| June 20, 2008 | Friday | Jamadi-us-Sani 15, 1429 |
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Strengthening social institutions
Rulers versus people
New budget, old problems
Storm in a teacup
Resolving PIA’s problems
Inconsolable widowers
Sufferer’s plea
Jamaat clarification
Meals and deals
Sugarcane republic
By the book
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 official monsoon season dates from July 14 to Aug 14. The rains that recently watered the country are termed as pre-monsoon showers. The havoc that would be caused by the monsoon is yet to be recorded as 23 slums only in Rawalpindi have been declared to be in danger.
It’s been 60 long years and despite the regular occurrence of monsoon we haven’t been able to formulate a strategy to take care of the water in an effective way along with avoiding floods. Floods today are more severe because of changes that we have made to the landscape. Think about a 100-acre piece of land covered in trees. Assume that three inches of rain falls on that land in a heavy downpour.
Forested land is extremely good at absorbing and holding water. The leaves on the ground slow the water down and let the ground absorb it. All of that rainfall might be retained by the land making an improvement in the water table and released slowly over several days.
Now imagine the same piece of land converted to a shopping mall/road/housing society. Those 100 acres are now completely paved over. If three inches of rain falls, none of it is absorbed. So about 10 million gallons (40 million litres) of water runs straight to the nearest creek or river in a matter of a few minutes.
The CDA has constructed a lot of new roads in Islamabad in the areas that only a year ago housed a lot of clusters of trees and beautiful natural green belts. When it rained, it would be a beautiful sight for the eyes to feast on to look at swaying trees cleansed with rain water.
Islamabad used to be the only green city in Pakistan with the ratio of more trees per person than any other place. Greens of trees have been turned into grays of roads and now Islamabad would see such an excessive flow of water in its creeks that has never been seen before. The water in the higher areas of Islamabad would run to the low-lying areas of Rawalpindi and, thus, explains those 23 slums in Rawalpindi to be in grave danger.
Unless we keep all aspects of construction in mind, it is feared that the coming years are going to be harder for us as there would be more floods and no means to control that water for an effective use.
ZILL-E-REHMAN KHAN NIAZI
Islamabad
THERE are many factors that have increased poverty and pain of the people of middle lower class families, as well as of low salaried persons. One of the main factors is over population. The rapid growth of population undoubtedly would create hurdles in the process of development of our country.
Pakistan is one of those countries which face many problems, including overpopulation, whereas every problem needs due attention, appropriate time and adequate remedies to solve it before it becomes very difficult to handle it.
Overpopulation is considered to be a main cause of poverty. We, therefore, need to stop the rapid growth of population by educating people and making them aware of its adverse effects. As it has been observed that the government and non-government organisations are not playing their role as good as they should play, it is a major responsibility of NGOs and other social departments to create awareness among the people of the countryside by taking up suitable programmes. In this way we can save people from problems created by them.
At the same time, private organisations and the banking sector must adopt lenient ways of giving help to the members of lower middle class families and low salaried persons. By applying profitable packages and simple policies, we can tackle problems such as poverty and overpopulation.
As it has been observed, policies and requirements of NGOs and private banks are sometimes very hard for the applicants to fulfil. Low salaried persons are not able to apply for small loans; even if they apply, high interest is paid. The same is the case with people who run small businesses.
There is a great need to pay attention but unfortunately the welfare department has shut the door on the population welfare institutions for which the employees have been protesting.
Instead of revising policies and increasing funds, the Sindh government is taking steps against it. This is not fair at all. NGOs, welfare departments and other social welfare institutions must be backed so that they can improve the standard of life.
All these institutions and organisations should realise that there are still people in towns and villages who are unaware even of the basic knowledge of living. We should work for an outcome that is better for all of us.
MOULA BUX ALIAS NOUMAN
Hyderabad
COUNTRIES where crime control and justice system is working effectively, people are living in a peaceful environment conducive to carrying out intellectual, economic and recreational pursuits. They move freely even in the small hours without having a thought of danger to their property and life.
But to achieve this all, their leadership and public institutions keep ears to the ground, introduce laws in the best interest of the people. The administration acts as a friend of the people and nobody can bully the weak as the state is always prepared to help.
But what is now happening in our country, in general, and in Karachi, in particular, shows that there is a deliberate plan to make innocent citizens suffer. For instance, when due to inadequate public transport, one is forced to buy a vehicle out of hard-earned savings, the robber would consider it as his property and hijack it on gun-point and even take life on resistance.
The victim runs from pillar to post for help from law enforcement agencies but to no avail. The experience of robbery becomes a lifetime agony for him.
I have been pursuing my complaint of carjacking registered under (FIR 170/2006). After the unfortunate incident I called on the officer of anti-car lifting cell, Karachi. Although he did not treat me summarily, rather was all ears because of a reference, yet the vehicle is still untraced and no intimation till date.
I told him how a case of laptop theft from the hotel room where the complainant was staying was handled by the London police. The investigation officer came to the hotel and tendered an apology to the victim for trauma caused due to felony.
Sustained bad governance reminds people of religious sermons where they are told loud and clear that “cruel rulers are punishment of God”.
This reminds me of Genghis Khan (1162-1227) who once said: “I am the punishment of God. If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you”.
Although remembered as a mass executioner, he was loyal to his own people who fought along his side, smashed strong powers of that time and established a vast empire.
Genghis Khan delivered to his nation unlike our present-day rulers in Third World countries who are eating up resources of their own people but in return paying them nothing. It is never too late, our rulers must solve problems of the people.
S. BUKHARI
Karachi
THE 2008-09 budget, announced recently, offers a lot of relief for the poor who have been facing a great many hurdles in enjoying their fundamental rights, specially in the last eight years commonly known as the Musharraf regime.
The agricultural sector is a very important one supporting 70 per cent of the economy but still needs a lot of reforms and relief even after the announcement of the budget.
The poor farmers, the major players of agriculture, have no money to buy high-priced oil and are facing troubles in buying fertilisers, specially DAP, in order to get the best results, particularly the crops of sugarcane and wheat.
Farmers are using cheap fertilisers instead of DAP which is far from their purchasing capacity. This replacement would affect agricultural income. Agriculturists regard it as a minute subsidy of Rs1,000 over DAP.
It is the season of planting the rice crop these days that needs more water, fertilisers and sprays as compared to any other crop in Pakistan. The huge problem is of electricity. Loadshedding occurs almost 12 hours in a day in rural areas and most of the farmers rely on the electric tube-wells. Since electricity is not available according to their needs, how should they irrigate their crops?
Another point which has been given due respect in thebudget is poverty. Poverty is a major problem halting Pakistan from progress. The new government has taken some bold steps regarding the eradication of poverty.
They have made a fund programme, Benazir card, under which poor families would be given the amount of Rs1,000 as monthly aid. Now the problem is that who will benefit and who will not? This aid will certainly go either into the pockets of politicians themselves or to their political affiliates. The result of this programme would be the same as that of Zakat committees.
MUHAMMAD ALI HARAL
Lahore
IT became evident after the ‘long march’ that dissension has crept in the ranks of the lawyers community. Their disunited stance has also gained much publicity. In essence reality has struck in the camps of these men in black, and their national call for agitation now seems nothing more than the proverbial storm in a teacup.
The truth is that these lawyers heavily bank on the political support of the PPP and the PML(N) and, as time will pass, they will have to realise the fact that politics will outweigh this matter for the politicians, and eventually downsize and disintegrate their movement. The lawyers will resemble nothing more than a group of pawns in the great game of maneouvring, strategy and tactics that is ‘realpolitik’.
If the legal community is so hell bent on their chosen course of action, it would be better advised for them to seek public support and an amicable resolution of their grievances in accordance with the constitutional means, which the legal community should embody; and stop resorting to mimicry of socialist revolutionaries which sadly they are not.
DAWOOD SHAKIL
Rawalpindi
WHEN breaking news splashed on a local TV channel the other day that ‘PIA has suffered over a period of five years’ accumulated losses of 42.5 billion’, I was not at all surprised but certainly it saddened me a lot.
PIA once used to be the pride of the nation because of efficiency and excellent service it provided in the entire region. Some countries even hired its experts and professionals and established their airlines. Nevertheless, mismanagement of past two decades has converted the same as a white elephant, an added burden on the nation’s economy and conscience as well.
So far, efforts have been made at federal level through injecting subsidies to rejuvenate PIA. Privatisation has also been on cards. But like any spoon-feeding the subsidies also could not bring any positive improvement. Privatisation has also proved to be no panacea of ills in view of the disappointment in the case of KESC, PTCL, etc.
However, keeping in view PIAC MD Capt M. Eijaz’s determination of “Resolving PIA’s problems” (June 13 ) plus strong base and 60 years plus experience of national carrier in the field of aviation, I still feel that things can be changed for better provided certain stringent measures of austerity are adopted.
To achieve the desired results, prerequisite is the acceptability of such rigours by those who are the beneficiaries of this organisation, starting especially from the top downward on the basis of age-old maxim: “Charity begins at home”.
Instantaneous steps required for restoring the health of the airline are suggested as under:
a. All expensive contract employees at senior level should be relieved forthwith irrespective of their position and connection.
b. Since the airline is already overstaffed, fresh appointments should be banned for at least five years. Contract officials at junior level should be allowed to continue at fixed emoluments till the organisation gains financial strength.
c. Facilities such as air tickets allowed to employees, including chairman/MD, and their families should be stopped for five years. Only official visits should be allowed, and that too in economy class.
d. Any increase in the pay and perks as a result of the CBA’s bargaining should be frozen for at least two years.
e. In order to improve the marketing, sale of tickets should be made like a commercial organisation. Selling agents should be given targets and if they fail to achieve these, their licences should be cancelled.
f. Lucrative air routes such as Europe have to be recaptured by providing the required international standards.
g. Efforts should be made to improve flying service, providing special training to air staff to attract more clients/business.
h. Effective deterrence is required to check pilferage/leakage in purchases, stores, kitchen, etc.
i. Life-time benefit allowed to all former chairmen/MDs should be discontinued forthwith..
RAFIQUE AHMED SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Mushir Anwar’s column, ‘Beside reader for inconsolable widowers’ (June 11). The name of the poetess or of her brother, mentioned in the article, has been confused and needs clarification.
The poetess, Rabia Fakhri (referred to in the column), was sister of Azeem Ul Viqar Farhan and she used to reside in Rawalpindi with her brother, while Rabia Nehan used to live with her brother, Qamar Ul Islam. They were two different poetesses of their time, well-known to the literary world.
Rabia Fakhri was a punctual and regular attendee and member of Halqa Arbab-i-Zouq while she had also been awarded the title of Parcham-i-Urdu.
FAMILY OF AZEEM UL VIQAR FARHAN
Rawalpindi
AT the age of 29 Asim Irshad has a good job, caring family and friends but he is frustrated by the chaos in the city. He is unsure whether to remain in Pakistan or migrate.
I am 46 and have a stable job and four children but I never thought that my life will be spent in discussing UPS, generators and loadshedding.
I look back and regret that 20 years back when I finished my studies I had every chance to leave this country but somehow thought that life will be good and did not migrate.
Now there is no hope that we will change and in this chaos the worst sufferers are our young generation. There is no harm in migrating and living as second rate citizen in another country when every common man has to suffer in Pakistan.
ANJUM AMIN SIDDIQUI
Karachi
APROPOS of the letter, ‘Of a JI meeting’ (June 18), the Jamaat would like to submit the following:
We appreciate the eyewitness’s observations about the Jamaat-i-Islami regarding its stand and its exhortations. The district organisation of the Jamaat has organised a weeklong Fahm-ul-Quran course from June 15 to 21, being given by Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui at the site mentioned on Abul Hasan Ispahani Road.
Since the timing of the event is in the late evening, the event is being powered through a rented generator sufficient to cover the whole event in which a large number of area residents are participating.
The Jamaat has a strict code of conduct regarding such matters and will certainly not indulge in ‘stealing’ of electricity in its programme. We would like to invite ‘the eyewitness’ and anybody who is interested to come again and witness the arrangements in this regard.
IQBAL AHMED
Jamaat-i-Islami
Karachi
AS reported by Dilawar Hussain, ‘Meals and deals’ (Business pages, June 11), the Karachi Stock Exchange brokers have decided to help the community on humanitarian ground, by feeding the hungry under a programme named ‘Dastarkhwan’. In the beginning, they are set to provide free meals to 500 poor but subsequently facility will be extended to 2,000 needy persons per day. First meals will be distributed at the Kikri Ground in Lyari.
The charity is no doubt a noble cause but feeding 2,000 people every day, regularly, is neither going to alleviate poverty, nor is it an answer to serious economic crisis the country is passing through. It will rather create a permanent class of hangers-on and beggars, waiting all the day for assistance which is below the dignity of a man.
The country has millions of underprivileged and needy people whose number, on the one hand, is increasing every day for inflated cost of living and, on the other hand, for lack of employment. If the stockbrokers are having genuine sympathy for the downtrodden and the underdog, they should forgo exemption on their fabulous amounts of capital gains they earn on trading of shares and offer the same for taxation. In this way they will not only feed 2,000 souls but will also be sharing the betterment of the entire nation.
By not insisting on exemption on the gain of sale of shares and parting with a small amount in the shape of income-tax, which every earning person is paying on his income, the stockbrokers will be making real contribution to the overall economy of the country instead of cosmetic magnanimity of feeding a few thousand people.
DR KAZI KHADIM HUSSAIN
Hyderabad
DEPOSED judges have been paid their salaries by the government, their salaries were due for seven months. They have accepted the pay cheques. Although they were not able to discharge their duties for the last seven months and were not able to provide justice to the common people, they still received their salaries and not a single one refused. Perhaps a couple of them may have resisted, but I have no updates.
The ‘restoration of judges’ movement is still going on as the ‘long march’ ended with anti-climax, and no result; another ‘train march’ is in the pipeline.
The president house budget of approximately Rs350 million has been sanctioned without any question asked. The suspended judges got their arrears and the person who suspended them got the next budget for his house.
The ‘people of Pakistan’ are left fighting for nothing. Banana republic is an old word now, let’s come up with a new definition of Pakistan, the sugarcane republic where the cane is the ‘the common people of Pakistan’ who vote to bring about change but end up with ‘long marches’, ‘loadshedding’, ‘inflation’, ‘anarchy’ and so on, more sugar is extracted from this cane and the fight goes on.
ANAS A. KHAN
Canada
ADMIRAL Michael Mullen, one of the many US military chiefs, has stated the carnage carried out on Pakistan soil on June 11 to be ‘very much by the book’ (June 13).
It seems that acts of aggression and mowing down fellow soldiers (because that is what soldiers of ‘allies’ should be considered) is very much ‘in the book’ of the superpower.
HASAN BIN HAMZA
Australia
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