| September 16, 2008 | Tuesday | Ramazan 15, 1429 |
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Friendly foe
Asking for more
Beyond the war on terror
Quit smoking in Ramazan
Remembering A. K. Brohi
Sarah Palin the running mate
The fall of Nawaz Sharif
Sufferings of local populace
Controlling fuel consumption
Envying democracy
What good governance?
Two weekly holidays
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
BEGINNING 4,500 years ago till the middle of the 20th century the culture of the Indus Valley civilisation was based on agriculture. For keeping abreast with the march of time, emphasis was placed on producing commodities in industries.
This was against the interest of developing countries which were already dominated by the West.
The mainstay of the developing countries was based on agricultural commodities.
The agricultural resources of the South Asian subcontinent (jute, cotton, indigo) were shipped to Dundee and Manchester to feed cotton and jute industries in Great Britain.
The manufactured goods produced from raw resources were sold at a very high price all over the world. Now the term of trade is moving in favour of agriculture.
The present index of rice given by the Food and Agriculture Organisation indicates that it has at present increased by 60 per cent in one-and-a-half years.
There in no doubt that food demand will continue with the rise of population, and the supply may not keep pace with the demand.
It may be noted that the price of mineral oil has come down because ethanol, an agricultural product derived from sugarcane and maize, is being mixed with petrol for driving cars and engines.
The government has come up with a policy to discourage import of luxury goods. It is hoped that it will come up in a big way to promote agriculture in Pakistan.
The increasing agricultural produce will not only sustain us but can also buy goods for us to live with dignity, modernity and protect our sovereignty.
For this we need strengthening of agricultural studies, research and its extension services as pleaded by M. Shafique Ahmed in his letter, ‘Tackling food crisis’ (June 26).
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, devoid of alluvial soil, rain, rivers, are trying very hard to produce agricultural commodities at a very high price as they are aware of the end of depleting irrenewable raw resource (mineral oil) before the end of 21st century.
For invigorating our agricultural sector, as pointed out by Dr Ali Akber Dhakan (Sept 4), we cannot do it on our own due to financial constraint and, therefore, we need inviting our brotherly Middle-Eastern countries for the installation of infrastructures on modern lines for improvement and promotion of our agricultural sector.
The capital investment will pay them more profit in the long run than the profit earned in the banks and enterprises in western countries.
S. J. Burki has put a very thoughtful question whether agriculture in Pakistan can lead the way (Sept 9) and pull Pakistan out of the economic difficulties.
According to Mr Burki, experts believe that the world is going through a paradigm shift. Prices of agricultural commodities are increasing because of the demand for more grains, edible oil, fibre, etc.
Pakistan, basically an agricultural country, has vast tracts of arable land, agricultural expertise and manpower to increase production and reap a bumper harvest, both for sustenance and sale of the surplus, and can thus pull out of the prevailing economic difficulties.
DR. M. JALALUDDIN
Department of Agriculture
University of Karachi
APROPOS of your editorial, ‘Deteriorating ties’ (Sept 8), I would like to add a few words. The editorial wonders if America is our friend or foe. Ever heard of a friendly fire? America is a friendly foe.
We have tested its friendship — sometimes it slammed sanctions on us and on the other it did not come to help us in times of need. So long as we served its purpose, it called us an alley of allies and even a major non-Nato ally — but if we are not able to toe its line, we are made to listen to the allegation now rampant in Washington.
Undoubtedly the relations between Pakistan and the US have deteriorated on the Bush administration’s demand that Pakistan should do more in the fight against terror — or else the US would unilaterally do it.
The ‘do more’ was the demand to committing our Army to fight Taliban and Al Qaeda on both sides of the Pakistan-Afghan border which was not possible for Pakistan. Entering into Afghan territories would have been an act of war against sovereignty. For the US it is an act of war too; but it thinks it is already engaged in a war.
It can fight it at any place it likes. To enter Pakistan blithely and carry out war actions as it did on Sept 3 and two more subsequent raids are the proof.
During the last half century, we had been fed with western media’s propaganda that Pakistan made mistakes in marring relations with the US.
This time we cannot be fooled. Since America’s military superiority is divested of the reasoning, it cannot comprehend that it is at fault this time.
It does not realise Pakistan’s delicate position — as a matter of fact it has been taking advantage of this situation.
I suggest the government of Pakistan to begin expressing inability to the US to continue as an ally. Slow and steadily we must extricate ourselves from this quagmire.
We can begin by cutting down supplies of sustenance material from Pakistan to the US and Nato forces in Afghanistan.
If any more incursion takes place, the US ambassador should be called to the Foreign Office and warned of retaliation.
Islamabad should show a cold shoulder to the US diplomats and not welcome high-ranking military leaders from the US or Nato forces.
M. K. NAQVI
Karachi
APROPOS of the news report (Sept 11) that Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani (Sept 11) has rejected US claims that the rules of engagement gave the coalition forces in Afghanistan the right to enter Pakistan, and declared that the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will be defended at all costs. That is exactly how it should be.
Just underneath the above-mentioned news item, there was another report quoting the top US military officer that the US military will revise its strategy for Afghanistan to include militant ‘safe havens’ in Pakistan in its area of concern, meaning its area of operation.
There is no doubt that no matter how much effort Pakistan puts in, the US authorities will only come grumbling, asking for more. So it is definitely time to declare that ‘enough is enough’, and stick to it.
S.R.H. HASHMI
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Sqn Ldr (r) S. Ausaf Hussain’s letter (Sept 14). The letter is an eye-opener for the architects of our foreign policy.
It’s been over five decades witnessing consequences of our friendship with America. Our disastrous present can be attributed to a long history of wrong decisions made by our establishment in the past.
Instead of fighting wars for foreign powers, we should have fought war against corruption, illiteracy, underdevelopment and unemployment in our country. Although it is already too late for Pakistan but there is still a ray of hope.
If we take a look around on the world affairs today, we can see the emergence of a new bipolar world with Russia coming back strongly after regaining the ability to challenge American double standards anywhere in the world.
We should look at it as a chance to clear up the mess created by the US inside the western region of our country, which has become a threat to the very existence of Pakistan.
We could also invite our Chinese friends to jointly protect our nuclear assets in cooperation with our armed forces but bringing Russia to this theatre would be more effective in order to defuse mounting American pressure on Pakistan to do more (killings) in the so-called war on terror.
For a country like Pakistan, ‘regionalism’ is the ultimate choice but now that India has let her dogs loose on Pakistan, we should also adopt a little professional attitude in our foreign policy so as to counter anti-Pakistan tactics effectively.
India continues to use the Karzai government to destabilise Pakistan by creating chaos in the NWFP, northern and tribal areas, while our policymakers appear to be running out of meaningful options.
Now it is time for our good leadership to adopt fresh strategies to bring stability to our great country.
SHAKIL AHMED
Dubai
ABOUT three million people die around the world of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In Pakistan, the estimated COPD mortality rate is 71 deaths per 100,000, the fourth highest rate among the 25 most populous nations in the world. Use of tobacco and smoking is the 90 per cent cause of COPD.
The continuous inhalation of tobacco smoke damages the air sacs of lungs and results in difficulty in breathing, chronic cough, mucus production and chest tightness. This condition gets worse and can be fatal if the patient continues smoking.
Quitting smoking is the foremost prevention for the COPD patients. COPD condition cannot be reversed but smoking cessation slows the progression of the disease. Moreover, proper intake of medication (bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids) gives a control of the disease.
According to the UNDP report of August 2002, cigarette consumption per person per year in Pakistan was the highest in South Asia.
There are different quit smoking guidelines and medications (nicotine replacement therapies) available that can help you save yourself from tobacco addiction. Ramazan, however, is the best time to pursue these guidelines and have a total control on smoking.
The quit smoking practice in Ramazan can help and train smokers to quit smoking. Quit smoking habit will not only help in the management of COPD but also prevent other fatal diseases like cancer.
RAANA AFZAL
Karachi
WITH all respect to them who so lovingly cherish the fond memories of late Brohi Sahib (‘Remembering A. K. Brohi’, page 18, Sept 13), it may be said that the couplet quoted from the great English poet Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744) from his poem ‘The Quiet Life’ somewhat reads as under:
“Thus let me live, unseen, unknown; / Thus unlamented let me die; / Steal from the world, and not a stone / Tell where I lie.”
(Source: The Golden Treasury, paperback, page 92 published by The New American Library, New York, in 1961).
Ghalib’s “ Rahiyay ab aisy jaga ……” appears to have been conceived in the same disposition.
Incidentally the late Brohi Sahib was one of the eminent jurists who interviewed me way back in 1968 when I applied to the then West Pakistan Bar Council for a licence to practise law.
ZAHID BORHANI
Karachi
I TAKE strong exception to the views expressed in the letter, ‘Sarah Palin the running mate’ (Sept 6). Sarah Palin’s nomination as John McCain’s running mate does not have anything to do with the mentality of American voters, it is to do with the choice of John McCain.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain has made a huge tactical mistake in choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate.
She completely destroys his image as a conservative and a conventional Republican.
The main reasons for the popularity of John McCain are his conservative Christian roots and policies which reflect this background.
Similarly President Bush was elected to office on the basis of his Christian values and even though he was highly unpopular at the time of his re-election, Americans chose him over John Kerry because they needed (at that time) a president who had firm beliefs and could take America out of these troubled times.
Sarah Palin may pose to be a conservative but she certainly doesn’t practise at home what she preaches at work. Her 17-year-old daughter Bristol is pregnant out of wedlock.
It is a great sin for Christians to have extra-marital sexual relations and an even greater sin to have children without marriage.
Christians in America would certainly agree that their religion places a great emphasis on the institution of marriage and Sarah Palin doesn’t seem to care the least about the life of her daughter or the values of her religion.
How could such a woman lead the United States as a vice president?
The American people are certainly going to vote for change now because the option of a pro-life conservative John McCain is off the table.
US history has shown that the majority of presidents has been devout in their faith and this election is going to be no different.
Barack Obama, on the other hand, has proved his belief by his way of life and his successful marriage with his wife Michelle.
John McCain married twice, his second marriage with Cindy McCain is thought to be the source of his vast wealth.
JAWAD AHMED
Karachi
NAWAZ Sharif came from exile with a two-point agenda, removal of Pervez Musharraf and reinstatement of judges, and also pledged to install A. Q. Khan as the next president.
He was applauded and he thought that he had conquered the country. His rise was phenomenal.
Once Mr Musharraf left the President House and judges were restored in bits and pieces and Mr Zardari was elected president, he had nothing more to offer to the country, and the people realised that the removal of the president and restoration of the judges did nothing to alleviate the rising prices or poor law and order situation.
The situation on the western border deteriorated and the American soldiers walked in. Mr Sharif was conveniently in Britain and said nothing and did nothing at this critical juncture in the history of Pakistan.
As all of us will recall during the Lal Masjid crisis, Mr Sharif was the host of a luxurious meeting of political leaders in a five - star hotel in London and all watched silently till the disastrous end of the confrontation.
Now the fall of Nawaz Sharif has been spectacular.
The whole country thinks he has nothing to offer. In fact, he is so far removed from events at home.
We, the people of Pakistan, pray and hope that one day we will have leaders who have the interest of the country at heart.
DR FARRUKH CHOWDRY
Dammam
WE believed that taxes taken from us for our defences were meant to be used against foreign attacks or any such warning.
We never imagined that our state would use our money against our people. The policy initiated by the previous ruler is now followed by present ‘democratic’ government.
How much terrorism have they contained by driving local populace out of their homes? Time for diplomacy might have ended in US dictionary of foreign policy, but it is still applicable here.
If women and children of our country die, being victim of our state machinery, it can easily be called ‘state-sponsored genocide’. We also never imagined soldiers of a foreign state landing on our land while our soldiers remained still with rifles.
SONIA JAWAID SHAIKH
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Waheed Zafar’s letter, ‘School bus system’ (Sept 10), regarding ways to control the consumption of fuel. I totally agree with Mr Zafar and I will say further: why only the school buses? We must have buses for the corporate sector as well.
At the moment one person travels in one car. If a bus system is made compulsory for offices as well, more and more fuel can be saved. As a result, our foreign reserves can be stopped from going further down from $8.5 billion, while traffic problems will also be amicably addressed.
Hence buses should be made compulsory not only for schools but for all employees, including government employees. All office workers should travel on buses to work provided by the respective offices.
TAHIR RAUF
Lahore
JUST viewing the American presidential race makes me envy their organised system, and their open media of questioning and criticising their leaders-to-be. They think in advance, work in advance, give their educated nation time in advance to think and re-think who could and should be their next president.
They get to prove to the fullest before swearing in for the presidential office. And, this couldn’t have taken place in seconds or in a day ... they took years of training and immersing in the system.
It took them a couple of centuries to learn to abide by their constitution and stick firmly to strengthening their institutions of education and the judiciary.
This made it possible for them to proudly present a government ‘by the people and for the people’.
I desperately hope and pray that the new democratically-elected government takes Pakistan in the direction of growth and prosperity by effectively dealing with the current stormy situation of poverty, inflation and terrorism and by focusing primarily on good education, strong judiciary and a better healthcare system for everyone to really sow the essence of real democracy in our country.
As only a fully literate nation can have a real and not surreal democratic system.
Without literacy there is no food for thought and where there is no thought process, it’s like moving a herd of cattle and not a nation of human beings.
DURRE FATIMA
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
WE often talk of the term ‘good governance’, but the question whether this term is really applicable to us. Have we ever practically made this term part of our life?
Well, keeping the current scenario of Pakistan’s political system in view, my answer is ‘no’. Every politician comes and makes promises to improve the country and later on starts working for their own betterment or works towards their own respective areas.
Why don’t these people think about Pakistan? Why does one politician than Punjab consider himself different from the one from Sindh? Why are Balochistan and the NWFP considered backward areas, though they are asked and expected to vote for respective political parties?
SALMAN LASSI
Karachi
THE proposal for two weekly holidays is under consideration in government circles, but this has been opposed by the members of trade and industry, who are of the opinion that if workers will stay back at home, production in industry will be affected.
Here is a question for members of trade and industry: what have we accomplished during the last 61 years when workers were given off on Sundays?
When we have not been able to achieve the target during the last 61 years, there is no need to repeat the drill once more when we can accomplish much if workers are given two weekly holidays.
We must learn from developed nations where offices and factories are closed after working five days in a week. All offices and shops strictly observe the timing from 9am to 5pm and, thereafter, offices and shops are closed for commercial activities.
The question is: how do developed nations manage to give off on Saturdays to their workers when the concept of doing business all over the world is the same?
Even our exporters have to wait for two days to speak to importers in western countries as the entire West where majority of our exporters sell their goods is shut on Saturday and Sunday being weekly off-days.
The main reason behind the shortfall in production in Pakistan is mismanagement of the timings. If owners of factories should also reach their offices at 9am, at the same time when workers reach factories, to start work in the morning, members of trade and industry can better manage their work during the five-day week, starting from Monday to Friday.
The management responsible for running factories can also take rest on Saturday and Sunday, at which time workers will also be off from their jobs, and come back afresh on Monday after spending two weekly holidays with their family members.
An employee is supposed to work for 40 hours a week which is eight hours a day and five days in a week. If anyone works beyond 40 hours in a week, this means that he or she is working at the cost of his or her health, agony of his or her family members.
With two weekly holidays, I am sure, employees will be able to perform better and give more productivity after tackling all sorts of family-related problems.
Since the country is also facing an acute shortage of electricity, members of trade and industry should cooperate with the government and close their industries on Saturdays so that electricity should be conserved by commercial users and its benefit should be passed on to domestic consumers, who are facing severe loadshedding summer.
The government should announce the much-awaited two weekly holidays, as this will also cut down oil import bills and other oil-related products due to which the government is facing an acute shortage of foreign reserves.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
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