| October 24, 2008 | Friday | Shawwal 24, 1429 |
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Unfair Haj fares
Daylight saving
Time out for terrorists
Standing on its own feet
Is media encouraging terrorism?
Regressing into stone age
Oil pricing: PSO clarification
Chinese investment
Loadshedding and wedding parties
Reliving Gandhi’s legacy
Pakistan-India travel
Who are they?
Fleecing growers
Big pharma and physicians
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 ‘flawed experiment’ and ‘costly disaster’ are the hallmarks depicted by Pervez Hoodbhoy’s article (Oct 21) for the HEC’s performance under its defunct chairman Dr Atta ur Rehman.
One wonders why this happened, despite the much projected success claimed by the HEC from time to time. The only reason that comes to mind is that the HEC failed to see things as they are in our socio-cultural setup.
Dr Atta-ur-Rehman and his staff seem to have overlooked the socio-cultural roots of this country, its people, and various institutional structures built on these foundations.
It is obvious now that we cannot Americanise our universities no matter how much funding we waste on this self-defeating project.
Unfortunately, believing so led Dr Rehman and his team to structure its educational reforms in a way that neglected the social science faculties. Social sciences were never on the priority list of the HEC’s reforms.
Although they realised it later on, all attempts to bring them at par with physical sciences were only half-hearted. Subjects like philosophy, history, Urdu, Sindhi, Persian, Arabic, Bengali, Islamic history, Islamic learning, Political science, and so on have significant knowledge base.
Students coming to learn these subjects and their teachers should have been encouraged.
However, throughout the HEC’s policies most of the scholarships were available only in physical sciences with a very little portion left for these subjects. Now that Dr Rehman has left or been made to leave, there is a need to strengthen the social sciences at higher educational level.
It should now be realised that these sciences harbour the ideological structures for the stability and autonomy of this country as well as for its institutions. The socio-cultural awareness, refined by intensive research in these subjects, makes its students capable of creating an environment rich enough to propagate ‘national character’ which supports the much desired scientific and technological independence.
Whereas the physical scientist is preoccupied in calculative thinking, the social scientist, with his critical thought, gives direction to the overall vision for building strong institutions and stronger nation.
Rather than pushing intellectuals to abandon this country, our institutions should provide means for letting them work for enhancing knowledge-based awareness amongst the masses.
Thus, the errors of the past should provide lessons for the future. Now that Dr Atta ur Rehman has left, it is time for educational reformists to restructure their policies for strengthening the social science faculty throughout the country with a whole-hearted effort.
Unfortunately the previous government’s setup identified itself with the military bent of mind, and its various ‘operations’ and ‘task forces’ appeared as if there was a battleground to be taken over by the educational reforms.
But fortunately the present government’s setup is already a kind of “people’s forum” with its ideological foundations rooted in the socio-political and cultural origins.
Therefore, let us hope that the future of higher education will now be running parallel to the future of this country.
DR ZAHOOR H. BABER
Karachi
IN our country it’s not only the basic and essential needs like electricity and water that are denied to the common man. It also seems that the government is bent on denying its countrymen even the right to perform religious and spiritual rites.
Look at the Haj fares announced by the government this year. Previously there used to be two fares, one for people travelling under government scheme with stay duration of minimum 40 days and another for private Haj organisers with no minimum stay restriction.
Last year, the air fare for Haj under government scheme was Rs37,000/ while this year it is Rs70,000/ (almost an increase of 100 per cent).
Further this year for pilgrims going through private Haj organisers, two types of air fares are introduced, one for travelling before November 23 is Rs85,000 while another Rs100,000 for travelling after November 23.
Understandably these fares were constructed when the oil price in the international market was hovering at $140 per barrel but now the oil price has come down to $70 to 75 per barrel .
Will it not be appropriate if the Haj fares are revised/adjusted accordingly? Please note that a number of intending pilgrims may have to abandon the idea of performing Haj this year due to increase in air fares and consequent hike in Haj package.
We never were in as dire need of prayers for our country and the government as we are today….time for people at the helm of affairs to reconsider. On lighter note: Fly eight hours to London and pay Rs50,000/ and/or fly four hours to Jeddah and pay Rs100,000/……remarkable economics.
SYED JAVAID HASAN
Karachi
THERE are contrasting views on introduction of daylight saving programme back in June this year. As with any new system, there were initial problems in adjustment with new time.
It has now been five months and we are now very much settled with new time zone. I am, as a business executive, in strong favour of continuation of new time. I will support the idea for the continuation of existing time.
Some of the advantages and benefits of the system which I gained are:
Early start of the day means early completion of the day’s official activities and still have enough time to complete other personal activities. Such as shopping and social calls.
Spreading peak traffic hours resulted in less traffic congestion on peak hour of evening.
Having extra hour in the evening means completion of any pending office activities which are normally piled up and require extra day on weekend to complete.
Early wake-up means offering Fajr prayers on time.
IMRAN ABBASI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the proposal of peace talks offered by Tehrik-i-Taliban to the government of Pakistan after recent strikes by the Pakistan military against terrorists in Swat, Bajaur and Darra Adam Khel.
The Army and Air Force had carried out some tactically successful textbook operations in Bajaur and Swat. The offensive was so successful that it resulted in heavy losses to the terrorists, including death of their major commanders. This also encouraged the local people who were being frightened by these terrorists.
The rising of the local people in the form of ‘lashkar’ is another blow to Taliban and they know that if this continued for some time, these Taliban will soon be uprooted from Pakistan within no time.
Taliban have immediately offered peace talks but I want to remind the authorities that this is an old tactic to gain time and regroup and replenish themselves.
The previous government always listened to such calls and was betrayed by these terrorists. The peace never happened.
I will request the authorities to go for final kill rather than being deceived once again. I hope the Army has enough ‘material’ to expose this deceiving act of Taliban and not let the government decide for ‘peace talks’. I also appreciate the brave soldiers who are fighting to save Pakistan from the menace of terrorism.
DR FAREEHA KHANUM
Mardan
WITH reference to the letter ‘Pakistan needs to stand on its own feet’ by Aziz Suharwardy (Oct 22), I would term his suggestions as a cry in the wilderness.
I believe that only five per cent of the people he has tried to persuade will be reading this letter and amongst those too many will just read it as morning paper and will fold the paper and get back to their routine.
To bring Mr Suharwardy’s plan into action I believe that we must put his suggestion in every nook and corner of the country.
And most importantly his letter should directly be sent to the President House, Prime Minister House and Raiwand. Hopefully something will get noticed.
MARIYAH HASSAN
Islamabad
AFTER Pakistan’s so - called 9/11, at Marriot Hotel, terrorists have established themselves: more effective, well-informed and resourceful. Recent dummy threats to the airport and the Faisal Mosque also proved to be very effective.
One must say that the media has fully supported the terrorist aim by showing live coverage of confusions and panic among the citizens. They have also exposed how helpless our law-enforcement agencies are, both at the national and the international level.
It would be better if measures taken by the agencies to provide and ensure security of citizens are not shown to terrorists as they have become aware of these measures.
The Media has given a clear lead to terrorists to protect themselves, i.e., to remain away from CCTV — about 300 metres.
It is my humble request to the electronic media to understand the impact of such sensitive details. Please don’t add to the miseries as they have already touched the sky. Such aimless media coverage strongly indicates that the electronic media is playing into the hands of immature short vision and ambition lot.
Nations are built and respected by positive coverage of the media. The media is eyes and ears of the citizens.
SHAFQAT SULTAN
Rawalpindi
FEDERAL minister Naveed Qamar says that the future import of wheat will be done through the Gwader port. This implies that the government is now determined to resolve the wheat shortage issue by importing it from overseas and not by planning to produce more wheat here in the country.
An agricultural country is being turned into a barren land through wrong policies of the government.
With India stopping all our river waters and with the existing acute shortage of electricity in the country, what other option remains than to import it.
I suppose our agricultural community must return to the old conventional wells in villages where we used to draw water from the wells.
The US was right in threatening the previous government that if it did not cooperate in fighting against terrorism, our country will be pushed back into the stone age. We are eventually getting to that stage.
N. KHAN
Islamabad
THIS is apropos of the article, ‘Oil pricing: flouting cabinet decisions’ (Economic and Business Review, Oct 20-26).
In one of the paragraphs it is mentioned that the PSO is supplying substandard diesel to its customers which is imported at a lower rate but is supplied to the customers as high quality premium product with less that 0.5 per cent sulphur against which higher rates are charged to the customers.
The above impression is wrong. The fact is that the standard specifications of HSD (PSI specs.) in Pakistan has provision for maximum one per cent sulphur and the local refineries typically produce HSD with average 0.7 per cent sulphur.
As for the imports, the PSO arranges deficit HSD through reliable suppliers with maximum 0.5 per cent sulphur contents as per the specifications approved by the government of Pakistan.
Each import consignment is checked by independent surveyors at the load port and by the HDIP at the discharge port as monitoring body for quality.
The PSO neither has the mandate nor does it control the price fixation for the end-user in Pakistan.
The local and import consignments commingle at PSO storages and are marketed after adding quality additives to further improve the fuel properties, without any additional cost to the end-user.
It may be noted that the PSO has never claimed that it is marketing HSD with less than 0.5 per cent sulphur.
AAMIR ABBASI
Manager, Corporate Communications
Pakistan State Oil Co. Ltd.
Karachi
THIS is apropos of President Zardari’s recent visit to China to meet the chairman of the National People’s Congress, Wu Banguo, for assistance. This is an imperative move for Pakistan as previous investments by China in Pakistan have done wonders.
An increasing number of Chinese manufacturers are already operating in Pakistan like Shenzhen-based telecommunications firm ZTE, Shanghai-based electronic maker SVA, China Mobile and a number of motorcycle companies.
With the telecommunication satellite being delivered to Pakistan, we can surely expect the consumers to benefit from minimal telecom rates.
It is important to mention here that these investments are vital for our economy at the present time.
HAREEM DEEBA
Karachi
Loadshedding has now obliviously become the integral part of our daily routine. Energy conservation is the prime concern of the government.
Taking this opportunity I would like to suggest that the government should immediately take notice and put restriction on the late-night parties where lights remain on for long hours.
This would result in saving notable electricity (either through the KESC or private generator).
The above step would also help in bringing basic norms back to our parties, specially wedding.
The late-night wedding parties sometimes also bring miseries for members of the family where the host has to wait for long hours for guests to arrive at the hall.
On the other hand, anybody who wants to come early and leave early suffers embarrassment in the form of a deserted hall.
The late-night parties are also nuisance for professionals, parents and schoolgoing children that suffer lack of concentration next morning.
The above step is not an extraordinary one. Hosting parties during the day is still normal practice in many parts of our country and was also witnessed just a few years ago in big cities.
The above step would also make us more time-conscious that has been missing for quiet some time.
SAJID Q. BHANJI
Karachi
I MUST congratulate Ayesha Siddiqa for her article, “Reliving Gandhi’s legacy” (Oct 17). As an Indian I can attest to the fact that Prof Mushirul Hasan by providing a mechanism for legal assistance has added to the democratic, secular and liberal strength of India.
By providing legal assistance to the accused, Mr Hasan has not taken any side but purely ensured that the democratic spirit of India remains alive. It is the basics of jurisprudence based on values of fairness and justice that every accused has a right to get legal assistance.
Also by providing a healthy democratic channel to the anger of a section of Muslims who felt that the arrested persons were innocent, Mr Hasan has done bigger service to India.
LUV PURI
New York
MUCH hype is created by Pakistan and India about improvement in the relations of the two countries, ease of travel and people-to-people contact, but the ground realities are different for the common people who want to travel between the two countries to meet their loved ones.
In the past it was much easier to obtain a visa. The Indian deputy high commission in Karachi used to issue a visa same day without asking for any document and one can get a visa for at least three cities.
But now a lot of documents are required to be submitted with a visa application and even then a visa for only one or maximum two cities is issued.
Also, one has to wait for two months to get a visa if submitted through the designated courier and even if somebody submits a visa application in person at Islamabad, the waiting time is 15 days.
If a government wants to make the travel easy, it must take unilateral steps such as issuance of visa on the same day or maximum within 48 hours, abolish police reporting, issue a visa for the whole of the country,etc.
SAEED YAQOOB
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the news item, ‘12 wounded as student groups trade fire in Karachi’ (Oct 3).
On the other hand, our poor celebrities are trying their level best to improve the image of Pakistan by appearing on electronic and print media advertisements with the slogan ‘Ye Hum Naheen’.
My question to these celebrities is: ‘Agar ye hum naheen to phir ye kaun hai?’ (If they are not us, then who are they?)
When students of a country store sophisticated weapons in educational institutions to fight among themselves, how can that country lay a claim to fighting international terrorism?
M. RAFIQUE ZAKARIA
Karachi
THE government has announced the purchase price of wheat at Rs950 per maund (40kg), which when converted to a standard ton is equivalent to 1,120kg at 28 maunds a ton.
However, the government has agreed to pay subsidy of Rs2,200 for a ton of 800kg (20 bags, of 40kg each (sic)).
This standard is equivalent to 28.57kg to a maund. The government may, therefore, either increase the purchase price to Rs1330 per maund of 40kg or reduce the equivalent weight of maund from 40kg to 28.57kg for buying wheat and other commodities from growers/zamindars.
The second point which needs consideration is that the average yield of wheat per acre in Sindh is about 18 maunds per acre and not 28 maunds per acre as quoted in the articles in your esteemed newspaper by either mistake or oversight.
Therefore, the return to the growers in Sindh on use of DAP is about 35 per cent less as compared to the growers in Punjab if the reported figure of 28 maunds is correct
ABDULLAH MAHESAR
Karachi
IN his letter (Oct 18) Riaz Hussain of the Pharma Bureau gives an inaccurate picture of the pharma-physician interaction, something that I have referred to as the unholy nexus in a previous letter. He also refuted the possibility of any conflict of interest when the for-profit industry solicits the help of physicians in selling its products.
There is no doubt that the pharmaceutical industry has developed numerous essential medicines which have benefited millions of patients worldwide.
However, let us be clear that the pharma industry is like any other industry: it produces and markets goods in order to make a profit and is not in the business out of the goodness of its heart.
There is nothing wrong per se in being profit-driven, but to present the drug industry as some sort of a philanthropic enterprise is misleading.
The conflict of interest arises when its primary interest, that of making a profit, clashes with the best interest of the patient.
The industry uses its medical reps to promote its products, and physicians serve as conduits and accessories to this process. The industry and many times the prescribing physician benefit from the sales.
Surely the distinct possibility of conflict in interest for both is obvious. And hence the need for caution. The problem does not lie with the industry alone. It is physicians who complete this unholy nexus by clamouring for gifts handed out by the industry for promoting their sales.
Accepting favours big and small, something akin to accepting bribes, has become so internalised that it has now ceased to feel unethical. Mr Hussain is absolutely right when he says that companies have now become the sole source of medical information for the physicians.
This, however, is an unfortunate development with far-reaching and deleterious repercussions for the medical community. The medical rep and his glossy ‘information’ leaflets have largely replaced the role of medical literature, academic discourse and continuing education. It is a sad reflection of the state in which medical practice finds itself today.
The ‘stringent guidelines’ mentioned by Mr Hussain notwithstanding, the industry uses all means conceivable in order to promote sales.
Millions spent in its promotional efforts are obviously recovered through drug pricing and it is the patient who ultimately ends up paying for the air tickets to fly physicians to conferences held at exotic resorts. Physicians are equally responsible for supporting this practice by accepting such offers.
This issue must be acknowledged as a social evil that plagues the healthcare systems and which needs to be corrected. It is time we stopped pretending that everything is fine and started looking for practical solutions.
DR AAMIR JAFAREY
Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture, SIUT
Karachi
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