| May 07, 2008 | Wednesday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1, 1429 |
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The grave crisis
Award for SBP governor
May you live in interesting times
Rash wagon drivers
Nursing Council
NWFP: a baseless allegation
PML-N v. PPP
Scholarship
Decision on graduation
Death penalty
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 report, ‘Surging rice price, domestic consumers and exports’ (April 14), by Faizan Ali Ghori. At first it seems that the task of the new government is extremely difficult in controlling rampant price spiral in food items, particularly staple grain rice.
However, this precarious situation can be turned into a blessing in disguise as it will add more than a billion dollars to the national kitty by taking into consideration the following proposals:
1. Instead of restricting export, effective steps should be taken to distribute subsidised non-basmati rice in reasonable quantity through Utility Stores. Vigilance over these notorious channels is easier than controlling porous illegal border trade.
2. Only the genuine poor will queue up at Utility Stores as small quantity will not be marketable. Besides, it will be a right step toward poverty alleviation.
3. Indirect taxes will be collected from affluent classes. This will narrow down inequality gap between the haves and the have-nots.
4. Example of curbing export of pulses is before us. Instead of decreasing, its domestic prices surged.
5. In order to obtain maximum possible prices from foreign buyers and penetrate into new markets by grabbing the rare opportunity, the following six categories of exporters should be suitably awarded by the government with export trophies and other morale-booster incentives:
i. Leading high-value exporter in bulk category.
ii. Leading high-value exporter in consumer packing category.
iii. Leading Pakistani brand developer in rice export field.
iv. Leading exporter in the field of non conventional rice market.
v. Rice industrialist who establish top of the line plant in current year.
vi. Exporter who establish maximum overseas branches.
6. Rampant trade deficit will be narrowed down to a great extent.
7. Ancillary trade and industry will flourish, thus doors of immense opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises will be opened.
8. Upon increase in domestic prices, smugglers will be routed, consequently other criminal activities will be curtailed.
9. Foreign buyers will visit Pakistan, hence slack tourism and other relevant industries will also flourish. As a result, productive employment opportunity will be created.
10. Major dependence on the textile sector in external trade will be reduced as even incentives worth Rs30 billion to this trade has not produced any positive result, thus any further pampering to this spoiled section will be an exercise in futility.
11. Economic stability will ensure political stability for the coalition government
SIDDIK S. JAANGDA
Karachi
“THE accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” – James Madison
Our army is the only institution that crossed its barracks and practised tyranny and plunged our country into the depth of darkness. The army has been governing this country directly or indirectly with different faces since the inception of this country. This rule of tyranny and dictatorship has brought nothing but misery, lawlessness, even institutions of state, such as the judiciary, were seriously weakened, to the extent that the citizens experienced a breakdown in law and order, the business community was hit by a slump in sales and confidence, leading to reduced earnings and loss of jobs.
In short, nothing has escaped the wrath of this dictatorial rule.
The historic black-coat revolution that stood guard between this tyrannical rule and the Constitution since March 9 last year has so far emerged successful and achieved a landmark public support.
The current judicial entanglement has been so craftily devised in the presidential camp that there seems hardly any smooth solution of this grave national problem. The only solution (planned in the presidential camp) is to adjust both the sitting and the would-be reinstated judges in the Supreme Court. The aim is to negate any case that goes against Mr President and its allies by the Dogar-led team that would be present in the Supreme Court.
Although the lawyers’ movement is in the larger interest of the public, there are more serious public issues that need to be addressed. It is hoped that the judges’ issue will be resolved in an amicable manner where all concerned need to show flexibility in the larger interest of this country.
This nation can no more stomach such great gamblings of leaders that only serve their vested interest and does no good to the hapless nation except awarding backbone twisting prices.
INAYAT QAUMI
Karachi
AS reported in your paper, ‘SBP chief gets award’ (May 1), The Banker Magazine conferred on Shamshad Akhtar, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, an award, ‘Central Bank Governor of the Year in Asia 2008 Award’, at a ceremony held at a Karachi hotel.
The Banker Magazine launched its Company Awards in the year 2003 for the exceptional companies across the world. More than 500 invitations to enter the awards were sent to 35 countries.
The key criteria for consideration were historic financial performance; adoption and impact of new technology; potential for revenue and profit growth in the home market or globally; and governance and corporate social responsibility.
For the current year, eight awards were offered to four governors of central banks and four to finance ministers. The countries whose FMs got awards were Egypt, Angola, Turkey and Mexico and bankers were of Pakistan (SBP governor), Ghana, Saudi Arabia and Brazil.
Although looking to the chosen countries (out of 35 counties) that were found suitable by the Banker Magazine’s 2008 award, one should not feel much complacent.
Nevertheless, may I ask the central bank of Pakistan, a regulatory body and watchdog over all financial institutions and banks,what functions and responsibilities has it discharged in fiscal and financial fields?
Has the SBP controlled inflation and increase in price index unbridled every day by adopting any regulatory measure? How come the banks (local as well as foreign) offer/pay a small amount of interest to the investor but take stupendous service charges from the debtor?
Has the SBP ever checked the bank executives drawing billions of rupees in salaries, perquisites and rewards in a country where day-to-day consumption goods are out of the reach of the common man? The letter by Rafique Ahmed Sidiki, ‘Perks for bank executives’ (April 3), is sufficient to prove the unchecked highhandedness of bankers.
The economic plight and miseries of serious proportions the common man of this country has been going through for the last eight years are manifold. The chief of the central bank cannot be absolved of the prevailing economic and financial mismanagement.
DR ALI AKBAR M. DHAKAN
Karachi
IT has been reported that during the last six years the government has made numerous appointments in MP-I and MP-II, the special scales introduced originally to bring professional expertise from the private to the public sector organisation for enhancing their capacity.
The list disclosed in a section of the press, however, shows that 99 people so far appointed are either retired civil servants or former military personnel having connection in the corridors of power. These retirees are drawing salaries ranging from 0.5 to 0.7 million each, in addition to their retirement benefits. Thus these special scales have done nothing but burdened the national exchequer with extra billions of rupees.
The above costly appointments are the tip of the iceberg when corporations such as Pakistan International Airlines and banks are included in the list of highest-paid (market based) executives.
The market-based salaries and perquisites paid to them range from Rs1.0 to 2.5 million per month each; can be matched with their counterparts drawing in any developed country.
Strangely this is the very country where more than 50 per cent people are living below the poverty line, which is increasing with each passing day; where even basic human necessities such as clean drinking water and wheat flour are not easily available; where education and health facilities are not accessible to common man, where shortage of electricity has become a routine.
Where the countryside is infested with dacoits and kidnappers; where hundreds of thousands of the low-paid employees were laid off during the last eight years in the name of rightsizing and downsizing (terms coined by the previous regime to make the agony of removal from service palatable); where extreme poverty has forced thousands of people to commit suicide so much so that very recently a mother carrying two babies jumped in front of the train and got killed.
There is a Chinese saying, normally used as curse for the opponent: “May you live in interesting times”. When ponder over the contradictions prevalent in society, one is apt to reflect: Aren’t we living in interesting times?
MANSOOR UL HAQUE SOLANGI
Karachi
I WANT to draw the attention of the relevant authorities towards unsafe driving by wagon drivers in the Sukkur city. Wagons have their route from the bus stand to the Rohri Railway station. They have some time limit to arrive at their destinations through a token system. Consequently, they drive very fast and unsafely on the city roads to reach and avoid penalty in case of late arrival.
Due to their unsafe driving, many accidents have occurred but there seem no traffic rules in order or anybody to stop this unsafe practice. There are a number of schools on this route and there is a very strong likelihood of some catastrophic accident.
I appeal to the authorities concerned to hold meetings with the management of transport associations and pass strong messages of legal action in case of any unruly driving, besides introducing spot —checking by the traffic police.
ADNAN DAR
Sukkur
THIS is apropos of Mrs Suriya Aziz’s letter, ‘Pakistan Nursing Council’ (28 April). The writer seems to belittle the organisation, which is a regulatory body for the professional growth of nursing and midwifery care in the country.
I am a retired chief nursing superintendent, Sandeman Provincial Hospital, Quetta, and had the honour to be a member of the PNC from 1975 to 2005. The nursing profession has over the years earned a great sense of pride and dignity. We are now highly skilled nursing professionals who enjoy a status and financial benefits equal to other service cadres.
The PNC was established under the authority of the PNC Act 1973 and it has covered a long journey in the enhancement of education standards for the training of nurses, midwives and LHVs throughout the country. Nursing is a noble cause which aims at the provision of excellent services to the ailing community, and the PNC has made tremendous efforts in the uplift of the nursing sector, providing a leading role for the well-being of nurses, midwives and LVCs at every stage.
Today, we are at a stage where we are at par with international standards as our nursing professionals are working in different countries. This is a matter of pride and respect for all of us.
Continued efforts of the PNC have resulted in considerable progress and milestones like the revision of curriculum, BSc-N courses and fellowships for the nursing faculty. The salary packages for nurses are also much better, with charge nurse starting at BPS 16 and head nurse at BPS 17 after successful completion of diploma courses, and progressively moving to higher grades.
RAZIA SULTANA BHATTI
Ex-CNS, Balochistan
THIS is apropos of Tahir Zaman Khan’s letter, ‘NWFP: a baseless allegation’ (April 17). The letter contains some factual inaccuracies which needs to be corrected in the interest of historical truth. The writer says that by losing referendum the Congress ministry led by Dr Khan Sahib had lost all moral rights to rule.
It is relevant to mention that the Congress boycotted the July 1947 referendum in the NWFP and did not participate in it. The question of Dr Khan Sahib’s resignation did not arise as he enjoyed the support of the majority of the legislators at that time.
The writer further says: “As Partition neared, Hindu and Sikh members of the Assembly left for India while the independents joined the Muslim League depriving the Congress Ministry of a majority. In a house of fifty he had twenty or so members”.
It is absolutely incorrect. At the time of Partition Dr Khan Sahib’s government had the support of 33 members in a house of 50, including 12 non-Muslims and not 20 as stated by the writer. There was hardly any independent member in the NWFP Assembly at that time.
Most of the non-Muslim MLAs, including Mehr Chand Khanna, a minister in Dr Khan Sahib’s cabinet, migrated to India much later and not immediately before or immediately after August 15. The writer in this connection has referred to Aslam Khattak’s ‘wonderful book’. Mr Khattak has vehemently condemned the dismissal of Dr Khan Sahib’ ministry as is evident from the write-up below:
“However I do feel that the dismissal of Dr Khan’s Ministry by a dictatorial order was neither desirable nor constitutionally correct. I believe Dr Khan Sahib’s Ministry should have been allowed to continue with, if necessary, new elections in the North Western Frontier Province. Installing a Chief Minister (Khan Abdul Qayum Khan) who did not have a majority was opening of a Pandora’s box of corruption and electoral manipulation that contributed so much to our subsequent chequered history” (A Pathan Odyssey, page 57)
Dr Khan Sahib did not refuse to take the oath on the advent of freedom as alleged by Mr Zaman. On the contrary, he was not invited to take the oath by the British governor. He could not take the oath himself. Sir Ambrose Daundas was not the governor of the NWFP at the time of independence as stated by the writer. It was Sir George Cunningham who also held the office of the governor prior to partition.
If Dr Khan Sahib’s ministry, according to Mr Zaman, had lost majority support in the Assembly and its strength was reduced to 20 in a house of 39, then why was the democratic procedure to dislodge the ministry by tabling a no-confidence motion not adopted? Instead, reliance was placed on the unconstitutional dismissal through the governor for which there was no provision in the constitution in force at that time, i.e. Government of India Act 1935 as amended by the Indian Independence Act 1947.
R.R ALVI
Lahore
IT appears that the PML (N) has played its cards well by announcing the date for restoration of the judges. Whatever the move or the outcome, Mr Sharif will emerge victorious.
In case it does not happen, the PPP will have to take the blame. The PML (N) appears to move more strategically by placing the PPP in a fix through the announcement made on May 2. Any further delay in the resolution to be passed to restore the judges can hurt the PPP.
SAAD RAJPUT
Islamabad
THE NUST-sponsored PhD students at its various institutes are getting a meagre sum of Rs10,000 per month as a research scholarship. This amount is quite small, and a PhD student cannot bear all its home expenditure, high traffic fare and electricity bill.
The NUST should raise the amount to at least Rs16,000 so that PhD students better deal with their financial problems.
STUDENTS NUST
Rawalpindi
THE Supreme Court of Pakistan issued a decision regarding exemption of the graduation degree for the Member of National and Provincial Assembly, which is warmly welcomed.
If we are going to observe the criterion in developed countries, i.e. the UK and the US, there is no need of graduation for selection of members. However, graduation is not a certificate to show the capability of a person. In Pakistan, only three per cent people are graduate, but what about the remaining 97 per cent? We have observed that in the past assembly graduate members fought with each other inside the assembly hall and created a rowdy and undisciplined atmosphere inside the assembly building.
The decision to exempt the graduation requirement is welcomed. It is, however, recommended that new procedures may be adopted. A suggestion is that all candidates contesting for the National Assembly should be made to appear in a qualifying pre-entry test which may be held through the Election Commission on a merit basis, which will carry 100 objective type questions from various areas in current affairs and political science.
The Election Commission will have the right to reject the nomination paper of the candidate if he will not secure more than 60 per cent marks in the pre-entry test for candidates of the National Assembly.
HUSSAIN DINO THEBO
Khairpur Mirs
I WAS shocked when a few days back I learnt through the media that abolition of capital punishment is under consideration of the government.
I am an old mother whose son, aged 19 years, was murdered in June 2003. I fought the case, and the murderer was sentenced to death by the court of additional district and sessions judge, Islamabad. The convict has filed an appeal before the High Court, Rawalpindi, which is pending adjudication.
The decision of the government, besides being a breach of my human right, will be against Article 227 of the Constitution enunciating that no law will be enacted which is against the Islamic injunctions.
One wonders what the government is up to, particularly in view of the prevailing law and order situation in the country.
This amounts to giving licence to dacoits, murderers, hired assassins, rapists, vagabonds to go scot-free without fear of punishment.
People will slit each other’s throat and this will go endlessly and unabated.
This will promote terrorism in the country, jolting its foundations and making the life of the law-abiding citizen miserable.
A GRIEF-STRICKEN MOTHER
Islamabad
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