| February 02, 2008 | Saturday | Muharram 23, 1429 |
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Change in the academic calendar
Police harassment
A powerful president
Education governance reforms
Five-day week
Medical services
Experience
CSS exams
Rigging of election
Kashmir Day
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
US presidential candidates have Pakistan as an igniting ‘issue’ in their campaigns. The widely quoted problems — ‘Islamic fundamentalism’ ‘terrorism’ and ‘Talibanisation’ — have almost become synonymous with Pakistan.
All democrats are agreed to deal with the ‘challenges and threats’ Pakistan supposedly pose, even if it means suspension of aid, sanctions or unilateral military intervention.
Our nuclear arsenals, it is speculated, ‘might’ fall into the wrong hands, and this is a direct threat to the US. The status of ‘important/close’ ally in the war against terrorism is probably to go with the outgoing President Bush, being criticised for favouring dictatorship. His support to President Mussharaf is viewed just as a part of his ‘irrational egoistic global militarism’.
So what are the Democrats offering as an alternative solution? Their tones depict that they are for rather stricter and harsher policies. The Republican approach was: “Enemy of my enemy is my friend”. Democrat’s alternative is: “You both are my enemies”. Which one approach do you think is more rational?
Let us put some record straight. When did the Taliban rise to power and take over Afghanistan? During Democrat President Bill Clinton’s regime. When did Osama bin Laden and Mulla Omar rise to such threatening power and influence? During the Clinton era.
Instead of extending their support and presence in Afghanistan and Central Asia, who did desert the poor Afghan people in spite of their mammoth sacrifices in their proxy war against the USSR? President Clinton.
Who did allow Nawaz Sharif, the then PM, to carry on with the most juvenile idea of supporting and arming the Taliban to control such a vulnerable and important country? It was president Clinton. And so and so on.
It was the Republicans who nailed the communists and took all the pains, let them again clean all the mess we have silently accumulated and take all the filth. Poor President Bush has had a tough time doing this.
If the Democrats think they can rally and win support and popularity by such publicity stunts and libels, they are very much wrong. If they lose rationality just by mustering support on the stake of defaming the so- called ‘Bush policies’, this will cause severe consequences.
Instead of spending millions in Pakistan and Afghanistan to topple regime after regime, creating destabilisation and anarchy, the Americans should now use the carrot. Enough of the stick. Socio-political and, most importantly, generous economic uplift will serve as blood money for the desperate frustrated masses of the region. Else this frustration will keep releasing as ‘anti-American extremism’.
Pakistan and the US are in a supplementary and complimentary state for each other. If US policymakers think they can rely on the Arabs or the Indians as faithful allies, they are quite mistaken. Americans would be losing their last stronghold in the region by turning tables on President Musharraf’s government. This will result in emergence of an extremely hostile bloc of Iran, Pakistan, India, China and Russia.
For Pakistan, losing US support will mean either anarchy or joining the bloc of ‘pro-Russia /anti-US’ countries which would be no better than anarchy. Changing sides at the eleventh hour is not wise politics. Leaders of both the countries have to make sure none of this happens.
ABDULLAH KHAN
Islamabad
ALLOW me to share with your readers and the Sindh caretaker education minister and his staff some statistics they may not be aware of. All these facts are taken from a report published in 2007 by the Sindh Education Foundation, Karachi, Pakistan, with support from the Commonwealth Education Fund, UK.
Pakistan is amongst the signatories to the ‘Education for All’ framework under which the state expressed its determination to meet all EFA goals and targets by 2015.
‘EFA – A Critical Review’ is a research study that aims at critically evaluating the objectives, framework and application of EFA and its impact on the quality of education in Pakistan, in general, and the province of Sindh, in particular.
— In terms of per capita expenditure on education, low income countries of the South Asian region (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal) trail sub-Saharan Africa for figures on the education and health sectors.
— The EFA (Education for All) 2000 assessment report indicated that India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh harbour the largest number of out-of-school children.
— India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh house the largest number of adult illiterates in South and West Asia regions.
— The Net Enrollment Ratio in primary education was a low figure of 59.1 per cent (67.5 per cent for boys and 50 per cent for girls) in 2001 (Qureshi et al, 2005). Moreover, in the period 2002-2003 Pakistan showed a significant decline of 28 per cent in the General Enrollment Ratio in primary education. (Govinda, et al, 2005). There is a staggering 40 per cent dropout rate at the primary level. (Dawn, July 30, 2007). School life expectancy is the lowest in Pakistan in the region.
— Teacher absenteeism plays a large role in contributing to low retention and high dropout rates as it directly affects quality and participation in education. Unmanageable student-teacher ratios negatively impact the quality of teaching.
— Teachers invariably use the lecture method of teaching, since this is all they have ever learned. Students are supposed to listen and learn, to look and copy. No opportunity is ever given to promote problem-solving, or to develop creativity.
— The substandard textbooks of the Sindh Textbook Board are another major reason for the poor quality of education in government schools. It should be noted that these textbooks are repeatedly referred to as substandard textbooks throughout this report.
— Public schools in Sindh suffer from inadequate or substandard infrastructural facilities as well as the ghost school phenomenon.
— It was noted during interviews that officials at all levels felt that political interference was most acute in Sindh, restricting the ambit of movement towards EFA goals in the province.
Given all the problems that the education department of Sindh needs to focus on and resolve (I have listed only a few), surely a caretaker education minister doesn’t need to rehash the issue of the academic year.
MRS NAHEED KHAN
Karachi
THE other day, on my way home at 5.45pm, I saw an Islamabad police Hilux (GF-914 silver-coloured Toyota Hilux) performing stunts on Margalla Road in Islamabad. The driver seemed to be enjoying accelerating his sleek and powerful four-by-four vehicle beyond speed limits and then by suddenly applying sharp screeching brakes in the middle of the heavy traffic.
I had to make a narrow escape for the first time when this stunt was performed in front of my car. Since the driver’s amusement didn’t seem to be over, I preferred keeping a safe distance from this driver. It was only a matter of a few minutes, when the driver of this police vehicle performed the stunt once again and one poor guy driving just behind this police vehicle couldn’t control his car (T-2537 Karachi registered, red-coloured Suzuki Khyber) and crashed into it. The poor guy’s car was damaged badly from the front as his car’s bumper, front grille and bonnet were trashed.
I and my office colleague (who was with me in my car) parked my car and came out for the poor guy’s support.
Three police personnel (in civilian dresses) came out and to my surprise and anger, started abusing and accusing the poor guy.
The poor guy was with an elder woman (probably his mother) and was very confused either to call Rescue 15 or just bear the damage and just forget the incident.
I am the eyewitness of the accident and I saw the policemen driving rash, and later abusing the poor guy.
When I threatened the policemen to call Rescue 15 for support, they said: “We are the police!”
End result? Since the poor guy was an ordinary Pakistani, he had to bear his vehicle damage and see the policemen drove away in peace.
Just one line in the end: “My dear Islamabad policemen, is there anyone amongst you who condemns such police behaviour and has the courage to take any action against this driver?”
KHURRAM HUSSAIN
Islamabad
ACCORDING to the 1973 Constitution, the president is just a useless figurehead. Perhaps the words of the first president under this Constitution (Chaudhry Fazl Elahi) sum it up nicely: “No one responds even when I shout abusive words.”
Gen Zia changed the whole character of the Constitution by introducing Article 58(b), which allows a president to sack the prime minister and dissolve the assemblies.
But should an indirectly elected president have such sweeping powers? How can a corrupt or inefficient prime minister be got rid of? We have seen how the country suffered under Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
People are helpless when they see that ministers are not interested in improving their lot at such a juncture, one sincerely wishes that there was some way of removing them from power and so, only a powerful president can do something. But in Pakistan, the president has no moral authority, since he is elected by the provincial assemblies and the senate.
We should think of amending the Constitution so that the president is elected directly. A president elected directly would be a powerful person, and if he felt that the government was incapable of performing its functions, he could dismiss it or dissolve the assemblies.
This seems to be the only answer to the present crisis.
SHAKIR LAKHANI
Karachi
THIS is apropos of the article, ‘ Imposing the reforms in a hurry’ (Jan 24). I would refrain from commenting on the emotional outburst of the writer against me personally and the Commission generally for which he may have some legitimate grievance and would like to focus on the facts alone.
The recommendations of the National Commission for Government Reforms (NCGR) on education governance reforms were approved by the steering committee consisting of the president , prime minister and the four chief ministers on Aug 4, 2007 well before the caretaker governments had taken over.
The Commission and its subcommittee, headed by eminent persons such as Shahid Kardar and Dr Shams Lakha, had carried out extensive consultations over 15 months with all stakeholders, including the federal education ministry and the four provincial education departments.
It was only after the federal minister of education had given the green light the NCGR submitted the reform package to the decision-makers.
Javed Hassanaly himself was invited to present his views before the full Commission and was also a discussant at the public seminar on this very topic jointly organised by the NCGR and PIDE at Islamabad. His and other views expressed by civil society participants were taken into account while finalising the recommendations.
I hope this will set the record straight that the reforms the writer is talking about were developed over a long period of time after due consultations with as many stakeholders as was possible . We in the Commission quite agree that the reforms imposed from the top in a hurry are neither desirable nor sustainable.
ISHRAT HUSAIN
Chairman, NCGR
Islamabad
THE government has been considering the notion of holding a five-day week, though a lot has been said against it than in its favour, or that is what has been displayed by the media.
I fail to understand why the people who are against it have been projected on the media so far. There should always be a balance, unless the media agencies do not want to provide its people with a five-day week themselves.
If we look at the most productive western countries of the world, they have been working 40 hours, five days in a week for decades. For their people, when a holiday falls on a non-workday -- Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday usually is observed on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday). And they observe more federal holidays than us. The quality of outcome they produce is in front of everyone.
Let’s have a look at the most obvious benefits that can be reaped from a five-day week:
— A huge cut in the consumption of electricity. Over 480,600 registered offices/business suites in Pakistan use airconditioning all day long, compared to people staying at home on Saturdays who won’t be using airconditioning that lavishly.
— A remarkable saving of black gold — the fuel. Saturday off means no one-man-one-car commuter on the road adding to extra traffic.
— If we adopted a five-day week, the rush hours we are all familiar now will happen only five times a week. Air pollution due to commuting would instantly be cut by 20 per cent.
— Economic activity and small businesses will flourish. People having a Saturday off can go out with family and shop in the bazaars that are otherwise closed on Sundays. So far, the traders and shopkeepers are the people shown on TV opposing a five-day week.
It is a matter of common observation and common sense that two days off would result in better activity for the traders and shopkeepers as people would be having more time on them over the weekend to go out and shop.
— Less consumption of cigarettes, tea, coffee and junk food at the offices as people tend to consume more of these items while at work than at home. On a large scale, this would have a measurable effect on the employees’ appetite for such consumables, and consequently on their health.
— Long weekend will result in a reset of an inner compass for everyone and people would be looking forward to going to work on a Monday instead of dreading it.
— There would be more exhibitions, openings, sales, theatre activities and galas to attract people over the weekend, thus, improving the quality of life.
The government of Hong Kong (recently been acknowledged as developed instead of developing) has realised the importance of a five-day week and they have implemented it since July 1, 2007.
What would it take for the government of Pakistan to realise this?
ZILL-E-REHMAN KHAN NIAZI
Islamabad
I WAS shocked beyond belief to read the news item on PTV World that the government has approved establishment of a modern hospital and asso-
ciated university at the Defence Housing Authority, Islamabad, at a total cost of Rs18 billion.
In the same breadth it was stated that this hospital will serve the need for a modern hospital in Islamabad.
As far as I know, there already are adequate hospitals in the capital, namely, Shifa Intl., PIMS, Services Hospital, CMH, MH and a lot of other high-ranking ones.
This money would have served Pakistan better if the government had established a smaller hospital with modern facilities in the remote areas.
I live in Jauharabad, which is situated near Khushab/ Sargodha. There is no hospital worth visiting even in Sargodha. Some time back, wife of one of our colleagues had an emergency operation in Jauharabad.
When I visited the hospital (so-called), I was astonished that patients were lying outside in the lawns with drips hanging from tree branches.
Mind you, we are living in a relatively educated area of Punjab but this is the situation we are up against. What to talk of the remote areas of Punjab and other provinces.
The government should consider this and amend plans accordingly.
RAJA SHAHID NAZIR
Jauaharabad, Khushab
“MUSLIMS: West sees division deepening”, a Gallup poll (Jan 22). In fact, we are experiencing it as, again, they come here and we don’t go there.
I don’t think anybody in the West has a desire to understand or appreciate how far the Muslims had gone beyond their colonial days.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
I DO not agree to the request made by a few candidates of CSS 2008 for postponement of the examinations. If the country is in a political turmoil, turmoils are what they would be expected to deal with. The CSS is more like a test of your nerves and your control over them rather than a test of your knowledge.
The examination date was not decided overnight, nor did the candidates decide to appear in the examination one fine morning.
There is no end or limit to the preparation for competitive examinations. Therefore, one can never say that if given a month’s time, preparation would be complete or better yet, the energy and political crisis would be over.
Furthermore, there are often in-service people who have to schedule their leave according to the date announced. And I am sure many of them would have already done so. Please do not make the political and other crisis an excuse.
Let us all stand one and against all such things. My best wishes are with all the CSS 2008 candidates.
MAH-E-ARSH KHAN
Kohat
DR Mubashir Hasan writes in ‘A Political meltdown’ (Jan 31): What happens after elections is a source of worry for all serious-minded, patriotic Pakistanis?”
He could not have forgotten the 1977 election when he was the minister of finance.
To refresh our memories, people came out on the streets in protest against blatant and totally unnecessary rigging of votes. The country remained paralysed for three months.
The army was called out but its lower echelons balked at killing their own people. Ziaul Haq found it in his best interest to stage a coup and the rest is history.
KANEEZ FATIMA
Canada
I FAIL to understand the wisdom behind declaring Feb 5 Kashmir Day as a public holiday. What have we achieved during the last 60 years in Kashmir that we should have a Kashmir day holiday.
What will most of the people do sitting at home? Maybe they will all sleep late, watch TV or play with their children.
The industries will have to run on double the normal wages and most of the daily wage earners will lose their earnings sitting idle at home, doing nothing.
I think it is simply a misconception and the government should look into it and remove it from the holiday list during the year 2009.
RAZA ALI DOSSA
Karachi
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