| December 30, 2008 | Tuesday | Muharram 01,1430 |
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Rivers that have turned into garbage dumps
Private schools
Shifting of KPT coal terminal
Signal-free system
South Asian turmoil
Water crisis
Ajmal ‘Kasab’ and Nadra
Indian movies
‘Social transformation’
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
THERE have been several discussions on the war on terror and the policy options being pursued after the Mumbai attacks. Instead of focusing on issues of the menace of extremism flourishing within the country; the uncontrolled proliferation of madressahs; limited efforts to control; and sectarianism, there is a popular tendency to flog dead horses and the ‘previous government’s actions’.
The aim invariably seems to be to sidetrack or take the discussion away from responsibilities that need to be conceded, while corrective actions need to be taken. It almost seems to be a useful ploy to hide our failures.
In this game, the media/analysts are hand in glove, depending on which channel one is watching or the print media one is reading. Vicious and personal remarks dissuade them from real issues, most importantly being the reforming of madressahs and the elimination of jihadi organisations.
Discussion on moderate Islam is not encouraged. The Quaid’s views on the subject are conveniently sidetracked.
It is time we talked about the present needs and the performance of the government. What is being done to re-organise madressahs? Is sufficient investigation being carried out about the activities of jihadi organisations? Is anybody asking questions on this issue with the purpose of establishing the truth?
A detailed discussion on religious contradictions and issues was never more urgently required than now. Views of various intellectuals should be consolidated to provide solid advice to the relevant quarters. The youth needs to be encouraged to undertake a high standard of discourse in an attempt to find plausible solutions to the current situation.
The mindset of extremists will not change unless a wholesome series of discussions involving all institutions and the media is carried out. Extremists have to be convinced that if Pakistan has to survive as a modern nation and a tolerant, moderate religious society, they need to implement ‘Huqooq ul ibaad’ as laid down in the Holy Quran.
Slogans of democracy have to be supported by strong and committed leadership so as to bring about a change in economic, external and social problems. One of the reasons why Pakistan’s image nosedives internally and externally whenever democratic governments come to power is mostly because the dominant players are the same feudal classes. We must question this aspect.
Delivery of services needs to be ensured. It should be proved that the slogan of democracy is not only benefiting the elite/feudals. On the economic front, population control, among other issues, has to be seriously addressed so as to make war on poverty meaningful.
There is a strong correlation between the war on poverty and the war on terror. If that involves a clash with the ‘religious right’, it must not be delayed as it has a direct bearing on the potential of breeding more extremists.
In contrast, today we are still very far from our real goal, accusing the previous government of bad performance.
The bureaucracy and foreign ministry diplomats must be accountable for showing their contribution in improving the image of Pakistan. What are hundreds of consulates and embassies doing towards the image? The taxpayer’s money is thrown away on expensive diplomatic parties and lavish expenditure without a whimper. Lack of quick dispensation of justice should be the focus of the lawyers’ movement targeted to make justice more accessible and cheaper. Prompt justice will improve the level of satisfaction of the affected, thereby reducing frustration in society which in one way or the other contributes to violent and extremist actions.
I would also like to point out that orchestrated media campaigns by some channels to shift blame on one individual or the other for the current situation will never bear fruit. In the process, media credibility gets tarnished. Performance has to be transparently and honestly compared making positive criticism.
Former failures and achievements are generally remembered and manipulative presentation with malicious intent cannot succeed. We must have faith in our institutions, including the media.
The previous government paid a price for its mistakes and has been voted out. One of the mistakes was the NRO which should be revived for discussion. Contradictions need to be removed so that people restore their faith in the system and trust the leaders making policies for them.
Rhetoric must end and the government and the opposition should seriously start talking about tackling terrorism at the grassroots level, rather than circumventing the issue by a mischievous and hypocritical blame game.
SHAMS ZAHEER ABBAS
Lahore
The national pages of Dawn (Dec 26) carried a photograph showing River Ravi, once a big source of water and one of the five tributaries of Indus Basin System, turning into a dump of solid waste thrown by the vegetable market owners of Lahore.
‘The river of Lahore’ as the Ravi is known, under the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan was allocated to India. It enters Pakistan near Jassor and joins Chenab after flowing 640km, ultimately reaching the River Indus. However, during monsoons high flood waste released from the Indian side, passes through the city of Lahore.
According to a study report, “Variation in the Ravi river water quality”, the river besides solid waste receives untreated wastewaters from the city of Lahore and nearby industrial areas through numerous nullahs at a number of discharge points. The study, which was presented in the 24th WEDC Conference held in Islamabad in 1998, made startling revelations. The quality of water was tested at two points: one at upstream of the city of Lahore and the other downstream at Balloki head-works where the water is withdrawn for irrigation purposes; was found high toxic. This untreated hazardous stream coming all the way from Lahore to Chenab ultimately falls into the Indus and is not only used for irrigation but also for drinking purposes.
Unfortunately, it is not only Ravi but almost every river and sweet water lake of Pakistan that faces a similar situation. For the last three decades due to a manifold increase in population, the old age sewerage and sanitation systems have been hit very hard. More or less all the big cities, even towns therefore dispose off their waste through the rivers and canals passing through them, making it the easiest way of waste disposal.
Industrialisation has played more havoc with our sweet water reservoirs as the ruthless business community takes full advantage of ineffective regulatory laws, violating the basic environmental and sanitation regulations and giving way to their toxic waste into the rivers.
The business community could have conveniently solved this problem by establishing treatment plants, saving the population from contamination. The problem has however aggravated further due to shortage of water in the river system as waste material cannot be drained properly.
At this point in time, water contamination, the major cause of poor health, is one of the most dreaded problems in the country today. According to reports, about 90 per cent diseases are water borne and 40 per cent deaths are due to these diseases. In Pakistan, 15 million people are suffering from hepatitis ‘B’ and ‘C’ alone.
The appropriate treatment of waste to keep our rivers and sweet water reservoirs clean of contamination, the basic need of people, is a gigantic challenge that needs Herculean effort of all stakeholders i.e. the federal, provincial and local governments and the people as well.
DR MUSHTAQ AHMED QURESHI
slamabad
I fully endorse the views expressed by Imran Iqbal Rajput on the subject of private schools in his letter published in Dawn (Dec 20). Every government ought to provide facilities in education to its citizens because education is not only the basic right of every human being but it is the fundamental pillar for a nation’s progress and development. Education disciplines the people and gives them high ethical and moral character.
It is an open fact that government schools are not providing quality education, so parents who pay serious attention to their child’s education have to approach private schools.
These schools, taking full advantage of the parents’ helplessness, increase fees occasionally from 15 to 25 per cent. There are no checks and balances by the government on this unfettered rise in fees.
It seems that there is no policy laid down by the government regarding the management and fee structure of private schools.
The need is for the government to specify some percentage by which private schools can increase their fees annually.
Moreover, there should be clear cut rules on charges other than the tuition fee, like syllabus and stationary fee, magazine fee, co-curricular fee, arts fee, computer fee, laboratory fee and misc/other charges.
That is the reason why private schools have a free hand to do what they like to make this lucrative business successful.
The education department and authorities concerned are requested to take notice of the situation and give relief to the suffering parents.
FAIZA EBRAHIM
Karachi
THE KPT built a coal terminal a couple of years ago at the Karachi Port, oblivious of the fact that the emanating coal dust clouds would adversely affect the health of the fisherfolk living on the islands of Salehabad, Baba and Bhit.
After a democratically-elected government in place, it was refreshing to read in a section of the press (‘KPT to shift Keamari coal terminal to PQA’, Dec 24) that MNA Abdul Qadir Patel showed concern for the health of the locals in the vicinity of the coal terminal, and was assured by the KPT that the terminal would be shifted from this densely-populated area to Port Qasim within a year.
In the intervening period, the KPT will build a high canvas wall around the terminal to prevent the soot from blowing outside.
One hopes that the KPT promise is not simply a statement for public consumption, made on the assumption that it will soon be forgotten. The health of the fisherfolk will deteriorate if they continue to inhale the coal dust from the KPT coal terminal.
There is no doubt that previous governments have marginalised these people. Reports of their misery have appeared in this paper from time to time: lack of purpose of the jetty built at the Karachi fish harbour; demolition of centuries old graves which are a part of the fisherfolk folklore at Gulbai roundabout, loss of easy access to the sea by closing off fishermen’s traditional route through islands at Ibrahim Hyderi, fishermen taken prisoners by India and Pakistan for straying into foreign waters due to lack of authentic navigational aids, lack of water and electricity for fisherfolk at Salehabad island (whilst Manora cantonment has electricity, and adding insult to injury, two swimming pools), introduction of contract system in inland waterways depriving fisherfolk the right to earn a livelihood etc.
Through your columns, I appeal to all the conscientious persons to ensure that Pakistan’s fisherfolk are given their fundamental right to earn their livelihoods and provided basic amenities of clean drinking water, electricity, sewerage, clean air to breathe, health care and education.
SOHAIL OSMAN ALI
Karachi
The idea of making the twin-cities a traffic signal-free zone is turning out to be a horror.
Most of the signals in Islamabad have been turned off and a U-turn has been provided after 100 to 200 metres.
When the traffic turning to the other side uses the U-turns, it becomes very dangerous for traffic on both sides.
If the anticipation at the U-turn is wrong, it can be fatal, or at least very dangerous. The fast approaching vehicles always get confused and drive very tentatively whenever they pass a U-turn, wondering if other vehicles would turn.
Also, when a driver anticipating a U-turn, decides late to take a turn, applies brakes suddenly, the following vehicles bang into the preceding one. As the U-turning vehicles have to come to the fast-lane, it can end up in a drastic crash.
The purpose of making Islamabad and Rawalpindi signal-free has not served its cause at all. Before this idea was launched, automobiles had to wait for a certain period on the signal. They knew when to move, and how much they had to wait.
The U-turn on Shamsabad is about 1km away from the signal. So, if you are coming from the Double road (Stadium road) and want to go to the right side of Murree road (Benazir Bhutto Shaheed road) towards the 6th road, then you have to travel approximately 2km extra.
The same happens with those who are coming from Faizabad and want to go to the Double road.
MOHAMMAD AZAM
Islamabad
As a person of South Asian descent (and I guess it is high time we started considering ourselves in this fashion), I have a compunction to accede that we are our own enemies. Our infighting is being controlled and manipulated by the world at large. My submission has nothing to do with religion though. South Asia has a lot more in common than religion. Our culture, food and way of life are as similar as can be.
A few elements in each of our South Asian nations seem to rule our relationship, which is a shame. It is amazing that we let these anti-cultural few decide our fate. Any educated Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi or Sri Lankan would not even think onces that we are all different in any way except for our regional location.
However, these few elements divide us due to no fault of ours. Are we so helpless as to accept these elements from either side of the spectrum to decide our fate? The answer in my mind is within us. We need to rise above these hapless situations and stand united to ensure that the fundamentalists and politicians refrain from taking decisions on our behalf.
We the moderates of all the South Asian countries need to get together and squash the ambitions of people with ulterior motives to ensure that we all live in harmony and friendship. Neither the politicians of our respective countries nor the fundamentalists, would ever want a solution for us to live in harmony. We need to forge ahead and make sure it happens.
Let us get together as a group and fight for our peace and harmony. Moderate Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christians of our region: let us unite for the progress of our region.
RAJ
New Jersey
While India is doing its best to turn Pakistan into a desert, our politicians are not far behind.
The decision by the Wapda Minister to do away with the Kalabagh dam was taken without even being tabled in the parliament.
The PM reminds me of a parrot which harps on the same note over and over again; parliament is supreme, parliament is supreme. Perhaps he does not realize what it means.
Are these politicians on Indian payroll that they are so diligently following the Indian agenda? What about the army? Is it also going to sit by and let Pakistan turn into a desert?
It will probably be the cheapest war India has ever fought. Buying a couple of dozen politicians is all it takes to destroy a country.
AMER AZAM
Lahore
PRIME Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s advisor on interior, Rehman Malik, was talking to media the other day in which he claimed that the terrorist of the Mumbai attack Ajmal ‘Kasab’, is not a Pakistani because NADRA has no record of anybody by the name of Ajmal Kasab.
I remember having read on an Indian website that the Indian investigators who were interrogating Ajmal Aamir had asked him his surname. Ajmal said he had no surname so the investigators asked him about his and his father’s profession to which Ajmal said that his father was a butcher (qasaab in Urdu). So the Indian investigators added ‘Kasab’ to his name.
Immediately after the Mumbai terror attacks, our government demanded the Indian government that Pakistan’s team of investigators should be allowed to question Ajmal Aamir Kasab to determine his nationality.
The Indian government refused to entertain Pakistan’s request. According to press reports, Ajmal Aamir Kasab has written a letter to the government of Pakistan in which he has requested to be allowed consular access and a lawyer to be hired for him.
Now that Ajmal Kasab has himself requested the government of Pakistan for consular access, I think this is an ideal opportunity for Pakistan to accept Ajmal Kasab’s request and interrogate him to find out his nationality.
M. RAFIQUE ZAKARIA
Karachi
Article ‘War hysteria may take its toll on cinema’ (Dec 23) quoted that the Federal Ministry of Culture is considering the ban on screening of Indian movies in Pakistani cinemas.
Keeping in mind the worsening political conditions between the two countries, I fully second this view. When India has no respect for our national sanctity, we should take a stand and cut our ties with them at every level possible: be it politics, media or sports. If they can do it why can’t we? (Read ‘Shiv Sena burn Pakistani music Taliban-style’ in December 24th’s issue).
We are an independent nation, with our own culture and heritage. Besides, why inflate their bank accounts by supporting their entertainment industry when all this money will in turn only be used against us. In banning the screening of Indian movies in Pakistani cinemas, the channels on cable television should also be banned. The flow of funds should be blocked across borders.
Let them know we are a patriotic nation, we can survive on our own, and when mishandled we can move the world. The nation’s patriots request the Minister of Culture to take action.
HANIA HANIF
Karachi
The question “One must ask what is happening to the youth of Pakistan?” raised by Ayesha Siddiqa, in her article “ A Social Transformation” (Dawn, Dec 26) is probably something that no one in Pakistan cares about.
Last year, while working in the new University of Gujrat, one thing that struck me right away was the results of annual examinations from the affiliated colleges. They were extremely disappointing. They showed a high failure rate among post-graduate and under-graduate students.
When I started examining the reason, I found boys were failing at a much higher rate than girls everywhere in the country.
I further discovered that boys had been failing in annual exams at a high rate throughout the history of Pakistan.
The fact is that half the boys who were lucky to be enrolled in primary schools dropped out before finishing the fifth grade or primary school. This high rate of attrition continues unabated almost at every level of basic education.
The high failure rate, ranging from 40-80 percent, is one of the major contributing factors of school dropout. I proposed a province-wide study to validate reasons for such high failure rates and why no one cared, but my proposal did not go very far.
It will be misleading to think that madressahs are the only breeding ground for all the delinquency and waywardness of Pakistani youth. Punjab schools’ statistics of 2000-2001 showed that there were only 8,082 mosque schools compared to 50,377 primary and elementary schools. The proportion of students in mosque schools was under 5.8 percent of the total.
The real cause of our distressed male youth is sheer benign neglect our nation has accorded to them. Most of the youth either drop out of school or never enroll.
Those who somehow pass high school or even college do not acquire marketable skills for industry or commerce. One can imagine the millions of young men loafing around in the house or street with no job or prospects.
Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress’s report of December 23, 2004 sums up our educational system quite well: “Pakistan’s primary education system ranks among the world’s least effective…Education is absolutely crucial to Pakistan’s development as a moderate, democratic nation.”
The footnote explains: “Pakistan is one of only 12 world countries that spend less than 2 per cent of its GNP on education. The World Bank reports that the average Pakistani boy receives only five years of schooling; the average girl just 2.5 years.
The US Agency for International Development claims that only two thirds of Pakistani children aged 5-9 are ever enrolled in school and only one-third will complete the fifth grade.
Pakistan’s adult literacy rate is about 40 per cent and is much lower among females.
The UN Development Programme’s 2004 Human Development Report estimates Pakistan to be the lowest on the “education index” of any country outside Africa.”
Please wake up to this reality and do something.
JAVED S. AHMAD
New York
(II)
This is with reference to the article, “A social transformation” (Dec 26).
Is somebody listening to Ayesha Siddiqa? She is pointing out something with her long experience in military writing and her keen political observations.
It is true that Pakistani “people are becoming scared of militant outfits”, but who is to be blamed?
The fanatics; the Pakistani military intelligence; the CIA; the MI5; the RAW; the Mossad; are they dreaded separately or all together?
I would refer to books like, “From the Shadows”, written by Robert Gates who is the present U.S. Secretary of Defence and the past Director of CIA.
His book will explain, at least partially, the vested interests of some stakeholders in destabilizing the regions around Afghanistan, India, Iran and Pakistan, since the last 30 years and in future.
JALAL SYED
Canada
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