| May 17, 2008 | Saturday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 11, 1429 |
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Taking ground realities into account
Price spiral
The constants in ‘change’
How respected we are
Friends of trees
Suspended for absence
Baggage screening
Power supply
NIH move is surprising
Toothpaste
Governance
Majnoo
KETI Bander, a tiny fishing village 90km east of Karachi, was selected by Hong Kong-based tycoon Gordon Wu during Ms Bhutto’s second tenure to be developed, within three to four years, into a port.
According to the plan, Pakistan, like Iran, wanted to provide sea routes to Central Asian Republics that have struggled to find export outlets since the breakup of the Soviet Union.
An agreement for the Keti Bunder project was signed on Aug 3, 1995 between Consolidated Electric Power Asia Ltd (CEPA) and Pakistan, and on Oct 27, 1995 another agreement was signed for the purchase of electricity from CEPA.
The project was to be ready in 2001, with its electric power plant composed of eight units, each producing 660 MW. The first two units would use imported coal (probably from Indonesia) while six others the indigenous Thar coal.
The ground-breaking ceremony of the project was performed on Jan 30, 1996.
The people of Sindh, particularly of Thatta and Thar, had high hopes as the project would open the door of development and prosperity for them specially and for others generally as rapid industrialisation would take place in rural Sindh.
The composite billion-dollar Keti Bunder project had four components: a 5,280 MW electric plant; a deep-sea port (at a distance of 148km from Karachi); an industrial zone between Thatta and Jamshoro and Thar coalfield development: that would employ a great many people.
The termination of the project after the second PPP government caused great resentment in Sindh. The question being asked is why such a multi-dimensional project was cancelled when investment was entirely private and did not involve government funds?
The fact is that the pro-Kalabagh dam lobby is responsible for this termination decision.
This lobby is against the use of huge reservoirs of Thar coal in power plant so that hydel, instead of thermal, power gets priority and ultimately the Kalabagh dam appears as a single major possibility for future energy requirements.
The coastal areas inhabited by communities contain approximately 1,350 miles of the country, of this 350 miles of Sindh province. The people are among the most deprived ones and rely mostly on fishing and labour as a means of income.
No agricultural activity in the nearby area is possible. An average monthly household income is about $65. Only three per cent of women and 21 per cent of men are literate.
To help them share economic benefits with the rest of the country, the government should develop a fish harbour-cum-mini port at Keti Bunder. First, the port should be developed at an estimated cost of Rs1.5 billion to provide employment to people in Sindh’s coastal areas.
The Keti Bunder project will not only help Sindh, it will also serve the interest of the people of Pakistan as a whole.
The people of Sindh strongly believe in equality, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and want to narrow down the area of disagreement and widen the area of understanding and cooperation between the three small provinces, on the one hand, and the largest province, on the other hand. It was in this national context that Benazir Bhutto had initiated the Keti Bunder project.
HUMERA ALWANI
MPA, Thatta
WHILE political parties have multiple-point manifestos, the PML(N) has a one-man agenda. The passion to achieve that goal had led Nawaz Sharif to such sublimity as to forget the past animosities with the PPP and instead even to enter into a coalition government with them.
This unity appeared as a beacon of light to a nation that was looking forward to this alliance with the hope that the parties would now work for the economic and social well-being of the people and for the strengthening of the Constitution so that the democratic process is no more derailed in future.
But all this, as it appears, was not to serve the nation for which Nawaz Sharif had received the mandate; this was only the forging of a united front against one man, the president.
In this regard he is not to be blamed, because, one, Pervez Musharraf had staged a coup against an elected government destroying the democratic process and, two, it was personally Nawaz Sharif who had been toppled and exiled. His anger is understandable.
From the day Mr Sharif returned to Pakistan, and the PML(N) emerged as the second largest party in the election, the rhetoric of Mr Sharif centered round spitting displeasure for the president, and to undo anything which had to do with him. All other issues and problems besetting the nation were virtually non-existent for him.
Restoration of the judges was the first step in this direction, probably because it had earned unanimous acceptance of the political parties, media and the public, and, therefore, considered easily achievable.
The restoration of the judges, however, does not seem to be as important an issue as to forsake the opportunity for the national reconstruction by being on the seat of government. After all, they may be the same judges who have been granting legitimacy to the usurpers of power.
It is time the parties undertook constitutional changes to empower the judges in such a way as not to bow before a dictator, and to warn the custodians of public trust, the members of parliament, against granting amnesty in future to those who despoil its sanctity.
Being consumed in one’s own fury would take neither the nation forward nor bring the results to Nawaz Sharif’s satisfaction. An adroit politician should take into account the ground realities and forge the strategy accordingly.
SYED OSMAN SHER
Canada
SPIRALLING prices have started having a gnawing effect on the poor and the middle class. No way can they meet the ends.
Day-to-day problems, including catching bus for offices, workplaces, schools, colleges, etc, have become an uphill task in the presence of the reduced value of the rupee.
Add to this the cost of essential commodities. Wheat flour, vegetables, pulses, rice, ghee, milk, beef, mutton, poultry, cotton, coal, kerosene, burning wood, gas, electricity, all getting out of the reach of the ordinary people – a doomsday scenario indeed. But who cares.
Our economy is based on agriculture. We produce almost all basic commodities in surplus to meet the country’s need. What is missing is the proper management and administration.
Prices, according to internationally accepted economic principles and theories, are determinable through interaction of demand and supply.
If we produce enough basic food items, there should not be any increase in the prices unless some one is taking recourse to unethical practices like hoarding and smuggling.
Both these anti-social activities are controllable through government legislation and policies.
That these have not been controlled so far means that our government has either failed to enforce the law to control the prices or some of its functionaries are hand in glove with the anti-social elements and letting the prices of the essentials spiral into sky to reap huge benefits, though it is both illegal and immoral on their part.
The government should reassert itself and deal sternly with all those who are undermining its authority and bring down the prices within the reach of the poor and the middle class.
SANA SABIR
Karachi
THIS refers to the debate on feudalism going on in Dawn these days. It is important to see the constants in what looks like pleasant ‘change’ to some.
Some of these constants, as hereunder, demonstrate how feudalism keeps reappearing in other garbs:
a. Rural workers are still caught in patron-client mai-baap relationships. Caught in this web of relationships, the labour is certainly not free as he is assumed to be in the capitalist mode of production. While agricultural mode of production may not be feudal literally, its above manifestation certainly is.
b. Sharecropper is a virtual captive of the big farm lord. This is another manifestation of the old feudal order as is the extra-economic coercion exercised in extracting surplus from the sharecropper and its highly iniquitous distribution.
c. The surplus in most economic sectors is appropriated by the exploiting classes. It makes little difference whether the centre of power rests with the rich of one sector or with the rich of another sector as long as maldistribution remains the norm. This is yet another key manifestation of feudalism still found even if the mode of production may not be strictly feudal. These are some of the constants behind what looks like ‘change’ to some but what is not felt as change by the vast majority.
And, change there will be none until the values of justice and equity become popular and widespread that, in turn, is least likely if feudal manifestations continue to be explained away by the co-opted apologists. This vicious circle needs to be busted.
DR MAHNAZ FATIMA
Karachi
A COUPLE of weeks ago I came back to Malaysia by taking a flight from Karachi international airport. Much surprised I was once I was asked to remove my shoes and the belt for security check.
It did not happen to me only but I saw all passengers were being asked to go through the same security check, even an elderly gentleman who looked like a scholar from his appearance.
On asking an ASF staff on duty as to why this is happening, we were told that “it is for our security”. It sounded good that our government is so concerned about us.
Just a few days later, one of my Australian friends boarded an international flight from the same airport but he was not asked to remove his shoes or the belt. Do you know as to why it happened to us and why not to my Australian friend? The reason is we hold a Pakistani passport whereas my friend was an Australian passport-holder.
Who has the guts to ask any American, Australian, or UK national to remove his shoes and the belt for security check?I cannot change the system because I am nobody. But what I can do is to change my nationality and that is what I did recently, applied for immigration to Canada.
I am ready to quit a very settled job, bear expenses of moving to another place, look for a new job, start my career from a scratch, and relocate my complete family just because of the reason that I want to get rid of the Pakistani passport that brings me nothing but disgrace.
DR IMRAN QURESHI
Via email
THIS refers to the report, ‘Axe falls on secretariat trees’ (April 20), which further states that the Punjab Secretary ordered the destruction of many ancient trees within the premises of the Punjab Civil Secretariat.
Apparently some of these trees were quite rare species, all of them over a century in age.
The outrage, frustration and sadness one feels at this callous act, words cannot express. The unfortunate conclusion must be that government functionaries, the most favourably placed to save our trees, are on the whole most responsible for the loss of thousands of trees.
Twenty thousand trees were destroyed in Islamabad over the past years. The city of Bahawalpur has lost thousands of trees to widen yet more roads. Many of these trees were standing far back from where the widening was to commence. Therefore, this senseless destruction of our natural world was uncalled-for; all that was required was a little more vision, imagination and care.
Three years ago Punjab ombudsman Justice Sajjad Sipra ruled that the 149 trees within the garden of the historical Falettis hotel must be saved and must be counted as to number and species in the presence of the owner of the hotel and two government representatives from the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency.
In spite of our society’s many reminders that the above ruling must be implemented at the earliest, three years have passed and the Environmental Protection Agency has not as yet implemented this order.
The historical Hotel Falettis was sold with scant regard for the law which clearly states that under section 12 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act of 1997 any development of this hotel must be approved by the concerned statutory agencies following the submission of an environmental examination and environmental impact assessment by the purchaser.
The chairman of the Privatisation Commission refused to implement the above law on the grounds that this would cause financial loss to the government.
The Hotel Falettis was an enormously important public asset, even in its shabby state, the hotel was generating considerable revenues for the public sector. It was prime tourist attraction for those seeking to reconnect with the historical past of this country.
The hotel was the last of the great historical hotels. And it, along with its beautiful trees, a rare wildlife sanctuary located in the heart of Lahore, should be restored and preserved for coming generations.
In view of the fact that environmental courts are not yet functioning in their full capacity as no doubt they will in time to come, in our humble opinion a committee should be formed with powers to act swiftly to forestall any further unnecessary destruction of our trees.
KATHARINE ABBASI
Chairperson, Friends of Trees
Islamabad
A NEWS report in Dawn on May 14 that the Punjab health secretary suspended three doctors who were not present on duty when a seriously injured MPA was taken to their separate facilities. Consequently, the MPA succumbed to his injuries, as much precious time was lost in his being transported from one facility to another.
I agree with these suspensions, but this action amounts to a window-dressing.
The Punjab chief minister needs to take notice: If the emergency staff of a medical facility is found missing from duty, it is an overly serious matter. In such a situation, I would suggest dismissal of the health secretary and the health minister.
Many years ago, a train, while passing through a British country, hit a cow. By the end of the day, British minister of transportation resigned.
Also, I have a question: Since every life is precious, would these suspensions have occurred had the dead person been an ordinary citizen?
SIDDIQUE MALIK
Louisville, USA
ON arrival recently at Karachi airport passengers had their baggage again screened through X-ray machines. After long flights passengers collect their baggage, load these on the conveyor of X-ray machines, remove and reload on trolleys and battle their way out of the arrival lounges.
What was the purpose? Drugs? Bombs/firearms? Alcoholic beverages? All these items are available in abundance in Karachi, as well as all over Pakistan. All baggage is thoroughly screened at embarkation airports so the question of passengers bringing any contraband items does not arise.
Does Pakistan Customs think that customs at embarkation ports are totally lax to permit contraband?
Do away with this unnecessary screening which causes considerable inconvenience to arriving passengers, who include large numbers of foreign exchange earners for Pakistan.
AHMED D. BAYAT
Karachi
I HAVE a few suggestions for improving the power supply. Since the force of water and air can operate generators to produce electricity, I suggest that manual power be utilised, of which we have a surplus in this country, for rotating the generators.
In villages, sugarcane is crushed by rotating a machine with bulls. If we attach the generators with this machine, we will be able to produce electricity.
As far as light is concerned, one can connect the car battery with a 12v bulb and have enough light.
The battery will be charged automatically by the generator of the car when the car is used the next time. I had been using this system for some days until I managed to get a UPS.
NASIR ALI SIDDIQI
Islamabad
APROPOS of a news report, ‘Import deal violates WHO rules: PMA’ (May 12), I appreciate the Pakistan Medical Association’s effort to point out the grave anomaly in the agreement signed by the Islamabad-based National Institute of Health with a Brazilian entity for the import of unlabelled cell culture anti-rabies vaccine in violation of relevant rules stipulated by the World Health Organisation.
Dog-bite cases have been on the rise, mainly in urban centres where 20 to 25 cases are reported every day at public-sector facilities.
The NIH has thus far been producing and supplying sheep brain vaccine which the developed world stopped using more than 20 years ago because of its severe side-effects.
And now when it has finally gone for the cell-culture variety, it has opted to move in violation of WHO rules. This is as surprising as it is unfortunate.
DR QAISAR SAJJAD
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Muhammad Afzal’s letter (May 11) regarding use of kaolin in toothpaste. Before writing about the manufacturing of toothpaste and the use of kaolin, a reference should be given about the manufacturers so that the people should be aware of such brands of toothpaste.
The government should take action against those who are involved in manufacturing the substandard toothpaste.
DR F.M. ZAFAR KAIFI
Peshawar
MY question to the ruling coalition party chiefs: is this good governance that they promised us during the election campaign? Every other day ministers change their stance and statements. Price hike continues to pinch us and there is no relief for suffering poor people.
Uncertainty prevails because of few measures taken by the present government. Furthermore, people are still waiting for the reinstatement of the higher judiciary. They should try to fulfil their commitments and decisions according to their manifestos.
DR ALFRED CHARLES
Karachi
THIS is apropos of M. Hasan’s letter (May 5). While correcting he did not follow the basic requirement of a couplet that it should be without ‘sakta’. The second line should read:
‘Ke beta ker lay too MA agar pass’.
Similarly the second line in Anwar Shaoor’s couplet also has a ‘sakta’. I have not checked in the book but it could be like this without a ‘sakta’...
’Ke beta ab na keryo BA too pass’
NUSRAT KAMAL SIDDIQUI
Karachi
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
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