| December 17, 2008 | Wednesday | Zilhaj 18, 1429 |
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Gutka: a threat to national health
Pakistan’s rising star
Dying sweet-water lakes of Sindh
Need for a medical varsity
‘The common enemy’
Soul searching needed
Patients first
Use of cell phones
Property tax
‘Providing a stimulus’
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 recent Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), introduced under the auspices of International Labour Organisation, brings in a paradigm shift in attitudes and approaches towards persons with disabilities. The CRPD constitutes a shift from the predominant focus on rehabilitating persons with disabilities to a much greater focus on changing or rehabilitating society.
It is an aura of change from expecting people with disabilities to adjust to a socially - defined norm, to an acceptance of diversity as normal, and of differences as being part of the human condition; from the exclusion of disabled persons who have been on the margins of society to their inclusion, full participation and availing of full citizenship rights.The CRPD contains a preamble and 50 articles. The articles highlight equal opportunity for all persons with disabilities to participate in a meaningful manner, recognising that stakeholders in a society have obligations to ban discrimination, remove all barriers and provide reasonable accommodation for all persons, including persons with disabilities.
With the enforcement of this convention, there is a shift from a charity approach to a rights - based approach. It is based on the belief that all people are borne equal possessing undeniable human rights.
The Network of Organisations Working for People with Disabilities, Pakistan (NOWPDP), had organised a seminar in Karachi (Dec 4) to observe the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec 3. One of the speakers, who himself is a person with disability and leading a highly successful life as head of the human resources department in a large multinational company, has rightly said that “the disabled should not be labelled as such, instead they should be referred to as people with limitations”.
The United Nations had organised a two - day meeting funded by Ireland in June in Bangkok, which was attended by 10 countries, eight of them from Asia, mainly to discuss the ratification and implementation of the CRPD. Although Pakistan has yet to ratify the convention, as a first step our government should change the name of ‘Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1981’ to ‘Persons with Disabilities (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance, 1981’.
Other amendments in contents of the ordinance may be carried out on ratification of CRPD by Pakistan. In the Oxford dictionary the meaning of the word ‘disabled’ has negative connotation, i.e. ‘unable to do’ or ‘people who are disabled’ from which one draws the impression that the person is incapacitated from doing anything.
Meaning of the word ‘disability’ in the same dictionary is ‘state of being disabled’ which is further elaborated: “She swims well despite her disabilities”. Hence the words ‘persons with disabilities’ truly meet spirit of the convention. Delegates to the aforesaid meeting had even avoided using the words ‘special persons’ for persons with disabilities.
Why should they be treated as ‘special’ when now they enjoy equal rights along with others to get gainful employment and opportunities for honing their skills.
The convention is important as it sets up the basis to dismantle stigmas that have crept in society over time. Nevertheless, it requires gigantic efforts both from the public and private sectors to convert these ideas into reality.
PARVEZ RAHIM
Karachi
ACCORDING to the latest information, there are 1.5 million reported cases of mouth cancer on account of gutka. This number is increasing at an alarming pace as disclosed at a medical conference held by the Pakistan Medical Association.
It was further disclosed that 55 per cent of the total patients pertain to Karachi alone. Unfortunately nowadays most of the patients belong to the age group of less than 12 years, though previously the majority was above 50 years of age.
Sadly, the degree of the addiction in general consumers has increased so much that most of the addicts carry stocks of gutka with them even while travelling as they cannot live without it.
Gutka is a preparation of crushed betel nut, tobacco, catechu, lime and sweet or savoury flavourings, sometimes tinged with opium. It is a mild stimulant, consumed much like chewing tobacco, and like chewing tobacco it is considered responsible for oral cancer and other severe negative health effects.
According to doctors, it is the fungus of the beetle nut (supari) which causes the lethal disease. This element is, however, not perceptable in the gutka because of certain sweetners mixed with it.
Unfortunately, it is not just the consumption of gutka that is dangerous. Manufacturing it is equally harmful to human health. The labour involved in the production has to wear plastic gloves while mixing the variants with lime and catechu (katha) -- given the corrosive nature of both these things and its adverse effect on skin -- with betel nuts for protection.
Although the Sindh provincial cabinet has already imposed ban on manufacture and sale of gutka, the business goes on unabated by pan shop wallahs obviously with the active connivance of the local administration and police.
Apparently it is not a problem which can be handled administratively alone. What is required is an awareness campaign through television and newspapers to bring awareness to the people about the harmful effects of the poisonous concoction called gutka. Equally significant is establishment of rehabilitation centres in such areas as are affected most by this menace.
I propose that import of beetle nut, a root cause of cancer, should be banned immediately. Pan shops should be allowed business only under licences with a condition that if any one is found selling this harmful substance will not only lose the business but will suffer rigorous imprisonment for violating the terms and conditions of the licence.
Although this will cause much uproar in society because even educated people are not immune from this addiction, yet such an unpopular decision is inevitable for the sake of greater good of the people.
QAZI BASHIR AHMED
Old Hala
THE ripples of my joy knew no bounds when I read a news item with the caption, ‘Pakistan rated as rising star in maths’ (Dec 13). This is certainly a moment of pride for all Pakistani students.
However, I would like to lay some stress on our mathematics syllabus at intermediate level by asking the people concerned to include some information about the applications of the concepts taught to us at intermediate level. For instance, many students at our level don’t know anything about applications of calculus, yet they study it. Before studying any new topic a student should become familiar with its applications and its use in practical life. No doubt our mathematics syllabus is up to the international level, but lack of knowledge of the application of scientific methods makes our students a poor performer.
MIRZA IBRAHIM BAIG
Karachi
YOUR editorial, ‘Conservation of wetlands’ (Dec 12), about the doom of the Haleji Lake, a Ramsar site in Thatta district, that was once a great attraction for migratory birds, is simply startling, worrying almost every rational citizen of the country. Unfortunately in Sindh — like annihilation of reverine forests and coastal mangroves — all fresh water lakes have been almost destroyed either by discharging poisonous substance through outfall drains (LBOD and RBOD) carrying saline water towards sea or lack of water from the Indus system.
The Haleji Lake, which is already short of water inflows, is now under a serious threat as the unlined Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) carrying saline water will pass less than 100 feet from the lagoon. The seepage of saline water from uncoated drain will cause permanent damage to the lake as has been rightly asserted in the editorial.
Those who have failed to assess environmental impact of the RBOD and at the same time ignored Sindh Wild Life’s objections have basically committed a serious offense as damage to such as an important source of life is not less than a national loss of immense proportion.
Unfortunately, as a nation we have failed to preserve our heritage, be that man - made monuments or the natural wealth bestowed in the shape the wetland, forests and mangroves. Regrettably in the case of wetlands, Sindh has suffered most as big natural lakes are located there.
The Manchar Lake in Dadu district, the biggest shallow water natural lake of Pakistan, at the time of heavy rainfall covers an area of about 100 square miles or nearly 64,000 acres after construction of the Right Bank Outfall Drainage has been turned into arsenic reservoir.
Another big sweet water lake, namely Hamal, is a natural depression spread over 10,500 hectares extending from Shahdadkot to Naseerabad in Balochistan. Due to poisonous water released from the Hirdin drain the lake has been contaminated and recently caused an outbreak of abdominal diseases in the entire area.
It is estimated that Sindh freshwater lakes account for 65 per cent of total freshwater fisheries in Pakistan and over 120 species of freshwater fish are found in Sindh.
These lakes are considered equally important for a wide variety of breeding, staging, passage and wintering water birds such as ducks and geese, shorebirds, flamingos, cormorants, herons and egrets, ibises, coots, gulls and terns.
However, decrease in flow of water from the River Indus is causing significant damage to these wetlands. With dropping water levels, inflow of industrial wastewater from the Kotri industrial area, and sewage and garbage from the communities in the vicinity, many fish and vegetation species are dwindling in number and diversity.
Since the country is facing a severe shortage of fresh water, it has become all the more imperative to take suitable measures to protect these dwindling reservoirs from contamination. Looking at the enormity of the problem, the government may appoint a high - powered team of experts on water, involving local NGOs, to survey all the lakes of the province and recommend appropriate measures without delay.
However, at present the most challenging is the task of saving the Haljei Lake from impending danger of annihilation, coming from the seepage of the RBOD which needs immediate attention of the Sindh government, as well as of civil society.
ISHA M. KURESHI
Karachi
The city of Multan urgently requires a medical university. There is a dire need for more doctors, medical students and research in the medical profession. The need is further aggravated due to central geographical location of Multan city.
In view the situation and on a demand of Khwaja Jallaluddin Roomi, Chairman Board of Management (BOM) Nishtar Medical Institution, Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani issued a directive in May this year to see if there was a possibility of upgradation of Nishtar Medical College as a medical university.
Afterwards this demand was repeated by Dr Muhammad Siddique Khan Qadri, P.R.O of Nishtar Medical Institution in an elite gathering of the country on the occasion of the 31st death anniversary of Late Syed Alamdar Hussain Gilani, father of the Prime Minister.
It is hoped that the authorities concerned will soon implement this genuine demand.
DR QAMBER ABBAS
Multan
THIS is apropos of the editorial, ‘The common enemy’ (Dec 13). I agree with the assertion that violence attributed to religious extremism in Pakistan boils down to a class conflict. Even more insightful is the observation that most militant cadres drifted gradually towards the Taliban philosophy because of their disillusionment with poverty and their perceived insubstantiality of their lives. I also agree that Pakistan needs to do some soul-searching but it is in the nature of this soul-searching where I beg to differ.
If we continue to pin our hopes on the politicians that we have elected over and over again for the past 20 years, introspection will do us no good. If we continue to re-elect these people over and over again, no amount of ‘looking inward’ will benefit us. If incessant ‘operations’, pounding villagers with bombs and allowing others to launch attacks at our own people continue after all our introspection, then we might as well not waste our time in that endeavour.
What we need to analyse is why we have been unable to find good leadership. Why do we keep re-electing those who have failed us? We need to find out why those that are ‘broad-minded’ and ‘liberal’ have given us nothing but the vapour and mist of their words. Why have they not supported civil action other than when it suited their needs? The lawyers’ movement is a case in point, sadly abandoned by those who waxed eloquent about it till it had helped them achieve their ends. Are their hands bound? Are they afraid to roll up their sleeves and put their hands in the gutter? We need to observe the fact that these liberals have at no point given the masses an alternative to the Taliban ideology.
There is one word that has been eternally ignored in Pakistan. In this word lies the salvation of Pakistan and of this world. That word is justice. If we wish to quell the rising tempest of hate, violence and fragmentation that besets us today, we need to understand that none of this is possible till we provide justice to people. It is injustice that fuels the anger of the young men that take up arms, every other reason proffered is an excuse or embellishment.
The days of beating people into submission are long gone. The dissemination of information, ideas and technology has resulted in a reality where two score individuals armed with enough hate and firepower can change the world forever. We keep parroting words like ‘isolate’ and ‘crush’ yet our enemy is invisible. We talk of ‘them’, yet ‘them’ is ‘us’. We continue to think with our hearts rather than our minds as we have always done.
Without independence of the judiciary, without mass participation in the political process, including civil action, and without electing better leadership, we will continue to stumble and fall.
If we want to defeat extremists of any nature, we must first prove ourselves better than them. In the words of Martin Luther King, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly”.
KHWAJA KHUSRO TARIQ
Bellmore, NY
The recent events in Mumbai have been deeply distressing for all of us.
Like any law abiding person, I have been doing intense soul searching as to what kind of legacy we will leave behind for our children.
Any such analysis invariably leads to the sad conclusion that Pakistan is marred by its own troubled history and internal contradictions and, most importantly its inability to even acknowledge that there is a serious problem within.
The road to salvation begins with recognising and admitting what is wrong within. Alas, what one reads in the papers seem there is a complete sense of denial — the average Pakistani seems to be blaming everyone/everything except looking into the mirror to do some serious introspection. The hatred and venom spewed is truly shocking.
Fortunately, there are voices of sanity as columnists like Cowasjee, Irfan Hussain, Javed Naqvi, Mahir Ali and Kamran Shafi who are objective in their analyses, fearless and willing to call a spade a spade.
Pakistan still has hope as long as you have people like these — may their tribe broaden.
SRIRIM
Via email
The Sharea Faisal-Jinnah Hospital crossing has four hospitals, plus a medical college on the road leading in. The signal free corridor at this juncture has massive recurring traffic jams.
The ambulances therefore, with critical patients are stuck at the traffic signal or are seen moving at a snail’s pace. Time is critical for these patients and can cost lives. A bridge or an underpass is important in this area. The road currently being used is extremely bumpy and needs immediate attention and repairs as well. The Kalapul entrance is also in very bad shape.
Immediate action is required from the concerned authorities.
AFSHAN TARIQ
Karachi
This is with reference to Dr Fatema Jawad’s letter (Dec 13) on the damages the ever increasing use of cell phones during driving is bringing to the road users, and the whole community in broader sense.
Dr Soorma’s incident is
one that has come to light, but there are many that go unnoticed, as precious lives are lost every day on our roads and highways.
Punjab Government has rerecently revived and revamped the traffic police with new inductions, better equipment, new uniforms etc.
What is still missing is enforcement. Violations right under the nose of police personnel are common sight on the roads. The use of cell phones during driving are also done exponentially.
Besides stringent rules to be formulated by lawmakers, there is a dire need for strict enforcement and ruthless actions against violators.
Traffic police departments and NGOs should run an aggressive media campaign to educate the road users about the traffic rules and consequences of violations to prevent homicides as that of Dr Soorma.
NOOR US SABAH
Lahore
Government of Sindh should exempt the unemployed, retired and senior citizens who are unable to do anything from paying property tax. Property tax is also levied on those who possess a two-room flat only and no other property.
In the hard times of soaring prices, it will be a precious gift for the people from the people’s government.
SYED ASLAM
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Shahid Javed Burki’s article ‘Providing a stimulus’ (Dec 9) wherein discussing some fundamental principles of economics that have a predictable outcome, he has rightly concluded that the same fundamentals are at work in the case of Pakistan. His assertion is also correct that, “Pakistan cannot stimulate its economy; as it does not have the fiscal space which would allow Islamabad to pump more money into the economic system” and that “it has to increase government revenue and reduce non development expenditure in order to narrow the fiscal deficit to a sustainable level of about four per cent of GDP”.
Given the extravagant style of governance the establishment has, with the completely idealistic taxation system today, such claims are almost unattainable in the near future.
Three areas have been pointed out by Mr Burki where government attention is urgently needed and that is (a) tax policy, (b) expenditure policy and (c) policies aimed at building institutions. The tax policy of the government so far being pursued has not taken into consideration the consequences on the over-all betterment of society. This is the reason why, today, tax to GDP ratio is still 10 percent, one of the lowest against the world major developing countries, and consequently, this is the reason that the government has no adequate funds to spend on social programmes like education and healthcare etc.
I disagree with Mr Burki that no genuine efforts were ever made in Pakistan to improve the tax structure and tax policy. Whatever has been done so far, has been in the vested interest of those in power. The latest “tax reforms” introduced by the previous government in 2001 at the behest of the World Bank, has on the contrary, proved to be a proverbial nail in the coffin in the taxation system.
The result of this so-called reform has converted the direct taxation into indirect taxation, where most of the taxes are collected through withholdings: on imports, supplies, contracts and services etc., the burden of which is directly passed on to the consumers, majority of whom are from the poor strata of the economy.
The business community on the other hand has been allowed a sort of immunity by introducing the Universal Self Assessment Scheme (USAAS), whereby whatever income is declared by them is being accepted without asking any questions. So much so that one of the most significant parts of direct taxation i.e. wealth tax, which was contributed by the very rich strata of our society, was abrogated in 2002 only to gratify our billionaire ex-prime minister Shaukat Aziz et al. This very tax is successfully functioning in the neighbouring countries of India and Bangladesh.
The total change in the laws, procedures and introduction of “functional system”, an experiment which failed in the developed world, has also played havoc on the overall taxation system. As a result of restructuring, the taxation system has been completely disjointed; the casualty is the lack of confidence of the people in the department as it is they who have suffered from this impractical experimentation and hence the tax culture which has decreased significantly.
If the government is desirous of improving tax to GDP ratio, it has to first get the six years’ working under the “reform system” evaluated in earnest. A professional non-governmental organization may be engaged, having on its panel the most experienced senior tax officers, preferably retired, who enjoy an impeccable reputation and expertise in making impartial assessments without fear and favour. This team may be given three months period to complete the study and submit recommendations. Those who were associated at an earlier stage of reforms from the private sector, should not be included till the recommendations are received. The terms of reference should be chosen very carefully covering all aspects of the taxation system.
For immediate results, reliance on withholdings, the chief cause of creating socio-economic disequilibrium in the society during the last nine years misrule, should be reduced. Wealth tax, which used to bring about Rs20 billion to the national kitty from the very rich, also needs to be revived immediately ignoring resistance from the vested class. All tax exemption, irrespective of class or category, should be withdrawn forthwith so that everybody should contribute towards nation building. A long term plan for documentation of the economy may also be initiated to make everyone pay taxes.
DR ALI AKBAR M. DHAKAN
Sindh Economic Development Foundation
Karachi
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