| June 22, 2008 | Sunday | Jamadi-us-Sani 17, 1429 |
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Playing havoc with public health
Sindh Social Relief Fund
NSS: appeal to PM
Overcoming electricity crisis
Budget or a wish list
Typhoid fever
Plight of mobile users
Signs of an impasse
Passport fees
Victims’ rights
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 Rab Dino Khaskheli’s letter, ‘Working of district govts’ (June 17). It refers to the debate on the local government system, terming it a total failure. The writer has rejected the idea and has called for abolition of the system.
He has blamed nazims for all the evils that exist in districts as if none of these existed earlier. He has also pointed to various fields ranging from law and order to education which, according to him, have collapsed due to the intervention/personality of nazims.
The writer also seems to object to the idea of DMG officers working under the supervision of matriculate nazims. To him, abolition of the local government system seems to be only solution to end the problems which exist in districts.
The criticism of the writer with regard to overconcentration of powers with nazims, as well as with regard to various other loopholes in the system, may hold some weight, but the abolition of the system on this basis is not justifiable and cannot be supported. I wonder how people call for abolition of systems instead of strengthening or improving them.
The current local government system, introduced by President Musharraf some eight years ago, has already taken huge resources and people have started adapting to the system of district governance. Its abolition would be highly unfortunate and a waste of resources.
The concept of this three-tier system has many advantages and is in conformity with the provisions of the 1973 Constitution. Its substance lies in the fact that the local/municipal level issues get resolved at the grassroots’ level. The decentralisation and devolution of local subjects to local level tends to increase efficiency.
However, despite its benefits, the system has been used as a means to extract personal favours by nazims and others.
The flaws could be removed after consultation with all the stakeholders. It is not out of place to mention that the previous system was not purged of the defects either as previous district managers did not prove to be any good for the people.
It transpires that every system has some good points and some bad points. It is, therefore, not wise to wrap up a system after having invested ample resources in it. The redirection and orientation removes the defects and contributes to smooth working of machinery.
Lastly, blaming nazims for the awarding of contracts, nepotism, corruption, etc, is also harsh as it does not involve the sole discretion of the nazim. The DCO and other functionaries also have adequate say and all decisions are taken in the light of the law.
It is also pertinent to mention that the writer should have no objection to a government servant like DMG officer, or for that matter any other government servant, working under the control of an elected nazim. The DMG officers are not super creatures. The same DMG officers could not deliver when they ruled as kings of districts. This is evident from the pace of development works carried out during the devolution plan period as compared to the previous period.
I suggest that instead of abolishing the local government system, radical reforms should be introduced in the system as believed by the PPPP government so that smooth working of this institution of paramount importance is ensured.
Reforms should be made to ensure accountability of the institutions. This will lead to delivery of services to the common masses at their doorstep and also save the nation from wasting billions of rupees already incurred on devolution.
ABRAIZ ALI ABBASI
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Faiza Ilyas’s report, “Fruit ripened by calcium carbide can be ‘lethal’” (June 3).
Although it seems that startling contents are a bit exaggerated but it cannot be discarded altogether.
As a matter of propensity, to encash quick return of harvest, growers and wholesalers tempt to tamper with time-consuming natural process of fruit-ripening by adopting a hazardous method of using harmful fruit ripening agent calcium carbide and other cheap chemical compound, quite oblivious to lingering and fatalist health consequences for consumers, because this method is cost-efficient and brings good prices because it enhances taste and change colour.
Since the use of this chemical as fruit-ripening agent is banned in many countries, including India, why is it commonly used in our country? This practice must be unravelled and banned at the earliest before the fresh arrival of mangoes and other summer-related seasonal fruits.
It must be noted that foreign buyers of mango always and strictly insist on green top quality as they adopt non-hazardous method where fruit does not come in direct contact with any chemicals.
As usual, we cannot expect an expeditious action from our ruling elite who are engaged and expected to remain entangled for a long time in the most important matter of restoration of the judiciary and, afterward, the consequences thereof. Hence, in the meantime, consumers must take appropriate precautionary steps and properly wash all types of fruits and vegetables before consumption and avoid as far as possible consuming it at the initial stage of season when the artificial process is widely used for quick ripening.
SIDDIK S. JAANGDA
Karachi
THE government of Sindh finance department established the Sindh Social Relief Fund (SSRF) with an objective to provide direct relief to the disadvantaged and distressesed. In the budget for 2005-06 an amount of Rs3 bilion was allocated. This amount was to be increased by Rs2 billion annually but it was enhanced later on to Rs3 billion.
By now an amount of Rs9 billion has been earmarked, excluding the current year allocation. Although the purpose of this fund was to give immediate relief to the distressed, unfortunately the entire amount was kept in bank to earn profit on it and the needy were allowed to die of hunger during these last three years.
It was never the purpose of the government to earn profit but the idea was to lessen the hardship of those who cannot meet the ends. However, during the period profit was earned on deposits but these needy and deprived people remained in dire distress, which cannot be justified in a moral and ethical sense of the word.
Considering the above facts and the fact that a lot of time has already been wasted, the following arrangements may immediately be made so that maximum amount should reach the deserving without further delay:
a. A list of 200 most distressed persons may be called from each union council of every district of Sindh.
b. After necessary scrutiny through mukhtiarkar of the tehsil concerned, each person may be allowed Rs1,000 per month.
c. In order to ensure transparency and genuineness of transaction the payment may be made through cross-cheque.
In view of the above proposal an amount of Rs2.64 billion will reach the deserving in all 1,100 union councils as per the formula given below:
The above proposed formula will be the first phase and thus the number of distressed people will be extended in other subsequent phases. In this way a huge number of distressed people can be provided economic relief, union council-wise, throughout the province without any prejudice and discrimination, fulfilling the very purpose and objective of the SSRF.
DR ALI AKBAR DHAKAN
Member, Sindh Relief
Fund Committee, Finance
Department, Government of Sindh,
Karachi
APROPOS of the Budget 2008-2009, clause 46-g , an increase of two per cent profit in the National Savings Schemes has been announced. Whereas under increase of salaries listed under separate heading under paragraph four pertaining to senior citizens and widows drawing profit under the Behbood Funds were exempt from withholding taxes, would now be taxed at the rate of 10 per cent .
I am at a loss to understand why the elderly members of society under the new budget proposal will pay eight per cent more on their profit under Behbood Scheme of National Savings Behbood Account.
This means that in place of relief, the senior citizens and widows are being penalised.
In respect of Behbood or NSS accounts, another anomaly that needs to be corrected is that increase in these accounts is not made applicable to existing accounts until encashment and that too after a penalty payment of one to four per cent.
It is strange that senior citizens do not get a fair share in this respect. The money not withdrawn stays with the NSS and earns money for them, but encashment is forced on the people with penalty as mentioned.
Why, in all fairness, should the increased rate of profit not be given to existing accounts prior to encashment?
The prime minister should issue orders to rectify these anomalies.
GHULAM FARID KHAN
Karachi
THE current crisis of electricity is due to the bad power policies of our past governments. Currently the total demand of electricity in Pakistan is about 19,000MW while the production is nearly 15,000MW, which shows a big difference in supply and demand.
The current government is trying to solve the problem by installing rental power plants fired by oil which is again a poor power policy because the ‘oil peak’ has almost been reached and the total world oil production will decrease against the ever increasing demand of oil which will result in very rapid increase in oil prices.
Also, Pakistan has a very limited fossil fuel resource base. The poor economy does not allow for the import of fossil fuels, particularly oil, on a large scale. Moreover, too much reliance on imported oil is critical from the energy security point of view.
A large section of the population lives in remote areas and is still waiting to be connected to the national electricity grid. To help these remote communities, in particular, and to overcome energy shortages, in general, Pakistan needs to develop its indigenous energy resources like hydropower, coal, solar, wind, tidal and geothermal.
Soon a consensus should be created to build large dams. In Pakistan, a large amount of water is available to produce electricity. Dams will benefit agricultural produce. The Thar Coal Project should be given a kick-start so that this huge energy resource can be utilised.
Also renewable and alternative energy resources should be used to produce electricity. More than 1000km-long coastline in the south and some places in northern mountainous areas provide an excellent resource of wind energy.
This vast potential can be exploited to produce electricity on both community and wind farm scales. Similarly, emphasis should be put on producing electricity in remote areas by solar energy.
Mobilising indigenous resources for production of electricity will help us in reducing our import bills and economical production of electricity.
IRFAN MEHMOOD
Sargodha
YOUR editorial, Budget or a wish list’ (June 13), has an appreciable reading. However, the most important point has been missed out, i.e. electric power generation and supply.
In my opinion, it cannot be possible to improve industries and agricultural productivity without the regular and adequate generation and supply of electric power, particularly to these sectors which, apart from providing surplus products for exports, would help to provide employment.
MAJID KHAN JADOON
Karachi
IT is of great concern that as we try to move a step forward in eradicating diseases from our environment, we end up three steps backward. One of the diseases which have made its way to the top list is typhoid. It is a preventable disease caused by bacteria called salmonella typhi, and is one of the most easily transmittable diseases, accounting for 70 per cent of all fatalities from typhoid fever in Asia.
During recent decades, typhoid fever has largely disappeared from industrialised countries, but remains a serious public health concern in the developing world.
This disease spreads through eating food or drink that was used or handled by an infected person; unhygienic water and bad sanitary conditions are also some additional causes.
The heat and rain and consequent havoc in the city, for example, worsens the threat even more as various hygiene issues and water-borne problems mount across the city.
The secure way to encounter typhoid fever is through vaccination. Prevention: using easily available vaccines in the market would counter at least one prevalent disease for which antibiotics are the not only available treatment option… and we’ve all heard how prevention is, in fact, better than cure.
Typhoid fever is increasing day by day in our country and needs attention promptly. The government should take measures in this regard and educate people on the management of the disease through vaccination, which is cost-effective and reliable.
TASEER ALI
Islamabad
WE are more than 200 citizens of Nawabshah who want to draw the attention of the relevant authorities towards the serious problem of interference by some unknown persons during mobile-to-mobile and mobile-to-land line conservations that not only raises the question of privacy claims by the SIMs companies but also creates fears among mobile users. It seems that some unknown persons are using their authority illegally.
The PTA, the PTCL and all cellular companies should look into the matter very seriously and ensure the privacy of the consumers. They should send their team to conduct an inquiry into it.
CONCERNED MOBILE USERS
Nawabshah
THE leaders of the the PML(N) and the PPP co-chairman met at Rawind to discuss the future of the coalition. The meeting has ended with no final agreement on the restoration of the judiciary.
The meeting has been described as a courtesy call; however the fact of the matter is that there seems to be a rift that does not seem to be resolving. The meeting concluded in mutual support for each other; however it goes to show that cracks are appearing.
The Murree Declaration has lost its sign of life and it is only a matter of time before patience runs out on both sides, especially from the PML(N)’s. There is also reservation over the appointment of Salman Taseer as governor.
What is important now is that both parties find a way to curb the menacing rise of prices and provide some relief to the people. This is the greatest problem being faced by the nation and requires immediate attention above all else.
AMIN SULEIMAN
Rawalpindi
WE request the new government to reduce passport fees to Rs1,400. Until now the fees was Rs2,100. The passport is made for five years, therefore, after expiry of the passport this may immediately be extended for another five years by taking a reasonable fee.
SENIOR CITIZENS
Karachi
AS we cry hoarse protesting against observing the right ethics in reporting and journalism, a recent news item has left me numb as it could have harmed the victim more than she has already faced.
In a news report printed in the June 13 Metropolitan issue, the reporter mentioned all possible details of the victim, who was kidnapped and released against a ransom of Rs2 million, but hardly mentioned anything about Ikramullah, the kidnapper, exposing the victim for another possible attempt, God forbid.
Although it was reported in the news item that the suspect was apprehended on Mauripur Road who later confessed to his crime, the reporter did not take the trouble to investigate and balance the report by finding out who the kidnapper was, where he came from and why he committed the crime.
Such reporting amounts to victims being exposed to further humiliation than they have already gone through. It could also amount to contempt of the victim’s right to privacy, which the reporter conveniently chose to ignore.
I would like to request newspaper editors to make thorough rechecks before such stories are published and that a balanced report is ensured which does not let the victims face any more humiliation than they have already been through.
A CONCERNED CITIZEN
Karachi
(II)
IT was indeed depressing to read (June 13) about a 21-year-old boy caught during snap checking and Rs1.25 million recovered from his car on Mauripur Road which turned out to be ransom money.
This boy, Ikramullah, had secured 7As in his O level and two As in A level from an elite school, which is indeed an achievement.
I wonder why a boy at this tender age and with such academic achievements ended up committing such a big crime of kidnapping.
Was it peer pressure as he belonged to a lower middle class family, he scored such high grades but was unable to go abroad due to lack of funds while most of his fellow students left abroad for higher studies.
Was it parental pressure that he belonged to a strict religious family that observed strict rules and regulations where he was not given permission to move around with his friends and ended up having scuffles with his parents day and night?
His only dream was to go to the UK for higher studies which could not be achieved as foreign education demands a lot of money which his parents could not afford.
During A level he had quit his home as he was not getting along with his father and was living with one friend or the other and finally with his grandparents. He later ended up with a job as customer service executive in TRG so that he could collect funds for his education.
It was after completing his A level that he got involved in bad company and started committing crimes. Now he is behind bars, waiting for his fate to be decided.
The respectable of society should intervene and help this boy to get out of the problem he has landed himself into and make him settle down in practical life as an honourable citizen.
DR UZMA
Karachi
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