| November 13, 2008 | Thursday | Ziqa'ad 14, 1429 |
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Improving corporate governance
Non-stop PIA flight from NY
Balochistan quake relief
In the name of research
A hope for good
Stop following US agenda
Privatisation of Qadirpur gas field
Iftikhar Arif’s resignation
The menace of honour killing
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
I WAS pleased to read F. S. Aijazuddin’s article on the IMF (Nov 8). For a change, his facts are broadly correct. However, I do not agree with his dour prediction that an IMF programme would commit us to a long period of ‘fiscal servitude’. We have seven roving ambassadors, a 57-member cabinet with everyone, it seems, a minister of state, and several new ministries that have been created to accommodate them.
There are bullet-proof BMW’s that even western government’s cannot afford to provide to their ministers, a fleet of VVIP executive jets, scores of pilgrimages and other junkets at state expense, 200-member delegations, and other wasteful spending, especially for a poor country.
We also spend on defence what we cannot afford, and earn a low rate of return on the so-called ‘development’ programme because it is stuffed with bogus projects. These need to be cut. Given this picture, I would put it to Mr Ejazuddin that a bit of ‘fiscal servitude’ might be just what we need to set the economy straight.
IMF or no IMF, Pakistan needs to start with deep cuts in defence expenditure, and then cut current and development expenditure.
We need to impose an agriculture income tax (the ordinance is already there in each province, thanks to IMF pressure), and tax the stock market and real estate sector in a meaningful way.
We need to do this even if the rich in Pakistan have agriculture land, own real estate, and invest in the stock market. We need to immediately remove all tax concessions and exemptions given to the well-connected.
We need to increase tax audits on a war footing, all randomly selected the way they do in more civilised countries, and not as a political witchhunt, to unearth the extraordinary wealth of the millions of under-filers, which includes everyone except government servants. We need to tax them on the true value of their hidden domestic and foreign assets.
We need to then take a very critical look at the incredible fact that out of 165 million people in Pakistan, only one to 1.5 million pay income tax. There is something seriously wrong there.
After having implemented the above tax reforms, we need to hold the Federal Bureau of Revenue to account, and dismiss half of their officials if we have to, if the tax to GDP ratio does not rise above the current nine per cent, a level at which it has been stuck for the past several years.
Every measure mentioned above has been a longstanding IMF demand. Indeed, they would be the sort of measures any sensible macroeconomist would recommend that Pakistan take if there is to be any hope of getting out of our present economic difficulties. It is evident there would be no ‘fiscal servitude’ that Mr Ejazuddin is so worried about if we took these measures ourselves.
Despite its feared reputation, and the contrived picture of extreme hardship that is painted in the media every day, Pakistan has never seriously implemented any IMF-sponsored reforms, and those we did, we rolled back. Reforms under the IMF are a myth.
The most unfortunate part of this tragic story is that nothing will change and we will fudge and blunder our way through the next IMF programme and then blame them for the ‘fiscal servitude’ that they imposed upon us.
I think it is time, for the sake of Pakistan, that the IMF walked away and told us there will be no bailout because we are completely non-serious, as evidenced by the contradictory and unhelpful statements being made by our so-called ‘policymakers’ every day. This is not the way to build ‘ownership’ and take responsibility, both critical ingredients in programme success.
With this kind of grudging, bad faith, bad-mouth acceptance of an IMF programme, the IMF would do Pakistan an enormous favour by staying put in Washington DC, not call us, and enjoy their country club. Any programme with them, under the present circumstances, is already doomed to failure.
DR MEEKAL AZIZ AHMED
Virginia, USA
ZAFFAR A. Khan, in his article, ‘Improving corporate governance’ (Oct 28), has made a number of very important points, which our companies and institutions would do well to implement in their governance structures. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at one of our most prominent institutions, the Karachi Stock Exchange, in the light of the article.
Mr Khan says that “the principal task of governing an enterprise rests with the board of directors and not with the shareholder… the shareholder is, however, fully empowered to appoint and, under certain conditions, remove the appointed director…shareholders who do not take the responsibility of nominating their directors diligently and choose to interfere in the running of the company usually cause serious problems.”
The shareholders of the KSE are the stockbrokers or members. How well do they measure up to the above requirement? Unfortunately, poorly. Instead of letting the directors of the exchange exercise their proper responsibilities, KSE members have over the years repeatedly resorted to direct shareholder governance. The results, predictably, have been disastrous. The market today has close to zero credibility.
Why is this so? Because, at the KSE the (usually narrow) interests of the members have always taken precedence over the interests of all other stakeholders — investors, listed companies, regulators, government and the general public.
If allowed to function normally, the KSE board, composed of five elected member directors and four SECP-appointed directors and the MD, would ideally balance the interests of all the stakeholders and take decisions in the larger interest.
Unfortunately the board is not allowed to function normally. The authority of the board is undermined repeatedly through the holding of very frequent shareholder meetings, either informal or formal (AGM/EOGMs). At these meetings, matters regarding the running of the exchange are taken up, although these are properly the domain of the board and the management. Opinions expressed and decisions taken at these meetings directly put undue pressure on the board the management and the regulators.
These opinions and decisions are of course widely disseminated through the news media so that they become the subject of national debate. There is nothing wrong with that of course, except that at times it becomes difficult to distinguish between the interests of the KSE and the national interest. In this respect the KSE has very ably followed in the footsteps of APTMA. Where the latter held the country hostage for the first 55 years of its existence, the KSE has successfully played the same role for the last six years. An especially unwelcome development over the last week is the involvement of a political party in the matters of the KSE. It does not bode well for the future.
It would be too generous to totally absolve the board and management and the regulators of the current state of affairs. At the end of the day it is also their moral and legal responsibility to do the right thing and stand up to any decision or actions that are not in the best interests of all stakeholders.
The stock market is a bit of a joke now, except that it is unfunny.
SAMIR AHMED
Karachi
AS a father whose both daughters and their families are in the US, flying to New York is an annual affair for me. However, as one who prefers flying the national airline for many reasons I have always regretted the fact that there is an unnecessary stopover at Manchester, where the passengers have to get down, even though the Boeing 777 is capable of flying to North America from any point in Asia without any landing on the way.
While the Canadian government does not lay any stopover condition, with the result that the PIA flies non-stop to and from Toronto to Pakistan, the American authorities insist on a stopover on the way so that the aircraft and the passengers can be checked once again in a ‘neutral country’ before they land on the American soil.
That’s their prerogative, but one always wondered why did the return flight stop over at Manchester. It was, therefore, heartening to discover that since October 29 the return flight has been operating directly from New York to Lahore.
The passengers now save as many as three hours, which include one hour because of the shorter route that the aircraft takes on the return journey. Also the passengers don’t have to leave the comfort of the aircraft and go through security check once again in Manchester. And as for the airline, it saves on fuel and landing charge which it has to pay for landing in Manchester.
One thing more, this time I found that there has been a noticeable improvement in cabin service and passenger handling by the PIA staff.
Similar feelings were voiced by a friend of mine who has problems with her eyesight and who flew from Karachi to Toronto a couple of months ago. She was all praise for a PIA ground hostess in Toronto, who took good care of her, right from the time she disembarked from the aircraft to the moment she was ‘handed over’ to her daughter. Thanks to the young PIA staffer, who escorted her through immigration and customs without any hassle, my friend’s fears that she would be left to fend for herself at Toronto airport proved unfounded.
ASIF NOORANI
Karachi
THE people affected in the recent quake in Ziarat and surrounding areas need urgent help which is rather coming at a very slow pace till now. Winter has already set in in most of the affected areas, and temperatures will soon fall to minus 15 degrees Celsius or even lower.
Unfortunately, the tents supplied by the relief authorities are not suitable for this kind of extreme cold weather. They provide no shelter from cold or wind and are not safe to use any kind of heating.
They are of the type usually supplied to the flood refugees or African nations and are meant to just to provide shade from the scorching heat of the sun.
Special cold weather tents are many times more expensive and, according to relief authorities, are not readily available in large quantities.
Although the extent of overall damage this time is much less than that of the quake in Northern Areas, children are already dying of cold and pneumonia.
The risk of aftershocks still exists and people even in Quetta were advised to sleep outside their houses at night for several days, which exposes them to hypothermia.
It is, therefore, suggested that the disaster management and relief authorities should provide at least 25,000 sleeping bags to the quake-affected people before it is too late.
Sleeping bags provide very good protection against cold weather, can be folded in bundles, are lightweight and easy to carry and if taken proper care of can last several winters.
They are not difficult to manufacture and can be easily made locally with polyester fibre and thin water-proof acrylic material, the type used for motorcar covers.
In emergencies, even (readymade) acrylic comforters if folded double and stitched at two ends leaving one small end open can serve the purpose of a sleeping bag, which is to prevent body heat losses and thus keep the person warm.
IJTABA ZAIDI
Karachi
THIS is apropos of the article by Dr Shahid Siddiqui, ‘In the name of research’ (Nov 9). All the issues raised in the article are significant if policymakers of higher education and other authorities concerned are serious about bringing about a genuine culture of research in Pakistani universities.
The issues of course work for research degrees (MPhil and PhD), requisite resources for researchers and supervision for research theses and research projects are the problems almost 90 per cent of students are facing at Pakistani universities.
Although socio-political structures and cultural paradigms also play a substantial role in encouraging or discouraging the creation of new knowledge but a micro perspective on research is something one does not have to ignore while debating the creation of new knowledge at Pakistani universities.
An academically unbefitting trend has been observed at some Pakistani universities in the recent times. The students are enrolled in research degrees in large numbers but due to the lack of adequate course work and proper supervision, the students are awarded an MS degree and are asked to leave.
Academics around the globe will be surprised if they come to know about this trend in Pakistani universities. The universities under discussion usually allow students to enroll in their MPhil programmes, as a terminal degree candidates in different disciplines and upon completion of their course work award them MS degrees without any dissertation.
The respective universities cite the rules of the HEC to justify their decision. One is at a loss to understand the very rationale of an MPhil or PhD programme if it can be left in the middle without any dissertation. If the relevant authorities are interested in seeing some solid, genuine and relevant research from our universities, they would probably need to revise this policy.
KHADIM HUSSAIN
Bahria University, Islamabad
THERE is great anticipation in the world whether President-elect Barack Obama shall consider intercepting the Bush administration from now before his taking over the office in January.
Whether or not the president-elect is empowered to reverse the decisions and orders of the Bush administration forthwith in the best interest of improving American image, especially in places and countries where it is most tarnished due to continuity of a bad war-mongering policy.
Of late, Pakistan is one of those countries where continuity of drones’ attacks is indiscriminately causing loss of civilian lives and no amount of Pakistan-America friendship can withstand that humiliation to Pakistan.
While the USA knows very well that Pakistan forces are already engaged with the militant tribes and they do have the support of the people of the area in fighting the militants, there is no justification for American military operations in the Pakistani area.
This is an instigation and if gone far too long could backfire one day in the form of retaliation by Pakistan forces.
We hope the president-elect is empowered and has the
willingness to prevent that situation.
M. M. KHAN
Karachi
I agree that we must not slavishly follow the US agenda. ‘War against terrorism’ in Pakistan is ours to fight and we must decide its future course.
Menace of terrorism is destroying our economy, and it has resulted in an immense loss of lives. Let the Americans and Europeans negotiate with Taliban.
Taliban are not living and breathing fire in their countries or knocking on their doors. Pakistan cannot afford to have its writ and laws challenged and its society blackmailed by the shenanigans of some mentally-twisted criminals, may they be Pakistanis or Uzbeks, Muslims or whatever.
Like the interior adviser said: “There will be no negotiations till the criminals lay down their arms”. I sure hope that the government means what it says and will stop following the American agenda.
A.H. KIZILBA
Karachi
THE minister of Privatisation Commission has informed the Cabinet Committee about its decision to hand over very soon administrative control of the Qadirpur gasfield to the new owner who holds 37 per cent of shares in the filed.
Against this decision the workers’ union of the gas field has decided to move a constitutional petition before the High Court of Sindh, as reported on the national pages, “Workers to challenge sale of Qadirpur gas field in court’ (Nov 9).
Even the Mutahidda Qumi Movement, the coalition partner of the Sindh government, has come out against the sale of this highly profitable strategic asset handing over of which will deprive the Sindh government of its royalty which alone comes to billions of rupees; reference Shafique Ansari’s letter on the subject (Oct 12) .
The question is that when the people of Sindh who are the rightful owners of the gas filed are against such sale, why is the government bent on its disposal in such a hurry?
Such a hasty and unpopular decision against the will of the people will not augur well for the nascent democracy of the country. The example of the Pakistan Steel Mill case is not too old when to the embarrassment of the sitting government of the ‘strongman’ the apex court cancelled the deal, holding it as fraudulent and against the national interest.
It will, therefore, be in the fitness of things that the issue of privatising the Qadirpur gas field is taken up before the provincial legislative assembly where the representatives of the people should discuss the pros and cons of the deal and decide its fate.
BADAR JATOI
Port Coquitlam
Canada
IT is highly unethical and unbecoming to have the resignation from Mr Iftikhar Arif accepted before the expiry of the official contract, so as to appoint some other person, instead, as the chairman of the Academy of Letters, betraying unashamedly political favouritism. It is time this vicious circle came to an end.
JAMIL AZAR
Rawalpindi
THE wounds of the burial of five innocent Baloch women while they were still alive have just started to fester when the heinous and blood-curdling murder of Taslim Solangi, a 17-year-old girl of Khairpur district of Sindh, unveils to tell Pakistani women that they could never get their due rights in this male-chauvinistic society no matter how much they strain.
Whenever a murder of a woman occurs in the name of so-called honour, every one of us condemns it and our rulers are at the forefront in this business. When the hair-raising murder of Taslim Solangi unfolds, our President Asif Ali Zardari orders the Sindh police to present their report within 24 hours.
Can I ask Mr President when he summons the session of the National Assembly in which the Honour Killing Act 2008 will be passed? After the bone-chilling incident of burying alive five Baloch women, the very first duty of our parliamentarians should have been to introduce the Honour Killing Act 2008 through which this menace could be expunged forever.
But we forget that an overwhelming majority of the masters of our fate come of feudal cadre of society, a cadre that is the chief supporter of this repugnant abuse.
Veteran columnist Ardeshir Cowasjee in his article, ‘Are we perverse?’ (Feb 16, 2003), quotes a resolution by the Oxford University Students Union passed against the then chairman of the Senate, Waseem Sajjad, for not allowing debate on honour killing on Aug 2, 1999 in the upper house as: “Women’s rights violations are a centuries-old norm in South Asia. Human rights organisations have been highlighting this issue for a long time, but especially after April 6, 1999 incident of ‘honour killing’. These organisations include the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Amnesty International, End Violence Working Group, etc. The issue has been widely raised in the international media. Honour killing is the term referred when a girl is killed by her family for causing dishonour to the family, which actions are considered to include choosing a spouse of her own volition. The practice has a long history, but the murder of Saima Sarwar by her family on April 6, 1999 caused a nationwide outcry and rigorous response of human rights organisations drew attention of the media towards this crucial issue...
“A similar incident of ‘honour rape’ in July 2002 has underscored the need to establish a strong precedent in order to protect women’s rights. A Pakistani girl was raped on the orders of the ‘elders’ of the village as a punishment because her younger brother was allegedly having an affair with a girl from a higher social group. This brutal gang-rape was legitimised by the local ‘unofficial court’ in Pakistan......
“On the Aug 2, 1999 a resolution condemning honour killings was presented in the Senate in Pakistan after a particularly vicious murder by her own family of a young woman seeking protection at a women’s legal shelter. Despite a national outcry, the chairman of the Senate did not even give permission to debate or discuss the resolution — voting was a secondary issue.
“This Senate chairman who did not allow debate on ‘honour killings’ — a shame for all of us — is Mr Waseem Sajjad, a BCL from the Oxford University. He was a 1966 Rhodes scholar at Wadham College from Pakistan. He is also the head of Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee of Pakistan.”
And when the tragedy of five Baloch women surfaced, a member of our parliament (now a federal minister) spoke in support of the barbarian murderers, calling it a Baloch tradition. I think his words on the floor of parliament were a bigger tragedy for the humanity than the tragedy of five women itself.
There are many such cold-blooded murders which go unnoticed. For example, in the hot days of summer this year such an atrocious act of cruelty took place in a village, namely Maingan of Chakwal. A girl was stabbed to death and then buried in the courtyard of her house by her barbaric elders.
Her crime was the same old cliché, ‘having illicit relations’ with someone. What we need is to have Honour Killing Act 2008 and its strict implementation.
When will our masters do it and when will we be able to call ourselves a civilised nation? Let us wait, wait that would never end.
NABEEL ANWAR DHAKKU
Chakwal
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