| June 19, 2008 | Thursday | Jamadi-us-Sani 14, 1429 |
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Discriminatory taxes
Need for tolerance & sacrifice
Another mischief
Judicial integrity
A case for Hazara province
Rolling back the clock
Of a JI meeting
Water shortage
Yet another attack
Double-edged sword
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
PAIN is one of the most challenging problems in medicine and its allied sciences. It was long considered to be simply a symptom of acute injury or pathology. However, chronic pain often becomes a syndrome in its own right.
Persistent, unrelenting pain prevents people from working and carrying out their normal pattern of life. It has a terrible impact on a person, his or her family, and society in general.
Many pain syndromes remain a challenge. Low back pain, migraine and tension headache plague millions of people who continually seek help. New drugs and psychological techniques provide help for some, but pain often persists.
Perhaps the most terrible of all pains are those suffered by some cancer patients in the terminal phases of the disease. In Pakistan about 200,000 new patients are diagnosed with cancer, 80 per cent of them have some sort of pain. About 30 per cent suffer with intractable pain and need strong pain-killers as suggested by WHO.
Everyone must become involved in the process of educating our colleagues and the general public about pain. Pain is a plague. Tens of millions of people are suffering from pain, their lives and their families’ lives are devastated, and cost to society is in the millions of rupees. But there is very little money for research on cancer and post-surgical pain.
At whom we aim our efforts of re-education. The answer is: at everyone — at physicians and all healthcare givers, at patients, and at politicians. We must promote education on the treatment of pain. We must also teach patients to communicate better about their pain, and inform them that they have a right to freedom from pain.
We must also get our message to those in government that pain is a major plague that saps the strength of society, that funds for research and therapy are urgently needed, that regulations regarding the supply of drugs must be modified to meet the needs of people in pain.
If we can pursue these goals together — as scientists and therapists, as members of the full range of scientific and health professionals — we can hope to meet the goal we all strive for: to help our fellow human beings who suffer needless pain.
Society for Treatment and Study of Pain (STSP) was established in 1984. Since its inception, STSP has been successful in its mission of creating general awareness about the importance of pain management, as well as arrangement of seminar and workshops and free pain camps in various cites of Pakistan.
The aims and objectives of STSP are to promote education and training in the field of pain: to foster and encourage research of pain mechanisms and pain syndromes and to help improve management of patient and to inform the general public of results and implication of current research in the area.
Global Pain Day is celebrated annually, focusing on pain relief. Last year the theme was ‘Pain in Cancer Patients’. In the year 2007-2008, it will be celebrated as ‘Pain Relief in Women’
The aim of celebrating this year would be to create awareness in general public, especially women, about the various methods and techniques available for pain relief. Much emphasis would be on ‘labour pain’, as almost every woman passes through the process of labour and every woman describes it to be an unpleasant and unbearable experience. So through this global day the woman would be taught that techniques are available which can reduce this pain and agony experienced by labouring woman worldwide.
Pain drugs such as morphine are not freely available in Pakistan. WHO recommends morphine for cancer patients but it is hardly available.
Pain is a human right. We would request the health ministry that analgesic drugs should be freely available for cancer patients.
BRIG(r) M. SALIM
Rawalpindi
TAX administration is a continuous phenomenon aimed at ensuring consistency in the process of progress and development of any country. Therefore, reforms are frequently introduced to expand the taxation base.
In return, the taxpayers are offered certain facilities to encourage them to contribute to the uplift and prosperity of their homeland.
In Pakistan, too, tax administration reforms have been introduced from time to time, with the basic objective to increase the tax collection, to provide tax facilitation and better tax environment to the taxpayers. But unfortunately these have proved half-hearted and failed to produce the desired results, for two aspects, i.e. to strengthen the base of tax collection and to discourage the trend of tax evasion, have never been given due consideration.
Unlike other strata of society, salaried class is the major contributor to taxation in Pakistan, and a government employee is bound to contribute a major part of his salary towards direct taxes every month. Besides, there are many indirect taxes to pay. One such indirect tax, i.e. five per cent tax on rented accommodation, was introduced by the previous government in the federal budget for the financial year 2006-07. Basically, the said tax was to be deducted from the rent amount at source and, of course, the deduction is being made regularly but, in practical terms, this tax is being collected not from the landlords but the government employees living in the rented accommodation, because the landlords insist on payment of the agreed amount of rent and are thus evading to pay the tax.
The government should either withdraw this discriminatory tax restricted to only the accommodation rented for its own employees, or devise some mechanism to collect it direct from the landlords.
Another such tax is the one on cash withdrawals from banks exceeding Rs25,000. This uncalled-for tax enhanced from 0.2 per cent to 0.3 per cent from the financial year 2008-09 will not only overburden the small account-holders, particularly those have bracketed income, but will also discourage the savings.
Therefore, this tax should be withdrawn or its exemption limit may be enhanced from Rs25,000 to Rs100,000, besides restricting it to per month instead of the existing per transaction.
MAHMOOD RIAZUDDIN
Islamabad
AS was expected, the lawyers’ long march ended without achieving any purpose. This way a lot of money, energy and time was wasted. It only made a section of the people who were expecting miracles more disappointed and disillusioned.
Opposition leaders should now take a lesson from this unnecessary show of strength. In a parliamentary democracy the only weapon for change available to the people is election.
The opposition on Feb 18 got this opportunity and availed it. Now was the time to consolidate their gains. Instead, the opposition got itself unnecessarily involved in non-issues like restoration of judges.
I think our political parties must have realised that agitational politics will not serve any purpose. It will take many months to mobilise people to yet another long march.
I will, therefore, advise parties which have come into power to concentrate on solving the problems being faced by the nation.
Sharif brothers and their Muslim League(N) have the full liberty to implement their policies for which they have the mandate in the province of Punjab, the PPP has similar opportunities in the centre and Sindh, the NWFP and Balochistan.
For the time being they should get rid of the Musharraf phobia which will serve no purpose except destabilising the country.
As far as judges are concerned, I suggest that all the 29 judges should be restored and then they should be allowed to decide their own fate and select their own chief. If parliament can help them in this regard, that is well and good.
Both the camps of President Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif will have to show some restraint as sacrifice is needed for reconciliation for the greater good of the country. Democracy demands tolerance and sacrifice. It is time we sent a message to the world that we are a democratic and tolerant nation and can resolve our problems within ourselves.
K. MURAD BEY
Karachi
THE Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, who was accusing Pakistan of stirring trouble in Afghanistan in ambiguous words, sometimes saying something and meaning another-mostly in between the lines, but this time he has openly threatened to attack Pakistan by sending his troops in pursuit of terrorists who, he alleges, cross over to Afghanistan and retreat after causing havoc.
Without going into details of his press conference, or trying to evaluate the ability of Afghan forces to carry out such missions, I would like to find out the reason of his outburst.
Is it ‘his master’s voice? After it was established that Bajaur and Mohmand Agency strikes were carried out by US forces-and it could not compel Pakistan to own them as it used to do in the past, it had to do some mischief or another. It has nudged Afghanistan to regurgitate its bile.
Washington is good at it. It has a grudge against Iran. It wanted to punish it for the US embassy hostage drama of 1979-80. They tried to carry out air raids but could not succeed; so the Americans prodded Iraq to avenge them by invading Iran.
Saddam Hussein fell for it, and attacked Iran. After a million or so people died on both sides in eight years, the war ended in a draw,
When Pakistan began to say no to every unacceptable US demand for Afghan war, it wants to teach a lesson to Islamabad. And what better way to do that will be than to pitch Afghanistan and Pakistan in a war.
This stone will kill three birds: a lesson will be taught to Pakistan, their hidden agenda will be served that two Muslim states will fight each other, and US will reap the rich harvest of two weakened countries.
This is the agenda the US seems to be working on. Pakistan should be on its guard. The best way to win a battle is to defeat the enemy’s intentions.
M.K. NAQVI
Karachi
WHEN the judiciary fails, people develop their own mechanism for justice. The recent beatings and burnings by the people of the criminals explain the current system.
People in Haiti used to follow the same techniques and Pakistan has joined the same league. This is all due to the instable judiciary that has increased the frustration of the people who have been demanding justice.
However, the current circumstances and the high level of corruption are making things worse for the nation. Let the judiciary be independent, candour and full of integrity.
HYDER BILGRAMI
Islamabad
I READ with great interest the article by Dr Tariq Rehman, ‘Why not Pakhtunkhwa’ (June 10). I totally support his proposal for carving out Hindko-speaking and Khowar-speaking provinces out of the NWFP while renaming the rest of the NWFP to Pakhtunkhwa.
The people of Hazara played a decisive role in making the North-West Frontier Province part of Pakistan in a historic referendum in 1947 but after independence they continued to be punished for voting overwhelming for Pakistan.
The inhabitants of Hazara always offered sacrifices for the national causes. They offered precious lands thrice only because it was in the interest of the country. Today, the bulwark of power generation and irrigation system in Pakistan — Tarbela Dam (completed in 1974) — is located in Haripur district of the Hazara region.
A huge area of Hazara, comprising 123 lush green villages, went under water when the world’s biggest rock-filled dam was constructed on the land of the Hindko-speaking people. Similar sacrifices were offered when Khanpur Dam was built and Ghazi-Barotha Hydroelectric Project launched. No voice was raised from the so-called Charsadaa-based Pukhtun nationalists when the lands in Hazara were being sunk for creating electricity sources for the entire country — a classic case of double-standard indeed by the Pukhtun nationalists who raised a hell when the Kalabagh Dam project was unveiled in the mid-80s.
Despite all these sacrifices, the people of the Hazara region, constituting 30 per cent population of the province, were denied their right to social and economic development by every provincial government. The Pakhtun nationalists did that by design to teach a lesson to Hazarawals for their continued support to the federation and Pakistan Muslim League.
Strangely enough, the same Pakhtun chauvinists always based their politics on the Tarbela Dam, proudly claiming at all the forums that electricity was being produced by their province, but ignoring the fact that the Tarbela Dam was built on the land of Hindko - speaking Hazarawals, not Pakhtuns and that the power royalty was the sole right of the people of Hazara, not the entire province.
Now that when the ANP is adamant on giving a racial name of Pukhtunkhwa to the NWFP, in total disregard for wishes of the people of Hazara and other non-Pakhtun population of the province, there is no harm in demanding a separate status for our entire Hazara region — Haripur, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Battagram and Kohistan.
Three mega hydel power projects are located in Hazara. The most beautiful tourist resorts of the country, Kaghan, Naran, Jheel Saiful Malook, Galyaat and Thandyani, to name a few, are there. These two important sources of income alone are sufficient to economically sustain the Hazara province.
Let there be another amendment to the Constitution to create a Hazara province. The 30 per cent population of the province living in Hazara has every right to protect and retain their own cultural identity in the form of a separate Hazara province.
BILAL TANOLI
NWFP
“US presidential hopeful McCain would establish the League of Democracies that could respond to UN Security Council tendency to be hamstrung by the likes of Russia and China when it needs to take action against the world’s evildoers.” (May 29).
It’s like suggesting the appointment of auditors for the two supposedly wrongdoers within the Security Council: as if the freedom of expression is not required in the council. Has the world to undergo another four years while the White House has no clear understanding of the international ground realities?
The world standing and stature of Russia and China and their leaders, Prime Minister Putin and President Hu Jentao, are too big for such an uncalled-for idea to succeed, so soon after Iraq and also without any consideration of universal acceptability.
The world is in the process of changing fast for the last many years. Nepal is the latest example. In case the US does not acknowledge this, it could find faults in its international diplomacy.
“The US continues to call the democratic government of Nepal as the former rebels.” (May 29). And also, more often than not, it looks as if US diplomacy can’t work without nicknaming its foes.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
APROPOS my letter ‘Of a JI meeting’ (June 8). A friend of mine tells me that the Jamaat pays electricity charges to the KESC in cases where it takes power direct from KESC wires through kundas for its public rallies. In that case I withdraw my allegation. However, I would request the JI to clarify the position.
AN EYEWITNESS
Karachi
DR M. JALALUDDIN has lamented (June 13) that Pakistan is importing foodstuffs worth $3 billion, and has suggested various remedies for rectifying the situation.
He has, however, failed to mention one important item: water.
Seventy-two per cent of Pakistan’s land surface is not being cultivated for lack of water. Surplus water during the rainy season flows out into the sea for lack of storage. This must stop to help ameliorate food shortage and rising food prices.
ASAF ALI SHAH
Lahore
THIS is with reference to your editorial, ‘Yet another attack’ (June 15) which describes the regularity of girls’ schools being bombed and burnt down in northern part of the country. The news of burning a girls’ school in Dir Bala (Upper Dir) had appeared in this paper a few days ago.
The reason for setting the school ablaze was given in a letter found near the debris that it was burnt due to negligence of the school administration which showed laxity in having girls observing proper ‘purdah’. I think it was only a ruse.
I agree with the editorial that the government would be failing on two issues of equal import: education and the right of girl child which has been neglected by all rulers.
I emphasise that such incidents are as much the manifestation of negating the importance of knowledge as it is opposing female education. The less educated and ignorant men cannot tolerate educated women. And as Talibanisation spreads, the editorial rightly points out: the anti-women attitude would seriously damage the whole fabric of society since women constitute half of the population.
Instead of advising the government to do this and to do that, I suggest that proliferation of education to men should be the first priority. In this connection I suggest that a series of lectures on rights and duties of women, importance of female education and protection of the weaker sex by eminent religious scholars should be arranged for those people who have anti-women attitude in the conservative-minded society of the northern parts of Pakistan.
REHANA NAQVI
Karachi
NAWAZ Sharif wants to table a resolution to restore the sacked judges, a move supported by the lawyers and a segment of the public.
Asif Zardari wants to restore them through a constitutional amendment; a move supported by the presidency and another segment of the public.
Mr Zardari’s move is like a doubled-edged sword. If he succeeds, it will hit Nawaz. If he fails it will hit him back. But there is a catch: the hit will make Nawaz Sharif a public hero.
On the other hand, a similar hit will make Zardari face a revolt within his party.
Meanwhile, the move will open a floodgate for massive horse — trading, repeating the ugly and unhealthy past history of democracy in Pakistan.
DR GHAYUR AYUB
London
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