| February 09, 2007 | Friday | Muharram 20, 1428 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Banking charges
Teaching in mother tongue
Criticism unfounded
Condition of Pakistani women
KBCA ‘explanations’
Armed attack at airport
Contamination of water
Quaid’s sculpture
Railway accident
Bridging gaps
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
ACCORDING to a news item, an international tobacco company is investing $339 million in Pakistan (Dawn, Jan 20). Are the decision-makers aware of the consequences of this kind of investment in Pakistan? Don’t they know that tobacco is the single largest preventable cause of disease and death in the country? Already our hospitals and clinics are full of patients with diseases directly caused by tobacco use.
According to estimates, over100,000 people are dying in Pakistan every year because of smoking. The news item has also mentioned with evident pride that Pakistan is the fastest-growing tobacco market in the world. This kind of investment by a tobacco company will only increase the number of patients with lung cancer, heart attack, strokes, pneumonia and several other life-threatening diseases in the country.
About 80 per cent of the world’s 1.1 billion smokers live in low- and middle-income countries. The data from high-income countries, where the tobacco epidemic is well established among men, suggests that about half of long-term regular smokers are killed by tobacco use. Almost half of these victims are in middle age (35-69 years old).
In 2006, about five million people died of tobacco-related disease worldwide. This figure is expected to rise to 10 million annual deaths by 2025, with 70 per cent of these deaths occurring in low-income countries.
It appears that people in charge of running the economic affairs of the country have not read the World Bank report in which it is clearly mentioned that tobacco investment is not good for any country’s economy: in fact it makes the poor countries even poorer.
As tobacco market shrinks in the developed world, these multinational tobacco companies are shifting their business to low-income countries.
On the one hand, our government has signed the World Health Organisation Treaty on Tobacco Control in which they agreed to take measures to control tobacco use and, on the other hand, they are allowing tobacco companies to promote smoking in the country. Our government should have the moral courage to say ‘no’ to this kind of foreign investments.
The amount of money that the people will spend on the treatment of diseases caused by tobacco will be thousand times greater than the meagre amount that the multinational tobacco company will bring to Pakistan.
May I request the prime minister, who also happens to be an economic expert, to say no to money which will bring more disease, disability and death to the country?
Dr Javaid A. Khan
Aga Khan University
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Mr Mughis Ahmed’s letter ‘Banking charges’ Feb 7). I can empathise with his dilemma, but cannot agree with him when he says: “Greater ills ail our society; I thought I would touch upon a small one”. In fact, he has pointed out a very large ailment, though apparently it looks small.
Exorbitant banking charges are the result of indecent collusion between the policymakers and the foreign banks. High-flown words such as ‘free market’, ‘competition’ and ‘market-based economy’ are used by our financial watchdogs to justify rules which are against the interests of common man.
The same policy enables the banks to legally reap disproportionately high profits at the cost of the clients. My assertion is based on the following two points:
a. According to the rules framed by the government of Pakistan, the Banking mohtasib (ombudsman) is not authorised to entertain complaints regarding bank charges, although he/she can intervene in many other matters.
b. The policy of the State Bank of Pakistan, the apex regulator, on the subject of bank charges is reflected in an email reply by its banking policy and regulation department in response to a query on the subject. The email is quoted verbatim below:
“Please note that under existing instructions the banks are free to recover charges for the services they provide to their customers subject to condition that these charges are duly incorporated in their respective period schedule of charges”.
With our state of governance and degree of corruption in society, coupled with the clout of foreign banks, getting the schedule of charges sanctioned from the State Bank must be an effortless exercise.
The irony of the matter is that, on the one hand, banks have been given free hand to charge as much as they want and, on the other hand, the customers have been denied any easy legal recourse such as approaching the mohtasib. If this is not complicity between the regulators and the banks, then what it is?
MUMTAZ ALI ABBASI
Karachi
THIS is in response to the letter ‘Teaching in mother tongue’ by Mujeeb Abro (Jan 27). The conclusion drawn by him is based on emotional premises rather than on critical thinking. For example, Mr Abro’s contention that development has nothing to do with the language is quite absurd. It is true that commitment is important in economic development but an important input in the process of development is the skilled labour force.
If we have an English-speaking labour force, then surely it becomes very easy to teach them new skills and developments as almost all the latest research is available in English and nothing of this sort is available in Punjabi, Sindhi or Pashto.
Similarly, his argument that many developed countries are non-English speaking indicates his lack of knowledge of the modern world as English is understood all over Europe and now European universities are offering all types of education in English. Moreover, development of European countries must be traced from Renaissance that initiated the process of scientific research in the continent. History shows us that scholars used to learn the language that is the medium of research. For example, Newton wrote his famous works in Latin and not in his mother tongue.
There is no denying the fact that only a few students in Pakistan can understand English well. But if we don’t compel them to learn English, how will they learn it? By allowing them to have education in their mother tongue we only increase the gap between our backwardness and modern advancement.
English is the gateway to modern thinking and provides a ready acquisition to modern-day research and knowledge. It is, in fact, the language of the intelligentsia in our own country. To deny this fact and make any one of the regional languages the medium of instruction would be equivalent to developing our underdevelopment and that too with our own hands.
UMAD MAZHAR
Karachi
IT is really preposterous to note the one-sided criticism against the Sharif government in some letters printed in these columns, especially with the respect to the independence of judiciary.
After reading these comments one would think that the pristine era of Caliph Umar is now back. In Pakistan everywhere there is peace, justice and harmony and in comparison to which the Sharifs are being discounted for doing ‘very little’, particularly in the domain of justice.
The truth is that when Shehbaz Sharif was chief minister of Punjab, a reference was filed against him before the chief ehtisab commissioner (CEC), Justice (r) Mujadid Ali Mirza, by Munir Ahmed Khan, information secretary of the Pakistan People’s Party , alleging a shady deal between the government of Punjab and a French company.
It was Shehbaz Sharif who wrote a letter to the CEC and gave his willingness to appear before the court in order to defend the charges.
Later, Justice Mujadid Mirza, who was retired Supreme Court judge and nominated by independent caretakers, exonerated Shehbaz Sharif from all the charges as he found them totally baseless.
It was again Mr Sharif who as chief minister of Punjab appeared before the Public Accounts Committee after Gen Naseerullah Babar levelled allegations of corruption against him in a mere public statement. Mr Sharif defended his case before the PAC which after a detailed hearing and scrutiny of relevant record exonerated him.
This shows that Shehbaz Sharif had a great respect for judiciary and even when he was not legally or morally bound, he still appeared before the courts to let the judicial process move smoothly. Even his detractors count him as a man of vision and undisputedly the best chief minister Punjab has ever seen.
TAHIR RAFIQUE
Lahore
I WAS shocked by the letters from Umama Sohail and Khwaja Khusro Tariq (Feb 4). The writers are right in complaining about the rape incident near Ubaro, Sindh, but they have ignored the community’s responsibility in the matter entirely and instead they are blaming Gen Musharraf’s enlightened moderation slogan for the shocking event.
This unfortunate shocking incidence is not Gen Musharraf’s doing, even if it is his problem. The issue is totally the community’s problem who claim to be Muslims and come out in solidarity to burn cars and public properties when cartoons of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (peace upon him ) were published in Europe but silently watched the desecration of a 16-year-old oppressed girl.
What kind of Muslims are they to stand on the sidelines and watch a helpless soul suffer at the hands of a few powerful thugs. Even sheep in unity are powerful than the people of the village near Ubaro. Any who were silent spectators of this unfortunate event should be ashamed of themselves. Such issues could easily be eradicated with enlightened moderation and education. Such issues could easily be eradicated with better understanding of a religion. I strongly request the government at this moment to show its concern by providing the most expedited justice to this helpless girl.
DR JOHAR ALI
Richmond, Canada
THIS has reference to the report ‘KBCA told to explain four-storey violation’ (Jan 16). The high court wanted to know why the building control authority had stood by silently while a builder raised four extra floors and encroached on the compulsory open spaces at a building in Clifton, Karachi. The news-item incorrectly stated that the petition had been filed by Shehri.
The KBCA set-up has been successfully providing such ‘explanations’ for the last two or three decades. Their highly creative officials have ‘explained’ away many criminal acts, including the 260+ ‘sealed buildings’ of 1996, about 30 ‘potentially dangerous’ and “constructed in violation of earthquake resistance codes” structures on Sharea Faisal, over 600+ illegal projects surrounding the Quaid’s Mazar, including about 300+ above the podium level.
Also included in these violations are thousands of unauthorised structures all over the city with unlawful commercialisations, extra floors, encroachments, greatly excess covered area, violation of road-widening cut-lines, contravention of zoning and town planning schemes and other illicit actions.
Thousands of illegal buildings have been ‘regularised’ and given certificates of seismic stability by the KBCA over the past four years. It would seem that while our builders may construct illegally, they do so safely. Unlike Turkey (1999) and Gujarat (2001), where about 20,000 people died in collapses of over 100,000 buildings during each earthquake, and northern Pakistan (2006) where about 70,000 people perished, we are given to understand that an upper-moderate intensity earthquake in Karachi would not adversely affect our thousands of unauthorised (but now ‘regularised’) structures. The city is secure.
All these ‘explanations’ have calmly been accepted by the citizens, by the government, by the ombudsman’s office and by various courts. Had they not been, many KBCA officials would have been prosecuted and rusticated from service. The situation in Karachi would have been very different today, with government officials taking very seriously their statutory duty to monitor and control the construction of buildings.
Eight officials who were miraculously dismissed by the KDA governing body in 2001 were reinstated a year later by the services tribunal. Fifteen other officials who were to be dismissed in 1997 managed, by filing a suit in the high court, to sufficiently delay proceedings until a more favourable government was in place. All these officials are now serving in the KBCA and most have been since promoted a number of grades.
With each passing day we have come to realise that the acceptance of the KBCA’s ‘explanations’ by all concerned is hardly likely to change. We are generally lacking in courage.
The environment around us (water, sanitation, health, traffic, electricity, air, sea, mangroves, fish, etc) proceeds to deteriorate while most of us who can read this letter either pretend that all is well or really can’t take the time away from making money. Karachi is coming apart at the seams as our leaders promote ‘development at any cost’ in the face of dwindling ecological resources. Anarchy mushrooms and the gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ continues to widen.
Will this city still be around in a few decades is a question that comes up more and more every day? Unless we wake up soon, stop accepting the various ‘explanations’ that are given to us, and begin to reverse some of the damage — the answer may be ‘No’.
ROLAND DE SOUZA
Shehri: CBE
Karachi
HATS off to the ASF officials on duty at Islamabad airport who rose to the occasion and saved the lives of many innocent people at the risk of their own lives. One attacker after losing a gun-battle blew himself up injuring gravely the three ASF officials, while the other attacker was nabbed by them. Well done ASF, we are proud of you.
Incidentally, one does not hear any condemnation of such suicide attackers by our religious political leaders. Does their quietude not amount to their tacit approval of this un-Islamic act?
COL (r ) RIAZ JAFRI
Rawalpindi
THE attack at Islamabad airport is a highly deplorable act, as are all such attacks. The loss of life is irreparable and unforgivable.
To find a long-term solution to the growing menace of terrorism, however, we must not forget to ask ourselves how and why individuals gets driven to the point where they take their own lives. For long we have blamed the West for blindly using force to quell potential ‘terrorism’, without trying to identify what on their part causes such strong reactions.
I implore the Pakistani nation and the government to do the same soul-searching now. We can only stand united if we democratically address issues alienating large sections of our population, and not through suppression and coercion. Nothing else will make this land safe again for us and our children.
SABAQAT MANSOOR
Islamabad
DRINKING water supplied to that part of Block 8, Clifton, Karachi, which is opposite Shahman Homes, is mixed with sewage. As a result, contaminated water is being supplied for the last two weeks.
The chief engineer of the KWSB has been contacted a number of times, on phone, but still no remedial measures have been taken.
I request the KWSB managing director to direct the chief engineer, Clifton, to take immediate action and plug the leaks in the water line.
F. H. Mughal
Karachi
IT was heartening to see the Quaid’s sculpture (Dawn, Feb 1). The motto inscribed on the sculpture read: ‘Faith, Discipline and Unity’.
The correct version is ‘Unity, Faith and Discipline’.
Besides, the Quaid’s image has not been truly replicated. The Pakistani consul-general at Toronto should have taken pains to check fine points before unveiling the sculpture.
SAFIR A. SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THERE was recently a tragic railway accident near Bahawalpur in which six innocent children were crushed under the wheels of the Lahore-bound Karachi Express. From the circumstances it is clear that there was no negligence at all on the part of the driver, but there was definitely negligence on the part of the parents of the children, for they should have kept a check on the whereabouts of their offspring.
It was expected that an inquiry would be held to know the cause of the accident and its result would be published so that thousands of people living along the railway tracks should take precautionary measures and strictly stop their children from playing near or on the railway tracks. But I was disappointed to read in Dawn (Feb 6) that according to the station master in Bahawalpur no inquiry would be held as it was not the fault of the train driver.
I think this incident needs an inquiry so that future loss of lives can be prevented. In fact, the public needs to be educated on this subject so that no such accident occurs in the future. In my opinion these serious accidents should not be ignored but should be publicised to prevent future tragedies.
DR SHAHNAZ KHANUM
Rawalpindi
POPE Benedict XVI, who was recently on a friendship mission in Turkey, said Christians and Muslims should reject violence and called for “total and profound respect” for Muslims, as he attempted to defuse a row between Islam and the Catholic Church. The Pope drew condemnation from across the Muslim world in September when he quoted the words of a Byzantine emperor who fought the Ottoman Turks and linked Islam to violence.
He is also seen by some as anti-Turkish for comments he made as a cardinal in which he appeared to oppose Turkey’s EU membership bid. The Vatican now says it is not opposed to such a move. The pontiff reiterated that and gave Turkey support for its bid to enter the EU. That is indeed the best way to bridge the civilisations.
In today’s multi-religious and multi-ethnic societies, only mutual trust through constructive approaches can bring peace to the world. Any mischief played, deliberately or otherwise, by the topmost leaders, including religious personalities being held in high esteem, would provoke criticism and incite violence leading to terrorism.
The Pope would do a great service to mankind if he keeps in mind that each word he utters has significance and, therefore, persons of his stature should be very cautious in making statements concerning other religions and cultures. There is extreme sensitivity about the attitude of the Christian West towards Turkey — and the Pope’s visit may be a focus for those concerns.
QAZI NAZIM NAEEM
Hyderabad
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.