
S.M. SAIFULLAH FAYYAZ RASOOL
Karachi
CHANGING weather has a great impact on human emotions, taste, dressing, eating behaviour and the most important, health. Even a very small physical discomfort causes a negative impact on human health: you can imagine how irritating respiratory infections are.
The most common respiratory infection in changing seasons is influenza or common cold. And most patients suffering from influenza consult general practitioners for its treatment, who prescribe antibiotics for this viral infection. However, antibiotics are only prescribed in case of super-imposed infections in those patients with very weak immunity.
The reason behind such irrational prescription is not the lack of knowledge but is the incentives to those who prescribe them.
This irrational practice not only adds an extra burden to the patients’ pocket but can also lead to developing resistant bacterial strains. The only gain of prescribing this is a high turnover for pharmaceutical industries.
Pakistan, being a developing country, needs to allocate its resources in a useful way not only to improve its economical status but also to provide a much better healthcare service to the population — which is their basic human right.
ATTEQA SAFDAR
Karachi
During a briefing in Washington, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice explained Pakistan’s return to the democratic path by noting that democratic development includes freeing the media, developing civil society and economic reforms (Nov 23).
She said nothing about the incarcerated judiciary and, like her boss George Bush, obviously does not want true justice to be restored here through a free judiciary and the reinstatement of the judges of the higher courts, which is the primary demand of most Pakistanis, because it would jeopardise Musharraf’s rule.
How would the Americans feel if Mr Bush fired their judiciary? Shakespeare was spot on when he wrote:
“Thrice is he arm’d that hath his quarrel just,
And he but naked, though lock’d up in steel,
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted.”
I. SIDDIQUE
Karachi
SINCE President Pervez Musharraf quoted Abraham Lincoln in his post-emergency address to the nation, the following lines, also from Lincoln, have been coming to my mind: “You can fool some of the people some of the time and all of the people some of the time but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”.
MUHAMMAD AFNAN
Rawalpindi
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