| March 29, 2008 | Saturday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 20, 1429 |
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Overcoming power crisis
Panel of auditors
Embassies abroad
Darrell Hair’s reinstatement
Responsibility of producer
Austerity needed
Request to PAF chief
PML(Q) grouse
Translation
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 apropos of the news item, ‘US team to assess policies of new leadership’ (March 26).
The news pertains to various issues of US interests in Pakistan, including judiciary, the briefings of which have been given by the state department spokesman, Sean McCormack, on the eve of the visit of Deputy US Secretary John Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher to Pakistan and must have been published in other national newspapers as well.
The news item on judiciary in Pakistan reads as: “Another issue that the United States is interested in is that of judiciary. Washington has never supported the demand for reinstating the judges because of the fear that if restored, they may release terror suspects in Pakistan’s custody. The US administration now wants to see how the new leadership will deal with the issue”.
It seems that knowingly and wilfully the Bush administration has again raised this un-called-for and motivated stand notwithstanding the feelings and aspirations of the lawyers’ community, members of civil societies, human rights organisations and various political parties and the masses of this country on the question of restoration of the deposed chief justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, and other judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
This stand is also in negation of the Murree Declaration, made by the leaderships of both the major political parties, the PPP and the PML (N), in accordance with their election manifestos and overwhelming mandate received in the general election. Even otherwise the allegation levelled against the judges in the Washington briefings are not only ridiculous, malicious and defamatory but also based on lies and seems to have been copied from the proclamation of emergency of the then COAS.
Even the overwhelming support of the lawyers’ community of the states and their various bar associations, as well as of human rights groups and lawmakers, to the cause of an independent judiciary and the restoration of the deposed judges and further moving of a resolution in the US House of Representatives for the purpose do not seem to have any meaning to the Bush administration.
On the contrary, they keep on perpetuating their selfish objectives and malicious games in the war on terror. It is ime the Bush administration read the writings on the wall and tried to listen to the slogan of ‘Go Musharraf Go’, being continuously echoed on the roads, streets and lanes all over Pakistan ever since March 9, 2007 and recently echoed in the National Assembly and the presidency as well.
Hence, to say the least, this is sheer interference by the US in our internal matters.
SYED IQBAL AHMAD
Karachi
WE have been using bulls, buffaloes, horses, mules and camels to draw water from wells from time immemorial. Even the people of Moenjodaro used them for the purpose. Our farmers have one or the other available with them.
On a typical well, these animals move in a circle at about five to six revolutions per minute.
An arrangement in the centre converts the horizontal circulatory motion into a vertical circulatory motion, thereby helping the lifting of water from the well below.
We can use these animals to produce power which is in short supply these days.
These animals are present in cities too. According to a rough estimate, there are more than 100,000 buffaloes in Karachi alone.
A typical generator runs at 1,000 revolutions per minute. The challenge is to increase the driver speed from five revolutions per minute available to 1,000 revolutions per minute.
Our local workshops can develop a gear-box which can not only change direction but also increase the speed in combination of pulley sets to 1,000 revolutions per minute. Once this is done, our generator drive is ready.
This generator will not use any fossil fuel. It will be environmentally friendly. Electricity will no longer remain a dream for the poor living in far-flung areas.
This animal-machine combination can provide electricity to villages from Thatta to Thal deserts, from Pashin to Panjgur, from Bajur to Baltistan, from Lahore to Lodhran and from Karachi to Kashmir.
Engineering university students can take this up as a project and I am willing to assist in my own humble way.
S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA
Karachi
(II)
POWER crisis in the country, in general, and in Karachi, in particular, is worsening day by day.
The situation demands immediate steps to acquire power generation units to overcome heavy power shortage.
The example of China is before us. They have made an agreement with M/s Westinghouse/Shaw Consortium to build four AP-1000 nuclear power plants at a cost of $8 billion. In a short period of one year, two units have started production.
The government should encourage the private sector to have similar units for Karachi: (i) next to Kanupp, (ii) at Port Qasim, (iii) Gwadar, (iv) at any other suitable place.
The KESC, being responsible for ensuring smooth power supply to Karachi, may invest for two, which is affordable for them.
It is hoped the government and the KESC would do it without loss of time.
RIAZUL HASAN KHAN
Vice President,
Pakistan Association of Scientists & Scientific Professions
Karachi
THE Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has recently said that the move to form a panel of auditors is not with an intention to eliminate small and medium-sized audit firms from the race.
However, the criterion set for the enlistment in the panel speaks for itself and contradicts its claim.
Even a medium-sized audit firm having three to four partners cannot qualify in the first two categories.
Furthermore, much emphasis is put on the size of the staff and not on the partners who own the liability and responsibility of audit.
It should be noted that the size of staff cannot create quality. Had this been the case, the Enron debacle should not have occurred as its auditor was one of the largest firms in the world.
There is a separate panel for auditors for banking and DFIs maintained by the SBP and there was no need to consider this sector.
However, maximum points are allocated to the audit firms doing the audit of banking companies and minimum to the auditors of listed companies.
The SECP denies the apprehension that the panel is designed to favour big audit firms, and says that it is rather designed to put premium on professionalism and knowledge.
But one is unable to understand why very few marks have been allocated to professional partners.
Surprisingly, no points are awarded for the past experience and knowledge of the partners, whereas past experience of staff, e.g. IT audit experience, has been given marks.
The main objective of the panel is described as enhancement of quality of auditors, whereas out of 145 points only five points are awarded for satisfactory QCR rating by ICAP.
This shows that quality has the least consideration for the SECP and only five/six big firms of auditors are the beneficiaries.
Further, the SECP says that the criterion has been developed with the assistance of ICAP and senior (non-practising) auditors.
The ICAP consists of council members, majority of whom are represented by five or six big firms and are practising auditors.
It is incomprehensible how a non-practising auditor can be so well aware of the day-to-day development in the accounting and auditing professions.
The ICAP has denied at various forums that any consultation in this regard is sought from them.
However, insiders claim that the same is developed with the assistance of two recent past presidents of the ICAP.
Further, the SECP claim is contradicted that the same is designed for international/national network between audit firms.
No points are allocated for local national networking, and all the big firms are affiliated with foreign firms.
Another important thing overlooked by the SECP is that it has never consulted the trade and industry about the formation of a panel of auditors, which ultimately will suffer from the monopoly of some audit firms.
M. IQBAL A. RAZZAK
Karachi
APROPOS of the letter, “How to improve our embassies’ working” (March 27), it is not difficult to implement the suggestions given by the writer, particularly when we have a democratic government to look after the problem and welfare of the population.
Of course, poor funding is a dilemma but not an impediment because with imagination and sincerity the foreign ministry can train the staff with crash course to take up the assignment abroad.
There should be a policy for local intake staffers to be paid adequately, who can speak the local language with basic training in Pakistani etiquette, greeting, hospitality and work ethics. They can represent us in an elegant manner.
Pakistani students and seniors can be invited to join as volunteers to assist in consular services to visitors during vacation seasons.
This will be an exciting time for visitors in Dubai consular section as an innovative way to serve the people.
Let the ministry of foreign affairs seek volunteers to support the embassy work toward achieving its mission and objectives to serve better.
I have visited our embassies in many countries on business purpose and have been disappointed with its poor handling and bad image compared to many embassies of other countries.
We must improve them with adequate funding, volunteering and training to improve services.
Our ambassadors should be involved in the daily chores of embassy working and personally observe the atmosphere in the visitor’s area incognito to understand the problems and suggestions.
Ambassadors will be able to gain deep understanding to solve the problem.
The ambassador’s presence will also reaffirm the embassy’s keenness for welfare and care for the visitors and the atmosphere will be friendly, transparent and pleasant that no money can buy.
Our embassies around the world should be motivated to improve consular services to both its citizens living abroad and to locals seeking to obtain visas.
There should be consular affairs staff trained to be customer-friendly, providing prompt services and taking care of overseas Pakistanis standing in long queues in hot summer.
Ministers on visit to embassies must find time to see the way embassy is functioning and not the way it is portrayed to them in reports.
MUHAMMAD USMAN
Canada
THE news of reinstatement of controversial umpire Darrell Hair to the elite panel is as shocking and surprising to any Pakistani cricket fan as it is to former captain Inzamam, former PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan and others involved, directly or indirectly, in the Oval Test incident.
Even I don’t find any of my Indian cricket fans happy either on this ‘incomprehensible’ action.
Darrell Hair grossly violated the norms of international umpiring, as also his action later on exposed his lack of integrity when he demanded money for keeping quiet.
It was an open attempt at blackmailing. At the London news conference, ICC chief Malcolm Speed was not able to find words to speak on the shocking revelation. Yet again, Darrell is back with full privileges.
He was the one who not only brought the ‘name of the game into disrepute’ by accusing the Pakistan team wrongly and with bias but he also ‘brought the umpires’ profession into disrepute by asking for money, which in plain English can be called asking for ‘bribery’.
This quite clearly shows two things. One is how blatantly and unabatedly ICC officials, mostly from the West, can manipulate and exploit the situations in their favour, and how freely and unilaterally they can take actions and make decisions and play with the fate and reputation of this international sport, the most liked game in South Asia.
Second, this exposes the weakness of our cricket board that cannot even resist such actions because they themselves are not quite strong candidates for their offices: reason being they are the ‘picked and chosen’ ones by the powerful people governing our country.
These office-bearers are not holding offices of the PCB by going through a due process of election to the office.
They are usually the ones who fought their way in without taking part in any election process, and they just got there because they are the products of nepotism.
Unless there is a free and fair election process, the PCB will continue to be just a sitting duck and will not have any influence on the governing body of cricket.
Not long ago, umpire Steve Bucknor of the West Indies was removed, while the series was still on, under the pressure of the Indian board, though it was widely accepted that Steve made some radical mistakes in making some of the decisions and did nothing wrong purposefully.
He also did not ask for any ‘under the table money’ for getting axed so abruptly, yet he had to bear the brunt and he quietly moved back to his home country like a gentleman. Steve is a widely respected umpire and everyone in the cricket world respects him.
A human error is a bare fact of life and everyone makes mistakes.
The PCB should get its constitution in tact, up and running and effectively make itself a strong body before they can take up such issues and matters with the governing body of the international cricket so that they can be heard at the international level with attention and respect. Otherwise we are doomed.
ANAS A. KHAN
Canada
There is an increasing interest in the environmental community in a concept known as “extended producer responsibility,” which requires manufacturers to provide for the disposal of their products at the end of their useful life.
One particular advantage of this approach is that it leads manufacturers to design products that can be recycled easily and cheaply.
The concept is widespread in Europe, where it is applied most notably to product packaging.
In Pakistan, the increasing use of disposable plastic bottles for water and soft drinks as well as laminated paper for milk, juices and other foodstuff places a responsibility on manufacturers to arrange for the collection and recycling of the discarded bottles and packaging.
However initial purchase prices rarely incorporate packaging disposal costs; present pricing policies pass these on to the consumer or the government.
Whenever possible, the government should favour companies that have adopted elements of extended producer responsibility, and, if necessary, make legislative changes to support the practice.
ASAD SIDDIQI
Lahore
I AM surprised at the audacity of Dr Salman Shah, after having been a part of the team which has messed up the financial and political economy of Pakistan, to caution the new government not to offer any relief package until the international price of oil comes down to $85 to 90 a barrel.
My question to him is: what should the people do until such time: die of hunger or commit suicide (while the rich in Islamabad drive around in Mercedes bought with the money of the poor taxpayers and wear designer outfits).
The solution lies in austerity, starting at the top.
NAZIM F. HAJI
Karachi
THE last time I was in Islamabad on a visit from Karachi, there was massive chaos of the Lal Masjid. Staying miles away from the scenario, in the E/9 sector, we could hear the loud missile attacks.
The television cables were not switched off even once in 24 hours, despite repetitive news items. Recently, after so many months, once again I visited E/ 9 sector, which happens to be the Air Force area. Here, the television cable gets switched off exactly at midnight!
Logic being: the officers need to sleep! But what of their families? This, as it is not a flying base, and Islamabad unlike Karachi (where other than when no light) lack entertainment. Officers here even from the lowest to the highest ranks need not be aware of the latest news. Alas!
It should immediately be put to your attention, Sir Air Chief Marshal Tanvir Mahmood, to look into the problem of availability of television cable for 24 fours to the families and officers living in sector E/9. What type of progressive nation are we anyway?
SHEHLA K. FATAH
Via email
‘PML(Q) thinks it was ditched by President Musharraf’ (news headline, March 19). This is clarified by a party leader’s allegation that President Musharraf had changed his attitude towards his party at the time of polls in an attempt to have good ties with the PPP.
It may be recalled that the MQM had a similar feeling last year when the incumbent was getting cosy with Benazir Bhutto in order to clinch a deal.
So, in order to show its importance and oblige Mr Musharraf, it had kept Justice Chaudhry from entering Karachi on May 12, when the president had gleefully exclaimed that his supporters had displayed their strength.
It may be said that Mr Musharraf and his allies deserve each other, the Pakistanis had already understood this and weren’t ready to be fooled any further, which they demonstrated on Feb 18.
ADIL ABDULLAH
Karachi
I WAS flabbergasted to read ‘Tabish’s translation’ (letter, March 2) in which the late eminent poet, while translating the Persian poem, has inserted two different lines of two couplets from late Rais Amrohvi’s poem, ‘Aks-i-Sefat-wa-shum-i-zaat’, composed by him more than three decades ago. I quote the lines:
(1) Dajla ba Dajla, Yam Ba Yam, Chashma Ba Chashma, Joo Ba Joo, and (2) Ghuncha Ba Ghuncha, Gul Ba Gul, Lala Ba Lala, Boo Ba Boo.”
How can this happen, I fail to understand? Only the erudite can solve this riddle.
SYED MOHAMMAD HOSAIN
Karachi
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