SOS banking
Sir,
Earning money through legitimate means is quite difficult in Pakistan. Despite the country being labeled the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, some major laws in Pakistan don’t comply with Islamic laws. Bank interest rates in the West and most non-Muslim countries are way below the interest rate that is being offered by banks in Pakistan. In layman terms, the profit interest rates offered by Pakistani banks are between 4%-10% (depending on duration of deposit), as compared to western and developed countries where it is somewhere between 1%-2%.
I am a moderate Muslim and for many readers I might sound like an extremist, but our religion teaches us the complete way of living from birth till death and it has strictly denounced earning through bank interests and earning money from lending money. A conventional bank’s 80% earnings are from loans and banks earn huge amounts of money from these loans, which are a huge burden on individuals, corporations and organisations. At the time of giving loan, they state an interest rate, which sounds lesser, but if we calculate the annual realistic interest rate, it comes out to be around 25%, which is horrid.
Islamic banking is a somewhat safer way of earning money, but the problem remains; they replace the term ‘interest’ with ‘profit earned’ from trading, as they state their profit before a deal has been matured and the buyer owns any particular product. Secondly, Islamic banks don’t lend liquid cash to any individual or institution.
Farooq Azhar Khawaja
Islamabad.
Remembering the fallen
Sir,
For the first time in it’s history, Pakistan International Airlines stopped flying for one entire week due to a strike call given by the PIA employees’ joint action committee, in order to put pressure on the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to stop the privatisation process of the national carrier. This strike has now been called off and PIA is back to business, but during the strike we lost the invaluable lives of two noble, educated and hardworking Pakistanis, who were PIA employees. The financial losses caused due to this strike can be recovered when the PIA runs according to its potentials, but we can never bring back those two lost lives. As a Pakistani, my sympathies go out to the families of the two victims. And as a PIA passenger, I salute the souls of these two heroes of Pakistan for their valuable services to the nation during their working lives.
Coming to a solution to the PIA puzzle, the general public is confused regarding the prevailing state of PIA’s affairs. I am absolutely clear in my mind that downsising the PIA staff is not advisable, but at the same time, the national airline cannot continue incurring financial losses year after year. Although this is a puzzling situation, I think there is a solution, which would be to bring a strategic partner in PIA with strong financial resources and rich aviation experience.
I think PIA has a very bright future ahead because it had abundant market potential and I believe common sense will prevail in decision-making regarding the future course of action to improve PIA’s performance. I would like to reiterate that over staffing is not PIA’s problem. Those who have worked with big organisations in Pakistan and abroad would agree with me that some negligible overstaffing does exist here and there in all mega organisations, but nobody complains about it during profit-making periods. When the same organisations make losses due to reduced operations, only then the finger is pointed towards overstaffing. The same is the case with PIA. Overstaffing is not PIA’s actual problem because employee costs are not causing losses of Rs. 35 billion in a year. PIA’s losses come as a result of insufficient revenues because of reduced operations. So then how can PIA increase it revenues? Revenues can be increased only with increased operations, which is only possible if PIA not only replaces its aging fleet, but also purchases new modern aircrafts like Airbus A 380. I am sure if PIA replaces all its aging aircrafts and adds new latest makes of aircrafts like Airbus A 380 in it’s fleet during the next five years, PIA’s revenues will increase easily to an extent there will be no loss on its books.
Ejaz Ahmad Magoon,
Lahore.
PIA’s irregularities galore
Sir,
With reference to media reports about restructuring Pakistan International Airline and the strike by JACPIA being called off, following partial resumption of operations, for five days, the PIA acting chairman, fleet of directors and GM were missing, having shut down their offices, even at outstations, making no attempt whatsoever to get airline operations started, or informing passengers stranded at various airports and taking care of them. It seems politically appointed executives knowing full well that on merit they would not stand a chance were supporting the strike, directly or indirectly. Only when a responsible section in the media and few aviation analysts started asking questions did they start telephoning essential staff to report for duty, but by then the damage had already been done and PIA’s already dented credibility eroded. For PIA to recover, those involved in irregularities, revenue pilferage and subversive or criminal activities must be sacked.
Political appointments have reduced PIA to a dumping ground for cronies, who would otherwise never qualify on merit. Other than change in faces, nothing has changed. With airline revenues declining and costs escalating, and half the fleet grounded, not only were there more recruitments, but salaries were raised, while liabilities and debts rose. In 2011, PIA appointed an intermediate pass as director HR and administration, while in 2009 a junior pilot took over as GM Ground Handling Technical Services, a post held by an engineer, while a qualified CA serving as chief internal auditor was sacked and replaced by a retired accounts officer. In 2011, following protests by PIA employees against a lopsided agreement in favor of Turkish Airlines, former PIA MD Aijaz resigned and was offered a contract as a pilot in Turkish Airlines. When his contract expired, he was taken back in PIA in 2014 with backdated seniority and benefits, as if the management could condone an irregularity of being simultaneously having gainful employment in both a statutory state-owned enterprise and a foreign airline based in Turkey. In 2008, a PIA steward who had been sacked after being caught red handed stealing at Dubai duty free shops, was not only reinstated, but promoted and posted to Barcelona as a catering officer.
Aneela Chandio,
Sukkur.
150 deaths in a year
Sir,
This refers to the news “Dilapidated Pasrur Road takes 150 lives in a year” published on January 28, 2016. According to the news, “more than 150 people have died in accidents on the dilapidated 35km long Sialkot-Pasrur Road in the last one year, making it risky for travelers”. It would seem that our news people end up wasting their time, since such news reports surely fall on deaf ears. Increasingly it would seem that Pakistan is a country for the elites by the elites from the elites.
The country we live in is definitely a republic but one with any semblance of accountability. In all democratic republics around the globe, the masses are always the first consideration, but in Pakistan, the common men carries no value. All developments, roads, underpasses and signal-free corridors are for those who enjoy the luxuries of urban areas. Citizens of rural areas have no rights to basic necessities of life. It would seem their reasons to exist is just to cast their vote and bring the elites of their respective localities to the corridors of power. Once elected to assemblies, the honorable members of parliament are not supposed to visit their constituencies.
What difference does it makes if “only” 150 precious lives were lost in one year due to a depilated road? We are the proud owners of a network of motorways, carpeted four to six lanes roads in major cities of the country. The poor will keep on dying of hunger, dirty water, diseases and lack of basic amenities, while the elites will keep themselves busy in multiplying their wealth, and will continue to enjoy life in luxurious cars on motorways. Our journalists are requested to avoid wasting time reporting incidents of no value like deaths of 150 people in a remote area just due to the bad condition of the road.
Aamir Aqil,
Lahore.
Dying in Thar
Sir,
It is painful to say that recently seven more children have died in drought-hit Thar, with the number of children dying in the district because of malnutrition and other causes since October last year rising to at least 150. Moreover, the death toll of children in the district has risen to 188 since January, and among them more than 120 children were brought to hospitals for treatment, but the government and health authorities were unable to save their lives. It is a blatant example of injustice being done to the poor. The government it seems has left the poor to fend for themselves, and has even taken away their basic right to live a humble life in Pakistan.
So, is humanity doomed? Shouldn’t we be ashamed of such injustices with those people who do not have enough food to feed their families? Shouldn’t we be ashamed of the fact that more than half of our population lives below the poverty line? Instead of giving them food and providing them shelter, we have made fun of their lives and continue counting the death tolls of small children who are dying day-by-day. The people of Thar have nothing to eat and they await the government to provide them with their fundamental needs, but it seems that our government just doesn’t care.
So, it is my humble request to the government of Sindh to provide food and shelter to Thar’s poor people, who are crying and dying every day, and give them facilities of health in order to save their lives.
Shakeel Phullan,
Kech.
Rape cases in Pakistan
Sir,
It is painful to say the PML-N government has completely failed to control the rising trend of rape and kidnapping cases in the country; Pakistan is among the 10 worst countries in the world when it comes to number of rape cases. 14,850 kidnap cases involving women, children and girls were reported in Punjab during the last one year; 2,000 women were kidnapped, with 80% of them being allegedly raped during the last year, while 15% were killed. 980 minors were kidnapped, including newborns from hospitals. According to a report released by War Against Rape (WAR), at least four women were raped every day in Pakistan, and last year alone, 109 FIRs have been registered against 370 rape cases in the country. The factsheet reveals that the police’s performance remained unimpressive, as authorities failed to solve hundreds of cases, and many of the kidnapped persons were never recovered, as some 3,100 cases were still under investigation. In reality, rape cases are increasing every day and the government is totally failing to eradicate such a painful issue, and has failed to punish criminals who are destroying the lives of millions children in Pakistan.
So, I humbly request the government of Pakistan to take serious steps to control this painful issue in order to save the lives of children in Pakistan.
Shakeel Phullan,
Turbat.
Economic resurgence
Sir,
Never ever has any international financial institution praised Pakistan’s endeavors on the economic front. In fact, they have always expressed their dissatisfaction over the dismal performance of the country’s economy. It is, one could say with certainty, for the first time that an international financial institution of repute like the World Bank (WB), of which Pakistan has been and continues to be a significant beneficiary, has acknowledged Pakistan’s appreciable progress on the economic front.
In a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on February 9, the visiting president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, did not mince words and distinctly stated that Pakistan is poised to become the next fast-growing successful economy due to vital measures taken by the incumbent government of Pakistan over the past few years.
He pointed out that the country had made significant strides to achieve microeconomic stability and enhance its domestic revenues by introducing reforms in the tax system. Jim Yong Kim said that Pakistan had also undertaken a number of significant steps to improve business climate in the country.
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), termed as a game changer not only for Pakistan but the entire region, is in the process of rapid implementation. This project, if successfully implemented, would further build the confidence of foreign investors and give significant boost to foreign investment in Pakistan. CPEC must not be politicised at any cost. This economically vibrant project must not be allowed to become a victim of undue and biased political wrangling. The Pakistani nation will have to keep a tab on this crucial issue and play its role effectively to ensure that this doesn’t happen.
M Fazal Elahi,
Islamabad.
Sweet irony
Sir,
The president of Pakistan, in a recent address, asked Pakistanis not to celebrate Valentine’s Day, This was great advice from the head of the state to citizens in the name of culture and faith. Culture is what people do at any point in time and it cannot be frozen. It is unfortunately not the first time that a head of the Pakistani state has endeavoured to influence cultural choices of the people of Pakistan. Jinnah was the first to do this when he tried to impose Urdu on culturally sensitive East Pakistan. The state’s quest to create a homogenous Pakistan is in line with what they describe as ‘Muslim or Islamic’ culture. The strongest contributor to any culture is its language. The business of the state of Pakistan is conducted in English. Pakistan conducts superior services exams in English. The country is brimming with English-medium educational institutions. Knowing English is generally seen as a guarantee to find a nice place in society. The fact is that we live in a global world, in this age of information the west dominates. We wear western clothes, we speak their language, we eat KFC and Mcdonalds and yet we fantasise about living in medieval days dominated by Arab kings. No one can stand in the way of change; Culture evolves, it’s not stagnant. This regressive mindset is also behind the banning of basant. Festivals result in a culturally nourished, vibrant and tolerant society. Western multiculturalism appreciates festivals of all kinds. If the president is inspired by rightists, he should then assume the title of khalifa instead of president. Pakistan has suffered a lot and continues to do so, but it seems that the mindset of the Pakistani state has refused to learn any lesson from the tragedies of the past. It is still adamant when it comes to sticking to its rotten ideological and cultural constructs of 1960s.
Malik Atif Mahmood Majoka,
Melbourne.