| August 09, 2008 | Saturday | Sha’aban 6, 1429 |
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Menace of fraudulent calls
UN and the Mediterranean wound
Teaching traffic rules
Remembering M.P. Bhandara
Taliban in Karachi
Woes of Pakistanis in Spain
Floods again
Rupee slips to an all-time low
Really pathetic
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 Dr Talib Lashari’s letter, ‘Promoting exclusive breastfeeding’ (Aug 7). Last year, Unicef reported the first record decline in child deaths worldwide in history.
But Pakistan still ranks high among the countries with higher infant and child deaths as well as maternal deaths and lags far behind developing countries which are more likely to achieve Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5.
Research shows that 590 children die within the first month of their life in Pakistan.
Another 500 children will not celebrate their fifth birthday. Maternal mortality ratio remains 320 per 100,000 live births, a clarion call for policymakers and civil society organisations.
Although alliance for promotion of breastfeeding is a timely initiative, Pakistan needs more concerted initiatives to address the entire model of safe motherhood and childhood.
Any action targeted towards changing a single human trait is likely to encounter fiasco.
Human behaviour is a complex of traits which are interconnected with each other; and a change in one trait affects another and vice versa.
Moreover, a trait is not situated in isolation. It is loaded with culturally constructed symbolic templates which sustain it throughout the ages.
It is, therefore, imperative to address the whole complex of behaviour instead of a single trait.
Even at international level, donor assistance has not been targeted towards countries with higher mortality rates. Inequality in resource distribution, gender and ethnic disparities have further aggravated the state of affairs.
The irony is that evidence-based, cost-effective interventions can reduce 70 per cent child deaths and half a million maternal deaths worldwide while Pakistan has yet to start such campaigns.
Maternal and child health is a global issue, but Pakistan is one of the 68 countries which bear the burden of 97 per cent maternal and child deaths.
It is time we realised the intensity of the problem and took action, not just to achieve MDGs, but to save our future as well.
MOHAMMAD SAJJAD ABRO
Karachi
KEEPING in view the escalating crime and law and order situation, the decision of the PTA for closure of unregistered cellphones is laudable as they are used in illegal activities to hide the identity of perpetrators. But in spite of repeated deadlines, mobile operators are unwilling to abide it.
Here, I would like to share a real trauma caused by such unscrupulous calls wherein I was informed by a lady, pretending to be representative from a big cellular network, that the company has introduced an scheme of prizes and my cell # 0300-9712236 registered with that network has won Rs1,000,000. She further advised me to contact another representative of their company for claim of my prize.
When I called on the given number, the whole background scenario of that cellular company was depicted; one lady operator picked up the phone and connected me to the relevant person. The person asked my residential address and NIC number. On learning about my residence, in Karachi, he lost interest and asked me to call him in next 10 minutes.
To inquire about it, I called in the cellular phone office concerned and sought information about such scheme. A representative of that cellular company informed me that it is fraud as they did not have any scheme like that and advised me to ignore it.
She did not bother to learn about the cell numbers of those unscrupulous persons. On my insistence, she jotted down both the cell numbers which belong to that cellular network. Even after a couple of days’ lapse, the same numbers are functional.
When I called that unscrupulous person and threatened him that I would report the matter to the agencies concerned, he said that I cannot do anything as those for whom he collected millions could not do anything at all.
He was defiant and said that he had been dong it for long and all setup is computerised. The voice I heard at reception call was also computerised and he re-ran the tape. He said that once he too was befooled and lost Rs10,000 to such fraud and since then doing it and only collecting money from well-to-do.
PTA and mobile operators should look into the matter and close all the unregistered cellphones and devise a mechanism for entertaining complaints and taking immediate action against such unscrupulous callers.
AZHAR GHUMRO
Karachi
The UN has been successful in bringing around the warring leaders of Greek-Cypriot Demetris Christofias and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to negotiate for full-fledged talks under the UN sponsorship in a move aimed at ending the long-running dispute in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.
The UN endeavour for full-fledged negotiations is to find a mutually acceptable solution to this Mediterranean Sea wound. The UN strives to safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interests of Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots.
The UN has appointed Alexander Downer as the secretary-general’s special adviser for Cyprus.
The UN is trying to achieve the objective of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as enshrined by relevant Security Council resolutions passed from time to time.
The anticipated plan will comprise a federal government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish-Cypriot constituent state and a Greek-Cypriot constituent state, which will be of equal status.
This Mediterranean wound is bleeding since 1974 following the outbreak of inter-communal violence and the demarcation of green line.
The UN peacekeeping mission has to a great extent been successful in preventing a recurrence of fighting, contributing to a return to normal conditions and the maintenance of peace and order.
We, the Pakistani people, implore the UN secretary-general to remember and try to heal the bleeding wound of South Asia.
PROF A. QAYUM MANGI
Sukkur
IT is our daily routine to talk about the lack of road sense of drivers. One of the major factors of traffic chaos in our cities is that drivers change lanes to get ahead of each other without realising or understanding that they are violating traffic rules as well as someone else’s rights.
Our TV and radio channels can contribute to this much-needed public and social responsibility. Traffic rules’ awareness should be taught in high schools as a subject so that the new and young drivers understand this important aspect which concerns their and other fellow citizens’ safety.
I appeal to all TV channels and radios to address this matter in their programmes – at least teach one traffic rule every day and make quiz programmes to create interest and awareness.
Schools and colleges should hold workshops inviting Traffic Engineering Bureau and local traffic officials in schools to speak on the subject. What each citizen on personal level should do is to at least start following traffic rules, exchange courtesies on the road for ‘right of way’ to other vehicles and control their tempers, which is also good for our health.
Together we can make things better rather just pinpoint at others or the government, blaming them for the dismal situation. If we love our country, then this is the least we can do to inculcate this social responsibility in our new generation.
ZIAUDDIN SIDDIDUI
Karachi
‘MINOO’, as the late M. P. Bhandara was affectionately known to his dear ones, was a multifaceted personality.
He was an astute businessman, yet never compromised on principles, even though he had to suffer for it. A tenacious fighter, he would take on the high and mighty of the land without any consideration of consequences, when he believed that a principle was involved.
As a parliamentarian, he will be remembered as a forthright and outspoken speaker whose statements on the floor of the house were often irksome and even embarrassing to his fellow party men. Perhaps that is why his party failed to award him a parliamentary ticket in the last general election.
He was a staunch liberal and secular activist (though it is difficult to reconcile this activism with his association with the Ziaul Haq regime which he served as minister of minorities affairs). He had adopted as his guiding principle the famous address of Quaid i Azam:
“You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed; that has nothing to do with the business of the state …. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one state.” He was untiring in his efforts to have the relevant portions of the Quaid’s address incorporated in the Constitution of Pakistan as well as in the school curricula of Pakistani students. Those who have a stake in the future of this beleaguered society must take up and carry on the unfinished task left by him.
A proud Pakistani, he was one of the champions of peace and friendship between Pakistan and India. Peace activists on both sides of the border will long cherish this popular and genial figure.
He was a graduate of Hailey College of Commerce and Harvard School of Business. In addition, he also did a stint at Cambridge where he came under the influence of Isaiah Berlin for whom he developed a lifelong admiration. His obituary for Berlin is one of his most moving and inspiring pieces of writing.
Despite being a ‘workaholic’ who would keep himself (and others) busy from early dawn till late in the night, he was an avid reader as well; his collection of books ranged from Marx to Herzen to Anna Akhmatova, and much more besides.
The sharp edge of his incisively analytical mind was lucidly and brilliantly reflected in his weekly newspaper columns. To many in Pakistan and abroad, he is known as a distinguished columnist who compelled the attraction of readers even when they might or might not agree with his views. As chief executive of Murree Brewery Group of Companies, he was a hard task master as well as an inspiring leader. He set high standards of conduct by his personal example and expected the same from his colleagues and subordinates. He was always available to offer help and guidance.
The ancient Silk Route was one of Minoo Bhandara’s many romances. During his last trip to China, he found time to explore the mysteries of Taklamakan desert in Sinkiang.
He revelled in following in the footsteps of Sven Hedin and many others who had ventured into ‘the boundless space’, the literal meaning of Taklamakan. Like many of his illustrious predecessors, he met with a a traffic accident near Khotan town, causing serious injuries. “Luckily my soft top end escaped injury,” Mr Bhandara wrote (rather dictated because of his fractured right arm) to his friends from the hospital bed.
After undergoing the harrowing experience of being transported in a donkey cart, he ultimately landed in the People’s Hospital in Urumchi where initial treatment was carried out. Later, he was shifted to Pakistan. Unfortunately he developed complications and left us on June 15 for his eternal abode. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
DR. NASEER AKHTER
Murree Brewery Company Ltd,
Rawalpindi
RACISM is so universal in this country, so widespread and deep-rooted that it has apparently become invisible and, therefore, taken in the stride. The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of women begins when the doctor says: it’s a girl.
On Aug 4, newspapers carried news items: ‘In the valley of Swat, militants burned down five girls schools’ and ‘Girls school in Quetta attacked’.
Due to the army operation in the northern parts of Pakistan, militants are now migrating to Karachi.
Infiltration of Taliban into this city could change the situation a lot.
Recently in an interview to a foreign radio, a spokesman for the Taliban said: “Karachi is a focal point for the whole world, including India.
“The presence of Taliban in Karachi will ensure elimination of vulgarity, obscenity and influence of foreign forces.”
I urge the government to take a stand on this issue and provide tight security to make sure that the people of Karachi are saved from militants.
DAWAR NAQVI
USA
THIS is about a serious problem faced by thousands of Pakistanis residing in Spain, i.e. procuring ‘character certificates’ that Spanish immigration officials demand.
For work permission and acquiring a residence permit, there should be a valid police character certificate attested by the related country’s police.
Previously, Pakistan used to have district and provincial police besides the national police. But now the Spanish government passed a new law that every Pakistani should submit a character certificate attested by the national police — not the district or provincial police — with other necessary documents.
Therefore, all work and residence applications of the Pakistanis, who have spent three years is Spain, are rejected. For the last six months the government of Spain has forwarded these conditions to the Pakistani embassy in Madrid and the Pakistan consulate-general in Barcelona. But here in Spain the designated Pakistani ambassador and the consul general are not serious about this important matter.
Many Pakistanis protested peacefully in front of the Pakistan consulate-general in Barcelona to highlight their problems but received no response from the officials concerned.
MANZAR WAHEED
Madrid, Spain
RECENTLY many areas of Pakistan were hit by the flood marooning hundreds of people. Last year too many parts of Balochistan were affected by the flood, and people still suffer from its effects.
The government should ensure that all the affected people get relief.
ZAFAR DOST
Turbat, Balochistan
PAKISTAN rupee slipped closer to a record low owing to the pressure from import payments and outflows from the stock market. This is due to mounting fear of a showdown between the new civilian government and President Musharraf.
The rupee closed at 72.45/55 to the dollar on Thursday. The coalition should be blamed for this situation, a government that has little or no interest in good governance.
This is far from their mind. Rather, they are out on a personal vendetta against Mr Musharraf who has not interfered with the government’s actions and has acted his role as constitutional president.
Since the PPP government has taken over, the contributions they have given are laudable. I am plainly fed up to hear Nawaz’s diatribes.
Aside from the political turmoil, Pakistan is facing widening trade and fiscal deficits and inflation at its highest in three decades, while foreign currency reserves cover barely three months’ imports.
According to official data for the week ended on July 26, the State Bank of Pakistan said its reserves fell $330 million to $7.448 billion, while those held by commercial banks rose by $89 million to $3.039 billion from $2.95 billion.
AMIN SULEIMAN
Rawalpindi
THERE is an unknown axis of evil ruling the fate of our Stock Exchange. On July 29, the market staged a positive rebound and was looking good for the future.
The nefarious forces could not digest and came into action at once, destabilising the oil and energy sector with their inept polices, thus further shattering the confidence of the investors.
Mischief was enough to fire the market to fester from within. A deep conspiracy has set in to undermine the market to around 9000 level. It is a broad daylight robbery and our worthy prime minister must swiftly take steps to stop the rot.
It is in the larger interest of the state to support this market as tremendous amount of government holdings and institutions are stuck dangerously at low unfair levels.
A bold initiative should be taken by the prime minister to save the situation by replacing the casual and indifferent odds operating/controlling the market.
ENGR. AMJAD HUSSAIN MALIK
Rawalpindi
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