DAWN - Letters; May 29, 2002

Published May 29, 2002

Government departments

WHILE I was studying in America, I had made a determination to serve Pakistan in any possible way. Just when I was ready to fly back, my friends and relatives warned me of the bureaucratic and corrupt culture here. In other words, if I were to start a business here, I would have to face various government departments from day one and that would neither be easy nor comfortable. Despite the warnings, I decided to come back and now I think that it was a great decision.

I followed the strategy of putting myself in their shoes and realizing that if I had worked so hard to get into a government department, I would have also expected some sort of respect from the public. As far as corruption is concerned, it is our self-created problem and is not impossible to avoid it. The fact is that whoever interacts with any of the government departments, assumes that his work cannot be done without bribe or a good reference.

I consider this a taboo. Thank God, so far I have not bribed anyone for anything. One has to be patient and consistent while handling government departments. Furthermore, always remember that people working for government departments are also human beings and they are our fellow countrymen. We must teach them that there are good people out there who do not want them to do anything that is against the law. Make them feel that we are ready to wait for our turn and are not willing to by-pass the queue.

My plea to all Pakistanis is to think of my experience as a benchmark while dealing with any department. If I can get things done without bribing anyone, why can’t they?

FAISAL SHARIFF

Karachi

A plea for peace

WAGING war is easy, but waging peace is tough. I am sure there are many in Pakistan who mean nothing but goodwill for India. Likewise, I believe there are many Indians who wish nothing but peace and prosperity for Pakistan.

An Indo-Pak war will indeed reverse some 10 to 20 years of progress depending on the level of madness, frenzy and inhuman ferocity with which the war is fought. Indians and Pakistanis have a common culture, despite differing religions. Ethnically, the stock is the same, a proof of which is that the west cannot recognize the difference between an Indian and a Pakistani. In North America, Asian groceries always describe themselves as Indo-Pak groceries, catering to the common needs of both the domiciled populations. Let us recognize our similarities rather than our differences.

As an American citizen of Indian origin, I see an immediate need to organize a peace march across the border between India and Pakistan. Let us form a peace brigade and outwit the fundamentalists on both sides of the fence and suicide bombers, and establish that we value life, every life, and show that the vast majority of folks on both sides seek nothing but peace and prosperity, and goodwill for an economically strong South Asia, which could become the envy of the world in this millennium.

Europe is becoming a single state, so let us work for the creation of a common South Asian market with mobility of capital and labour.

VEMBAR K. RANGANATHAN

New York, USA

(2)

IT is really strange that the Congress and other secular parties in India are supporting the BJP in its tirade against Pakistan. They ought to have detailed their own sleuths to counter the false allegations of the BJP-led alliance.

The Dec 13 attack on the Indian parliament was called suicide bombing. If it was so, why did the attackers escape, instead of rushing into the house and firing on the Lok Sabha members? Furthermore, the killings of Muslims in Gujarat continue.

It is time for the Congress and other secular parties to take a firm stand against the BJP war hysteria. If the BJP’s plans succeed, the next PM of India will be L.K. Advani, an extremist and the de facto leader of BJP.

JALAL AHMED

Karachi

Import of rail tracks

IT is surprising to know that Pakistan Railways has decided to replace the railway tracks from Peshawar to Karachi by importing the same from China at a cost of Rs11.1 billion (May 22). This decision is not only wasteful but also untimely as there are many more urgent problems facing the PR at the moment.

The PR needs to put its priorities right, which should be based on its needs. The main problem facing PR today is the absence of double tracks at various sections from Peshawar to Karachi, specially from Lahore to Rawalpindi and at Lodhran, that slows down the movement of passengers and goods causing inconvenience, losses and congestion on roads.

Another problem is over-crowding on passenger trains due to inadequate number of coaches available that leads to corruption in booking of seats and berths. It is only after resolving these problems that PR should have the luxury of replacing the entire rail track.

If at all the PR needs to replace the track at a later stage, the government should ask the Pakistan Steel to provide it to them. Or, they can have it through an open international tender because there are many countries like Belgium, whose steel is cheaper and of better quality.

I hope the PR authorities would reconsider their decision and appoint a committee of experts to analyse their problems and fix the priorities.

SABA IKRAM

Lahore Cantt

Housing societies’ greed

SOME time in the 1990s, the CDA allowed some housing societies to purchase land and develop plots for their members. At present about five housing societies are operating in Sector E-11, Islamabad. These societies have amassed crores of rupees, and unfortunately have started fleecing their members in the name of development charges, the Services Housing Society being one of them.

In the recently held general body meeting, development charges were fixed at Rs12.50 per square yard. This was done without calling for pre-qualification which is a blatant disregard of the prescribed procedure.

The registrar co-operative societies, ICT, Islamabad, is requested to probe into this and prevent the said housing society from demanding exorbitant development charges.

CH. UMMAR

Islamabad

Hyderabad Cantonment

THIS is with reference to the letter by Ms Zainab Shaikh (May 22) regarding the cutting of trees in Hyderabad Cantonment. The reason those trees were cut was that they were eucalyptus trees.

I am sure that Ms Zainab with her concern for the environment and the cool shady trees will be knowledgeable enough to know the havoc these trees wreck on other forms of vegetation.

What Ms Zainab also did not point out was that for every tree that was cut a minimum of three other trees were planted to suit the semi-arid climate of Hyderabad.

Ms Zainab is also informed that the rest of the Eucalyptus trees would also be cut in future accordingly to a phased programme. Let me also assure her that we are as much concerned about the beauty of Hyderabad Cantonment as she is.

PLANTATION OFFICER

Hyderabad Cantt

Islamabad’s location

THE letter ‘Giving Ayub Khan his due’ (May 20) reminded me of a lapse on the part of those who selected the site for the country’s capital, Islamabad.

Geographically, it is very close to the Kashmir region. Suppose for a moment that India does start what it calls ‘a counter terrorist initiative’ involving excursions over the line of control, much like what Israel did recently in Palestinian territory, then shall we not have the disadvantage of our centre of command being too close to the lines of confrontation?

In my opinion, even though it stands as a beautiful, well planned and managed city, it was a strategic mistake to choose the current location as the site for our country’s capital.

UMAIR REHMAN

Toronto, Canada

Poverty alleviation

WHY is the poverty alleviation programme making no headway? The reason is that the poor are helpless against the power structure that protects the rich.

It seems impossible that the rigid stance of the power hungry elite towards the poor would change. People have seen how our leaders exploited the country’s resources in the past for their benefit. The power structure protected them. Now their wealth is protecting them.

Most people still have no clean water to drink, no proper health care facilities, no cheap and good education, no proper food and no jobs. No wonder we see jobless and hungry people committing suicide.

The country is suffering from brain drain. Every second an intelligent and highly educated person is aiming to leave this country eventually, for he sees no future here. Therefore, it is time we opened our eyes and tried to see what is now a popular phrase, ‘the reality of the situation.’

Z.H. BABER

Karachi

Act before it’s late

I WOULD like to address you President George Bush and hope you will act before it is too late. It is all the more necessary because of the fact that in this century of peace and progress the poverty stricken people of both India and Pakistan do not at all want war. In fact, in this age when many poor and unfortunate persons in the subcontinent are resorting to suicide so much heavy expenditures on armaments is criminal to say the least.

I am writing this letter to invoke international justice. Is it not the moral responsibility of the international coalition headed by you, of which Pakistani is a pivotal partner, to seek legitimate support and protection when an unprovoked war is being thrust upon it by its mighty neighbour. The irony of the situation is that India has deep ties, visible and invisible, with your administration and hence felt no qualms in threatening Pakistan with war.

Where do we go from this imbroglio. There is now way out but to seek the path of peace and sanity through the good offices of yourself and other partners in the coalition. The increasing member of our well wishers have started putting pressure on India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and retrace steps from the point of no return.

I on behalf of the people of my country and India urge you Mr Bush to avail this unique opportunity offered by the current history to avert this human catastrophe and restore peace to enable both the countries to reduce poverty as early as possible.

K. MURAD BEY

Karachi

PTCL clarification

This refers to a news item captioned ‘Phone network collapses’ (May 21). PTCL would like to clarify that the PTCL does not deal with government telephone numbers, rather the National Telecommunication Corporation looks after such numbers and the concerned NTC officials investigate complaints of dropping calls.

The RLU of National Telecommunication Corporation has been put in operation at Nawabshah and telephone connections pertaining to government departments are being diverted to this RLU. Out of 350 government connections 125 have been diverted. It may be mentioned here that the operations of RLU have had no complaints either by the NTC customers or the PTCL customers regarding dropping of calls.

Due to some problem in the hardware or software of the exchange, the calls of NTC customers are dropping. The matter was brought to the notice of the National Telecommunication Corporation officials well in time.

The PTCL exchange at Nawabshah is working perfectly and no complaint of dropping of calls by the customers of PTCL has been received. Therefore, the complaint in question does not relate to PTCL, since PTCL does not deal with government telephone connections.

ATHER JAVED SUFI

Media Coordinator,

PTCL, Karachi

The agony of repetition

IN 1997, government-appointed teams made house-to-house contact to collect certain data. These teams also distributed and later collected filled-in Qaumi Data Forms issued by the planning commission. These forms were very similar to the ones now being issued by Nadra for computerized national identity cards. At that time we were told that Qaumi Data Forms would be utilized for issuing computerized national identity cards.

Whatever happened to the Qaumi Data Forms, no one knows. Then came Nadra. In May, 2001, after completing all the required formalities I got my forms attested by the director, Nadra, Lahore Cantt., and had them deposited. A proper receipt was issued to me which is still in my possession but even after a lapse of one year, there is no sign of my computerized identity card.

Lately, after having watched TV ads on the consequences of not possessing a computerized identity card I felt vulnerable. Hence, I decided to go through the hassle once more.

I hope I would not have to go through the agony again.

AZHAR ALI

Lahore

CSS exams

I AM in complete accord with Mr Fayaz Ahmed Jatoi’s letter on the subject (May 19).

It’s really very difficult for a candidate to prepare 12 subjects in a short period of time and clear the same within three attempts. I agree with the writer that there should be only two papers instead of 12. All the compulsory subjects should be merged into a single paper carrying 100 marks, and another paper should be an optional one.

The authorities concerned are requested to look into this matter.

TAUQEER ALI AKBAR

Delta, Turbat

Dug-up Clifton Road

THE service lane of the Main Clifton Road, from Agha’s Super Market to Teen Talwar, was dug up a couple of months ago. It was then laid with stones, but so far the road has not been carpeted.

The result has been that most of the stones have come off loose and are causing damage to cars plying over that road. I have also seen people getting hit by these stones as cars splatter them when they pass over them.

If the local administration is not going to complete the repair of the road for some reason, why did they start the work?

MOHAMMAD YUNUS

Karachi

The graduate condition for MNAs

THE graduate condition for being a member of parliament has generated an intense debate. Does education play a pivotal role in introducing a modicum of sensibility in the National Assembly and the Senate?

Would an educated class of politicians have a clear vision to transform the country from the status of a less developed and highly corrupt state to a member of the hallowed group of developed and progressive nations?

Can the educated politicians convince the 145 million citizens that, yes, they are better than the lot elected in the past many elections? The answer must be sought to come to a reasonable conclusion whether education really makes all that difference.

The first premise that should be brought under the microscope is whether education makes the upcoming politician qualify under Sections 62 and 63 of the Constitution. Would a person work with zeal and sincerity if he or she has a degree from a college or university?

It has been observed that many a politician has been brought under the NAB web and in quite a few cases, these representatives of the people have been found guilty of accumulating wealth in excess of their known source of income. Did illiteracy or did education make them go on that route of corruption? It was their flagrant misuse of power that led them to use their position to mint money. This had nothing to do with being a scholar or a visionary.

The second assumption is that once the law-making organization is composed of graduates, the level of intellectualism would rise, and that the output would be sagacious and target-oriented. Would that really be a certainty or is it just idealism conjured up by the National Reconstruction Bureau?

The fact is that it is the commitment to the constituency that matters in the long run. There have been many politicians lacking erudition, who have worked hard to bring about prosperity in their areas.

The third hypothesis is that graduate politicians would be in an advantageous position to understand the nuances of law, to comprehend the imperatives of budget documents, and to assimilate the finer points of global statesmanship.

This grand thinking is nothing less than a delusion because there have been political giants who may be devoid of pedantic finesse but who have through their common sense approach been acclaimed as great statesmen. Thus, the notion that education is the main tool for excellence has been debunked in many countries around the globe.

Therefore, it can be forcefully stressed that although education makes a person knowledgeable, makes a person stand out as a beacon among the illiterates, and makes a person view things in a broad perspective, the college degree may not necessarily make him an honest-to-goodness politician.

SHABANA ASIF

BALAGAMWALA

Karachi

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