| September 09, 2008 | Tuesday | Ramazan 8, 1429 |
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Tasks before the PPP govt
Imran’s resolve
At people’s expense
Hockey collapse
Kudos to the new president
Child labour
Overcoming power crisis
Out of harm’s way
Noise pollution
Petrol pumps closure
Petrol prices
Book markets losing attraction
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
PAKISTAN has started to reap the fruits of the 18-month-long struggle by the legal fraternity, media, civil society and political leaders against dictatorship and authoritarian rule. Judges have and will continue to be appointed as the earlier coalition and the present government are committed to the restoration of the judiciary.
Judges appointed uptodate were earlier deposed by one stroke of the pen. These judges have been appointed with retrospective benefits and seniority and this constitutes a reversal of the earlier unconstitutional and unlawful action. The victory may not be 100 per cent but it will be substantial rather than no victory at all.
Restoration of the deposed judges is only one step in the right direction. The historic movement launched by the legal fraternity, media, civil society and political leaders of Pakistan from March 9, 2007 onwards ranks in importance second only to the historic struggle for the creation of Pakistan under the brilliant leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
This nuclear-capable nation of 160 million people with a strategic geographical location bordering China, Afghanistan, Iran and India with port in the warm waters, including the Gulf, is facing a crisis of multi-dimensional nature.
No doubt our enemies would like to see Pakistan disintegrate or descend into chaos as a failed state but the opportunities available to become a politically strong and economically viable state are unlimited.
We need to develop and strengthen our economic, commercial and trade relations with all our neighbours and formulate a foreign policy that will ensure peace and tranquillity on our borders. Hostilities and disputes should give way to peaceful resolution of whatever differences that may continue to exist between Pakistan and its neighbours, particularly India.
The scope for cooperation with India, China, Iran and Afghanistan resulting in free movement and exchange of trade, travel, tourism and commerce will result in changing the destiny of our people.
Pakistan was after all established for the Muslims of the subcontinent to achieve political and economic independence and we are poised to play a unique role in the region. Religion played its part and will continue to be a factor by which we are identified but every citizen of Pakistan is, irrespective of his religion and personal beliefs, an equal citizen of the state.
The PPP is the largest and the only political party at the national level. It has the responsibility of governing Pakistan through its elected representatives. Inflexibility at this stage will only result in derailment of the political and democratic process and result in instability at a time when Pakistan is in the grip of serious crisis on several fronts.
The government will need all the help and support it can muster from its coalition partners and all other political parties which may be on the opposition benches to pull the country out of the crisis and avert disaster which looms ahead in the shape of food crisis, power crisis, financial crisis and a serious internal and external security situation.
This is no time for any confrontation between the PPP and the PML(N) in Punjab. These political parties must ensure that the PPP-led government remains intact at the centre and the PML(N)-led government remains intact in Punjab while both cooperate in developing a government of national unity at the centre.
With a shaky internal security situation and constant attacks from across the border, national unity must not only be displayed by the people of Pakistan but by its political leaders. There is no time to be lost; they must act now to avert disaster. Political pragmatism is the need of the hour.
LIAQUAT H. MERCHANT
Karachi
NOW that the PPP has both executive offices of the president and the prime minister, there should be no impediment either for the president or for the prime minister or for parliament, in which the PPP has the majority in the National Assembly and in three of the four provincial assemblies enough support, to take such initiatives as should benefit the common man.
The PPP government can take up, on a top priority basis, major issues that are affecting the common man, such as loadshedding. This should be reduced to enable industries, which have come to a halt now, to start producing goods once again, as well as the common man should not anymore face loadshedding.
The PPP government should revise electricity tariff downwards so that theft of electricity should be brought to an end. Pakistan should follow the example of the People’s Republic of China which has the lowest electricity tariff in the world and this is one of the reasons that China has emerged on the world map as a giant economic power. Now here there are two options: the government should either increase electricity load through its own resources or take dictation from the IMF and the World Bank.
Further, the government should bring down inflation up to a point where the common man should feel relieved. Controlling law and order situation should be given top priority to secure foreign investments which have rather stopped.
The government should root out corruption in government offices as this will not only facilitate foreign investors but will also give relieve to the local people.
Any government employee, a policeman or someone else, should be sacked if found involved in taking a bribe from the general public. The government must deal sternly with the issue of corruption or corruption will never be eradicated from Pakistan.
The PPP government should take up major policy decisions such as it should provide jobs to the jobless youths in all the four provinces. This can be done by letting go government employees who have already reached the age of retirement and were inducted by the previous government on a contract basis. The new blood so employed will, in turn, help to reduce street crimes in the country.
There is enough uncultivated land available in the country which can be distributed among farmers on an ownership basis. Poor farmers who have been cultivating land of others for ages should be given their own piece of land where they should cultivate vegetables and fruits. This will bring down prices of food-related items drastically.
The government should look into the option of giving loans to technically-qualified people who can start cottage industry in the country as there is much scope for locally manufacturing small items, which are otherwise at present being imported from other countries.
The PPP government has the required ability and resources to tackle the problems mentioned above.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
THIS is in response to the letter, ‘Mind your language’ (Sept 6). I was amused to see the letter since the writer instead of explaining the reason behind the language used by Qasim Zia, tried to defame Imran Khan without any factual information.
Before writing a letter, the writer should get his facts first. Imran Khan voted against 17th Amendment unlike what the writer has observed. His support for Musharraf was actually for the seven-point agenda which Musharraf gave initially. Imran Khan is the only politician who has openly accepted his mistake, and went against the military dictator without taking any favorus unlike many well-known politicians of Pakistan.
Imran Khan has always been condemning and criticising suicide bombings and burning of schools. However, the writer seems to have missed these statements in newspapers as well as PTI’s website.
He also suggests solution along with condemnation which involves withdrawal of forces from tribal areas and solving problems through meaningful talks, which the writer doesn’t seem to like.
Imran Khan has been speaking about an independent judiciary right from the inception of his party.
He does not talk about any exceptions whether it is someone pardoned under the NRO or a poor man behind bars without any trial.
Independent judiciary can successfully address everyone’s concerns and no one would be put behind bars if found innocent.
The writer should, in fact, support Imran Khan’s cause if he is so concerned about those who spent eight years behind bars.
All objections raised by the writer carry no weight since they are merely allegations without facts.
Had the PPP respected people’s mandate, the judiciary would have been restored by now since this was one issue for which people voted in the election as obvious through a number of independent surveys.
AHSAN MANSOOR
Islamabad
AS felicitations pour in from different quarters for the historic moment of the presidential election in Pakistan, we need to be vigilant about what message the ruling parties give to the public.
For example, there have been quarter-to-half page ads in newspapers given by various government departments. Do these departments have budget heads for such expenditure? Given the plight of the poor in the country, and given the economic crunch we are all experiencing, should not the money be carefully used?
Is this ad hocism that has been the bane of our society, where there is no system, only individual decisions? The declaration of holiday by the Sindh government is again an example of rule not by procedures but by the whims of those in power.
Finally, let us take serious note of the language being used by those in power.
The governor of Punjab, while referring to the issue of restoration of judges, said: ‘Woh to doray a’a rahai hain’ (See they are being restored). Similar irreverent statements regarding the judiciary has been made by other senior persons.
As a citizen of Pakistan I am offended as well as very much concerned as it is the pillar of the judiciary which must be strengthened and not manipulated. The balance between the judiciary and parliament must be based on principles of justice and not political expediency.
It is great that the system now appears complete – parliament, Senate, and the president. Let us now turn to the lives of the poor as they sink deeper in the malaise of rising food prices, transport costs, and the continuity of old forms of oppression (note the cases of honour killings in the press).
KAUSAR S KHAN
Karachi
THE Pakistan hockey team finished at number eight in Beijing Olympics 2008, the worst performance as far as one can remember.
As a consequence, a lot of people in the Pakistan Hockey Federation, including the chief selector and the coaching staff, have resigned from their posts.
It was rather unnecessary for all of them to resign, for only the ones who do not really belong there should have gone.
Former Olympian Islahuddin has been an accomplished hockey player and is the kind whom the organisation needs, for accomplished former hockey players are always an asset to the hockey federation.
On the other hand, Zafarullah Jamali, the man who one would seriously doubt knows anything about hockey in practical sense, is still holding on to the presidentship of the PHF and refuses to let go of it voluntarily.
He should follow in Dr Naseem Ashraf’s footsteps and call it a day and just leave the hockey scene for some former ball player to run the show. Enough damage has been done to our hockey.
It would make sense to have a qualified medical doctor head a medical organisation. Let similar sense prevail when it comes to running a sports body.
SYED AQEEL SARWAR
Lahore
PLEASE accept my heartiest congratulations on the news appearing in newspapers that notice has been taken by the newly-elected president of Pakistan of the public holiday announced by the government of Sindh on his landmark victory as president of Pakistan.
Indeed very timely notice has been taken by him, and the notification of the holiday has been withdrawn by the Sindh government. Such frequent holidays should be stopped.
Furthermore, ministers, bureaucrats, senior officers and government servants should spend their time working in offices and those who assign their duties without lapse of time or take frequent short leaves should not be tolerated.
Our country’s working efficiency and productivity is much lower than the standard, to be fulfilled to serve or study in schools, colleges or universities.
Present money migration to other countries, devaluation of our rupee, stock exchange turmoil situation, foreign exchange sinking situation below $10 billion, all are touching risk factors for Pakistan’s stability.
Moreover, the government is taking steps to allow two holidays a week (Saturday and Sunday) as well as closure of all petrol pumps/CNG stations on Friday.
It is a good step to allow five working days a week in order to save some electricity and fuel, and also closing down petrol pumps on Fridays.
However, the decision to close CNG stations is not correct and will result in unnecessary frustration of the people.
M. OZAIR AZAM
Karachi
TO see children under 10 to 12 years of age begging on the streets, scavenging food at litter bins, mending cycle punctures, helping motor mechanics in garages, and helping welders in our truculent society, instead of going to school, is really very heart-rending.
You cannot enjoy eating at the roadside eateries, with or without your family, when you are being stared by a hungry child begging for a dime or two. Children escorting their handicapped parents or sightless relations begging for charity on one pretext or the other is hard to be condoned.
Child workers, despite ban, work in carpet-manufacturing factories. There are a few social organisations, which are doing their best to bring an end to child labour, but the problem is so deep-rooted that it is hardly remedied.
It is the economic conditions and invalidity of some families that small underage children, having no other option, are forced to work or beg.
Who can be held responsible for this state of affairs? What solution do our social scientists or official agencies have to bring an end to the prospering child labour working with plumbers, welders or with small traders?
If begging or employing children is completely banned, who is going to look after the hundreds of handicapped, illiterate parents, whose only hope is their upcoming child deprived of education or any technical training to earn a living for himself or the other family members with dignity.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
THERE has been an acute shortage of electricity for the last five or so years. And now the situation has worsened. In 24 hours of a day the frequency of loadshedding has gone up beyond human endurance. Be it day or night, morning or evening the KESC shuts the power without any consideration.
People who have to go to work and children who have to attend their schools are always sleepless. Overall production and commercial activities are suffering greatly — so much so that even hospitals and water-pumping stations are not spared.
Owing to abrupt power closure from main feeders, water supply is suspended and this situation is leading to water scarcity throughout the city.
This ugly scenario is causing mental agony for the majority of people who cannot easily afford to procure water through tankers. Despite this extremely painful situation, our government could not do anything to improve the situation except to increase power rates again and again.
The government should find ways of acquiring cheap electricity and must start working on a war footing to overcome power shortage and at the same time cut power rates.
Also the chief minister of Sindh should look into distribution management of electricity and direct the KESC highups not to suspend electricity supply to hospitals and water-pumping stations.
ANWAR HUSSAIN
Karachi
APROPOS of the photograph, ‘Out of harm’s way’, appearing on the front page of Sept 1 Dawn issue, it is unfortunate to see that people are leaving their city in view of the upcoming flood but it is also good to see that in foreign countries people respect traffic rules and obey them even at the deadliest of times too.
It is amazing to see that not a single car or vehicle is out of its lane in the whole long queue.
On the other hand, it is also painful for us (Pakistani) because we are not the ones who respect traffic rules or follow them.
So, I think we should obey traffic rules instead of thinking it as a minor thing.
In fact, these minor things serve as guidance towards our success.
MUNTAZIR MAHDI
Karachi
I AGREE with Haji Ashfaq (‘Sepa and the pollution monster’, Sept 7) that pollution has never been considered a serious problem in our country.
However, we should analyse things as they are. He mentioned about 25,000 to 30,000 buses, 800,000 cars, 60,000 rickshaws and 80,000 other vehicles but omits the biggest polluter of the city, i.e motorcycles.
We need to be honest with ourselves and with others. The number of motorcycles in the city is in millions. The low quality motorcycles have added to the noise pollution manifold. The riders of these motorcycles are under a very dangerous impression that making a big hole in the silencer makes the two-wheeler pick more energy and go fast.
This is the attitude and way of thinking without realising the devastating effect of noise created by the manipulated silencer. Cannot we change our attitude and keep the silencer of the motorbike in normal form or cannot our police take any action against them? Shouldn’t we mention them as a source of pollution?
AMJAD IQBAL
Karachi
CLOSING petrol pumps on Fridays is unlikely to reduce fuel consumption by 20 per cent as claimed by the government, because there will be greater demand on Thursdays and Saturdays to compensate.
A more effective way to curb consumption and reduce trips on prolonged weekends, which seems to be the intention, is to allow only cars whose registration ends with even numbers to ply on Saturdays, and only odd numbers on Sundays.
KHALID R HASAN
Karachi
THE per capita income in the United States and Canada is roughly 40 times more than that of Pakistan.
One litre of petrol in these countries is selling for less than a dollar whereas in Pakistan it is now selling for more than a dollar.
Why are we being made to suffer for no reason?
DR IRFAN ZAFAR
Islamabad
Reading is the key to a better society. It allows people to communicate in many different ways without verbal communication. Without the knowledge of being able to read, the world would come to a complete standstill.
Many book markets have been established to sell used books that are available for us on very reasonable prices.
The city’s premier book markets, Urdu Bazaar, Khori Garden, weekly bazaars and book fairs are considered to be a paradise for booklovers and the student community.
These old book markets attract thousands of people every day. It has been a choice of students as they get discount on the purchase of books as a routine business matter.
However, these sellers of second-hand books are finding it tough these days as they are now forced to sell new books in the face of changing demands and lack of sufficient interest in many old books.
Market prices for second-hand or used books being too modest, venders and book sellers have been seen in the street shouting to attract buyers, like a disorganised vegetable market.
These markets are also losing interest due to massive road traffic, unchecked and increasing encroachment in its surroundings.
In evenings, and particularly during the peak of the season, it becomes highly taxing for students and their parents to get in and out of the market.
Encroachments by old book sellers and pushcart holders around have defaced the area.
Traffic noise and choking has become a regular feature which consumes a lot of time and fuel of drivers, while, on the other hand, pedestrians suffer a lot.
Even shopkeepers find it hard to bring and park their vehicles near their business place. Their narrow lane is lined with bookshops that offer books of all shapes and sizes.
These markets are situated in a congested business area of the city. Imagine big book stores that stretch on blocks after blocks and are located in very crowded areas.
Although the places are usually full of people, it is hard to convince a taxi driver to take you there for a reasonable price, there are other ways to reach the market.
The government should take some steps in order to make these markets more attractive and useful for us.
SITWAT HASEEN
Karachi
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