| February 24, 2008 | Sunday | Safar 16, 1429 |
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Wheat support price
Benazir’s death probe
Envoy goes missing
Learning from mistakes
Saving the Indus
Woes of an account holder
Danish papers
A fool’s paradise
Reading habits
New leaders
Hot war, cold statistics
Graffiti
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
LETTERS ‘Lack of foresight’ (Feb 12) and ‘Energy conservation only option’ (Feb 10) highlight how wrong we have gone in terms of planning. Our ad hoc policies have taken a very heavy toll as a result of which we have really no institution which could be said to be really planning for the future.
The reference in the above letters to what is allegedly issued by the ‘planning commission’ makes one to believe that it is some other ‘planning commission’ and not the entity we believe should be assigned this responsibility.
Energy conservation, now, is the only option till we ‘discover’ new gas wells (off-shore?) or develop viable coal-bed methane from our vast Thar coal resource since energy is exorbitantly expensive and, in our case, also in short supply.
What do we need to do now is to kick-start an energy conservation policy. Both Wapda and KESC are major consumers of energy (natural gas and oil) and it is unfortunate that they ask others to conserve energy. Both operate power plants at atrocious inefficiencies, with ‘line losses’ at staggering levels.
Although the KESC is at least trying to put up efficient combined cycle power plants, Wapda is still working on inefficient simple cycle gas turbines with real summer net efficiencies below 30 per cent.
It is now imperative utilities work on improving their own efficiencies, and emphasis must be given to converting steam power station to efficient combined cycle design (unlike like the latest combined cycle power plant commissioned in Karachi last week with the worlds’ lowest efficiency for such power plants).
Also, all combined cycle power stations must be so designed that full capacity and efficiency are maintained in peak summer. Now even the efficient combined cycle power stations lose 25 to 30 per cent capacity and eight to 10 per cent efficiency in peak summer. This the country can’t afford since the required technology for enhancement is available at 1/3rd the cost of new equipment of same capacity.
Thar coal must be our base fuel for future but we should use this with the technology we can afford on a long-term basis. Putting up conventional low-efficiency steam power stations with Thar coal would be a big mistake because of enormous quantity of water requirement as well as nightmare scenario of environmental pollution for both coal mining and power boilers.
We must generate resources through public-private partnership to invest about $1.5 billion for ‘initial’ 2,000 MW power plant, based on coalbed methane (CBM) production and gas turbine installation. When water becomes available in sufficient quantities, these plants can be converted to efficient combined cycle mode.
This way, we can develop Thar coal with requirements of water which is a big constraint at this time.
For CBM to be viable, the large installation size is essential so that we have to start with a minimum 2,000 MW project. Once this takes off, our inefficient, polluting and very expensive, imported furnace oil-based power plants can be phased out.
If only correct directives were available, our criticality of gas and power shortages would not be there and yet we are not ready to do anything in such sectors where it would really make a very big difference.
We can solve our energy crisis situation and get on with nation-building if we only commit ourselves to efficient technologies. It is time we all did our share.
AAZA
Karachi
SABIHUDDIN Ghausi in his report, ‘Wheat harvesting in Sindh begins’ (Feb 22), has rightly pointed out that in the absence of any official support price the hapless small farmers, now harvesting the wheat crop, are left at the mercy of market wolves who, taking advantage of a ‘favourable’ situation, are rushing to lands to negotiate transaction.
Last year rapacious smugglers and hoarders, with palpable connivance of the planning commission and the ministers concerned of the previous government, made a hash of entire wheat procurement that ultimately became one of the major causes of the ruling party’s election debacle.
In order to take excessive and undue benefit, figures of crop were greatly exaggerated and five million tons of wheat were exported at much less price. Those having connection with the government also made billions by unhindered smuggling of lot of wheat to Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.
Ultimately when the crisis went out of proportion, the previous government had to import the wheat at thrice the price paid to the farmers, incurring a huge loss to the exchequer.
Unfortunately, in the entire process, right from the sowing of the crop to the stage when product reaches the consumer, it is the grower who receives the least of all those involved in the business. The beneficiaries are middlemen, the factory owners, the suppliers of inputs like seed and fertilisers and the ultimate retailer.
For instance, till the last year the farmer got the price of Rs390 to Rs430 per 40 kg of wheat, whereas the consumer is getting flour at Rs1,000 per kg.
The worst sufferer, therefore, is the farmer who does not get the worth of his labour and the cost of inputs. Along with the farmer, also suffers the consumer with a fixed income .
It is time the government fixed the support price of wheat at Rs640 per 40 kg as proposed by the ministry of food and agriculture at the ECC meeting. To offset this increase, the subsidies allowed to fertiliser and flour mills should be withdrawn forthwith as the eligible for such benefits are the growers and not the capitalists.
DR ZAHID HUSSAIN JATOI
Mehar, Dadu
THE PPP co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari, has said that cooperation with any other party such as PML (N) or ANP hinges on its agreeing to support his demand for a UN inquiry into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination (Feb 20)
It is entirely understandable that her family, party and supporters earnestly wish to unearth what exactly caused her death and, more importantly, who was responsible. However, I think involving the UN is neither necessary nor advisable, especially in view of the transformed post-poll situation.
The United Nations does not have any experts of its own and would have to rely on hired ones, such as those from the Scotland Yard, whose findings haven’t inspired much confidence among many Pakistanis. A much better way would be for the new PPP-led government to replace the president, reinstate the chief justice, Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, and let him conduct a thorough investigation.
I believe there are techniques available that would allow an X-ray of Ms Bhutto’s head by lowering certain probes into her grave without having to exhume the body. This would help determine whether there are any bullet holes or if any bullets/foreign bodies are present inside the skull. This non-invasive technique would maintain the sanctity of her body. The chief justice could also seek the help of non-controversial foreign experts.
I believe the main reason for demanding a UN probe is that the PPP (and most Pakistanis) do not consider the Musharraf-led government reliable. But, after the incumbent goes — if he respects the will of the people — and a person whose impartiality and sincerity cannot be doubted conducts the inquiry, there should be no problem in arriving at the truth.
ABDULLAH
Karachi
THE ambassador goes missing. That proves the government has no writ in tribal areas. An envoy is a representative of the president: therefore, he must be a sufficiently big noise. His disappearance or abduction is a serious incident.
This reminds me of an episode of a British ambassador’s capture by Abyssinian king in Addis Ababa in 1841. The British government decided to attack Abyssinia to free its envoy.
The officer chosen to lead the 20,000-strong force was the military governor of Sindh, Gen Charles Napier, who sailed with a strong army of Indian and British soldiers from Karachi in 1842.
He transported such equipment and war material as made easy the landing, railroad laying and movement through the dense jungles. He had taken with him the railway engines and bogies. After a hectic journey and a bloody war, losing thousands of soldiers, he accomplished the mission of rescuing the British ambassador.
No such mission is required in Khyber Agency in today’s Pakistan. Almost every facility of modern times is available. If the ambassador to Afghanistan, Tariq Azizuddin, has been abducted by extremists, miscreants, terrorists, religious rebels, Taliban, Al Qaeda or enemies of Pakistan — within or without — a contingent of armed forces should encircle Jamrud’s subdistrict and a house-to-house search operation without exception should be launched vigorously. Islamabad is not only duty-bound but also honor-bound to find him.
M.K. NAQVI
Karachi
THE coalition between the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) is a major milestone on the road leading to democracy. It is a result of many years of struggle by both the parties. It is time to learn from mistakes of the past. It is time to nullify the forecasts by people like Chaudhry Shujaat and Sheikh Rasheed.
We the Pakistanis hope that for the first time in the history of Pakistan the political parties will not spend their time in mud-slinging. Rather, they will strengthen the foundations of democracy and pave the way for independent judiciary. We have serious problems to deal with.
We expect Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif to be more responsible in using public resources. The PPP and the PML (N) need to establish a strong national government so that there are no more king parties and no more coups in future. We hope that the new government will not lead to events like March 9 or May 12. We need to emerge as a respectable nation and not as a laughing stock for the rest of the world.
ADEELA ZUBAIR
United Kingdom
THE report of Sindh’s Environmental Protection Agency on river pollution, discussed in your editorial (Feb 19), is a clear indication of the height of apathy the government has shown towards the health of its people, whose main source of sustenance is the River Indus. In the days of global warming, which has endangered the existence of living beings, indifference of our administration towards drinking water is unpardonable.
It was not long ago that our river system was comparatively unpolluted. Now all industrial waste is thrown into the river without proper treatment. Moreover, for the last two decades the civic bodies have been disposing of sewerage into the river.
Now, right from Peshawar to Karachi the Indus River has been turned into a great sewerage drain. Especially in the days of winter when water is held in dams and discharge is minimum, one can see the spectre of poisonous water flowing in the river bed.
Even the saline water coming from the upcountry, containing higher level of arsenic, is discharged through the Manchar Lake (once the biggest sweet water lake of Pakistan turned highly contaminated), and is drained into the dried-out river bed, which is frequented by buffaloes for further defiling it.
After adding further impurities of industrial and domestic waste, this highly contaminated water is supplied to entire southern Sindh, including more than 13 million people of Karachi.
This is time treatment plants were established throughout the country to purify the sewerage and industrial waste so that the people can be saved from this man-made hazard.
I fully agree with the suggestions given in the editorial that the government has to pay full attention to this menace of gigantic proportion right away by enforcing Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 in letter and in spirit to safeguard biodiversity and clean up our riverine land and marine ecosystems. Anyone damaging our ecosystem should be taken to task irrespective of his rank and social position.
BASHIR AHMED QAZI
Old Hala
I HAVE an account with Standard Chartered Bank, Centenary Branch, Karachi, and when I went through my bank statement on 14.2.08, I was surprised to see that three cheques for Rs 80,000, Rs97,300 and Rs58,500 were drawn on Jan 10, Jan 11 and Jan 12 through cheque Nos. 41, 38 and 39, respectively.
The last cheque issued by me was cheque No. 34 on 9.2.08, and the unused cheques were in my cheque book. I showed this to the bank authorities, whereupon they asked me to write an application and attach the three unused cheques to it.
They told me that this is a recent menace which has been faced by a few other depositors as well. They thought that this could only be an insider’s job, and this has happened with small accounts which are not frequently used. They reassured that my money would be restored soon.
I am quite disappointed with the attitude of Standard Chartered as:
a. The bank statement on 20.2.08 shows that no action has been taken.
b. I have had no reply to my letter, nor any phone call from the bank.
c. The bank’s reply is that they will first complete their investigation, recover the money, then refund me. They are giving me no time-frame.
DR HABIBA HASAN
Karachi
WHILE fully supporting Mr Khan’s letter, “Danish papers’ fanaticism” (Feb 17), I have noted how the newspapers in question indulged in hypocrisy by subjecting the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims to emotional pain while the western festival of love, Valentine’s Day, was being celebrated.
However, this is not the first time such a thing has happened. Last year, the current French president Nicolas Sarkozy, who was then “a conservative” French interior minister and a frontrunner in the presidential race, had hurt the Muslims’ sentiments, saying there should be more rather than less of the sacrilegious cartoons of the Prophet (Feb 8, 2007)
Another disturbing thing is that until now, unlike the OIC, neither President Musharraf nor anyone from his caretaker cabinet have felt bothered enough to protest against the Danish newspapers’ mischief.
J. QURESHI
Karachi
THERE is a sigh of relief prevailing all over the country. The democratic forces have won the election. It’s time to go forward cautiously. It is not sufficient to think that by simply voting for the PML(N) and the PPPP democracy has been restored. We would be living in a fool’s paradise if we think so.
I don’t think any power with a strong grip for their interest will ever give in against disorganised and weaker forces. If we are really interested in having a true independent judiciary, true parliamentary system, free and fair media, respect for human rights, then we need to organise our society. We need to have true democratic parties. We will have to say goodbye to life-time chairmen and ancestral politics.
Unless and until we have democracy in our political parties, we cannot have democracy in our country. The establishment will never give in.
DR ABID RAUF ORAKZAI
Islamabad
WITH reference to the letter, ‘Reading habits’ (Feb 18), I agree with the suggestions. I would like to add that there should be a regular library period for each class from primary to higher secondary levels. In this period, the teacher should make sure that students read newspapers, different articles on current issues but not course books.
It will help students in developing reading habits. It is also suggested that each union council’s nazim should establish a library in his union council. The electronic media can also play a significant role in this regard through different talk shows, plays and discussions. It can motivate students and other members of society towards reading books.
IMRAN I. RAJPUT
Hyderabad
ACCORDING to a report (Feb 19), Nawaz Sharif has offered his party’s support to the PPP and also urged it to name its detained leader Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan as prime minister.
It is up to the People’s Party to decide whom to nominate as the new PM and one feels Mr Ahsan (as well as his other lawyer colleagues) must be amply rewarded in some way for spearheading the fight for an independent judiciary. But, it would be advisable to pick somebody from one of the smaller provinces so that there is no sense of deprivation. Nevertheless, Mr Sharif’s advice shows his large-heartedness, as well as readiness, to acknowledge the remarkable struggle put up by a leader of a party that had formerly been a bitter rival.
Furthermore, I was delighted by the report in a section of the electronic media (Feb 15) that Nawaz Sharif had said if his party came to power, he would make Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan the country’s president. I had thought of the same thing about a year ago but didn’t air the idea earlier since it might have endangered Dr Khan. Whoever I talked to after Feb 15 was very excited by and supportive of the proposal.
I think the PML leader has truly sensed the nation’s pulse and would be undoing a great injustice done to the nation’s hero. I earnestly hope the PPP will go along with this wonderful plan.
Needless to say, the 60 judges of the superior courts, led by deposed chief justice Iftikhar M. Chaudhry, must also be reinstated to the Nov 2 position.
KHALID CHAUDHRY
Karachi
THIS has reference to Dawn’s photograph depicting an assembly of anxious Afghan women and children jostling for blankets (Feb 15). Five days earlier, a news item reported that harsh winter has killed as many as 763 people there, as never before.
It appears that the war in Afghanistan continuing since 2001 is making the needy poorer that they can’t buy warm clothings for themselves or their children.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
ELECTION is over. May we request the party candidates to whitewash the graffiti on the walls and remove all the banners, billboards, etc, along with their cords and sticking tape. The citizens will be grateful if the party candidates show some civic sense.
CONCERNED CITIZEN
Karachi
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