Mending fences
Sir,
Recently, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wrote a letter to the newly elected Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi. Naturally, what he wrote to the Indian leader couldn’t have been different in any manner from what he has been stating verbatim, time and again, vis-a-vis the mired bilateral relations between the two countries. Nawaz Sharif took the initiative and broke the ice, once again, by writing to Modi despite his detractors’ awfully critical stance on the recent overtures made by him to his Indian counterpart for peace.
In his latest communication, he has approached the incumbent Indian prime minister again, soliciting his cooperation in laying the foundations for a sparkling future for the peoples of the two countries. Having written to Modi in just a week’s time after attending the Indian leader’s inauguration ceremony held in New Delhi, and an informal bilateral meeting with him on the occasion, Pakistan’s Premier Mian Nawaz Sharif has clearly demonstrated his sincerity and determination to bring about a rapprochement between the two countries and resume the stalled bilateral talks. The fact of the matter is that Nawaz Sharif has been consistent in openly demonstrating his earnest desire to establish peace with India since he came to power last year.
Narednra Modi’s response to Nawaz Sharif’s letter was equally encouraging. By expressing his government’s desire to work closely with the Pakistani government, in an atmosphere free from confrontation and violence, in order to chart a new course in bilateral relations, he has undeniably kindled a ray of hope for improvement in ties between the two countries.
Regardless of Mr Modi’s warm or lukewarm response to Mian Nawaz Sharif’s sincere gesture of amity, Pakistan should continue to pursue the path of peace and cordiality between the two hostile neighbours. As only by treading the path of geniality the two nations could move forward towards progress and prosperity and live with dignity and honor in the comity of respected world nations. However, in the process of mending their fences, the two sides, particularly India, must bear in mind that their endeavors directed towards the improvement of bilateral relations would bear fruit only when long-pending key issues like Kashmir and Siachen, and expeditious trial of the Mumbai tragedy suspects by Pakistan, are seriously brought to the negotiating table and amicably resolved.
M Fazal Elahi,
Islamabad.
Up in the air
Sir,
In 1971, when an incompetent management, wanted to slash PIA routes and fleet, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto appointed Rafique Saigol with an assurance that there will be no political interference. When Saigol handed over PIA to Nur Khan, it was already on the path of recovery and very soon it became profitable, expanding its routes, fleet and network. All this was possible because recruitments were made on merit, and there was no political interference.
Unfortunately, when Ziaul Haq took over, PIA’s profitability and success became its biggest liability, with the government appointing incompetent cronies to key management positions and at major foreign hubs. It was under Zia that first major mega corruption scam took place when new DC-10-30s were swapped with old Boeing 747s through a broker Page Avjet, in a deal that Canadian Pacific stood to gain by over $20 million, while PIA was the sole loser.
Thereafter, there have been a series of scams in every aircraft induction, procurement of technical spares, appointments of GSA/GHA, the Sabre deal etc, with not a single instance of accountability. Just like the Three Witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Musharraf junta, followed by Zardari government and most recently the one year status quo by Nawaz regime, have contributed their part in PIA’s decline, and the airline is now is technically insolvent.
Every government has abused PIA and used it as a tool to benefit political cronies, with the most recent major damage inflicted from 2008 to 2012, when high school drop outs with controversial backgrounds and a history of financial and administrative scams against them, were appointed at important positions.
It was expected from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to set things right by making tough decisions, but nothing has changed so far.
Tariq Ali,
Lahore.
Passion with caution
Sir,
It has been several weeks now since the focus of the entire nation is on the military operation Zarb-e-Azab in North Waziristan. The reports of ISPR are very encouraging that the operation is progressing according to the plans. The killing of terrorists with destruction of their hideouts is very encouraging but one is at a loss to know how the number of terrorists killed is counted. The terrorists are non state actors and are not identifiable. Also the collateral damage along with the civilians being killed is not being announced.
Since the terrorists are free to move across the border and they are very likely to have moved across to Afghanistan. I don’t see any real outcome of our military operations unless the Afghan government fully cooperates with our armed forces. The influx of IDPs would affect our economy and cause other administrative problems.
I would not be surprised if many terrorists might have travelled along with the IDPs. They would find safe havens in the settled areas and reorganize. There is a news item that most of the IDPs (over 500,000 registered so far) have gone to their relatives or friends and only a few thousand of them are in the camps.
So there is a chance of misappropriation of billions of rupees collected in the name of IDPs within the country and from abroad. This apprehension is based on the past record of embezzlement in the distribution of earthquake and flood relief funds.
Azhar Khwaja,
Lahore.
Science, defiance
Sir,
In his provocative book The Lust for Reverence, A Gimbernat alerts us to the near certainty of laboratory researchers soon crossing a human being with a chimpanzee.
Differences of chromosomes may not be a problem, as is demonstrated by the horse donkey cross – the mule – or the horse zebra cross – the zorse.
One may disagree with many of the ideas Gimbernat brazenly puts forward, but here, surely, he has a point. Surely this is a matter for legislation, for governments making such useless playing with life illegal. Surely the necessary should be done to avoid the future suffering of the eventual half human offspring.
A Noguera,
Reboursin.
Terror alert
Sir,
The situation in Iraq today is as serious as it could be. It is threatening to tear apart the Muslim World.
This catastrophe must be prevented with whatever it takes. The Onus is on Iran and Saudi Arabia to save Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and the minority sects in various Muslim countries.
This crisis has been brought along partly by the unconditional support of Iran and Hezbullah for the Bathist dictatorship in Syria. If the important players had heeded to reason and facilitated a democratic change, the radicalization would not have become uncontrollable.
W Din,
Melbourne.
Cash cows
Sir,
Livestock production is an integral part for the development of rural people and it contributes 38 percent to the GDP of agriculture and 8 percent to the GDP of Pakistan. Livestock is a primary source of income for a large number of rural people. It provide livelihood to 50% of the 700 million poorest households in the world. Most farmers of Pakistan are small land holders and one million farmers are landless. Such farmers keep cattle and chickens and often depend on them for sustenance.
One of the most important benefits of livestock production is that it involves direct involvement of women. Men are often employed in urban areas, and the women look after the livestock and earn extra money for themselves. That plays a very vital role in development of the country.
There is direct evidence of poverty reduction through livestock. There are lots of examples worldwide where poverty was reduced through livestock.
In Pakistan, it contributes about 8.7 percent to the PDP, provides about 9.7 million tons of milk and milk products, 0.922 million tonnes meat, 3061 million eggs, and 50 thousand tons of wool, besides other by products. The livestock population of Pakistan, based on the 1976 livestock census and estimated for 1982-83, was 12.5 million buffaloes, 23.5 million sheep, 27.7 million goats, 4 million other livestock and 79.5 million poultry.
While there has been a rapid rise in the population of Pakistan, the production of livestock is in line with our growing needs. In fact, livestock production in Pakistan is decreasing day by day as compared to the other developing countries. The main reason behind that is lack of awareness among rural livestock farmers about the newest techniques and technologies in livestock farming. The problem can be resolved by educating them.
Adnan Ahmed,
Rawalpindi.
LRBT to stay free
Sir,
It has been decided by the board of directors and trustees after much debate that the Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust will remain free of charge for eye care for all.
The battle for continued free eye care was led by Farrokh Captain, seconded by a majority of trustees. For the last 23 years since my departure from Pakistan Mr Captain has been chairman of the “Friends of Graham Layton”, the group I created nearly 30 years ago to provide financial support to the trust by raising money from multinationals and private donors.
Graham Layton was an Englishman who so loved Pakistan that he set up LRBT to do free eye treatment for the poor and blind. I was moved and inspired by the great Graham Layton’s passionate love and compassion for Pakistan (a country he loved more than his native England) when after investing his personal fortune in the Trust, he ran out of funds and was in danger of shutting down this charitable project.
The response from the people I contacted was immediately positive and in no time the Founders begun to receive support from several sources and the construction of the Korangi hospital in Karachi was completed.
For the last 26 years the group has been expanding its activities to Dubai, Lahore, Islamabad, and New York as well as London where it is the Graham Layton Trust, all with extraordinary success. The funding now provides some one billion rupees to LRBT from Friends of Graham Layton.
Their quest was to be able to rally as many people around the world to become donors and make the trust self-sufficient without ever becoming a paying institution which would have been contrary to the principles and philosophy of the founders.
Many original ideas have been carried out by them to collect funds for LRBT and I hope they will continue to do so.
At its recent meeting the LRBT Trustees decided to adopt the Lahore method of running the hospitals which consists of giving the people who can afford it the opportunity to provide for themselves a superior quality of lenses for the cataract operation and then have all the necessary treatment provided free of charge. The normal lenses will continue to be provided free for everybody.
I left Pakistan with my heart full of Joy at the knowledge that the battle to protect the right given by the founders of LRBT to the poor people of Pakistan, the people that without LRBT would never have been able to afford eye treatment, has been won!
Now the Trust will remain true to its origins as a charitable institution. I write this letter because I want to share the good news with all of you who have or will benefit from the legacy of this great man, my friend Graham Layton.
My deepest congratulations to Farrokh Captain for engaging so much time and effort with the soul purpose of protecting this invaluable legacy.
I pray for Pakistan, the country of my heart, I hope peace and stability will soon return to the streets and the homes of its people.
Vali Marlow,
Paris.
Vali Marlow was the wife of the British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi 25 years ago. She came to Pakistan recently to support LRBT, at the establishment of which she was an important part, and a cause about which she remains passionate. She can be reached at marlowangel1@gmail.com – Ed.