| January 08, 2009 | Thursday | Muharram 10, 1430 |
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People angry over loadshedding
Islamic finance
Terrorism in the subcontinent
No more plaza, please
Increased profits on National Savings
Chenab waters
From deception to truth
Traffic problems
Woes of the people of Sukkur
Child labour in institutions
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 your editorial, ‘The food we eat’( Dec 26), I would like to say that the timely pointation is highly commendable and is a part of corporate social responsibility to raise public awareness, which is a hallmark of this esteemed newspaper.
The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) being a national standards body, besides formulation of standards for product and processes, is responsible for providing the quality labelling standards which shall specify ingredients, performance, specification, usage, methods and other relevant quality control matters. As a norm, all the standards in general and the ones related to food in particular prescribe labelling, packaging and marking of the products.
It is also important to note that jurisdiction of this authority covers only processed or manufactured articles which are sold in the market in retail packing, whereas food items like milk, butter, ghee, sweets and all bakery products sold in loose or unpacked form fall under the purview of pure food laws, and are subject of the provincial or the local government.
The prevalent legislative framework empowers this authority to enforce standards, which may include packing/marking requirements, for which the federal government has issued notifications.
So far vegetable ghee, edible oil, mineral water, biscuits and margarine, etc., are covered under this scheme. However, 20 more food items like jam, jelly, fruit juices/squashes, butter and milk powder will be in compulsory regime on the eve of the New Year.
The PSQCA is conscious of the issue and this has rightly been pointed out by Dawn. In this regard this authority has proposed to the federal government to adopt Labelling, Marking and Packaging (Consumer Commodities) Rules to help domestic consumers as well as the country in containing import of substandard goods.
The proposed rules, framed by the PSQCA, are with the objective that consumer products should be produced for valuing the rights of consumers to have full knowledge of the item and its ingredients, probable harms, and give them maximum required information like nutritional value, name of manufacturer, date of expiry, storage requirements and origin etc., to enable them to pick up right things. Above all, the PSQCA’s major concern had always been to promote the ‘Made in Pakistan’ concept, and help the exporters to get recognition of quality and standard goods.
The unauthorised use of words showing imitation would be prohibited after the proposed rules come into force. There shall not be written in the statement or label attached to any packing containing any article of food the word ‘imitation’ or any word or words implying that the article is a substitute for any food, unless the use of the said words is specifically permitted under these rules.
In case of food items containing artificial flavouring substances, the label may not declare the chemical names of the flavours, but in the case of natural flavouring substances or nature identical flavouring substances, the common name of flavours including whether natural or synthetic shall be mentioned on the label.
Similarly, in the case of ‘halal’ food, the label shall prominently and conspicuously contain the words in bold letters ‘Halal Animal Origin’.
The package, label or the advertisement of edible oils and fats shall not use the expressions ‘super refined’, ‘extra refined’, ‘ultra refined’, ‘anti cholesterol’, ‘cholesterol fighter’, ‘soothing to heart’, ‘cholesterol-friendly’, ‘saturated fat free’, or such other expressions as are exaggeration of the quality of the product.
The PSQCA is also aware of the fact that Pakistan faces many challenges in respect of market access due to weak compliance of standards, which impede the flow of export merchandise from Pakistan.
On many occasions in the recent past several EU countries have rejected Pakistan’s goods. Consumer commodities are the examples which have been reported on many counts by the EU to the ministry of commerce that they did not comply with technical regulations regarding hygiene of products as per standards notified in the EU. The proposed rules have been drafted to overcome these problems as well.
RIYAZ A. MEMON
Karachi
IT is with great frustration, resignation and bewilderment that I write this letter. The KESC has finally proved itself to be the most incompetent, incapable, inept and unconscionable establishment in the history of Pakistan.
If it was enough that we were experiencing two to three hours of loadshedding twice a day during the height of the summer months, it has now come to the point where we are being subjected to two hours of loadshedding seven to eight times a day during these winter months, including public holidays.
This is most enigmatic considering that the use of airconditioners is no longer required and the load factor has been considerably reduced in this regard. There is no schedule or timetable for this aggressive loadshedding that is befalling all of us and neither any just cause on the part of the KESC.
What I would like to know is how far does the KESC think it can go on like this? Does it want to test the patience of the public till they reach the breaking point because things are coming very close to that and when that does eventually happen, it will be the KESC that will have to bear the brunt of the public’s outrage and its consequences.
The KESC thinks that while they can simply shut off the electricity all over Karachi at their whim and fancy, irrespective of the fact that the overall load has been reduced, they fail to realise that the day the public feels that enough is enough, the consequences will be very dire for the KESC.
To add insult to injury, the KESC has the nerve and the gall to increase the tariff by almost half, when we are barely getting six hours of electricity in a span of 24 hours. How does the KESC think they can simply get away with this daylight robbery and at the same time not provide the service we are paying for?
It is unfortunate that a country that possesses nuclear technology has major cities and financial hubs that cannot get electricity.
On inquiring from my local KESC complaint centre about the reason for frequent loadsheddings, I was told of the threatening phone calls they get from angry and frustrated consumers, many of whom have stated that they will target everything and anyone who has anything to do with the KESC and they are simply there to take complaints and are as frustrated as everyone else, yet unable to do anything about it.
In the light of the above, let this be considered a warning to the KESC that if it does not come up with some plausible explanation and/or schedule for this unannounced whimsical loadshedding, the irate public will take matters into its own hand, the consequences of which will be borne by the KESC for a long time to come.
MOIN ABBASI
Karachi
A REPORT says France has joined the ranks of countries which are wooing Islamic banks because they avoided most of the damage from the sub-prime mortgage crisis by following principles laid out in the Quran, and the global financial crisis is broadening the appeal of Islamic finance (Dawn, Dec 25)
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has promised to make necessary adjustment that would enable Paris to become a major marketplace in Islamic finance. She said western financiers could learn from the Islamic world at a time when global leaders are trying to establish “new principles for the international financial system, based on transparency, responsibility and, I would like to add, moderation”. In this sense, Islamic, finance was calling out to them, she added. A Novemebr report by Moody’s shows that Islamic banks have been fairly resilient. And, the secretary-general of the Franco-Arab Chamber of Commerce observed: “If global banking practices were based on Islamic practices, we wouldn’t be seeing the crisis we are living through now”.
The report further points out that the Islamic financial institutions work on philosophy of prohibiting transactions considered immoral, and promoting greater social justice by sharing risk and reward. Investing in casinos, arms dealers, etc, is out: long-term investment in projects considered to benefit society are in.
Neil Miller, head of Islamic finance at Norton Rose and adviser to the British government, said: “Islamic finance does demonstrate good banking behaviour that has perhaps been lost (by the traditional banking) over the last 10 years or so”.
Also, that “Islamic financing is saying we are close to our clients and we’re only going to do genuine transactions where we can see the asset, we understand the asset, we can make an assessment of that asset, whether its financing a ship or an aircraft, they will go and have a look at the business, It’s giving guidance as to what banking should be”.
It is both interesting and ironic that the West, which has generally been filled with prejudice against Islam, is now coming around to seeing the benefits that lie in its principles. The global financial crisis may thus be a blessing in disguise for the world.
IRFANULLAH
Karachi
THE world community is well aware of the recent Mumbai blasts. This is a crime against humanity. Our subcontinent is densely populated, a large population living below the poverty line.
There is an urgent need to bring peace and stability and that is only possible by addressing the root causes of the disturbance in the region.
The root causes of disturbance are the Kashmir conflict and the minority issue. The Kashmir issue should be settled according to the wishes of the people of Kashmir. India should realise the fact that tension between the two countries is harmful to the interests of both.
The problems of the Muslim minority in India should be considered on a priority basis. Their long suffering in the shape of continuous anti-Muslim riots in most parts of India, the biased role of agencies and their persecution by law-enforcement agencies in the name of terror activities and their deprivation of due share in government departments should be looked into. Muslims of India are just as patriotic and to deprive them of their rights is unjust.
There is the need to renew the Liaquat-Nehru pact and there should be a joint investigation by India and Pakistan, not only for the Mumbai blasts but also for all the communal rights in the subcontinent, including demolition of the Babri mosque and the Gujarat carnage as these are much more serious terrorist activities than the Mumbai blast. This in my view is reasonable and just, based on the fact that true justice would bring peace, stability and progress to the subcontinent.
Furthermore, the governments of both sides should also view the role of the CIA and other foreign agencies in the subcontinent which might be involved in destabilising the region.
MAZHARUDDIN
Karachi
TRAGIC incident of the Gakhar plaza should suffice for the authorities concerned to seriously think of measures to obviate recurrence, and to make up deficiencies in fire and rescue services for highrise buildings.
I may also appeal to the Punjab chief minister to constitute a high-powered committee to examine merits and demerits of shopping plazas in the Rawalpindi city and cantonment.
A high percentage of shoppers are from outside the city and the cantonment which has created an ever-worsening traffic mess.
If equally good or better shopping centres are created outside the city and cantonment limits, even the elevated expressway spoiling environmental beauty of Rawalpindi may not be required, and the Leh Expressway, if necessary, should suffice.
In my opinion, there should be no more plaza in the Rawalpindi city and cantonment. Instead, open spaces on either side of G.T. Road may be utilised for big stores with parking facilities on the pattern of Metro of Cash & Carry Pakistan in Islamabad.
Progressive Bahria Town may please like to establish such a store providing a wide range of quality products through outlets managed by leading manufacturers, importers and retailers, with small offices for leading companies offering various services or products in bulk to receive orders or sign contracts.
M. AKRAM NIAZI
Rawalpindi
THE PPP government has increased twice the rate of profits on different savings schemes in the last three months, but the fruits of this increase has not reached the poor investors due to the prevailing rules of the National Savings Directorate, which is demanding Rs1,000, as a service charge, for the change of every Rs100,000 deposit to convert it to the new and increased rate of profit.
The directorate and the officers are not even giving the receipts for these service charges.
The new and increased rate of profit shall recover these service charges of Rs1,000 in the next seven to nine months, depending on the scheme.
This demand of service charges is actually an attempt of the government for cheap publicity by giving relief by one hand and robbing the poor public by the other.
In the past the increase in the rate of profits was passed on to the public from the date of its announcement.
The minister of finance and specially the president of Pakistan and co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party are requested to order the directorate concerned to pass on the announced increase in the rates of profits on all national savings schemes to the public without new documentation and without demand of service charges so that the poor public feels some relief in the present price hike.
DR ASGHAR ALI
Karachi
WHEN there is an indefensible problem, India and Israel have a policy of creating bigger diversions.
The noise India is creating about the Mumbai carnage has made the Pakistan government forget all about the Chenab waters held up by India. It should make it an immediate priority and push for immediate recompense — go to the World Bank, UN, etc. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised to make up the shortfall.
The way Indian policymakers usually act in such matters is that they will honour their commitment but in August-September when the Chenab is likely to be in high flood.
India’s blowing hot and cold over the Mumbai tragedy cannot make us forget other pressing matters with major consequences.
If Chenab waters are released even now, lakhs of acres will become productive this rabi and fishermen will again have an income.
MUZAFFAR.GHAFFAR
Lahore
THE other day I happened to re-read parts of the book, Your Sacred Self, by the American expert on self-development, Dr Wayne W. Dyer, which was published in 1995.
In the chapter titled, ‘From deception to truth’, he has essentially described how things stand in his society, which seem equally true for our own country as well as for India, in particular their politicians, some extracts from which are being shared here.
Dr Dyer has contended: “We see and hear lies all the time.” As examples, he has drawn attention to how advertisements suggest that we can recapture our youth if we wear the advertised fragrance or regain lost intimacy if we use a specific deodorant and so on.
More strikingly, he notes: “Our government promotes its policies with lies and spends money it doesn’t have.”
It distorts facts and figures for politically beneficial sound bites. The legislators will claim that we cannot have healthcare since we can’t afford it, yet they legislate for themselves comprehensive care.
Sounds very familiar to us ordinary Pakistanis, doesn’t it? He adds: “We are supposed to believe there is no money available to help the poor and the sick, yet we eagerly finance wars in faraway places.”
Just imagine, these words were written way back in 1995, during the Clinton presidency, whereas they became even truer with the advent to George Bush and his many wars, supposedly based on God’s verbal commands to him! The ongoing financial crisis is yet another product of deception, begun in the US.
The writer goes on to assert: “We’ve all become used to lies. You may even have convinced yourself that to tell lies is a worthwhile activity.”
But, when a person adopts distortion and deception, the problem is that he/she will always need more of the same to keep covering up the previous lies.
What, then, is the solution? In brief: self and spiritual development. He says that at first, when we discontinue lying, it stings. It is like a new medicine applied on a raw wound.
Our willingness to think, feel and act truthfully will expose some warts. “The warts are you. The mistakes are you …. (But) The sting and the discomfort will be soothed as you let go of your need to deceive,” explains Dr Dyer.
That, in essence, is the problem, faced by us Pakistanis as well. If the ordinary and the mighty ones amongst us can learn something from these lines, the effort would have been worthwhile.
Those interested in overcoming the problem are advised to read the book.
As a parting thought, these words of Emile Zola should powerfully drive home the devastating consequences of suppressing the truth:
“If you shut up truth and bury it under the ground, it will but grow, and gather to itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through it will blow everything in its way.”
If we reflect on the events of recent times in the US, Middle East, India and Pakistan, we will see the truth of Zola’s observation being manifested.
KHALID NAQSHBANDI
Karachi
I WOULD like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the installation of gas pipelines in our area, i.e. the Capital Development Authority, and Sui Nothern Gas Pipeline Ltd.
Nearly six months have passed since the gas pipelines were being installed in Barakhu and Shahpur. They have completed only 4km of the way.
The dug-up dirt has not been cleared which is causing traffic problems and road blocks. Also the bridge (built in the 1970s) that leads to the PTV Colony and Simly dam is in very bad shape, due to which people face traffic jams in rainy seasons as Korangi canal blocks the only other way.
HAMADULLAH MANGRIO
Islamabad
THIS is apropos of M. A. Hakeem’s letter, ‘Sukkur city roads in bad shape’ (Jan 4).
Unfortunately for some time this once beautiful city has been completely ignored by the very people who are made in charge of its civic affairs.
As has been rightly pointed out by Mr Hakeem, the entire road network is bad shape.
Gutters are flowing into houses of low-lying areas where most of the poor and middle class people live and multi-storey buildings have mushroomed with the active blessing of its nazim.
One such building, built a few months back, has collapsed due to substandard material used in its construction.
This horrible incident has taken many innocent lives.
Although Sukkur is located on the bank of the River Indus, its residents have no potable drinking water available and they are forced to drink unhygienic water that often results in spread of hepatitis C.
For all these miseries, it is none but the civic government which is responsible.
The provincial government should hold an impartial inquiry into the matter.
QAZI BASHIR AHMED
Old Hala
CHILD labour is so very common in our society that there seems to be no pity on this ruthless and illicit activity.
It is distressing to note children of age around 12 working as cleaners, gatekeepers, dishwashers and helpers in various schools, colleges and institutes.
Other than third class private schools and those which are located in less privileged areas, children can also be seen working in some of the prestigious institutes where canteen and sanitary services are provided by contractors.
Three basic reasons for employing children are:
— Their low wages that are about Rs50 to100 per day.
— Their capacity to bear the ill-treatment and harsh abuses by their supervisors.
— Their poverty that leaves them with no choice but to face the hardship.
The sanctity of educational premises calls for an immediate action in this regard.
The administrators must consider it their responsibility to curb the menace of child labour in their institutes and frame certain policies that ensure the institutional environment free of social discrimination and negligence on any basis that may include poverty, gender and religion.
DANEYAL FAIYAZ
Karachi
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