Breaking the Kashmir logjam

For the first time in the long saga of blood and tears over Kashmir, new alternatives have been proposed to break the logjam. Credit for this must go to Gen Pervez Musharraf. On Oct 25 he floated many suggestions to kick off a debate on the Kashmir issue. These included identifying the available regions, demilitarizing them and changing their status before looking for possible options to resolve the dispute.

He suggested options such as demilitarizing all or some regions of Jammu and Kashmir and handing them over to the joint control of India and Pakistan or to the United Nations. Another proposal was to make the Jammu and Kashmir regions autonomous and independent. Gen Musharraf drew contiguity between Azad Kashmir, the adjoining districts of Jammu and Kargil region with the Northern Areas, and offered to demilitarize whichever region India wanted, including Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas.

Predictably, his suggestions received a mixed response on both sides of the Line of Control. New Delhi said that such proposals should have been discussed officially instead of through the media. But President Musharraf chose the media for the purpose because it plays a major role in educating and moulding public opinion and is the best forum for debate. Besides, discussions at the official level have always foundered on the rocks of mutual obstinacy. The BJP in India and the Jamaat-i-Islami-cum-Muslim League-N have rejected them, which is quite understandable. Their minds are in a time warp unmoved by endless human suffering.

For more than 50 years, the dispute has been simmering, with both parties stuck in the mire. Besides, infusion of religion over the years into an issue that is purely political has made it so sensitive as to be suicidal for either side to be perceived as having "yielded" to the rival. The status quo therefore is their safest refuge. Perpetual confrontation hurts both sides; in fact, it hurts Pakistan more than it hurts India. Yet, Pakistan has been wearing the UN resolutions like a charm with which to conjure a plebiscite. It has even tried to force the issue more than once, without any result.

Recalling the UN resolutions is meaningless today. The world community does not give a fig for them. Even the UN secretary-general said at a press conference after the NAM summit in New Delhi in April 1997: "India and Pakistan should put aside the Kashmir issue and concentrate on other issues."

Gen Musharraf is the first head of state to realize the futility of this endless conflict and has suggested a departure from the stony postures adopted so long. Being also army chief, he is the right person to deliver on his commitments. But he has said, "It is just a proposal, food for thought, on a way to finding a permanent solution." If followed up sincerely, the proposals may yield positive results. Will India take its cue from Pakistan?

SYED JAWAID IQBAL

Karachi

Need to discourage 'cash culture'

A dawn report (Oct 28) says that designs for currency notes of Rs20 and Rs5,000 denominations have been approved by the federal cabinet. Sooner or later they will be added to the series in circulation.

At the time of independence Pakistan inherited a series of bank notes of Re1, Rs2, Rs5, Rs10 and Rs100 denominations from the Reserve Bank of India. They were soon inscribed with the words "Government of Pakistan". Later, between Oct 1, 1948, and March 1, 1949, a new series, produced in Britain, was introduced, with the highest denomination remaining at Rs100.

For the first time, in 1964, indigenously produced bank notes of Rs50 and Rs500 denominations were added to the series in circulation. The addition of large denomination bills created difficulties with the unusual increases of cash in circulation. The cost of moving a file in government organizations or for legal purposes increased five times.

Consequent to the fall of Dhaka, the government swiftly demonetized Rs100 and Rs500 bills in June 1971 - they ceased to legal tender. After a year, a new design for the Rs100 bill was introduced and under circulation bills of Rs5, Rs10, Rs50 denominations were replaced.

In the 60s Pakistan was viewed as a model developing country; its GDP growth averaged six per cent a year, about 50 per cent higher than neighbouring India's four per cent a year. The rate of growth fell off in the 70s but picked up slightly in the 80s.

The 500-rupee note currently in circulation was reintroduced on April 1, 1986, and the 1,000-rupee note was introduced for the first time on July 18, 1988. This fuelled the growth of an underground economy.

During the 90s, a real decline started, fiscal and international trade deficits were incurred, foreign debt obligations rose to more than half of the GDP and defence spending consumed about a quarter and servicing of foreign debt half of the national budget.

In spite of a series of domestic and external setbacks such as droughts, regional tension and the events following 9/11, unprecedentedly the economy took a significant turnaround, thanks to Mr Shaukat Aziz. The GDP after hovering around three per cent for quite some time grew by 5.1 per cent in 2002-03 and by more than six per cent in 2003-04.

I fear that the addition of 5,000-rupee notes will in no way improve the conditions of the poor who continue to suffer on account of the spiralling prices of wheat flour, onion, beef and mutton, vegetable ghee and other items of daily use.

The new note will grease the wheels of the underground economy consisting of illegal gratification and criminal activities such as arms and drug dealing, as well as unreported income.

To prevent a reduction in federal revenues, Mr Shaukat Aziz must discourage the 'cash culture prevalent in the country', go a step ahead and withdraw all bills over the 50-rupee denomination. He should encourage money transactions through banks, credit and debit cards.

LT-COL (retd) SYED AHMED

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Deaths from head injury

Head injuries are perhaps the most common cause of deaths and disability in accidents. Overall, the mortality rate following head trauma would roughly be the third possible cause of death, exceeded only by deaths due to cardio-cerebral diseases and cancer.

Fortunately, the last millennium has witnessed great achievements in the diagnostic, therapeutic and technical aspects of applied neurosurgery. Nevertheless, prophylactic measures still enjoy an edge in the field of critical care of a head trauma victim.

Serious preventive efforts can clearly lower the rising graph of both mortality and morbidity rate following head injury due to road traffic accidents. In this context the use of crash helmets by motorcyclists must surely feature prominently whenever such measures are considered. Well-documented evidence is piling up from countries where helmet-use legislation has been implemented, whether comprehensive or partial.

It has been seen that the incidence of head trauma among motorcyclists after mandatory helmet-use legislation has halved in contrast to the pre-legislation period. Unfortunately rules pertaining to helmet use as a protective device remain a debatable issue in this part of the world.

I wish to bring to the notice of readers of Dawn and motorcyclists, in particular, that the helmet diffuses the impact of energy by spreading it over a wider territory of the skull, thereby minimizing uni-directional force in several weaker multiple directions. Further, the helmet also diminishes the speed of impact (rotational forces) and sponges up some of the energy itself.

I wish to suggest the following:

a. Car seat-belt law.

b. Strict speed laws.

c. Comprehensive (including pillion rider) helmet-use legislation on a priority basis.

d. Voluntary use of helmet in the absence of a mandatory regulation.

The national electronic media can play a vital role by frequently advocating helmet use. A slot before or after the TV news bulletins on different private channels may prove fruitful.

DR AYAZ AZHAR SIDDIQUI

Karachi

'Girl child: not a liability'

This is apropos of your editorial "Girl child: not a liability" (Nov 5).

It is a sad fact that many people in Pakistan consider the birth of a girl bad and do not express as much happiness as they do when boys are born. This unequal treatment does not end with the birth of a girl but continues all through her life. Soon after she comes of age, she is often confined to the walls of her house as if she were some "thing" that shall contract a disease when and if she gets out. She cannot dream of anything but only to be married some day to a person whom her parents choose for her, and from there on she is confined to another home - this time her husband's.

Half the population of Pakistan consists of women; only a small section is part of the labour force, making the majority economically dependent on men. Thus, they are seen as an economic liability. Emancipation of women from this system is challenging, for this discrimination is rooted deep in the fabric of Pakistani culture. Serious efforts are needed to bring the status of women up to a level where they can get their basic human rights, including the right to earn their livelihood.

The media can play a vital role in correcting misperceptions about women who work. The government can fix job quotas to encourage women to join government and semi-government organizations.

Nevertheless, the most important voice will be from the women themselves, and I mean from women who have had the privilege to get an education and who realize that old views have to be changed. When society realizes that essentially both men and women are equal in rights and share the same responsibilities, the birth of girls will not bring about the negative reaction which it does now.

ALI KAMAL

Burnaby, BC., Canada

Ban on wedding meals

When the Nawaz government imposed a ban on marriage meals, though the idea was to reduce wedding expenses, especially for the bride's parents, it was not a well worked out order. Paradoxically, it did not work as even then four-star hotels charged Rs200-plus per head for soft drinks and the marriage hall rent and the bride's parents had to arrange meals at home in addition. The Supreme Court's latest decision will restore that position of dual expenses and ensure no return in terms of savings for the bride's parents.

I feel the essence of the problem has been missed. There are two interlinked issues here. First is that most houses have no space to conduct marriage ceremonies and many cities have no community halls. Hence the need for marriage halls. The second issue is that of capping the per-head charges. The best solution would have been set a limit to per head expenses and the number of guests allowed for each category of marriage hall and five-star hotel, which would have given some relief to the bride's parents.

These upper limits of charges should be specifically stated, irrespective of one or many dishes, whatever the category of hotel, and these charges should be low. The current state will help hoteliers, not the people at large.

DR M. I. SHAIKH

Islamabad

Cricket: the aura of fear

Watching the final match of the ODI, I was flabbergasted to see some of the decisions that were implemented by the new coach/captain/selector setup. Some questions come to mind:

Why has Shoaib Akhtar been restrained? By shortening his run-up, and making him bowl slower, the aura of fear has been removed, and the 'Rawalpindi Express' was turned into a 'milk train' where the batsmen got on and off at will. The whole idea of the hype about our 'fastest bowler in the world' was to create an aura of fear so that batsmen would think twice and pray many times when going out to face the man.

If you take away the new ball, and that too publicly, you have effectively removed the threat of the man, and have informed the batsmen of the opposition that they have nothing to fear, certainly not the rib-breakers or the helmet crushers that went with his spell. Then he was made to bowl without a slip.

What's going on here? In these conditions Shoaib Akhtar does not have a place in the side, and should have been dropped keeping his pride intact and his dander up!

Coaching and managing are an art, to bring out the best of the talent placed before you. Shoaib Akhtar's natural skill was his pace. Fearsome pace. Pace that made a batsman move away from his wicket, after being softened up by two near-tonners whistling past his ears, then to have his stumps knocked out with a well pitched-up yorker - his toes or his wicket. Many batsmen chose the less painful option to Pakistan's benefit.

Shoaib Akhtar is not a Wasim Akram, who was a magician with the ball. He could swing the ball early/late inswing/outswing reverse, you name it, he could get that ball to sing if that was required. But that is not Shoaib. He is the fastest man in the world, and made us Pakistanis proud when he got the ton. With that aura went the anger, temperament and moods that are the hallmark of a pace bowler. Freddie Truman, Larwood, Lindwall, Gilchrist, they were not nice people, especially when they got hold of a new ball and started their run-up.

When Charlie Griffith visited Pakistan, he felled one of our batsmen with a vicious beamer that struck the poor unhelmeted Aizaz on the head and knocked him out cold. When asked later on whether he felt any remorse at almost killing the batsman, he said: "He shouldn't have faced me, should he?"

I have a suggestion for our coach. Shoaib Akhtar has a particular talent. Please nurture it. Improve it. Make him bowl faster. Make him more deadly. Let the batsmen beware of our lethal "Express". They should tremble in their boots when walking out to face the man. With fear on your side, you are playing with an extra man in your team. Why change him for the worse? Make him better.

There are a 100 kids out there who see in themselves a future as a Shoaib Akhtar. Let him continue as the role model for the new speedsters. They see around him the glamour that goes with the speed. Let this be their way out of the poverty trap and into the hall of fame and riches. Mr Woolmer please don't spoil it for them and for me.

FAKIR S. AYAZUDDIN

Via email

KESC's revenue recovery

Last month the KESC sent detection bills in some sectors of the Korangi zone. These bills were inflated, with minimum 200 units charged to everyone. When contacted, the deputy controller of billing said it was a penalty bill because of theft.

When asked why punish everyone instead of detecting and catching the thieves, he said people were asked to pay and it would be adjusted later. Some made payments and some did not.

The next bill was also inflated. This time one had to pay for the actual units consumed, plus the penalty amount, which was Rs600, shown in the previous bill. A barber's shop, with a fluorescent light and a fan, is sent a Rs2,600 bill because the customer did not pay the detection bill or the penalty.

The KESC itself has given 'kunda' connections to many people. For residential use, a 'kunda' amounts Rs300 per month and for commercial use Rs400 irrespective of the load one uses. However, if a genuine consumer uses less than 200 units, the KESC treats him as a thief. Whatever the reason, it will not admit its mistake, and would rather insist on the consumer being at fault.

The meter readers too are a problem. They enter wrong figures in their books while reading the meters. This is how the KESC's revenue recovery goes up by 103 per cent, according to the news published on Oct 31 in Dawn.

The DG (billing) should look into the affairs of the Korangi Zone office and end the miseries of the people.

QAMAR AHMED

Karachi

Campus violence

This is with reference to your editorial "Violence on campuses" (Nov 3).

Although there are many internal and external pressures on the government, we cannot shut our eyes to the issue. Among other factors, student unions are also responsible for the falling standards of education in Pakistan in general and in Karachi in particular. The students are not aware of what they are wasting - their precious time and their youth - just for projecting the political parties they support.

Students in the West get encouragement from government and private organizations for the uplift of the education system and are provided with special grants and scholarships.

Although Pakistan is a developing country and cannot be compared with the West in terms of educational standards, the authorities concerned should at least ensure peace and a healthy environment on campuses.

ASMA H.KHOJA

Austin,Texas, USA

New service rules

In the light of new service rules, in-service employees of the government, with less than 20 years of service, and future new appointees shall not be entitled to get pension and gratuity on the eve of their retirement.

Employees who have put in 20/25 years and opt for the new service rules have to remain in service till they become superannuated at 60. They shall neither be given the benefit of pension nor of gratuity. In case, they do not subscribe to the new service rules they shall face compulsory retirement.

As such, the employees appointed at the age of 20/25 years shall retire when they are hardly 40/50 years. It will be like deserting them midway.

The system of contract appointments and the modus operandi of no pension/no gratuity have been imported in Pakistan from developed countries like Britain.

But a Pakistan businessman from Sialkot, who did not have even British nationality, once had heart trouble during his stay in Britain. His heart surgery and his entire hospitalization was undertaken free, in consideration of the fact that he had paid tax there for a number of years in connection with his business.

Unless fool-proof arrangements for social security become possible in Pakistan, government employees should not be deprived of the benefits of pension and gratuity. Moreover, the contract system of appointments must be done away with immediately because the monthly salary of contract employees is much too shameful in comparison to the cost of living.

MIRZA GHULAM HAIDER

Multan

US atrocities

While President Bush was busy in campaigning for his re-election, Iraqi and Afghan nationals were busy burying their women and children, their young and old, their near and dear ones who died because of American atrocities.

AFZAL RAHIM

Islamabad