| April 03, 2008 | Thursday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 25, 1429 |
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Incentives for working mothers
Perks for bank executives
Our currency notes
Religious freedom
Indus river expedition
Big news for small Chitral
Mobile mania
Time to do something
A just ruler
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
THE Deceased Organ Donation Ordinance was promulgated to save lives of those who do not have organ donors in their families and to save the country from becoming an organ bazaar.
We are known as a nation selling cheaper organs to the world. In this game the poor are the sufferers. Middlemen trap innocent needy people and force them to sell their kidneys for a few thousand rupees.
After selling their organs, they are treated like a commodity and do not get proper follow-up treatment and care. Their health, therefore, gets deteriorated. Moreover, their social standing remains unchanged. When they feel that things have not settled, they develop psychological problems.
In spite of the ban on organ trade and strict prohibition on the sale of kidneys to foreigners, this heinous crime is still rampant.
Civil society, transplant community, human rights organisations and the media are worried and critical about it and are demanding a thorough investigation into the matter and implementation of the law.
Prof Adeeb ul Hassan Rizvi, president-elect of the Transplant Society of Pakistan; Prof Sajad Hussain, president of Pakistan Urological Surgeons; representative of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Ghazi Salahuddin; Dr Farhat Moazam, chairperson of CBEC, SIUT; and Prof Syed Ali Anwar Naqvi of SIUT at their press conference have emphasised the need to implement the law in letter and in sprit.
Their stress is on the need to make the Human Organ Transplant Authority (HOTA) more effective. They also demand action against culprits who pay no respect to the law.
They have also called upon the new parliament to approve a bill as soon as possible so that needy patients of end-stage organ failure should not lose hope.
Civil society, media, health workers, writers and all sections of life should raise their voice against the organ trade and in favour of the bill by the new parliament.
Thousands of patients die because of non-availability of organs. Khalid, 23, father of three children and patient of kidney failure, had no donor in family, and Shahid, 28, father of two girls and patient of end-stage liver failure — both are helpless, looking up to society to come to their rescue. Society should pay attention and take care of their brethren and fellow citizens who are in grave need of their help.
Citizens of Sri Lanka are known for donations of eyes (corneas) after death. Let us also be known as a nation for donation of organs after death.
Come forward and register yourselves as an organ donor. Sacrifice is appreciated everywhere.
DR MURLI LAL
Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation
Karachi
THE 100-day reform package announced by our new Prime Minister mentions incentives to women workers. As a mother and working woman, I appeal to the new government, as well as to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, to push for five days a week working schedule as an incentive, especially for women with children.
I have moved back to Pakistan eight years after my 25-year stay in the US and am amazed to see so many professional women, especially doctors, not working.
Reasons cited are six day working schedule, non-flexible working hours and low pay but the most frustrating is to go to work on Saturdays when your children are off. On some cases, even the spouse is off if he is working in a multinational company.
Most women would want to work during the hours when their children are in school. Thus the HRCP has to strongly recommend to the government to look at making a five-day week work schedule as an incentive for women, even professional women, to become useful citizens of this country.
Research has shown that fewer days of work is done more efficiently. France is even planning to introduce a four-day working schedule per week.
This will also save fuel, electricity and, more importantly, there will be fewer mental problems if one can have more time to relax and play.
MUMTAZ LAKHANI
Karachi
The jump of 55 per cent in the banking executives’ perks and privileges (March 19) is simply astounding. The bank executives, had been already given ‘market-based wages’ (expression coined by the Shaukat Aziz government to favour cronies) along with overseas medical facilities for the their families, rent-free lavish accommodations, chauffeur-driver luxury cars, free utilities, annual rewards and subsidised foreign traveling, etc, which run into millions. This sudden huge increase at this critical time raising the cost from Rs7.202 to Rs11.203 billion is beyond comprehension.
In a country where more than 50 per cent people are living below the poverty line, at the rate of $1 a day, paying billions of rupees to the bank executives is great injustice to the nation. What services these bankers have been rendering to the people are no more secret. These were the very people who advanced credits in billions to the industrialists without getting collateral, which resulted in massive bad loans.
It is because of the easy accessibility of finance for the purchase of vehicles, houses and other consumer goods at great cost in the entire region that has, on the one hand, entrapped every third white collared family in interest trap and, on the other hand, has made the roads impassable.
In order to reap more profit, the banks have been allowed to pay very small percentage of interest to the investors who have turned to stocks or real estate. In the stock market numerous families lost their entire live savings and the price of real estate has so shot up that even an upper middle class family cannot think of purchasing a respectable living of it own. This irrational and convoluted policy has resulted in fabulous profits for banks and low savings causing damage to the overall economy.
Is it not enough that the banks that have mushroomed all over the country have made enough profits on government patronage? Now time has come for the State Bank of Pakistan, being the central bank of the country, a watchdog of the state treasury and banking regulatory authority, to wake up from the slumber and look after the interest of the state and its people and bring sanity to the banking sector before it so too late.
RAFIQUE AHMED SIDIKI
Karachi
WHEN around two years back the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced with great fanfare printing of high quality currency notes of almost all denominations, including the first Rs5000 note, it was claimed that use of special high quality notepaper and latest technology will ensure durability and security against counterfeiting.
Compare the current condition of these notes after only two years with the claim and one would realise the falsity of the claim. Notes of all denominations, which were ridiculed by public even when newly issued, have not only become discoloured but even the printing has faded and the quality of paper is so poor that the notes look and feel like rotten vegetable leaves.
And the handling by a funny populace plays further havoc on the condition of the notes with writings, markings and ‘gutka’ colours. This state of affairs in the matter of a country’s currency is a direct reflection of our utter neglect of the country’s image and reputation in the world community.
It is most likely that some influential and powerful party laid hands on some rotten stock of paper and manoeuvred to fob it off to the SBP at a fabulous profit in exchange for a nice kickback. The SBP governor, whose signature adorns these notes, is equally responsible for approving such poor quality paper and printing.
A comparison of these ‘new’ notes with almost decade old notes of our own creation would also reveal that old notes are in much better shape and condition.
This matter needs to be seriously investigated for accountability by NAB so that such blunders are not repeated, specially because printing of fresh Rs20 and Rs5 notes has already been announced, possibly to consume the remaining quantity of the faulty paper stock.
S.H. TEHSIN
Karachi
MR Prime Minister, your stunning success and the humongous reforms have given the nation a new sense of security. People again have begun to dream of peace and development in the country.
From negotiation with militants of tribal areas to the Baloch dissents and from wheat support price to the minimum wage, you have touched upon almost every issue.
Unfortunately, your 100-day reforms have not taken into account the oppressed religious minorities. Unlike Qureshis, Syeds, Bukharis and Mughals, who are the real (aboriginal) sons and daughters of this soil, most of the Christians in Pakistan are the descendents of those who converted from the Hindu scheduled/untouchable caste. But these aborigines have no representation in the civil services or any other government institution.
I want to draw your attention to the Christian community in particular, which is repeatedly attacked, brutalised and marginalised. Despite being the sons and daughters of this soil, they are repeatedly akin to the West. When America goes berserk against Iraq and Afghanistan, the Muslim majority seeks every opportunity to let off steam. Recently, a school in Murree and a church in Islamabad came under attack.
When the Pope issued a statement from the Vatican City, Christian properties were attacked here and two churches in Sukkur were burnt to ashes; and now when an anti-Islamic movie is released in the Netherlands, some Christians have been wrongly convicted under the blasphemy law in Lahore.
Has your government any remedy to redress minorities’ problems? Apart from being marginalised, the blasphemy law is repeatedly used to settle scores and let out Muslim anger on to Christians.
In addition, Muslims are constantly talking about blasphemy against Islam, but are consciously drawing Danish flags on the roads so that the cross, the sacred symbol of Christianity, be trampled under their feet.
Dear Prime Minister, can your reforms address the above issues and problems. We are also the sons and daughters of this soil. Please, let us have the space to live as well.
ASIF AQEEL
Lahore
IN December, this year, will be the 30th anniversary of the historic ‘Indus River Expedition’. This expedition of three people began from Amb-Darband, upstream of Tarbela Dam, and covered 1,600 miles in 30 days right up to the ‘city of lights’ — Karachi.
The expedition traversed through rural Pakistan at its roots and saw the people showing utmost sincerity. The experiences, fun and incidents are memorable. Camps were set up along ‘patans’ (ports) along the way and the evening discourse with the village folks and the story-telling can never be forgotten.
We saw cave-dwellings in Makhad Sharif, ‘mooli’ (white radish) the size of men in Kalabagh, the huge river cargo boats being towed along the shore in upper Sindh.
The fun-loving blind dolphin accompanied us right up to the Sukkur Barrage. Unfortunately, they are unable to come downstream due to the absence of a fish ladder. Like true Moenjodarians, we got off at the port and went into the ‘city’. How ingrained in history we felt! We saw the mighty Indus in all its fury at Attock and then as a tamed stream often running dry in stretches downstream of barrages.
We saw the colours of the Indus change and mingle with the swift waters of the Kabul River and then the ‘Punj Ab’ (Panjnad) at Mithankot and then finally depositing its rich silt in the Arabian Sea at Keti Bunder.
The headgear of the riverside folks translated from the starched ‘pagri’ in the Frontier to the drooped one in Mianwali. The regular full head-cap in Punjab got a ‘mehrab’ style cut and a lot of colour in Sindh till the headgear completely vanished near the coast.
The friendliness and hospitality all along the way can never be forgotten.
The voyage became historic as it was the longest recorded voyage on the Indus — the closest one was in 510BC by the King of Persia, Darius, and his army. There were five attempts since then but none was successful.
The 30th anniversary would be a good occasion for another attempt. It would be great if our youth comes out and sees the vibrant Pakistan in all its glory along the giant Indus — or should we call it the River Sindh — as the riverside people call it along its entire length. Is anyone ready to take the challenge?
K. M. ALI
Seattle, USA
IT is a fact that Chitral is the smallest (according to population) and most backward district of the NWFP. The nomination of Saleem Khan, MPA from Chitral district, as a minister of social welfare is the biggest news for Chitralis.
The news is encouraging and a ray of hope for those who have great expectations from the ANP-PPP coalition government. The people of Chitral are facing tremendous problems: lack of infrastructure facilities as well as the energy crisis in the district.
We hope our energetic and young minister will not disappoint the people of this area and help solve the pinching problems of our area.
We, through these columns, convey our heartiest felicitations to Saleem Khan and assure him of our full support for any positive step taken by the government to eliminate poverty, energy crisis and infrastructure problems in our area as well as all over the country.
BASHIR HUSSAIN AZAD
Shahi Bazar, Chitral
ALTHOUGH mobile phones have diminished distances, increased fun and entertainment and connected broken hearts worldwide, it hasn’t proved to be a cure for the ailments of our society. It has surely solved some problems but gifted many evils at the same time.
Today, everyone from age 10 to 60 demands to have a mobile. Various luring packages from different networks have forced people, especially the youth, to spend most of their time with mobiles.
Worryingly enough, the youth is specifically targeted with luring packages by various networks. They waste their costly time instead of utilising it for the betterment of their future, which is without any doubt more important than any other activities.
Moreover, this has created a group that does business by snatching and selling them, which has polluted our surroundings at large and spreads fear all over.
Eventually, I must urge our youth to channel their energies in positive activities which are beneficial to them. Our youth is capable of improving the current state of affairs, not only of our nation but also of the world.
SALEEM HASSAN BALOCH
Karachi
IN a recent interview on TV, Shahbaz Sharif disclosed his plans about the poor and the needy, as well as about the education system, roads, transportation, etc.
If I can remember correctly, he was the person who really changed and improved the situation of Punjab.
As a citizen of Sindh, I have always thought that Sindh deserved better but nobody has cared for Sindh and has not worked the way the people of Punjab have done in their province.
I never get to see an interview of any going-to-be Sindh chief minister or governor talking their plans about our province.
The new government has no plans to fight corruption, disease, etc, in this province. People living in Sindh have minimal access to health in this country and over the years nobody has cared for our land, which is very distressing.
It’s time to do something.
SHEHER GUL
Hyderabad
WHEN Halaqu conquered Baghdad, he gathered the ulema and posed a question: “Which is preferable, the disbelieving ruler who is just or the Muslim ruler who is unjust?”
Rizauddin Ali ibn Tawas, the greatest and most respected ‘alim’ of his time, rose and answered: “The disbelieving ruler who is just”. This shows the importance of justice as everything flows out of justice alone, be it peace, growth or unity.
Indeed the new government has a lot of challenges to face in the short term as well as in long term. Short-term challenges pose a threat of confrontation among the various institutions vis-a-vis restoration of the judiciary, sovereignty of parliament and correction of ties with some important countries.
The long-term challenges are a meltdown of the economy and the polarisation of our society — the bitter fruit of Musharraf’s ill-sight.
Now there can be two types of approaches to handle the tough challenges. One is to play goody goody, find harmony and reconciliation and brush issues under the carpet, but for that sovereignty of parliament is to be sacrificed.
The other is to take all challenges head on and find solutions which may be tough.
Playing goody goody is bound to have a mirror image of ‘Shortcut’ Aziz as PM, a weak government without the PML (N), American drones bombing at will in Waziristan, our Army claiming the responsibility, suicide bombers on the rampage and our security forces at high alert all the time.
This is a very bizarre picture, but in return the parliament may complete its five-year term as implied by a section of the so-called intelligentsia. The end-result is a weaker Pakistan.
The challenges should be taken head on. Restoration of the judiciary will bury the doctrine of necessity for good. A prudent approach in fighting terrorism, which may hamper our relations with the US, will help de-polarise our society and bring the nation together. There is, however, a remote chance of the dissolution of the assembly by the torch-bearer of ‘Pakistan first’ and the reappearance of the Army in the echelons of power after negotiating a Ghulam Ishaq Khan-or a Nawaz Sharif-like settlement. Nothing would indeed be lost for the mainstream political parties, and they may emerge stronger in the next election. The end-result could be a stronger than expected parliament and a durable democracy.
Mr Prime Minister, I would request you to restore the judiciary by yet another order. You have an opportunity of getting our foreign debts written off after providing transit facilities only to Americans for their fight against terrorism. Now the whole nation is behind the PM (especially after his first order) and expects him to rise to the occasion and make sensible choices.
MOHSIN JAMI
Karachi
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