| October 30, 2008 | Thursday | Shawwal 30, 1429 |
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The Hindu Gymkhana controversy
Countering joblessness
Denouncing one’s predecessors
Concessions in electricity charges
Undeserved levy
Solving Balochistan problems
Tuition centres in private schools
PML merger
Democrats, Republicans and Pakistan
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
APROPOS of the news item, ‘Opposition terms briefing shallow and inadequate’ (Oct 15) , it looks like the ladies and gentlemen who attended the briefing and showed dissatisfaction have come from some other world. They should have realised the precarious state of affairs in our country.
As a matter of fact, we are not a research-oriented or scientific society. More often than not we make our moves on the directions of soothsayers and through gut feeling.
If that was not true, the Constitution of the country wouldn’t have been abrogated many a time and the desecrators wouldn’t go scot-free; the debacle of East Pakistan wouldn’t have happened; the support for the so-called Mujahideen (now Taliban) wouldn’t have been there; and the great victory by Mujahid-i-Kargil would have been accepted as a humiliating defeat.
So under these circumstances this is the best that our bureaucrats could do, and there could not be another way of disseminating information. So, please spare them.
Another mind-boggling news item that will also reflect the same mindset was the press release by the State Bank governor on Oct 8: ‘Banks capable of absorbing market shocks’.
Can anybody tell what is the real message being conveyed by the SBP governor through this press release when the country is passing through a serious political and economic crisis?
A few jargons, which could not be understood by the common man, were presented at the briefing. It’s a pity that nobody made any comment.
On the other hand, the heads of financial institution of the world are openly talking about a dismal financial situation of the country, the State Bank seems to be hiding reality behind terminologies by issuing statements like “investors’ confidence is unshaken because there is input of $500m”, capital adequacy is strong as the ratio is 12.1 per cent, which is well above the international market benchmarks and the net inflation is improved to 1.6 per cent’?
Is this understood by the common man?
The facts are spelled out correctly by the Economist magazine (Sept 24). They state that internationally the average inflation in 2008 will be around 21.6 per cent, GDP growth will slow down to 4.2 per cent in 2008/09, accelerated price increase will depress real wages and the government will have to sell its assets to raise money.
These are the straight facts, no mincing of words. I suggest to the SBP governor to try and make a budget of an average household income of Rs6,000 a month.
We must admit that in a capitalist culture like ours, where development is evaluated on the basis of the number of mobile phones used, the number of vehicles on the roads and the ostentatious lifestyles, the destiny of the masses will remain unchanged.
The fundamentals of our economy were never in place. And we were never open about it, too.
This society has always supported Who’s Who of our country, and relied on them. The banking system of Pakistan was never open to middle entrepreneurs; rather it helped in the spread of consumerism.
It has always favoured the elites and waived millions of loans etc (Rs54 billion was written off as reported in a section of the press, May 10).
Socio-economic prosperity of societies can never be achieved through lopsided and ill-planned polices which favour only a few privileged.
It is time the government acknowledged the basic flaws in the polices which were made only to make average ratios of growth, poverty, literacy, healthcare, etc, to appear attractive without having any a positive impact on the people in general, as they now are now more deprived than they were a few years ago.
We need to try to contribute to the nation as a whole instead of self-aggrandisement and individual enrichment.
NAZIR TUNIO
Karachi
UNDER the Sindh Cultural Heritage Preservation Act 1994, the historical building of Hindu Gymkhana, with its carved cupolas and outstanding structure, is declared as a protected heritage building.
In 1921 the then commissioner of Karachi, Jean Louis Rieu, had granted special lease for the promotion of cultural activities and social gatherings of the Hindu community of Karachi and on his request leading Hindu philanthropist Seth Ram Gopaldas Goverthandas Mohatta sponsored the construction work.
At the time of partition this building was declared an evacuee property and since 1947 till date this building has been facing the crisis of possession and legitimacy.
First it was allotted to the Federal Public Service Commi-ssion in 1961. In 1978 the FPSC was shifted to Islamabad and the building was handed over to the Pak PWD.
In August 1990, with the efforts of an old Karachiite, P. K. Shahni, prime minister Benazir Bhutto ordered the transfer of Hindu Gymkhana to the Department of Culture, Sindh, for establishment of a centre of Sindh Arts and Crafts. On Dec 19, 1993 the culture department took over the charge.
On March 27, 1994 a scheme was approved for the establishment of college of arts and design at a cost of Rs19.20 million, with a provision of Rs4.050 million for conservation and preservation of the building.
Later on, on the instruction of Pervez Musharraf, Hindu Gymkhana was rented out to for establishment of the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) on a very meagre monthly lease of Rs50,000.
In 2006 Napa started construction of a theatre/auditorium within the premises without any permission/NOC from the advisory committee of Hindu Gymkhana as the building was declared as protected heritage.
During previous regime, the civil society, the members of Hindu Community and culture friendly people have been criticizing the illegal allotment of a cultural building and shown their concerns on the commercial use of the Hindu Gymkhana.
We, the members of the Sindh Democratic Forum (SDF), are of the view that the very progressive and secular fabric of Pakistani society is under threat by fundamental forces and extremists and there is a great need for promotion of art, culture, performing dance and theatres to counter fanaticism but it shall not be at the cost of damage to the cultural and historical heritage.
The SDF does not believe in dislodging or relocating the artists but it believes that as a ‘custodian’ of a momentous premises, the culture ministry has every right to stop any illegal construction taking place on the premises of the Hindu Gymkhana.
The construction by Napa of a theatre/auditorium in an already declared protected heritage has violated the agreement dated 23.9.2005, between the Culture, Tourism Department, Government of Sindh, and Napa.
We demand that after the termination of the tenancy the culture department should use the premises of the Hindu Gymkhana, built by a Hindu philanthropist, for establishment of a centre for arts and craft of Sindh, as planned earlier, and a portion will be used as ‘Hindu Gymkhana’ for cultural and social activities of the Hindu Community.
ZULFIQAR HALEPOTO
Secretary,
Sindh Democratic forum
Karachi
THE government has ultimately initiated job opportunities for the jobless youth this month. In this connection several youths have been inducted by the Sindh Manpower and Training Department in all districts for training in various skills.
Some 250 young men have been admitted to the Technical Training Institute, Thatta, and several others belonging to this district are also admitted to some institutes in other districts.
According to sources, their training will commence from Oct 28.
Now when this positive step is taken, there is need for proper monitoring of the whole process in order to ensure that the youths should get proper training in the respective skills and fields and become productive and useful citizens.
There is also need for provision of necessary facilities and equipment to the Thatta institute and other institutes that lack the required facilities.
One hopes that the government will not rest only with admission, but will monitor it properly.
It is also suggested that by the time these young men complete their training, the government should create regular jobs for them in their respective fields.
DR MUMTAZ AHMED UQAILI
Makli, Thatta
WITH the change in the government, new managers are being inducted into all institutions, whether political, bureaucratic, industrial, financial, or sports organisations.
Management practices, which are successful all over the world, stress three elements, viz. continuity, orderly change in top echelons and participative management against centralised and autocratic management.
Even in the US, where it is usual to change the heads of political and bureaucratic institutions with the election of a new president, transition teams are constituted to make for a smooth succession, through briefing. In the private sector, an understudy or two are groomed over a period to take over the job of chief executive.
Not so in Pakistan. I recall the visit of the chairman, Pohang Iron and Steel Company from South Korea, Gen Tie Joon Park, to Pakistan Steel in 1981, when I had just taken over as chairman. After the briefing session in the conference room, he looked up and saw five portraits hanging on the wall. “Who are these gentlemen ?” he asked.
“These are all my predecessors,” I replied.
He said: “You have not yet started full operations and have already ‘consumed’ five chairmen.”
He told me that he himself was appointed by President Park Chung Hee and set up Pohang Iron and Steel Company from a scratch going on from one million tons capacity to 9.4 million tons over a period of about 13 years.
What happened in our case was that with each change of the government, the chairman was ‘sacked’ in short order with no thought given to continuity or appointing an understudy or a detailed briefing to make the transition smooth.
Anyway, my concern today, is the recent changes in the PCB and Pakistan Hockey Federation. True to form, the new chairman of the PCB is going to sack everybody, coach, captain, selectors, officials, the lot and bringing his own ‘men’.
Not only that, but he has gone public with all the stories of incompetence and dishonesty of the previous lot. This is a clever alibi, which works in Pakistan.
“The treasury is empty. The affairs are in a mess. I have to literally pick up pieces.” I am sure Mr Qasim Zia will also follow this pattern.
This gives the new incumbent two or three years to continue with the ‘failure syndrome’. By the time, his performance starts being questioned, perhaps there will be new patron and new boss on the scene. The fun will start all over again.
H. N. AKHTAR
Karachi
HAS the government committee under Hina Rabbani Khar played a gimmick with the public while announcing a 40 per cent concession in the electricity bills sent out for payment in the last week of October (presumably for units consumed in Sept 2007)?
The 40 per cent reprieve does not look like a concession if you consider the following facts: the government made two announcements last week: electricity charges would be increased 75 per cent more, up to Rs11 per unit, and, two, power outages would be increased to nine for cities and 11 for rural areas.
This means that after announcing a concession of 40 per cent, the government (or Wapda, or power companies) are still keeping 35 per cent more over the last announced rates.
Second, why should the new rates apply retrospectively for consumption of the last month (September), when the new rates were announced in October?
Yet again, given that there was no addition made in electric gadgets, it is inconceivable that the number of units consumed would increase dramatically in a period when the number of loadshedding hours had increased by one-third over the last month.
To give an example, my October bill showed 1,009 units. Last year, for the same number of electric equipment, 840 units were recorded in September 2007.
During summer months, May and June, with three hourly power outages in Islamabad, 645 and 866 units, respectively, were recorded.
This shows that the number of units keep on increasing as more loadshedding hours are announced, which is baffling for a number of consumers, including myself.
Did the meter reader wear a double focus lens when he was recording consumption, or were the units increased by the IESCO by some rule of the thumb?
JONAID IQBAL
Islamabad
THE other day I was recharging my mobile phone with a 100-rupee card when I noticed the following appearing on my mobile phone: “Five per cent administrative fee for recharging – on face value”.
This is an undeserved levy as recharge is an automatic procedure and no expenses are involved. What it means that this mobile company has given itself a five per cent profit on overall turnover for nothing.
Similarly, the PTCL imposed a package on consumers some times back. What is poorly-led Pakistan Telecom Authority doing about it?
It is very unfortunate that the ownership of these companies should resort to these tactics when we desire the investors from close allies as Arab countries to invest and succeed in Pakistan in much greater numbers than now .
Unfortunately the blind and unjustified levy by the PTV in electricity bills has opened way for other blind levies which too must stop after all what is the justification of not giving Rs25 to say 40 other channels operating which consumers use .
This justifies shakeup in our regulatory bodies as the PTA and Pemra, which allow illegal tariffs and keep on licensing dishonest businessmen and license improper parties to destroy our roads, gardens, put unsafe towers in parks, on roofs with no end.
M. SHAIKH
Islamabad
WITH reference to the government’s efforts to end or reduce the problems of the Balochistan province, I fully support the upcoming jirga comprising the PPP’s reconciliatory committee and the educationists, journalists, poets, writers and politicians of Balochistan.
The jirga will be presented with a good roadmap for resolving the issues irritating the people of the biggest area-wise but the smallest population wise province.
It was its bad luck that its progress and development was ignored by the centre for a long time. Islamabad was not entirely responsible for this negligence.
The misfortunes seemed to be a vicious circle. The progress, uplift and development were hindered by illiteracy and ignorance, economic and social backwardness, tribal feuds and the cruel rule of sardars and nawabs.
Removing illiteracy, ignorance and backwardness was not easy as long as the talons of sardars and nawabs still clutched the tribal people of this unfortunate province. This is the main reason of all their woes and denial of their genuine rights. For showing goodwill, solidarity and commitment to non stop progress and prosperity of this province, the government should launch a three-pronged plan for providing with education, just monetary distribution; and agricultural and industrial alleviation.
For large-scale education, new schools, colleges and universities should be opened; and free schooling and scholarships for higher studies should be announced immediately.
The distribution of national income can be made on the basis of population to all provinces — but Balochistan should be allowed a temporary exemption — for a limited period — like you allow a tax holiday for a particular period – for a bigger share to compensate for poverty, disease, backwardness and lack of progress, development and amelioration.
And for agricultural, industrial and commercial development, Islamabad should assure the Baloch people that the entire benefit would be passed on to them for the rapid progress and bring their province at par with other developed provinces. I ask both the Islamabad authorities and the Baloch people a question: “Would the uplift, development and progress of Balochistan not be the growth, advancement and strength of Pakistan”?
M. K. NAQVI
Karachi
RECENTLY a new and dangerous trend has begun in some private institutions where students are asked to join tuition or coaching centres sponsored by schools/colleges and within the school/college premises. Merits and demerits of tuition and coaching centres and its damage to education is well-known: educational institutions look deserted with no attendance, mostly in male colleges, whereas tuition and practical centres are buzzing with activity, growing day by day.
The tuition system will create two more classes of students, and teachers will be biased towards those who do not opt for this. So, in a nutshell, this evil should be nipped in the bud and timely action be taken to stop school/college owners from doing so.I request the EDO, PSMA and the education department to issue a circular to ban this activity. However, weak students take tuitions privately at home as is already the normal practice.
PROF MUHAMMAD IQBAL
Karachi
THERE have been reports that attempts are under way to reunite the PML(N) and PML(Q) factions of the Pakistan Muslim League. It is also being said that some of the PML(Q) leaders want the Chaudhry brothers, Shujaat Husain and Pervez Elahi, to step down.
I think this is a very reasonable demand. One must recall how the former Punjab chief minister had been saying until some time before the election that Musharraf would be re-elected by his party even with uniform, many more times. This shows what an anti-people approach Pervaiz Elahi and his ilk had and they no longer deserve to hang on to the party leadership.
As a patriotic Pakistani, a Muslim Leaguer at heart but not associated with any party, I would urge the two Chaudhrys to step down, quit politics and pave the way for the reuniting of the various factions. In this way, they would be doing a greater service to Pakistan.
A.G. CHAUDHRY
Karachi
MANY Pakistanis here and in the US appear wary of the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, given his frequent threats of attacking targets inside Pakistan.
However, a close look at Republican nominee John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin will show them to be potentially bigger dangers for us.
Consider Mr McCain. His family background reveals an uncommonly strong militaristic tradition. His grandfather and father were both admirals in the US Navy. He himself was a Navy pilot and got shot down and imprisoned in Vietnam. Interestingly, his father, John S. McCain Jr., was commanding the Pacific forces at the time and ordered the bombing of Hanoi, even though he knew his son was held there. McCain’s two sons are also in the military.
In his youth the young John McCain was a constant breaker of rules and a brawler who reluctantly followed his forbears to the US Naval Academy and finished 894th out of a class of 899, having led a group of late-night miscreants known as the ‘Bad Bunch’.
In flight school his partying were seen as ‘impressive’ even by their standards. (Time, Sept 8).
During the time he was a PoW, his first wife Carol had a very serious car accident, followed by a long recovery that left her four inches (10 cm) shorter.
After Johns return, the marriage ended due to his infidelity. Later on he married Cindy, an heiress who was 17 years younger and used her family money to finance his election to the Congress.
In high school, he was nicknamed ‘McNasty’ because of his tough-guy behaviour and later on as ‘John Wayne McCain’. Even now, he has been exhibiting hair-trigger bellicosity in his approach towards unfriendly states, such as Iran, Russia and Syria.
He may have admonished Senator Obama for openly threatening to attack Fata, but had clearly said one must do what needs to be done, without saying it out loud. Thus, inwardly he seems a real hawk.
Looking now at Sarah Palin, she has called the Iraq war a ‘task that is from God’, which echoes George Bush’s claim of God having told him to invade Afghanistan and Iraq.
She is a fundamentalist and during her mayorship of Alaskan town Wasilla, churches proliferated and the place came to be known as the ‘Bible Belt of Alaska’. (Time, Sept 15).
A BBC correspondent interviewed several participants of a recent Barack Obama rally in Virginia – a state that has not voted for a Democrat since 1964. Interestingly, one of them, a white woman, said that McCain’s time was up (i.e. he is too old), that she was concerned about his age and health and that “God forbid, if something happens to him, Sarah Palin would become the president” (Oct. 27).
This shows some Americans’ poor opinion about Ms Palin. In contrast, Barack Obama has shown himself to be much more principled and cautious.
According to an analyst, he is a careful man who doesn’t like to disappoint anyone and strives hard to find a common ground.
Another positive factor is that he has had a clean reputation and his devotion to his family, as also his thankfulness, is evident from the praise he’s been lavishing on his mother and maternal grandparents.
He also took time off the other day from his campaign at its peak to visit his sick maternal grandmother in Hawaii.
He stays in touch with his father’s side of the family as well.
All these things suggest that while his tough talk about Pakistan may be necessitated by the election, but, after becoming the president, he could show about the same humanism, caution and sensitivity to us that he has shown to his voters.
Hopefully, he would adopt a non-belligerent and reasonable approach in collaboration with the ally, Pakistan.
K. CHAUDHRY
Karachi
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