| January 04, 2009 | Sunday | Muharram 06, 1430 |
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Massacre in Gaza
Pakistan-India tension in perspective
Government schooling
Two complaints
Civil defence awareness needed
New Year gift by prime minister
Gender equality
Increase in discount rate
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 lead editorial on the above subject (Jan 2) aptly covers our present predicament, with both power and gas loadshedding crippling our entire economic system. With further increase in gas prices to meet our commitments to pay higher well head prices to privatised gas wells, one would expect some sensible approach to attempt at least part solution to this ever increasing demand of energy which we are ready to waste at all times and in all forms!
Of course, it is correct to blame the previous governments for doing nothing to encourage conservation but at least the last government did attempt to bring in polices which would have certainly helped to reduce energy demand and thus lessen the depth of the present crisis.
Many correct decisions were taken in relation to conservation (specially to ensure efficient use of our scarce gas) but there was no follow up on implementation and the concerned ministries should be held responsible for not ensuring compliance.
Finally, the gas companies should be held accountable since they were aware of the polices agreed at the highest level and yet they did nothing ! How can gas be sanctioned to inefficient installations in gross violation of direct instructions at the Ecnec level?
If only these recent directives (two to three years back) were followed, we would not be facing such a serious energy crisis since more gas would have been available both for efficient processes in industries and efficient power generation.
Instead, we find gas being allocated to the world’s lowest efficiency gas turbine-based cogeneration power plant at Karachi (at least 25 per cent extra gas wastage), industries being sanctioned gas for inefficient captive power with enormous wastages in gas fired boilers in the same industry, large building complexes being sanctioned gas for central airconditioning with ridiculous coefficient of performance (only 1.0 against even split units with 4.5) and yet, nobody is pushed and worst example of gas wastage in allowing petrol cars to be converted to CNG (all at the expense of industries which want to use gas efficiently and ensure economical production for the good of the country).
Some difficult questions need to be answered by the gas companies as they could have changed the whole scenario if they had behaved professionally by ensuring efficient use of our precious gas.
At this time, the editorial ‘wrongly’ asks the present government as to what they have done to ‘augment’ power and gas supplies! It should now be clearly understood that you just do not have resources to add power and gas supply, without first planning for energy conservation in a serious and accountable manner.
Conservation should be the buzz word for this government since not only the 1994 Energy Policy encouraged cogeneration (for high efficiency) but also the very party manifesto covers important ‘Es’ energy and environment. And this is true for all the countries (except perhaps those with abundant gas and oil resources who wrongly believe in wasting the precious commodity which should definitely be conserved for future generations) and it is unfortunate that we have not followed the international practices to conserve and now find ourselves in worsening environment.
Even if we start with correct energy conservation policies today, it will be really effective in minimum two years but at least we will know we are moving towards a workable solution. Our present approach will simply fail when the costs of inefficient power generation and gas wastage will just not be affordable Energy conservation in all sectors is our only option and the sooner we realise this, the better it will be for all of us.
AINUL ABEDIN
Karachi
THE massacre in Gaza by Israeli defence forces has enraged the Muslim world. The sheer brutality with which the Israeli air force has bombarded residential areas shows that Israel and its western backers have no regard for Muslim life.
The media in the Muslim and non-Muslim world has condemned the silence of the international community which is regarded as a nod of approval for the Jewish state to continue its genocide in Palestine.
However, the inaction of the international community is nothing new and the anger and apathy in the Muslim world is not directed towards the western governments. After all, the Israelis are emulating the American and British actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Muslims around the world, including Pakistan, are furious at their respective governments which have sanctioned the Israeli attacks on Palestine by their inaction. Pictures of bleeding children and dead women being flashed on the television sets in Muslim homes remind them that the West and compliant Muslim rulers are not interested in addressing the grievances of the Muslim masses.
They remind them that the OIC, the Arab League, the European Union and the United Nations are not interested in solving their problems.
The Arab League chose to meet four days after Israel started its massacre in Palestine and the United Nations passed an outrageous resolution asking for a ceasefire, as if rockets and missiles fired from F 16s are equally killing Jews and Muslims.
MOEZ MOBEEN
Islamabad
(II)
DEFYING all norms of justice and world public opinion, White House National Security Adviser Gordon Johndroe said that Israeli attacks on Hamas would continue and defended Tel Aviv by the ridiculous argument that the Palestinian Islamist group was responsible for the death of hundreds of Palestinians killed in the current Israeli air strikes (Dec 30).
How would Mr Johndroe react if somebody extended his logic to say that the Americans were responsible for the 9/11 attacks by Muslims who were acting in defence of the oppressed Palestinians, because the US has been providing military and diplomatic support to Israel?
It is this blind backing for the bloodthirsty Zionists that has turned the global Islamic community against Washington. But, the US refuses to acknowledge this and, instead, keeps asking with hurt innocence, “Why do they hate us?” The answer is: “It’s your anti-Muslim policies.” The time has now come for the Muslims to tell America: “You are either with the 10 million Israelis or the 1.5 billion Muslims”.
Many of the Islamic countries’ rulers depend on the US for continuing in power and can’t be expected to annoy Washington. If they spoke with one voice boldly, the US wouldn’t ignore it.
Meanwhile, Israeli leaders appear to be preparing for impending elections by wiping off the stigma of defeat in 2006 by Hazbollah by crushing the unarmed Palestinians of Gaza.
M.SHAFI
Karachi
(III)
YOUR editorial, ‘The slaughter continues’ (Jan 2) has rightly emphasised the need for rushing in essential supplies into Gaza to avert a disaster.
It is apparent that such sane voices fall on deaf ears in Israel when it comes to the suffering of the Palestinians.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, a future prime ministerial hopeful, has reportedly said that the situation in Gaza did not call for a ceasefire on ‘humanitarian’ grounds as more aid was getting through to the occupied Palestinian territory.
It is simply beyond her understanding that the very fact that ‘aid’ is required makes it an ‘active’ situation calling out for humanitarian assistance. Does she really believe that merely letting in a few lorries will avert a humanitarian crisis?
And exactly how is that aid supposed to reach those who need it the most when Gaza is under constant bombardment by F 16s and helicopter gunships are pounding away even at civilian installations.
Her observations though contrary to every other independent analyst, who is aware of the dire situation in Gaza, betray a particularly extremist mindset, one that actually does not perceive the Palestinians to be human and, therefore, not deserving to receive ‘humanitarian’ aid.
As Sarah Roy points out in the January issue of the London Review of Books, an average of 4.6 trucks (of food) per day entered Gaza in November ‘08 compared to an average of 564 in December ‘05.
After all, what more evidence does one need to be convinced of a human catastrophe that is not only in the making but has already occurred.
HASAN BIN HAMZA
Australia
I WAS born and brought up in the thirties / forties of the previous century in what was British India, and when the sun never set on the British empire, the subcontinent being the brightest jewel in the crown of the reigning king/queen of England.
It was a period of peace and harmony between the communities of different faiths, though localised communal disturbances did break out occasionally.
Similar peaceful coexistence, history tells us, did prevail when the Pathan and Mughal emperors occupied the imperial throne in Dehli.
The majority community behaved differently when a third party, mostly foreign conquerors, held the reins of government. There was, then, no conflict between Hindus and Muslims, as both were subject to same disciplinary rules of governance.
But when the British, in their policy of granting self-rule to the Indian subjects, took the first step in 1937 of holding party based elections on the separate electorate system in the provinces, the Hindus got the first opportunity to rule in the provinces where they enjoyed numerical superiority.
They started an organised orgy of unprovoked communal riots to punish the Muslim minority for the alleged wrongdoings of Muslim rulers, who preceded the British conquest of India.
They unleashed a reign of terror on the Muslim minority in the Hindu-dominated provinces like Bihar, Uttar Paradesh, Central Province, Bombay (Mumbi), Madras, and East Punjab (where non- Muslim princely states were, mostly, located).
Communal riots broke out in these provinces and princely states on a scale so ghastly that the All India Muslim League had to compile two detailed documents —The Sahrif Report and Pirpur Report —copies of which may be available in libraries in Karachi and other places in Pakistan.
The present tension between India and Pakistan, bordering on war hysteria, should be seen in the historical context summarised, briefly, in the foregoing paragraph. So, this is not a new, nor an evanescent, phenomenon.
It is likely to fade away under immense international pressure, but its roots are embedded in layers of past history, dating as far back as Mohammad bin Qasim’s arrival in a rowing boat, anchored less than 100 miles away from the cost line of Karachi.
But, given the fact that both these countries will have adversarial relationship, with superficial peaceful coexistence as state policies, they are not likely to start a shooting war, as both are in possession of the ‘mutually assured destructive’ weapon, the nukes.
So, the best policy is to fight the media war on airwaves, watched by millions on either side at all times of day and night.
JAFAR WAFA
Karachi
GETTING their children admitted to private schools seems to be the main concern of parents since they are disappointed with the standard government schools offer these days. Those who cannot afford private institutions seem to be the only one’s filling up the enrollment register. The days when doctors, engineers and other professionals came through government schools, are now history.
In recent years where private institutions have come through as dominant representatives in the development of education, the quality of government schooling has deteriorated drastically. The casual approach of designated teachers towards the school and students is a major concern.
There have been numerous instances where teachers have not been found on duty during the studying session, and few have been suspended. Appointments are made without going through a procedure, thus people with little or no knowledge and experience about teaching or administrative affairs are taken in the institution. Those absent in the staff get their monthly salary since there is no one to monitor them.
With the teachers seemingly uninterested in doing justice to the noble profession, a negative effect is exerted on the students. A good share of those students belongs to families who have to struggle to pay their annual fees.
With no classes on, students are often seen playing or roaming in the streets. Classes, when under way, are hardly something to be proud of, with noise levels dominating lessons. The language used between students and sometimes the staff is another worrying aspect. The facilities provided are scarcely anything to talk about. Open roofs, unavailability of computers, labequipment and old furniture portray a miserable picture.
The plots for schools are being illegally used for various purposes, from a warehouse to some private office. Large sums of funds are publicised but only a small percentage goes into use.
The overall situation is appalling and demands radical changes. Education is the base of a country’s development and in these troubled times, bringing out efficient professionals will help towards nation-building.
ABDUL WAHID NAQQASH
Hyderabad
THIS is apropose of the heartfelt complaints voiced by Dr Irfan Zafar (‘Oil payments’) regarding the lack of an energetic response to the Indian diplomatic onslaught post-Mumbai and Nabeel S. Balagamwala (‘Bird poaching’) about the violation of the ban on bird poaching, on Dec 31.
While sharing their disquiet about the way things are being handled, I can only quote a poem by Isaac Watts:
Hush, may dear, lie still and slumber!
Holy angels guard thy bed!
Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head.
However, Saadi’s perspective should also be noted: “God gives sleep to the bad, in order that the good may be undisturbed”. Choose the one you prefer.
ADIL ABDULLAH
Karachi
IN a modern war it is the civil population which holds key to victory by assuming multifarious responsibilities towards smooth prosecution of war. Development in techniques of an aerial warfare has exposed non-combatant civilians to greater danger than the armed forces. Most modern wars are total wars where participation of every segment of society is essential for success in war.
Pakistan’s industrial and commercial undertakings are a vital part of the nation’s resources. When war breaks out, these undertakings are especially vulnerable to the enemy’s air attacks. During wartime the enemy would, therefore, make desperate attempts to destroy and cripple our industrial potential. Although, the most formidable source of danger to industrial and commercial undertakings is from aerial attack, the effects of an attack by sabotage in many cases prove more devastating.
Pre-war activities by the enemy are even more dangerous. The enemy’s espionage efforts are intensified for intelligence gathering to collect information about not only strictly military defence but also on supplies essential for logistical support for surprise attacks being planned. On the other hand, the ‘Fifth Column’ tries to demoralise the people by spreading rumors and other subversive activities.
When a war begins, any place deep in the country, besides strategic military and civil targets, can become a target of the enemy’s air and naval bombardment and missile strikes, though people may not expect these to be attacked. These include industrial and commercial undertakings, administrative buildings, schools, hospitals, hotels, public residential complexes/areas and even refugee camps.
Such places are especially attacked by the enemy to create panic, harassment and chaos among the people and to disrupt war resources. Attacks on the civil population are also carried out by the enemy to demoralise troops fighting at the war front.
We have a civil defence academy in Lahore plus a civil defence training school in each provincial capital, as well as in the federal capital and in Azad Kashmir (Muzaffrabad), where short training courses on ‘civil defence are being conducted, free of any charges, for the benefit of industrial and commercial organisations of public and private sectors.
Despite all this, very few organisations are utilising these facilities. This shows lack of awareness about and interest in civil defence by the officials/ people concerned.
Cities with highrise buildings and thickly-populated areas will become dangerous for their occupants in the event of air raids. In case they are not aware of air raid precautions and action to be taken for their safety, they are likely to suffer heavy casualties due to bomb splinters, strafing by enemy planes, falling of buildings and fires caused by bombings.
A majority of highrise buildings, especially multi-storey residential complexes in Karachi, Lahore and other big cities, have not been built with safety against air raid and bombardments.
Constructions of underground air raid shelters were never thought out, neither by architects nor by the authorities who approved the building plan of such buildings. Car parking basements made in certain multi-storey buildings are not sufficient to provide shelter to all the occupants of the building in case of an air raid.
Similarly, schools/colleges, hospitals and business centres have not constructed air raid shelters, most probably thinking that these can be dug temporarily when need arises.
In future wars the enemy might use unconventional weapons of mass destruction such as lethal biological and chemical agents and, of course, use of nuclear weapons by the enemy cannot be ruled out altogether. People, therefore, need to have awareness as regards civil defence, fire fighting, fire survival and first aid.
There is also a need for keeping ourselves well prepared in order to survive a war for a longer period. Mere slogans and war songs may not help if a war prolongs for an uncertain period.
SQN LDR ( r) S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
THE prime minister, instead of allowing relief in the prices of oil products, as cost of crude oil in the international market has substantially gone down, i.e. less than 40 dollars, has enhanced the rates of gas as reported in Dawn (‘Gas prices up 7.5 and CNG to 10 per cent more, Jan 1).
This is the out-of-the-blue shock for the general public which is already reeling under the weight of high cost of other consumer goods and utilities. Now with the increase of gas prices, cost of power generation as well as industrial and fertiliser production will increase, which will consequently affect every household in the country.
However, the most affected will be those poor and middle class stratums whose source of income is limited. Surprisingly a few weeks ago parliamentarians of the government party had assured on the floor of the house that there will be no increase in the rates of gas (as reported by Dawn).
May I ask the authorities the justification for increasing the price of most vital commodity, such as gas, source of which is indigenous and is used, besides industries and IPPs, by almost every household, rich and the poor alike? However, it will hurt severely and widely the poor if its price is not brought down.
The prime minister should review this ill-timed decision so as to save millions of families from further economic hardships and inconveniences. If the increase in the gas prices is not reversed and the prices of oil and lubricants are not reduced commensurate with international cost, more families will sink into abject poverty.
RAFIQUE AHMED SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THE issue of gender equality should be, and will be finally, decided on merit, i.e., facts and reason.
There must be millions of women in our country who not only take care of their homes -- which is a substantial job in itself -- but also are important bread-winners.
With small exceptions, women frequently do work which matches work of the men in financial terms. There must be millions of cases where a woman is the single bread-winner in a family because her husband is chronically ill, unable to find and or keep a job, or has died.
In such cases women may be doing more than men if we judge male and female roles in terms of responsibility and work in supporting families.
As education is made available to girls, we see a pattern common across nations and across continents: girl students outdo male students in academic performance; this is true in Pakistan as it is true in England, the US, India, and numerous other countries.
It would be difficult to make a case for superiority of men over women even in terms of emotional health and stability. Psychologists have pointed out that in different cultures men carry dysfunctional assumptions about ideal male characteristics and roles.
Justice demands, as it is in the best interest of families and nations, that each citizen, male or female, is allowed equal opportunity to develop and exercise his/her potential and capacities in all spheres of life and work.
DANISHMAND
Islamabad
THIS is with reference to the recent increase of two per cent in the discount rate by the State Bank of Pakistan: what we see or is shown to us is a one-sided picture.
We are always told that an increase in discount rate can tame inflation, which is not true. If we keep on increasing the bank rate and subsequent increase in lending rates by commercial banks, we have to see the other parts of the economy also.
The bigger risk is faltering growth and exports and not inflation and, so, action is needed now.
All TV channels are debating day in and out and economists and anchorpersons are telling us how to curtail imports. Nobody talks of maximising exports. Look at China and India, even at this time of worldwide recession, China intends to grow at nine per cent. India will also be growing at around a rate of seven to eight per cent. Why don’t we try the incentives given to exporters by the countries mentioned?
If we don’t increase our production, we would end up being a sinking ship.
INAYAT ULAH SHEIKH
Karachi
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