Compulsory primary education

There is no doubt that mere promulgation of an Ordinance would not result in the province of Sindh achieving 100% literacy but at least it is an acknowledgment of the need for education of the future generations of Pakistan.

Now that the ordinance is in place it gives an opportunity to reformist organizations to take up the cudgels and pressurize the government to introduce measures to ensure that education is made available for all in the province of Sindh and to prosecute those who deliberately keep their children, particularly female children deprived of education.

Indeed this example set by Sindh government is a far cry from what the Federal government stated in the High Court in reply to a petition filed by the undersigned in the year 1999 on behalf of “the Reformers” seeking directions for introducing compulsory education for children in the whole of the federation, which was reported in your esteemed newspaper.

It may be unbelievable but the Federal government actually opposed the petition and prayed for its dismissal. In so far as the petition itself is concerned it remains victim of judicial sloth, which has become a bane of our society. One would hope that this revolutionary measure by the Sindh government may set an example for the Federal government and other provinces to follow.

M. SHAIQ USMANI

Karachi

Ill-gotten wealth

IN HIS address on the Quaid-e-Azam’s 125th birth anniversary, President Musharraf said something which should be weighed in gold. If the counsel is taken seriously by the nation, at least 50% corruption will be wiped off from the country.

He said: “Let the society treat the corrupt with contempt so that the fear of God is put into them and they at least hide and feel ashamed instead of showing off their ill-gotten riches.”

No doubt that only a clean and honest man can have such thoughts and speak them out. In the whole history of Pakistan, barring only a few of our earlier day leaders, no leader could speak like this, obviously because most of them possessed ill-gotten wealth.

There is great wisdom in what president Musharraf said. If a society demonstrates such an attitude towards those showing off their ill-gotten wealth, the urge to acquire loads of wealth itself will diminish greatly.

MOHAMMAD RAFI

Karachi

Payment of bills

THE photograph in Dawn on Dec 27 titled ‘Bill payment problem’ was eloquent enough. But dozens of such pictures and letters have left the utilities organizations unmoved, exactly like the inability of the concerned authorities to catch the offending drivers of buses, trucks and tankers who run over people and escape.

Many a times it has been suggested that the utilities departments should organize their billing system in a way that the bill is dispatched to the consumer by the 15th of every month, leaving the consumer 15 days to pay the bill i.e. by the 30th of every month.

The consumer will then have to make only one trip to the bank to make the payment of all the bills — gas, electricity and telephone — instead of three separate trips as is the case at present.

IRTIZA HUSAIN

Karachi

Why not another motorway?

THIS refers to Inaam Afzal Khan’s letter (Dec 28) on the above subject in response to Brig (R) Khalid Amin’s letter of Dec 25.

Brig (R) Amin, had stated that Faisalabad section of motorway (M3) was not a feasible proposition, as traffic needed to make it viable would have to be over ten-fold higher than what could be expected. But Mr Khan claims that this M3 section of motorway was the most feasible section without stating any cost figures to assert his claim. He also says that the existing motorway M2 was losing money because of the theft of revenue by FWO’s toll collection staff.

If I understand correctly, M2 should have been generating four to five times more income than it is doing now to pay for itself. It is simply inconceivable that FWO men are stealing four times of what M2 is earning and making it a loser.

By all means build the M3 motorway but not on taxpayers’ account. The beneficiaries should pay for the facility. I suggest that the district governments, through whose area this Faisalabad motorway is to pass, may impose a special tax to create a fund to pay for building of the motorway. Let the federal government contribute to this fund an amount equal to one-third of what is collected by local governments. The new motorway then would be the property of the district governments. Being a profitable venture, as Mr Khan says, and with no FWO staff around to steal the toll revenue, the motorway will not only pay for itself, but will be a good source of revenue for local government in the future.

In any case, not more than 5% of the population would benefit from this motorway. The remaining 95% people use bicycles, rickshaws, donkey carts, bullock carts, and tractor trolleys to travel and to take their produce to the neighbouring markets.

Of course, none of these vehicles will be allowed on the motorway. They will continue to use the same old mud roads and those would be made even worse as the motorway will bisect many of them and force long detours on most travellers.

I am sure if the local governments are asked to shoulder the responsibility as suggested, they will prefer to go for a well-carpeted dual carriageway, which will be much cheaper, and on which all types of vehicles can ply.

KHALED AHMED

Islamabad

PTCL clarification

THE demand for a new telephone connection was registered as an ordinary demand in the name of Mst Alia Zaheer against Reg No. 385/3574/2001 dated 24-10-2001. During investigations, the concerned staff denied the allegations levelled by the complainant, as only the authorized officers can provide information to the valued customers.

However, due consideration has been given to this complaint even though help sought from an outsider does not fall within the purview of the PTCL. The complainant is requested to join hands with the PTCL with concrete evidence so that the culprit could be taken to task.

The pending demands in Gulistan-i-Johar have been reviewed upto 30-07-2001 and accordingly this information was provided to the complainant also. The demand note No. BTJ-01903 dated 22-12-2001 was issued through courier service though other cases of NTCs of this locality are still under consideration. It is noteworthy that, as per our record, neither the demand note was prepared nor issued as stated in the complaint in the news item.

It is reiterated for the information of area inhabitants that the PTCL has recently provided 20,000 lines and all the leftover pending demands will be cleared by January 2002. Thereafter demands will be met on a day-to-day basis to facilitate our valued customer.

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

Southern Telecom: Region-III

Karachi

Sugarcane price dispute

EVERY year unresolved price confrontation between sugarcane growers and millers in Sindh ultimately causes shut down of the sugar mills for an indefinite period. As a result, both the agriculture sector and the sugar industries sustain heavy financial losses.

The bone of contention is the “sugarcane price” as the growers demand more price for their sugarcane than that of the support price fixed by the government and the millers refuse to accept the growers’ demand in view of the lower price of sugar in the market.

This is happening due to the inconsistent policy of the government, particularly by importing huge quantity of sugar despite sufficient stock in the country with the result that there is a heavy fall in sugar price and this hits the sugar industries.

If the government is authorized to fix the support price of sugarcane, it should also be its responsibility to ensure reasonable profit to millowners for their survival. The mills management is reducing its manpower rapidly by terminating the services of its workers in order to overcome the financial losses incurred as a result of lower sugar price and higher price of sugarcane.

To end the sugarcane price dispute, it is suggested as under:

The government should hold a meeting every year before start of the season with millers and the representatives of sugarcane growers. Taking both parties into confidence, the actual cost of sugar production should be determined.

If the millers want to purchase sugarcane at the rate of Rs 60 per 40 kgs and the total cost of one kilogram sugar comes to Rs 24, the government should fix the rate of sugar in the market in such a manner that millers get a reasonable profit of at least one rupee per kg.

This will not only resolve the sugarcane price dispute but growers as well as millowners will benefit. Involvement of the middleman will also be eliminated.

RIZWANUL HAQUE

Karachi

Unbiased news

I AM impressed with the number of unbiased articles that are carried by Dawn, especially with respect to India-Pakistan relationship and Afghanistan-Taliban issues.

The question that comes to my mind is: how many people in Pakistan read this newspaper?

As I have access to the Internet, I read various news sources like the Hindu of India, the Dawn of Pakistan, the BBC online and the New York Times. So, it’s very easy to make out the correct picture of any situation.

Coming from the south of India, which develops some of the latest softwares for the world, my opinion is that Pakistan and northern India are quite backward due to their misdirected priorities.

It is time these neighbours woke up to reality, started educating themselves about the latest technologies, and developed their countries instead of fighting over Kashmir.

Both the sides have gutless politicians and military rulers, who don’t have any solution for peace.

VIJAY KUMAR

Bangalore, India

Injustice to government pensioners

I WOULD like to invite the attention of the government to the revised pay scales and pension/commutation scheme of civil and defence employees which has come into effect from Dec 1, 2001.

In this new structure, a number of changes have been made with regard to pensioners that adversely affect them instead of giving them adequate relief and protection. The decision of bringing down the option of commutation of gross pension to 40 per cent from 50 appears to be harsh.

Whatever a government servant gets in the shape of commutation at the time of his retirement, is actually his life-time accumulated earning. This lump sum amount helps him to meet some of his exclusive plans, such as marriage of children, purchase of house or a small piece of land etc. This has now been reduced by 10 per cent arbitrarily, inflicting a crucial blow to future pensioners. On the other hand, the cost of living is rising sky high day by day. The impact of this injustice can be better imagined than described.

The next most inconsiderate decision in the same context is the withdrawal of restoration of surrendered portion of pension in lieu of commutation/gratuity. This is gross injustice being perpetrated to the existing civil and defence pensioners who have been deprived of this long-term benefit, if one survives by the grace of Almighty God the stipulated age 75 years, which earlier used to be 70 years. This amount is actually 50 per cent surrendered pension of a person, which was not commuted at the time of his retirement, and he is, therefore, justifiably entitled to get it restored upon attaining the age of 75 years.

This is most unfair to the existing pensioners in general and to those who are on the verge of completing the stipulated age limit, in particular. This is the legitimate right of a pensioner which is being denied to him.

Another injustice that stems from this decision is that the periodical increase in pension will henceforth be reckoned from the net pension instead of gross pension. There are a large number of low-paid pensioners whose net pension is quite meagre: in most of the cases less than Rs 2,000 per month. Therefore, a paltry increase of 5 per cent on net pension is a cruel joke.

In view of the facts stated above, it is requested that the “restoration of un-commuted pension” may kindly be continued at least for those pensioners who retired prior to this decision. This decision is not only unfair but tantamounts to gross injustice. It is fervently hoped the relevant authorities will sympathetically review the whole issue in a broader perspective of the financial suffering caused and allow maximum relief to the pensioners by withdrawing the above decisions.

LT-COL MUKHTAR AHMED (R)

Karachi

Excesses against women

THIS refers to a news about karo-kari in which five people of a family were killed in Mansehra (Dec 13).

How very unfortunate for those who died and heartbreaking for those who were left behind to mourn their death. We are living in a hi-tech world and are constantly talking about making it a better place for all living beings. Aren’t women living-beings?

This act of karo-kari was committed by some extremists but what about the harassment which the women face everyday from their own families?

There is a dire need to educate the people about harassment, mental and physical abuse, etc.

All the time we are hearing about the NGOs. Where are they? Women from the middle and upper middle classes (who are educated) don’t have access to them. How can they reach them in time of need either for learning about their rights, seeking counsel or requiring therapy?

SAIMA ZAHID

Okara

Traffic police

I WANT to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the situation prevailing on the road linking Qayyumabad to the Korangi Crossing. This has become the scene of accidents due to reckless driving, the highly inefficient performance of the traffic police and the absence of street lights.

Drivers of heavy vehicles, do not bother about anything and drive very fast to earn a little more money which often results in accidents.

Complaints have been lodged by the residents but no one has bothered to look into it. I request the higher authorities to instruct the concerned staff to take necessary measures to prevent accidents.

TARIQ YOUSUFZAI

Karachi

Ordeal at reservation counter

ON DEC 23 at the City Railway Station Reservation Counter, I saw that two women, who were trying to get reservations for themselves, were being constantly brushed aside and pushed by the men in their queue.

I requested two policemen on duty to assist the ladies but to no avail.

I request the Railway authorities and the City Nazim to establish a separate counter for women at all the Railway Reservation centres.

MOHAMMAD TARIQUE A. KHAN

Karachi

The Quaid flashed U sign for unity

IT was March 1948 that Quaid-i-Azam accompanied by Miss Fatimah Jinnah came to our Edward College Peshawar. I was 17 then and am 71 now, but I remember vividly each and every single moment of this historic visit. Our Principal Mr A.M. Dalaya had requested the Quaid, the head of the state, to address the students and staff of the college, which the Quaid had graciously accepted.

It was an afternoon function and out in the open in the college hockey ground. All the students, around 350, meticulously dressed in college green blazer and striped ties were seated on the chairs under the shamianah. A stage had been set on a raised platform under a canopy and with chairs for the college staff, Mohtarma Fatimah Jinnah and the Chief Minister of the province of NWFP - Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan. Professor Imdad Hussain was in attendance to the Quaid and Miss Jinnah. Captain David (Retd) - the PTI was the overall incharge of the arrangements.

There were no fanfare, no pompous ceremonies, no bureaucrats around, only the Chief Minister and the students and the staff members of Edward College. Not even the official photographers or cameramen. It was an exclusive function for us only.

In his brief and to the point address of welcome, the Principal did not ask for any funds or grant, which used to be and probably still is the norm on such occasions. He instead thankfully mentioned the Chief Minister saying that he took care of the college’s monetary needs.

The Quaid moved majestically to the rostrum to deliver his speech. He looked visibly pleased with the arrangements around, the display of discipline by the students and the general atmosphere of great orderliness. He thanked the Principal for his welcome address and appreciated his gesture of not burdening the economy of a newly born state by requesting for a grant. And then, the Quaid looking in the direction of Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan jokingly expanded his both slightly bent arms at his waist mimicking Khan’s plump belly and said smilingly, “You say that Khan takes care of your monetary needs but I am sure it will be very rare.” Every one present laughed but decently. Those who had heard him before said that it was the first occasion that the Quaid had cut a joke in public and that too on stage.

The Quaid spoke for about 25 minutes. He dwelled mainly on the role of the youth and expectations of the nation from it in a newly born state. He advised us to gird up our loins and set about making Pakistan worthy of its name. There was pin-drop silence throughout his speech.

This caught up his attention too and he in a manner of appreciation remarked,” Churchill said that V stands for victory (and Quaid made a V with his two fingers), but I must say that ‘U’ stands for Unity (and made a U with the thumb and the index finger of his right hand)”. While saying “U stands for Unity” Quaid was continually pointing the U made by his fingers at the students and moving his arm from side to side to cover the entire assemblage. This ‘U stands for Unity’ still resounds in my ears, but alas are we today standing for the unity.

Therefore, on this 125th birthday of the Quaid-e-Azam, kindly allow me to make an appeal to the youth of the nation to revive this ‘U stand’s for Unity’ by greeting each other from now on with the gesture of making a U with our thumb and index finger and pointing it at each other, the way the great Quaid did it in March 1948.

On every occasion that warrants display of patriotism let’s applaud each other with a raised U. It will remind us at all time of the Unity that Quaid-e-Azam expected of us.

COL RIAZ JAFRI (RETD)

Rawalpindi