| January 18, 2009 | Sunday | Muharram 20, 1430 |
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Wake-up call for Americans
An open letter to Bush
Maritime education
Pemra and the cable network
Yet another threat from India
Ray of hope
Democracy’s Hero Award
School holidays vs teaching days
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
YOUR editorial and letters covering the energy crisis confirm the fears that serious rethinking on failed strategies is not being planned even in this late hour. When are we going to accept that it is no more possible to put up inefficient installations and expect the economy to absorb the exorbitant costs.
It is quite evident that whenever it was decided to avoid or reduce loadshedding, all it required was ‘one order’ to ensure operation of available power plants, of course, with the proviso that all additional costs of inefficient power generation would be paid by the government as subsidy, again from the same budget which could allocate these funds for poverty alleviation.
Technically, we really do not have power shortage since we are short of funds to afford the power we gleefully waste! If only we can understand the true nature of the problem relating to affordability, we will realise our predicament. Till we can learn to conserve, we will continue to divert our much needed funds to subsidies and deprive the country of any chance of sustainable development.
What do we need to urgently undertake to get out of this wasteful mode affecting all our sectors? Following energy conservation measures will be a major source of solving our energy problems:
1. Efficient power plants: If we had planned for efficiency, we should have never allowed Hub Power, KESC’s Bin Qasim, Jamshoro, AIDS, and literally dozens of furnace oil based diesel cycle power plants. We have, knowingly, brought havoc in terms of economic problems and environmental pollution and the results now are for all of us to see.
Now we need to install efficient power plants, at least 50 per cent more efficient than the above-mentioned ‘cruelties’ to the nation. We find that at least the KESC is moving in the right direction since all their plans and actions are towards higher efficiency, whether installing new combined cycle power plant at Bin Qasim or replacing inefficient gas turbines at SITE and Korangi.
Even the proposed combined cycle power plant is being installed with inlet cooling (first time in Pakistan) to ensure the power plant can operate at peak efficiency and peak capacity in summer.
It is unfortunate that Wapda’s power generation units are not going through the same ‘efficiency orientation’ and other than asking customers to conserve, Pepco has hardly done anything to confirm their own energy conservation measures.
Combined cycle power plants at Kot Addu and Guddu could gain more than 30 per cent additional capacity in summer and become eight to 10 per cent more efficient if this technology was adopted there! We urgently need to adopt such technologies in all our combined cycle power plants.
Power generation in industrial and commercial sectors is also a source of immense waste. To encourage high efficiency, special incentives should be offered to industries and commercial complexes to encourage efficient utilization. Also, high efficiency installations should be provided gas on a year round basis where loadshedding is followed in winter.
2. Efficient steam/hot water production: Many industries and building complexes still operate boilers using our precious gas. All such steam / hot water requirements can be efficiently co-generated which would mean that with the same gas consumption we can generate many hundreds of megawatt of power and still meet all the steam / hot water requirements.
3. Efficient central airconditioning: Numerous centrally airconditioned buildings have been sanctioned subsidised gas without ensuring efficient utilisation. How can we allow such installations when cogeneration power plants, using the same gas, would have produced all the cooling requirements and still generate additional power ‘free’ of gas costs.
Similarly, the transportation sector needs urgent steps to conserve fuel, specially the unwise and uneconomical decision to encourage CNG conversion of petrol cars. If heavy diesel vehicles are converted to CNG, at least there is environmental benefit (like what has been attempted in California) but CNG conversion for petrol cars is a mistake since this has encouraged gas wastage at the cost of essential gas supply to efficient installations in industries.
Time is running out and affordable power must be planned without any further delay.
AAZA
Karachi
A REPORT (12 Jan) states that the US is losing the ‘war for hearts and minds’ of Muslims. Having seen the unending killing of hundreds of innocent Palestinians, mostly children and women, and attacks from air, sea and ground on 1.5 million Gazans in an area of just 362 sqkm, one wonders if America or Israel can ever think of winning the hearts and minds of Muslims.
The silence of Muslim leaders is also a testimony against them at this historic moment. The role of western media, especially CNN, the BBC, Fox News, Washington Post and New York Times, has exposed the double standards and a clear inclination towards Israeli propaganda.
Switch on to CNN and the BBC and they compare killings of innocent Palestinians with home-made rocket attacks by Hamas. One thinks, would they still report this war in the same manner had Hamas attacked Israel with F 16s, tanks, warships and the best-equipped army of the world and killed hundreds of Israelis?
The editor of Foreign Policy Journal, Jeremy R. Hammond, has called upon Americans to wake up. He said that his government stands by and sniffs at the slaughter of the innocent in Gaza, where Israel is blocking aid for wounded Palestinians.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has said that it found at least 15 bodies and several children emaciated but alive in a row of shattered houses in the Gaza Strip, and accused the Israeli military of preventing ambulances from reaching the site for four days.
Ironically, the US Senate has unanimously passed a resolution to support Israeli killings and didn’t say a word to recognise Palestinian’s right of self-defence. US military and economic aid to Israel of up to $5bn annually and vetoing every Security Council resolution to condemn Israeli war crimes are the real impetus Israel needs.
After UN relief agencies blamed Israel for indiscriminate killings of Palestinian children and women, Israeli ambassador in Austria, Dan Ashbel, declared the United Nation Relief Work Agency and International Committee of the Red Cross as collaborators of Hamas.
The world needs to boycott Israel through disinvestment in its businesses and boycotting Israeli companies and products or companies that deal with Israel. Recently, a British telecom firm cut its business relations with Israeli tech firm MobileMax because of the atrocities committed by Israel. Boycott, disinvestment and sanctions movement is being initiated across the world to show that world conscience is not fully dead.
Expulsion of Israeli ambassador from Venezuela and declaring Israel the killing arm of America have earned unprecedented support to Hugo Chavez across the world.
Hamas leader Khalid Mi’shal has rightly criticised President-elect Barak Obama for not saying a word against the killings of hundreds of Palestinians. American double standards and heinous plans were exposed in Iraq and Afghanistan and its licence to kill for Israel would only bring greater insecurity and dislike for America.
ZEESHANUL RUB JAFFRI
Karachi
(II)
IT is one-way genocide and holocaust of helpless Gazans. It is not a battle between Jews and Muslims but Zionists-neocons economic bonanza on one or the other pretext to reap benefits in the US, the UK and Europe.
It is now an established opinion around the world that so long as Democrats and Republicans in the US are to by Zionists-neocons, there can be no end to massacre by Israel, and thus no peace anywhere in the world.
ABDULLAH JAMAL MOHAMMAD
Jehlum
PRESIDENT Bush, the situation in the world is getting tense day by day. No one country is safe from bloodshed and aggression, not even the United Sates. No one country can alone control these terrorist activities. The United Nations is no longer effective.
Mr President, the solution to war is not war. Now is the time that the people of the world come together, lay down their differences, join hands to find a peaceful solution. You are the head of the most powerful country in the world. You have the authority and means to make heads of all the states sit together, cooperate and sort out things in a friendly manner. The word has seen two World Wars and everyone is well aware that any another major war will be the end of the world.
Mr President, we all are to be questioned on the Day of Judgment, everyone has a duty to safeguard humanity. We Pakistanis and Muslims are a peace-loving nation. Our religion does not teach violence. The violence you see around is just pure vengeance; when someone is deeply hurt, he retaliates, the Muslims are not to be blamed, everyone has a hand in it.
President Bush, just as President-elect Obama is about to join the presidency, it would be wise on your part to rise as a saviour to redeem the world. You would be remembered in history as the most powerful American president who saved the world. I know my opinions may not appeal to you, but still I hope you will give it a thought.
MRS MUSARRAT BABAR
Islamabad
THIS is the apropos of the article, ‘Maritime education for economic prosperity’ (Dec 28) and subsequent letters in these columns.This submission attempts to clarify the confusion that has been created about:
a) STCW convention; b) Examination Rules 2006; c) Circular No. 10(5)83-CNS of Aug 9, 2007; d) standard of examination conducted by the ministry of ports and shipping for the issuance of certificates of competency (COC) to deck officers; and e) the competence of deck officers holding Pakistani COCs.
There are two broad categories of individuals who have so far taken part in this discourse: i) those that are probably not fully aware of the requirements of the STCW, Examination Rules and the above-mentioned circular; and ii) those who have a vested interest in the financial health of their private training institutes (PTI).
Based on first-hand personal experience, it can be stated with confidence that:
1. Pakistan fully and effectively complies with the requirements of IMO’s STCW Convention regarding training and certification;
2. all mandatory courses are being held regularly at Pakistan Marine Academy and at a few PTIs and attended by all our seafarers; and
3. the standard of examination and certification system of Pakistan is far superior to the minimum agreed standards stipulated in the STCW Convention and as such, Pakistani COC holders carry a heavy price tag in international employment market.
Now, about the circular referred to above:
1. This circular has not restricted the attendance at any mandatory courses, as is wrongly being portrayed. In fact, the said circular has not even restrained PTIs from conducting any of the non-mandatory courses. Accordingly, all courses are being held as before the issuance of this circular.
2. This circular only states that the examinees for Class III/IV (deck) COC shall be granted three months’ exemption for attending, on a voluntary basis, the preparatory/coaching classes as per section 25(1)(c) of Examination Rules 2006.
3. What this circular does not do (of course to the utter dislike of owners/partners etc of PTIs) is to enforce a condition on all seafarers to attend these non-mandatory preparatory/coaching classes prior to appearing for their CoC examinations.
Since enforcing such a condition would be against the examination rules and thus would be tantamount to extending an illegal favour to PTIs at the cost of poor seafarers, who would be then forced to pay heavy fee charged by these PTIs.
It is worth noting that there has never been any compulsory requirement for attending these coaching classes in present or any previous examination rules (nor there is any such requirement in STCW convention) for either deck or engineering officers.
One may ask why all this fuss now? Well, it is a clever strategic move by those with vested interests who are out there to make a financial kill by attempting to influence the members of the recently-constituted Task Force on the Maritime Industry, after having failed to pressure the steadfast senior officers of ministry of ports and shipping.
CAPT. MUSTAFA Y. RIZVI
Ex-Acting Chief Nautical Surveyor and Principal Examiner of Masters and Mates, Ministry of Ports and Shipping
Karachi
APROPOS of Mehnaz Siddiqui’s letter, ‘Pemra and the cable network’(Jan 14), it is enunciated that to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 the democratic government is fully committed to exploring new vistas in broadcasting and distribution networks. Emergence of IPTV and Digital Networks is one of the indicators of Pemra’s efforts. With the advent of these technologies, quality of services will improve significantly.
The mandate of the Council of Complaints of Pemra is quite comprehensive and it redresses complaints pertaining to satellite televisions, FM radios, and cable TV operators. There are numerous precedents wherein aforementioned licencees have been penalised for violations of terms of their licences.
Besides, for lodging complaints/suggestions, Pemra has installed UAN numbers in its offices, i.e. 111-736-111 while complaints may also be lodged at email addresses and telephone numbers of our DG (operations) and DG (Policy and Promotions); numbers and emails available at our official website, i.e. www.pemra.gov.pk.
As far as monopolies are concerned, the Pemra Ordinance explicitly discourages monopolies. However, sometimes, cable operators may become large enough to create monopolistic or oligopolistic situation purely because of market mechanism.
Monthly subscription controversy had already been envisaged, and a subscription cap has been imposed for cable TV services. As per this subscription, no network is allowed to charge beyond Rs350 per month. As might be appreciated that entertainment is not a necessity, the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (CAP) has, therefore, demanded that there should be no upper limit on fee provided there is competitive environment. Let the market decide the price.
Pemra has already decided that no licence for the analogue cable system will be awarded in future and licences for the digital cable system will be given. In rural areas, the analogue system will be phased out in an orderly manner, starting from the district headquarters to the village level for replacement with digital services by 2015.
Pemra, however, appreciates suggestions and proposals mentioned in the letter in order to improve broadcasting facilities for reaching end-customers according to international standards, norms and the code of ethics accepted by any civilised society.
DRABDUL JABBAR
Executive Member, Pemra
Islamabad
INDIAN Home Minister P. Chidambaram has threatened to break off business, transport and tourist links with Pakistan if it fails to help investigate the Mumbai attacks. But, he did not tell in his interview to ‘The Times’ daily when such measures might be introduced.
I think it will prove only a threat like many others hurled by Indian leaders in the recent past, because India cannot afford to sever trade ties with Pakistan. India is not in a position to take such a step because it would suffer a huge loss. The trade volume between India and Pakistan stands at $1.6 billion. Imports from India are $1.3 billion while exports from Pakistan amount to $300 million. Indian exports to Pakistan are constantly increasing.
According to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, Pakistan-India trade had grown to $2 billion from $23.74 million in 2001. It was over $1 billion in 2006-07.
ASIF ALI KHAN
Karachi
THIS IS with reference to Sriram’s letter, ‘Soul searching needed’ (Dec 17). I agree with his view that voices of sanity prevail in our society in the form of columnists of utmost integrity, but I strongly disagree with the view that soul searching is needed at the level of the common Pakistani public.
Pakistanis across the country were deeply hurt at the loss of human lives in the Mumbai attacks and stand together with the Indian public. Each and every citizen of Pakistan, including those living in the troubled Northern Areas, wish well for their country and want a peaceful and prosperous future for the coming generations. What Pakistan really needs are leaders who are honest to their country and to the phrase ‘Pakistan first’.
The current lot of leaders and politicians has been a huge disappointment as they have had a fair share in bringing the nation to its present state. But all is not lost. There is hope and this period of uncertainty will be followed by a bright future and true leadership will evolve from within the people of Pakistan.
NAVEED AHMED
Hong Kong
THE International Republican Institute (IRI) has given Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman the Democracy’s Hero Award for her decades-old struggle for the cause of democracy in the country.
Ms Rehman has worked for democracy in Pakistan for decades, enduring personal injuries, threats from extremists and the loss of her close friend and political party leader Benazir Bhutto.
As a member of parliament representing the Pakistan People’s Party, the former journalist has worked diligently to initiate democratic reforms and was the architect of several bills in support of the press freedom and women’s empowerment.
Ms Rehman worked closely with the twice-elected former prime minister Benazir Bhutto to campaign for the restoration of democracy in Pakistan. Braving arrests, tear-gassing and confinement by security agencies on several occasions. She has helped coordinate party activists around the country and participated in several peaceful protests demanding an end to the military rule.
This award is not only an acknowledgment of Ms Rehman’s services for the cause of democracy, human rights and rule of law, it also reflects the aspirations and hard work of all other women in Pakistan who are playing their active role in strengthening the democratic process.
The award will not only encourage womenfolk in Pakistan but also help gear up countrywide struggle for ensuring their rights. Winning the title and her nomination is appreciable. The credit for this nomination goes to the PPP, its founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto who always struggled for democracy.
HUMERA ALWANI
Sindh MPA
Thatta
WHILE the need for massive reform in the educational sector is well recognised by all concerned, regulatory actions taken by various governmental agencies under the ministry of education seem to be going in the opposite direction.
To begin with, the federal ministry of education clearly prescribes for schools an annual academic calendar of 210 days. All provincial ministries and, by extension, all related education departments, directorates, and schools registered with the directorate are bound by this requirement.
Unfortunately, no one seems to be complying with this requirement. Instead, there appears to be a far greater preoccupation with making sure that the prescribed number of holidays is strictly observed. The lack of interest in and attention to the number of school days at all levels of government and by other stakeholders, including educationists and the media, is shocking and carries serious implications for the state of education in our country. Let us look at a few examples.
One, it is standard practice internationally for ministries of education or departments to issue a mandatory target of schooldays along with a list of authorised holidays. In contrast, neither the Sindh Private Educational Institutions Ordinance (2001), along with subsequent amendments, nor the associated document known as Rules (2005) make any mention of the number of teaching days in a year.
Two, the Directorate of Private Institutions, Sindh, issues an annual circular to schools providing a list of holidays prescribed for the academic year; surprisingly, again, there is no reference to the number of days a school must remain open.
Ironically, whereas schools often get reprimanded for violating the instructions concerning holidays, scheduled as well as unscheduled, they are not questioned if they remain closed for any number of days when actually they should have been open according to the directorate’s calendar. The examples cited above lead to an obvious conclusion -- for the authorities concerned, keeping schools open for learning and teaching is an offence, keeping them closed is not.
Now, some may ask, “Why do some ‘stubborn’ schools choose to open in defiance of the authority? What difference would a few holidays make?” Here, it will be useful to look at some relevant statistics.
Private schools following all the holidays prescribed by the directorate of education will usually attain a total of 160 to 170 school days in a year. If the number of days consumed for result processing, or the period when a school is used as an examination centre, is taken into account, the number of schooldays available for teaching comes down to around 150.
Further, if the decision taken at the inter-provincial ministers’ meeting concerning the starting of academic year in April instead of August is implemented (Dawn, Oct 18, 2008), a minimum of 40 teaching days will be lost in the current year. Thus, the number of teaching days available during the academic year 2008-09 will be only 105-110. This is almost half of the prescribed total of 210 days. Shocking indeed! But, does anyone care?
TAHIR JAVED
Karachi
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