Rethinking foreign policy

THIS refers to the article, ‘Emotions and realities’ (Jan 11).

The writer, Shahid M. Amin, is right when he observes: “Foreign policy decisions must be based on a hard calculation of national interests.” I would like to add that emotionalism and rhetoric have been the hallmark of foreign policy thinking of some non-state actors since its inception. Now, owing to the international and regional environment, our moment of truth has come.

The formulation of foreign policy needs an objective assessment of the capabilities of a nation-state. A nation-state’s power is measured in terms of territory, population and industrial, agricultural, and military capability, character of the people, quality of leadership and image of the country.

Pakistan has been twice a “front-line state” and most allied ally of the US. Nevertheless, the real source of strength or weakness lies within. At the official level, we have performed poorly in recognizing and improving our capabilities whose interplay shapes the status and course of a country’s foreign engagements. Thus the basic task of foreign policy, ‘to determine its own hierarchy of interests’, has not been taken that seriously. In the absence of a clear-cut national agenda, we have been adjusting to the international environment, at best.

In addition to gross disregard of our capabilities, we have too exaggerated an image of ourselves. We have been unnecessarily trying to fortify Islam in Pakistan. We entertained a number of illusory concepts at global and regional levels, like ‘Muslim Ummah’, ‘most allied ally’ of the US, ‘strategic depth’ and liberation of Kashmir through military means.

We have been taking pride in being the only challenger to the ‘hegemonic designs’ of India in the region, as if the only national objective was to deter India. We never focused on improving our political, economic, technological and educational bases of national power. Obsessed with the muscle power, we have shown little realization that military power is only one component of power, and it must be backed by strong economics and the will of the people reflected through democratic institutions.

Unfortunately, “we learn from [our] history that we learn nothing from history”. The current hype in anti-American rhetoric by the religious right, and now jealously followed by the left also need a serious rethink. Let‘s not be sentimental in the conduct of our foreign policy.

SHAHID ANWAR

Toba Tek Singh

NSS: cut in profit rates

THE rates of return on the national savings schemes have been further reduced by two per cent. The return on the special savings certificates, which at one time stood at 18 per cent, has now been reduced to 8.5 per cent. A similar reduction has taken place in other savings schemes.

Various government spokesmen from time to time have attempted to explain why this has been done. But this is of little interest to the middle class and the poor, particularly the elderly, whose survival is totally dependent on the return on their investments in these schemes. They are caught in a squeeze between reduced returns on their savings on the one hand and the rising inflation on the other.

Is the World Bank and the IMF mandate more important than the poor and the middle class inhabiting this country? Do the middle class or the poor ever figure anywhere in the making of government policies? Or are the policymakers only interested in the meaningless jugglery of figures?

Currently, money is available in plenty and at low mark-up rates. But the local investors still shy away from coming forward to invest. If the local investors are reluctant, how do we expect foreign investment in this country? Many industries are still lying closed, and their closure reflects the failure of the industrial policy that is based on ad hocism and lack of continuity, unsatisfactory law and order situation and harassment of entrepreneurs by various government agencies.

In short no benefit has come to the common man even with such improvement in national reserves. Pakistan is not a welfare state, and as age advances medical expenses increase. If the meagre income from returns on investments is insufficient to sustain life, how will these people be able to meet their medical expenses? I can only suggest that all disadvantaged people be included in the proposed scheme.

Finally, pensioners alone should not be deemed to be former government servants but anyone who has attained the retirement age should be included in the scheme.

FARHAT ASRAR

Karachi

Unjustified anti-Americanism

THIS refers to a letter by Mr Shamim Mirza (Jan 1). How little truth we know and how narrow is our vision! In fact, we are blindly following the Western media without even giving a second thought to our pursuit. Have we ever tried to look at the other side of the picture?

Saddam Hussein is no doubt a ruthless dictator and must be ousted. But at what cost? Have we ever imagined the hardship and humiliation our Muslim brothers and sisters are enduring in Iraq? Have we ever noticed who has suffered so far and who will suffer in case of a fresh attack on Iraq? And is it necessary to risk millions of lives to topple Saddam government? Isn’t there any other way?

In a recent TV interview US Secretary of State Colin Powell said that America was prepared to wait for months and see whether diplomatic efforts to stop North Korean nuclear programme were effective or not. America is showing patience towards nuclear-capable North Korea in the face of its blatant defiance of the UN resolutions. On the other hand, it is eager to attack a cooperative Iraq. What a contrast!

No doubt, Saddam killed fellow Muslims and caused misery to the Iraqi people, but who will be dying now in case of a new war, and who will be responsible for these deaths? Of course, the invading forces and their allies will be answerable for the sufferings of the innocent victims in the event of a war.

We are bent on doing anything that America bids us to do without even thinking what we are getting in return. In return we have a new immigration law requiring all Pakistani visitors in the United States to be registered with their fingerprints. Our prominent doctors and scientists are being arrested like criminals in the name of counter-terrorism.

Mr Mirza hopes that when the US invades Iraq and overthrows Saddam Hussein, Iraq will become a model of democracy. But, what if America turns its attention to Saudi Arabia after Iraq and then Pakistan, for that matter.

After all, Pakistan has nuclear capabilities which can be a threat to the world, and Saudi Arabia does not have a democratic government. Will the writer be having the same wishes then?

SALMAN YAZDANI

Karachi

Federation of Muslim universities

THIS refers to a news item which appeared in your daily on Jan 11. Dr Attaur Rehman, chairman of the Higher Education Commission, has urged senior academicians to develop links between universities in Pakistan and educational institutions in other Muslim countries.

This is indeed a decision in the right direction. At present linkages among Muslim countries in almost all spheres of activities are almost insignificant.

The Muslim world lags behind the developed world in many ways. However, the gap in the field of higher learning and research is indeed a big one. At the same time much scope for establishing linkages among educational institutions in Muslim states exists. A federation of universities in Muslim countries does exist but its activities are least known.

All Muslim universities and other institutions of higher learning should be catalogued, listing their capabilities and shortcomings. The Ummah as a whole does not lack in financial resources but there is a serious shortage of academicians of quality in various disciplines.

A bold plan for exchange of scholars should be worked out. The difficulties arising from differences in languages on the campuses will be gradually overcome when an agreement is reached on identifying a few languages for use in educational institutions. The students in reciprocal numbers can be exchanged among the states and not treated as foreign students. The centres of excellence in various disciplines can be set up at various places. The exchange of faculty members and scholars will create an atmosphere of understanding within the Ummah.

When educational institutions are sufficiently developed, the students from other under-developed regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America can also be provided with opportunities for learning in these universities. This may also improve relations between the deprived parts of the world.

TARIQ MAHMOOD

Peshawar

Libraries in decline

AFTER Zubeida Mustafa’s article, ‘Where are our libraries?’ and successive debate through these columns, your editorial, ‘Libraries in decline’, is timely and appropriate.

It is true that the absence of libraries in association with conformism has affected our intellectual pursuits and critical thinking. Reading of good books provokes the human mind to ask probing questions and impel not to accept uncritically the thoughts, ideas and the concepts communicated through textbooks or the electronic media.

Books take an individual on the threshold of knowledge and learning, which is key to success. Libraries transform life and make citizens valuable members of society. Only a few efforts have been made in this country to enhance education, which is the exclusive right of the people. In fact, the ruling elite owe a lot to the nation. A generous diversion of public funds towards education and libraries must now be their first priority.

Following Britain’s example, library cess through municipal authorities may be one of the steps in that direction. Philanthropists will, of course, have to play their principled role. With this we could make every individual, in the words of Andre Maurois, “a denizen of all nations — a contemporary of all ages”.

M. KHURSHID ALAM

Karachi

‘Pakistanis not to get dual Indian citizenship’

THIS refers to the news item, ‘Pakistanis not to get dual Indian citizenship’ (Jan 7).

I am a born Indian and got married to a Pakistani in 1992. I surrendered my Indian passport to the Pakistan government and in exchange got my Pakistani citizenship certificate 11 years ago.

I have remained loyal to Pakistan because, now, this is not only my husband’s but my country as well. I have to live here for the rest of my life. But at the same time, I cannot forget that I was born, brought up and educated in India and I love my birth-place as much as I love Pakistan.

I wonder what makes the deputy prime minister of the country of my origin, L. K. Advani, say that the Indians living in Pakistan will not be entitled to claim a dual citizenship. I am already facing a lot of problems in travelling to India. My mother expired in Poona (Maharashtra) 18 months ago after suffering an attack of paralysis. She remained hospitalized for three months and I could have met her had there been no visa restrictions and flight/land route suspension.

If the Indian government issues a dual nationality to the Pakistanis of Indian origin, it will enable the people with a dual nationality to travel to India without a visa. If the Indian government cannot extend a hand of friendship to Pakistan, at least they should not deprive the women of Indian origin of obtaining a dual nationality.

Is somebody in the corridors of Indian parliament listening?

(Mrs) RIZWANA RAFIQUE ZAKARIA

Karachi

Advertising by tobacco companies

SHOULD a policeman thank a thief if the thief says he will no longer steal but, instead, will teach other people how to steal? That is what the Pakistan Chest Society has done by thanking a tobacco company for stopping its TV advertising.

Smoking kills millions of people every year worldwide. As the incidence of smoking in the West decreases, tobacco companies are increasingly targeting developing countries, where lax laws and governments’ collusion with such companies lead to increased sales and profits.

Pakistan is one of the countries where cigarette smoking among young men is rising at an alarming rate. Tobacco companies will go to any extreme to boost their sales. Every move they make is a ploy to increase their profits. Their latest trick is to appear to be concerned about the health and well-being of young people in Pakistan; hence their decision to stop TV advertising.

The Pakistan Chest Society has not only acted irresponsibly but also lost all credibility in letting their name be associated with the tobacco company.

It is yet another example of a health organization’s collusion with the tobacco industry to increase the sales of a killer product.

MURAD M. KHAN

Karachi

Tree cutting

THIS refers to the editorial, ‘Why this tree cutting?’ (Jan 8).

During the days of Aurangzeb Alamgir, the governor of Kashmir reported to him that Jamia Mosque of Kashmir had been gutted in an accidental fire. The reply from the king was: “The mosque can be rebuilt but the valuable old trees of Chinor will take centuries to reach the same height, girth and glamour.”

LALA FAZAL AHMED BELAEE

Hyderabad

Free education in Punjab

The decision of the Punjab cabinet to make education free up to the secondary school level is a much-needed step in the education sector. The offer of free books must be materialized soon so that the youth are put on the right track.

Free technical education and free food for children in public schools will provide some relief to the poor parents. The school enrolment for boys and girls must be made mandatory.

While dealing with the problem, we should always consider the issue of girls’ enrolment. The parents need to be convinced that their daughters have the opportunity to get education in safe, social environment.

An important aspect of safety for young girls is to provide them with safe travel to schools. Free transportation should be introduced for both boys and girls if the schools are not at a walking distance.

The harassment of young girls on their way to school is a big problem for them and their parents, in addition to the financial cost.

As the government is reforming the education sector, the law-enforcement agencies need to adopt a system of punishments for those who harass young girls on their way to school.

The authorities concerned should look at the school enrolments as a financial, social and psychological package.

That in itself will require a broader educational campaign of all kinds to prepare and encourage the parents, the community and the schools for eradicating illiteracy from society.

ASBAH CHAUDHRY

Lahore

Pope’s ‘no’ to war

THE cnn.com carried the following on Jan 14:

Pope John Paul II, in his annual ‘State of the World’ address at the Vatican on Monday observed: “No to war! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity. International law, honest dialogue, solidarity between states, the noble exercise of diplomacy: these are methods worthy of individuals and nations in resolving their differences.

“And what are we to say of the threat of a war which could strike the people of Iraq, the land of the prophets, a people already sorely tried by more than 12 years of embargo?

“As the charter of the United Nations Organization and international law itself remind us, war cannot be decided upon, even when it is a matter of ensuring the common good, except as the very last option and in accordance with very strict conditions, without ignoring the consequences for the civilian population both during and after the military operations.”

DR KHALID BUTT

Karachi

Making money private school style

EDUCATION has become the most lucrative business in our society, as evidenced by private schools mushrooming at every nook and corner of Karachi, catering to all social strata.

These so-called English medium schools are the main beneficiaries of the worst standard of education and facilities at state-run schools, which leave little option for the parents but to send their children to private schools.

Being aware of their indispensable position, private schools fully exploit the situation. To earn money always remains at the top of their priority lists and this objective is achieved by not only charging excessive tuition fees but also making students purchase books, copies, uniforms and shoes, etc. from the schools or from shops authorized by school managements on a certain commission.

Both parents and teachers are victimized by these schools’ unfair policies, some of which include the following:

(1) In most cases, low salaries of teachers are not commensurate with their qualifications. Fee structures of these private schools always show a rising trend but teachers are not compensated proportionately. Even in some schools, fictitious salary sheets showing salaries much higher than the actual ones are maintained just to mislead the education department.

(2) Students are charged in advance summer vacation’s (June and July) fees in the months of February and March, respectively. On the other hand, June and July’s salaries are paid to teachers after the end of summer vacation and that, too, in some cases are delayed to even November and December on one pretext or the other. Furthermore, teachers are not entitled to the salaries of summer vacation unless they complete the first year of their jobs.

(3) Contrary to the normal practice, in private schools there is no concept of leave entitlement on any grounds. Salary is deducted in all cases even only one leave is availed owing to unavoidable circumstances. Moreover, no overtime or conveyance allowance is paid to teachers for taking additional classes.

(4) Generally, in private organizations employees are required to give a notice for a specific period before leaving their jobs, but private schools have their own oppressive policy. According to this policy, a notice for leaving the job can be given only at the end of the academic year, otherwise, the notice is not accepted and the teacher is deprived of the provident fund amount, which is deducted from his/her salary each month. Provident fund is also something limited only to big private schools and most of other such entities pay nothing to teachers on leaving their job.

These conditions badly necessitate establishing an authority and tasking it with regulating the affairs of private schools and keeping a check on them.

The Sindh education ministry should prepare a framework for such an authority in consultation with associations of private schools. The fundamental purpose of this authority should be to redress the grievances of both the parents and the teachers.

SYED IRFAN

Karachi