| March 27, 2008 | Thursday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 18, 1429 |
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Fuelling Pakistan
Indian cotton
Danish cartoons
Rape at Quaid’s mausoleum
Focus on electricity generation
Saying no to wars
Injunction or admonition
Changing time zones
Rising oil prices
Nadra’s working
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
THE new government should seriously look into improving our embassies’ working around the world. Our diplomats (including the representative of the highest office of the government—the ambassador) are abroad representing our country, people and interests, as well as serving the various Pakistani nationals who live, travel, study or are abroad for other reasons.
The embassies primarily handle visa issues, passport loss/renewals, National Identity Card applications and in establishing new ties (such as trade agreements, making arrangements for sending/receiving delegations from both sides, promotions, etc) with the country they are based in.
Unfortunately, the Pakistani embassies suffer from poor funding, an untrained and underpaid staff and lack of facilities. It is worth mentioning that a government staffer (i.e. driver, security, escort, etc) who earns a basic Pakistani salary cannot possibly afford to live in a country like the US (for instance).
Further, if these staffers are sent abroad without basic training in English, hospitality and other basic work ethics, they cannot possibly represent us in an elegant manner. It is no wonder that many of them just run away or disappear, once reaching the country where they are supposed to serve (hence giving Pakistan a bad name).
Nor can a mere staff strength of four persons (including officers), with one staff car, run an embassy smoothly or efficiently.
What our government needs to realise is that we are a big nation. We are a nuclear power, and we are one of the largest countries in the world (more than half the size of the United States of America) in terms of population.
Therefore, it only makes sense to have embassies which represent that true image. One only needs to visit embassies of Russia, China, India, US, Australia and other countries abroad to realise what I mean when I say our embassies ‘need improvement’ and better funding.
What is needed is an overhaul of our system. All our embassies should be given the relevant equipment, machinery and trained staff to provide passports, NICs, licences and other important documents that Pakistani citizens require abroad in emergency.
The number of personnel in every embassy should be adequate enough to allow them to serve properly.
The number of staff cars (either bought or leased) should be increased. Insurance policies should be bought (as this is cheaper than ‘paying as you go’, which costs the government millions of rupees otherwise).
The pay-scale of the local staff, as well as of the staff from Pakistan, should be increased. Finances should be increased to enable the embassies to buy equipment and other items that are needed for the smooth running of their business; and audit teams should have routine visits to make up accounts, or post someone at all embassies abroad to keep records of expenditure.
ZABBY
Wellington
THE publication of a 48-page special issue on ‘Fuelling Pakistan’ (March 14) is commendable as it is the need of the hour. Fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) are derivatives of plants and animals which had existed on land and in water a long time ago.
The fossil fuel is depleting day by day and a time will come in the present century when it will be exhausted.
As a result, a need will arise to obtain energy from cultivated plants. Brazil is already using ethanol (derived from sugarcane) mixed with petrol (fossil fuel) as a source of energy.
Some countries, including the US, have begun using crop plants such as maize, wheat, sugarbeet and potato as an alternative source of energy.
The transformation of fossil fuel as an enhanced basket of alternative energy in the form of CNG and LPG has no doubt made life easy for us in transportation and minimising air pollution but the source remains the fossil fuel (oil and gas) which is depleting at a rate proportionate to its utilisation and transformation from the existing gas and oil wells.
Therefore, an effort is being made to find out renewable sources of energy such as sugarcane, which can be repeatedly cultivated and harvested as a source of energy.
We, however, cannot afford to use sugarcane or any other crop plant for obtaining ethanol. We have limited arable land and water supply for crop plants.
Moreover, we are frequently running short of food supply and import wheat, sugar and edible oil at a cost of $2 billion every year to meet the demand of increasing population.
In such a situation a pertinent question that arises is: what can the biomass do as a renewable source of bio-fuel for us?
Photosynthesis in plants produces biomass. Combustion of biomass has been used by humankind to generate heat and light.
Biomass was the world’s predominant energy source until fossil fuel took over the industrial world.
Unfortunately, fossil fuel when burned releases CO2, extracted from the atmosphere in the earlier geological era.
Geographic areas with abundant sunshine and rainfall are suitable for biomass production and developing countries are fortunately located in such areas.
In Pakistan, biomass for bio-fuel should be municipal organic waste, cellulosic industrial waste like bagasse, sawdust and chips.
In addition, plants growing naturally, derelict and degraded, such as Kallar grass etc. growing in saline soil are of great importance as a source of biomass.
In addition to the biomass derived from terrestrial plants, aquatic plants such as salvinia (water hyacinth) growing in pools and lakes can be grown abundantly for biomass. There is thus a great need for the promotion and expansion of agriculture in Pakistan.
Agricultural microorganisms as promoter of plant growth, microbes as fermentive agents of the biomass (cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin) and experts in the use of bio-based industrial products are the need of the hour for obtaining energy.
DR M. JALALUDDIN
Department of Agriculture
University of Karachi
IN an interview with an Indian ginner, who recently visited Karachi, a question was asked about how the size of Indian cotton crop is increasing every year.
An instant answer was tilling of BT quality, with cultivation of this ingredient, a notable increase in the size of the crop is visible.
During the last three to four years it has increased almost up to double and crossed the staggering figure of 30 million bales.
At a parley it was argued that in Pakistan too BT quality is cultivated but instead of increasing, it is decreasing. So, in your opinion, what we have to do?
He said: “An obvious answer is that you know Pakistan’s condition better than mine. However, according to my information, you have been cultivating stale smuggled quality for the last four to five years, growing strength of which is decreasing, whereas our government is alert, hence it provides fresh seeds to our tillers every year. We eliminate the old seeds by crushing.
“The crop size visibly increases by using fresh seeds, hence your government must provide fresh seeds to your tillers to increase the cotton crop size.
“Besides, on government level the Reserve Bank of India and other financial institutes provide finance at discounted rates to tillers, ginners and textile millers to boost morale.”
No such think in Pakistan. This is why our export is not keeping pace with increase in import.
This way we are groaning under the ever-widening trade deficit which is expected to exceed $15 billion this year, much more than our foreign exchange reserve.
If no remedial measures are adopted immediately, our economy will become bankrupt.
SIDDIK S. JAANGDA
Karachi
So the Danish newspapers are at it again. By reprinting these cartoons in the name of freedom of expression, the editors have sparked yet another wave of protests and boycotts in the Muslim world.
It is, however, interesting to note that while the general public across the Muslim world realises the sanctity of the Prophet and is busy protesting on the streets in this regard, the secular Muslim governments have again continued with their silent stance on the issue.
Happenings like these should really be the final nail in the coffin for entities like the OIC.
Dysfunctional organisations of this kind are nothing more than a showpiece – a mirage for Muslims worldwide that leads them to believe that a plethora of issues facing the Muslim world are being addressed at the global level.
The idea of an Islamic style model government has recently been heard and offers a viable alternative.
Not only will it be able to deal with issues like Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and this issue of cartoons, it can also address other problems like suicide bombings by conducting proper research by Islamic scholars on a national level.
ASAD SULEMAN
Islamabad
AS if the sordid state of affairs in our country today, with its political unrest, militant terrorism and fragile economy, were not enough, the Father of the Nation must surely be turning in his grave at the alleged rape of a young woman at his mazaar.
Perhaps the city government can spare some funding, from Rs103 million that has been recently allocated for the renovation and upkeep of the mausoleum, to improve the security for the hundreds of people who visit the mazaar every day.
We already know how women are maltreated in our society, and there is nothing new to add to what has been repeatedly laboured by NGOs and human rights activists.
But every such incident, which occurs ever too frequently all over Pakistan, is a dark smear on our collective consciousness and a brutal reminder of the injustices vulnerable members of our society have to face every day.
HUSSAIN KAKAL
Canada
THE new parliament is in place. The speaker and the deputy speaker have also been elected. The new prime minister would assume his responsibilities very shortly.
After the law and order situation, the most important job for the new government would be to find some solution to the menace of loadshedding.
This is the gift of the PML (Q) government to the newly-elected members of the new government.
Although the summers have not yet started, the loadshedding is at its peak. Mostly, it is for six to eight hours daily. What would happen when full-fledged summers would start?
In my opinion, the new government, apart from seeking long-term measures, should focus on providing a short-term solution to this serious problem. We are short of 3000 MW of electricity.
The new government has to find some solution to this problem as soon as they can. They have to move fast.
By short-term measures I mean exploring the possibilities of importing complete power plants which could be installed and commissioned within a short span of time.
The services of experts could be sought in this regard. The public has pinned high hopes and wants to see some movement in this direction.
AIR CDRE (r) AZFAR A. KHAN
Rawalpindi
THIS is with reference to the news item, ‘Indian army officers face rape charges in Congo’ (March 19), and the follow-up to that story by your New Delhi correspondent Jawed Naqvi in his column titled ‘A curse for all armies’ (March 20).
I am glad that Mr Naqvi added in his column that the charges had since been withdrawn by the woman.
I wondered why Dawn had chosen to publish such a minor occurrence on the front page and what the news value of that item was, except to give some vicarious satisfaction to India haters in Pakistan.
As for Mr Naqvi’s column that the Indian army is finding it hard to recruit people, this is a cause to celebrate. If all the armies of the world had this problem, there would be far fewer wars in this world.
For many decades in America there has been a popular bumper sticker that reads thus: It will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the air force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.
It seems to me that the Indian people were never fond of war and have become even less enamoured about a career in the army than they were before.
Whether we think it is because there are great opportunities in the civilian sector or because we think Indians have become more averse to violence, it is a good thing, as long as no one invades India.
B. K. VASAN
United States of America
IN his article, ‘A trend to reinterpret Islam’ (March 19), Mubarak Ali writes: “…there are a number of religious injunctions which approved usurpation, royal expenditure, killing of rebels and opponents, and declaration of war either against Muslims or non-Muslims.”
I would very respectfully request the learned writer to quote the ‘religious injunctions’ that “approved” all that he has alleged.
It is further submitted that ‘injunction’ is an ‘authoritative admonition or order’ (COD). ‘Admonition’ in relation to injunction would mean admonishing or urging.
In jurisprudence, ‘injunction’ means “judicial process restraining person from wrongful act or compelling restitution etc.” (ibid)
An injunction, therefore, cannot ‘approve’ any act as the learned writer avers.
S. G. JILANEE
Karachi
MADHU Aggarwal in his letter, ‘Time zone and energy saving’ (March 23), has given two solutions: change the duration of the day from 24 present hours to 10 metric hours, and, readjust zonal time with respect to GMT.
Our clocks are synchronised with the invariant rotation of the earth. No matter by which scale the duration of rotation is measured, it remains invariant, resulting in consumption of energy unchanged. The saving of energy is not possible by means of changes in the measuring system.
GMT is five hours ahead of PST. If we widen this period by, say, six hours we actually plan to start life activities one hour earlier; our intension will be to utilise daylight energy and to reduce the consumption of electric energy. This has been tried several times but has not yielded any desired results.
KAZIM AHSAN
Lahore
DR Salman Shah has repeatedly said that the government is paying billions of rupees in subsidy on petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL). Who is benefiting from this subsidy?
The majority of people travels by buses and scooters, and they do not consume more than five per cent of this POL.
Major portion of this subsidy goes to military establishment, the multinational companies, the industrialists, and rich people who use big cars.
It is not fare to charge the same rate to the rich as well as to the poor. Naturally, they will agitate.
There is an easy solution to this dilemma. The government should freeze the rates at the present level for buses and scooters, and issue coupons based on their monthly average consumption, and pay subsidy only on this quantity, which will not be more than five per cent.
This will stop all agitation and daily skirmishes between commuters and bus owners. Mind you, once the fares are raised, these will never come down.
SYED MUSLEHUDDIN
Karachi
SHAMSHAD Bibi, a poor domestic helper, has many dreams. Dreams which she hopes to achieve by working hard at two residences six days a week. One of her dreams for which she has worked for years is to build a house for her children. A dream, which led her to submit her National Identity Card (NIC) application at Nadra no. 4, Korangi, as having an NIC is one of the pre-requisites of building a house.
On Nov 29, last year, the staff at Nadra’s office filled Shamshad’s NIC form. Her form number is 0T00001120. She also paid the urgent fee of Rs180 to receive it in 15 days. However, the NIC was not ready on time. Since then Shamshad and her husband have visited Nadra’s office many times.
On January 24, her husband met Col Javed at the head office. After speaking to Nadra’s staff in Korangi, the colonel was upset with the staff because the NIC form was not sent to Islamabad. He informed Shamshad’s husband that it would be sent to Islamabad and that he should check again with the office in Korangi within a few days.
So Shamshad and her husband went back to Nadra’s office in Korangi. They were informed that the NIC had been sent to Islamabad, but the staff was perturbed and not sure where exactly it was. The couple was asked to call the helpline and inquire about Shamshad’s status.
They could not get through as the number of the helpline that was written for them on their original receipt actually read like 111-786-150 instead of 111-786-100.
On March 15, I got Nadra’s phone number from 17. Nadra’s staff told me that Shamshad’s application was rejected on Jan 28 because it was not properly filled. It was suggested that Shamshad should go back yet again to get the form filled properly.
It is both shocking and disappointing how Shamshad’s application was handled. Her application was rejected after two whole months when she was supposed to get the NIC in 15 days.
It is unfortunate because Nadra’s staff filled out the application in the first place. Moreover, there is lack of communication between the Nadra offices here and the office in Islamabad.
Communication would have saved Shamshad the trouble and expenses of visiting Nadra time and again.
The people in general are illiterate but they are not dumb. I know for a fact that Shamshad is a keen seeker of knowledge. It would be great if in the future the staff took out a few minutes to patiently explain about the status of a certain application. I request Nadra to compensate her for the card’s fee at least, and get her NIC ready as soon as possible.
ZAHRA
Karachi
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