| January 16, 2008 | Wednesday | Muharram 06, 1429 |
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Destination Pakistan 2007
NBP working
Student’s death
A violation of law
Dawn turns 60
Cricket woes continue
Tariff for Thar project
Sham democracy
Neutral umpires
Food committee
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
IT is unfortunate that when our nation needs reassurance and a sense of pride on a few of its outstanding achievements, we see articles such as ‘Sham university reforms’ by Pervez Hoodbhoy (Jan 2). It is even more unfortunate that the article starts with baseless claims. The special session on ‘Science in Pakistan’ was organised by me on the invitation of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) in Trieste, Italy.
It was indeed a sign of global recognition of Pakistan’s recent achievements in higher education and science and technology. Many eminent people, representing the best scientific talent of the world, attended this session and appreciated the major initiatives of Pakistan in the field of higher education under the visionary leadership of the most celebrated scientist of Pakistan, Prof (Dr) Atta-ur-Rahman.
This was a cherished moment that has given us much strength and international support. It was not until the second day that when Mr Hoodbhoy, surrounded by scientists of our neighbouring country, took the stage and spoke about how ignorant and hopeless Pakistani nation is, where science and technology cannot progress due to gross limitation of our national language and rotten national traditions. By doing so, he rendered a major injustice to Pakistan.
Mr Hoodbhoy incorrectly claimed that Pakistan had requested for this session and paid for it. He seems to be ignorant of the fact that prestigious organistions like TWAS cannot be persuaded to organise any event by making payments. Pakistan neither paid for this session nor did it send any official delegation to this event.
We all, including Prof Atta-ur-Rahman, attended this event as Fellows of the TWAS, like fellow scientists of other 60-odd countries.
Pakistan’s achievements in higher education have now been internationally recognised which cannot be denied. I invite readers to glance through Nov 19, 2007 issue of the world’s most prestigious science journal, Nature, which categorically recognises the impact and importance of higher education and S&T reforms in Pakistan and the contributions of Prof Atta-ur-Rahman.
In his article, Mr Hoodbhoy has tried to deny many facts. I would like to take one example of his unfortunately pessimistic, rather insulting remarks about the academic and research contributions of the entire scientific community, which he has claimed as academically and scientifically worthless.
I fail to understand the basis or the yardstick on which the entire scientific output of Pakistan has been graded as worthless and fraudulent, except for the absolute wisdom which Mr Hoodbhoy claims to posses. Mr Hoodbhoy is also ignorant of the fact that appearance of Pakistani science in top international journals is a recent phenomenon and number of the citations grows in subsequent years when scientists in the field employ these findings in their own work.
The quality of science is judged by internationally recognised peer review process, and Pakistani scientists are now publishing in top journals.
When writing about the budget allocation for higher education, Mr Hoodbhoy has deliberately not mentioned the fact that the total annual budget for higher education in Pakistan, which he claims as being “enormous funding”, is less than the budget of an average-sized university in countries like Malaysia and Singapore and less than the budget of one science department of any US university.
Even this minimum funding was made available after 55 years of gross neglect of higher education in Pakistan, thanks to the untiring efforts of Prof Atta-ur-Rahman. Science and technology have no boundaries and in order to be engaged in world class science, proper and compatible financial investment is essential.
It is critically important that we convince the present and future leadership of Pakistan to continue to support higher education reforms in the country by sustained financial support and bipartisan political will.
Pakistan will remain poor if we do not invest in the best talent of Pakistan by providing them access to decent tertiary-level institutions within the country.
PROF (DR) M. IQBAL CHOUDHARY
International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, Karachi University
THE other day a Brazilian friend asked me after viewing some of my pictures about Pakistan on a website if it was good time to visit Pakistan and about the tourism facilities being provided to the tourists and how good a tourist destination Pakistan was. I had no idea what to tell him.
The truth is that Pakistan could be an excellent tourist destination. It offers wonderful Mughal ruins, evocative British colonial architecture, world-class climbing and hiking in the mountains of the north, especially Karakoram Ranges, gorgeous rolling green meadows of the Himalayas, captivating culture, great food, and some of the best carpet shops in South Asia. But, unfortunately, it has lately been described as the most dangerous country worldwide for people to visit.
The ministry of tourism proclaimed last year as ‘Destination Pakistan 2007’, and ironically 2007 was the year that has seen the unrest at its peak, putting the claim of the ministry of tourism to question. Terrorist attacks, suicide bombings, Lal Masjid episode, rioting, looting, burning of trains and damage of public property, shooting, general chaos, mayhem, insecurity, Taliban control in the picturesque Swat Valley and the tribal areas of Waziristan. And to end the year, the assassination of a leading opposition figure, Benezir Bhutto. Too much for ‘Destination Pakistan 2007’.
The truth is that the people of Pakistan are the most generous and hospitable as compared to any people in the rest of the world. But these handful of cliques, political and religious both, are responsible for blackening the name of Pakistan worldwide and causing discomfort to those who are a nice, law-abiding nation, but are considered a stigma only because of their nationality — a Pakistani. There is only one way out — political stability and there are only two roads that lead to it — democracy and justice.
ZILL-E-REHMAN KHAN NIAZI
Islamabad
THE National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) is claimed to be one of the best, efficient of course, the largest bank in the country. For more than a quarter century the NBP has maintained a branch in Jhimpir, Thatta district (branch code 0252), which is located just 75 miles from Karachi. This branch has electricity and also wireless telephony service available without which no bank can work.
In order to avoid carrying cash under the prevailing law and order situation, but three weeks before the Dec 27 terrific incident, I deposited an NBP cheque # 705925 of the above branch on Dec 5, 2007 in bank Al-Habib, DHA, Karachi – Hafiz branch, Karachi.
After almost six weeks now and more than a dozen calls to the NBP branch, I am still awaiting the transfer of fund . They acknowledged receiving the cheque and also that that there is nothing wrong with this cheque, but always come up with a new excuse every time.
First, it was lack of commutations, then shortage of staff, then law and order situation, the disrupted train services and now the shortage of demand draft voucher, etc.
In this 21st century when no bank transfers cash on the back of a mule or donkey anymore anywhere, can our largest bank explain the delays in order to establish their credibility?
May I ask the NBP authorities what good is money, in the bank if it is not available when needed? Is the bank progressing or going back to mediaeval ages? Can the NBP be expected to improve its services? Or would they like to remain as they were a quarter century back.
I hope the NBP authorities will investigate and try to improve their services. After all they are paid for.
IJTABA ZAIDI
Karachi
THE tragic death of 14-year-old Mudassar Aslam after undergoing corporal punishment inflicted by his teacher in Hyderabad is an eye-opener for society.
What even more inexcusable is the fact that the teacher responsible, Buland Iqbal, is just suspended. (Jan 11). He should be formally charged and punished for this unlawful act of homicide and put away forever.
Definitely no other parents would like him to be around to treat their children to pay the ultimate price.. Also, the principal should also be charged as accomplice for neglecting the pleas of the diseased as he was suffering.
I am sympathetic to the plight of Mudassar Aslam’s family. Just to be with his suffering and needy son at the hospital the poor father lost his job. How unfortunate.
Recognising the inadequacy and in this case total absence of judicial support for the suffering family, I urge the Sindh governor, provincial home and education ministers and Sindh’s inspector-general of police to remedy the situation by punishing the culprits and compensating the poor and suffering family.
We, the concerned citizens, would also like to help the family in their time of need and contribute economically and medically. It is urged that a bank account be opened for Mudassar Aslam’s family for the contribution of funds to support the dwindled lives of the survivors and pay off their debts.
DR. SHAIN HAYE
Karachi
It has been repeatedly pointed out in various news reports and letters in this newspaper that not only the deposed chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar M. Chaudhry, is being held at home but even his children are not being allowed to go to their educational institutions.
While this cannot be a part of President Musharraf’s or anybody else’s concept of enlightenment, it certainly points to a brazen violation of the law. What is worse is that Justice Chaudhry’s youngest son, who is a special child and needs regular medical attention, is also being denied that.
Apart from that, denying education to somebody’s children reminds one of the primitive or tribal practice of punishing someone for their family member’s real or imagined wrongdoing, as happened in the case of Mukhtaran Mai.
In addition, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had said: “The acquisition of knowledge (i.e. education) is a duty incumbent on every Muslim, male and female.”
In his autobiography, Mr Musharraf found it important enough to mention that he is a ‘Syed’ and went on to explain that this means a descendent of the Prophet.
Unfortunately, by preventing those children from acquiring education, he is opposing the Prophet’s commandant. Another thing which the Prophet had taught is the need to be kind, very especially to children.
He went to the extent of saying, “Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever has no kindness has no faith.” Incidentally, some child had quoted this hadith in Dawn’s Young World of May 24, 2002.
ADIL A.
Karachi
CONGRATULATIONS to Dawn on its 60th anniversary. I remember growing up in Pakistan. Dawn used to print an Urdu couplet on the Op/Ed page that read, “Batil say dabnay valay a’ay aasma naheen hum, Sau bar kar chukka hai tu imteyhaan hamara”.
This couplet is more appropriate today than it was then. I wish Dawn would start printing it again. The Op/Ed page is an appropriate place for it.
MIR ALI
Illinois USA
THE recent fiasco in the cricket world (Jan 8) thankfully did not involve the Pakistani players.
This time round the Indian and Australian sides were at each other during the former's tour down under.
The tour cancellation threats, after a ban on Harbhajan Singh based on a purported use of a racial slur 'monkey' against a 'non-white Australian' player, Andrew Symonds, and 'incompetent umpiring' as alleged by the Indians, have surely left a sour aftertaste and cricket at the loser's end as a sport. Javed Naqvi (Jan 10) has rightly stated that racism is much deeper than a player calling another a 'monkey' in the heat of the moment.
Will calling another player a zebra, lizard or what you can think of make it worthwhile or should we choose an animal name based on the colour of the player's skin? Whereby it would be appropriate to call a fair- skinned player a monkey and a dark-skinned one, let's say … a giraffe!
The Aussies have much soul-searching to do. What happened to their great tradition 'whatever happens in the middle, stays in the middle.
By the way, can someone shed light on the origins of the word 'monkey' as a racial slur specially related to 'non-white Australians'? I am daring to assume that the 'white Australians' may at least share some of the blame. Though the standard of umpiring was left to be wanting, one wonders what the future holds for the sport if every now and then teams pressure umpires in the same manner.
The Indian team rightly protested against the ban on Harbhajan, but why drag in the umpires too? Merely to make the much respected umpire Steve Bucknor the proverbial scapegoat.
HASAN BIN HAMZA
Australia
THIS is apropos of the news report, ‘Sindh rejects tariff offered for Thar power project’ (Jan 12).
The demand of the investors, duly supported by a strong lobby in Sindh, of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour levellised tariff for 30 years is unjustified and irrational, to say the least.
A number of the international consultants, having worked on the Thar coalfields in recent years, have determined the comparable tariff at about six cents per unit. In neighbouring countries, like India and Bangladesh, too the tariff for coal power generation is not more than six cents a unit.
These countries continue to attract foreign and local investments to effectively exploit their indigenous coal resources for power generation, known to be the cheapest resource of energy the world over.
Likewise, the investors are pressuring the government to accept cost of local coal at mine mouth at $50 per ton or so whereas it is not more than $20 in the region. They have already taken the coal mine lease for power generation and thus plan to make windfall profits year on year.
Whether or not the electricity generated will remain affordable to the consumer, these investors are not concerned.
In a country where loot and plunder is the norm of the day, why should the IPPs lag behind the sugar barons and wheat mafia.
A CONCERNED CITIZEN
Islamabad
IN October 1999 Pervez Musharraf claimed that Pakistan had seen through an era of ‘sham democracy’ since its inception. Ironically so, under the erstwhile general’s authority, Pakistan has lived up to this belief.
Democracy has been an appealing element of Pakistani society and is advocated by a variety of political forums in their respective manifestos. However, in a nation where abject poverty and criminality are rampant, one can only expect anarchy.
Citing Ayub Khan’s perspective (which quite aptly expressed that a western style of parliamentary democracy is an impossibility in Pakistan), one can throw light on a more significant matter: Is a democracy requisite for Pakistan?
If a survey were to be conducted, only a handful would respond cynically to this question. Moreover, if a more detailed study were to be performed on the basis of the former investigation, researchers may have to grapple with an equally puzzling question: Why do various sections of society dread the idea of a democratic regime?
Well, as they say, if you ask a dumb question, you get a dumber reply. After all, it has, over the years become crystal clear that the army’s ambition to dominate the ruling wing of this country is the root of our troubles.
Thus, we, have lost sight of our most intrinsic right: the privilege to choose our leader.
No armed official or foreign delegate can deprive us of this suffrage.
TAHA KEHAR
Karachi
IN response to Wasim Bari’s and Rameez Raja’s statements on umpiring, although it seems logical to choose the best umpires, one needs to consider that their records are based on them having performed as neutral umpires.
Will their records be as good if they were not neutral? So calling an end to neutral umpiring can be a dangerous call to a game that is already too dependent on umpiring decisions.
I recently saw a whole 30-minute documentary on a single bad umpiring decision that may have impacted the Americans’ ability to win an Olympic basketball game back in the 1970s.
That’s how uncommon bad umpiring decisions are in US sports and it shows the little tolerance the American public and sportsman have for bad umpiring.
American football, in particular, has some tricky umpiring decisions. But there are plenty of fail-safes.
There is a linesman, an umpire, a culture of the umpire to watch multiple replays, an appeal process for the team as well if they are still not convinced, finally a penalty if the decisions still go against them.
All of these are very possible to do in cricket. Yet we continue to accept the umpires’ split second decision as being above that of watching replays and making a more informed decision.
Since Pakistan takes credit for introducing neutral umpires some 20 years ago, I believe it is time some of our influential former players to be a little more ambitious in their goals and push for a system whereby the umpires’ split second eyesight is not the final call, especially for decisions that can completely change the outcome of a game.
Let’s push for required replay on LBWs and caught-behinds, let’s allow the team to call for a third umpire’s decision. Let’s penalise them with runs if they do it too often.
I am sure the results will make players and umpires more honest and improve the moral of a great game that desperately needs these changes given the monetary stakes involved.
OMER DOSSANI
Texas, USA
FINALLY, President Pervez Musharraf has taken serious note of the non-availability and, resultantly, high prices of wheat flour and has established a federal food committee for ensuring its market availability at an affordable price.
It is an action too little and too late.
The Reader’s Digest of this month defines the committee as “a group of the unwilling, picked from the unfit, to do the unnecessary.”
How true it is for conditions in Pakistan!
HUSSAIN SIDDIQUI
Islamabad
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