Orange train
Sir,
Lahore, once known as the ‘City of Gardens’ is a metropolitan centre with a burgeoning population and a bustling economy, home to a few of the world’s most popular historic sites. Recent developments have led to the construction of many large-scale projects that have interfered with the stunning scenery of this city and threatened to erase its heritage. The most controversial of these is the “Orange Line Metro Train Project.”
The OLMTP is responsible for the cutting down of 620 grown-up trees on its long route from Dera Gujran to Ali Town. This species is not limited to one kind but includes up to 15 classes. With climate change and global warming becoming a major concern, it is crucial for Pakistan to conserve as many species as possible if it is to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet the requirements of The Paris Agreement. Trees are a sight for sore eyes and are responsible for keeping the environment generally pleasant and help in reducing the overall temperature.
This project is detrimental to the health of workers as well as residents. Irritant particles which abound in the area have led to an increase in respiratory stress. Asthma patients find it difficult to cope with the high levels of dust that has now permanently suspended over the Baghbanpura area.
If that is not enough for the Punjab government to change its mind, the OLMTP has also been found guilty of violations at five of the 11 heritage sites where its construction had been stopped. The Shalimar Gardens, a popular tourist attraction, has been eclipsed by the towering pillars of the overhead trail. The Gardens have seen a decline in the number of visitors. Huge clouds of dust are seen billowing up from the developing area and the use of heavy machinery, a major source of noise pollution, has interfered with the picturesque and quaint environment of the park. The widespread use of cement is responsible for the absorption of heat up to 2.04%. The harmful effects of this project are also a threat to culture as the government was to knock down the Chauburji site.
The burgeoning population in this city is the root of the problem. If birth rates continue to skyrocket, Lahore will continue to face such dilemmas. Instead, we need impactful short-term solutions: the current bus system should be developed with a “green bus scheme”; the possibility of an underground metro train should be explored; work at Baghbanpura terminal should be suspended; the OLMTP should focus more on at grade transport so that towering pillars should not lead to an increase in visual pollution; mass tree plantation programs should be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Forests and prominent NGOs; a park restoration process should follow through to restore Lahore to its former glory.
If we are to save this beautiful city, it’s imperative for us to act now.
Shabraiz Mushtaq,
Islamabad.
Electoral System
Sir,
The parliamentary committee on electoral reforms has made proposals to solve operational problems in our electoral system and they will help with fair and free elections. The committee has not proposed systemic reform by changing the formula of electoral decision-making. It has instead, favoured the current system which says that a relative majority of votes win in a single-member constituency for the national and provincial assemblies. This individual-oriented system of disproportional representation on the basis of a dubious majority is not suitable for Pakistan.
Originally introduced for local bodies, this system has localized the body-politic of the country. Many people elected under this system lacked in quality for national leadership. Votaries of this system should realize that governance in Pakistan is too complex a matter for local influential persons with local bias.
Alternatively a modified German system of the party-oriented mixed proportional representation on the basis of a genuine majority is congruous for Pakistan. With provisions for single-member and multi-member constituencies, it would integrate voter-representative and vote-seat relationships. Such a system would enhance the ability of our leaders to steer the ship of the state. Hopefully, better elected leaders would strengthen democracy and block the way for self-appointed leaders of a disappointed nation.
Another model of this system was proposed by the famous German psephologist, Dieter Nohlen in his book Electoral System: Options for Pakistan (1995) published by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Islamabad). He opined that, “electoral systems are important elements which mould the structure of a representative democracy. They contribute substantially to the legitimacy and efficiency of a political system, for example, to legitimacy, by political integration of all relevant social interests in the shape of just representation, and to efficiency by bringing about stable majorities in the political decision-making bodies”.
Taraq Jazy,
Lahore.
PIA hiring
Sir,
This is apropos media reports that a pilot involved in crash hired by PIA to fly an ATR on contract. This is what happens when state-run organizations are allowed to be run by managements dominated by corrupt mediocrity with conflicts of interest blinding both the airline and the regulator i.e. the CAA to their primary responsibility: flight safety and public interest.
When political recommendations are allowed to dominate the choice of recruitment for such sensitive jobs such as pilots, engineers etc. then public interest is sacrificed at the altar of self interest. In this instance, the pilot involved in the Pakistan Petroleum Beachcraft 1900 crash in Karachi, which is still under investigation, has been allowed by the CAA to resume normal flying duties and as if this were not enough, PIA ends up recruiting him on contract to fly ATR 42-500.
Even the fatal crash of ATR 42-500 on December 7, killing all 47 on board has not deterred both the aviation regulator and PIA Flight Operations, run by pilots on LPR, who seem to be in a haste while making such decisions to justify their recruitment post-retirement.
In the past, an influential pilot was charged for attempting to fly a PIA A310 at Birmingham airport while intoxicated. He was sentenced to imprisonment and after serving time, was rehabilitated despite his criminal record and allowed by the CAA to go back to normal flying duties. He is now flying in a Pakistani registered private commercial airline.
PIA, a state-owned statutory organization, funded by the taxpayer, is bound to follow rules and regulations. But it has allowed all cadres of employees, including pilots and engineers who have submitted fake basic educational qualifications such as matriculation or intermediate, have criminal records for heinous crimes such as rape, murder, theft etc., have not only been recruited but continue to serve after the airline has found these gross criminal irregularities. Numerous PIA employees were found to be involved in institutionalized money laundering, including a few who served as couriers for a major politician based in the UK. Some were involved in Hajj and Umra scams. But they continue to not only serve in PIA, but are given promotions and foreign postings. A PIA flight steward was caught red-handed shoplifting at Dubai Duty Free Shops, faced criminal charges and was sacked only to be rehired but posted abroad because he was the brother-in-law of the then MD. No wonder billions are being pilfered by those recruited to serve PIA, but ending up serving themselves. This is an organization that was once the pride of Pakistan under Nur Khan but has been reduced to a loss-making white elephant by political cronies, some of whom are high school dropouts but have been at the helm from 2008 to 2012. PIA has been treated as “spoils of war” by every government since 1980.
Aneela Chandio,
Sukkur.
Crash Compensation
Sir,
This is reference to the trivial compensation announced by PIA for the next of kin who lost their lives while travelling from Gilgit to Islamabad on December 7. These were passengers who paid to travel safely and the revenue they brought in paid for the salaries of the chairman, directors, GMs, pilots, engineers etc. of PIA. Similarly taxes levied on passengers funds the CAA, which is required to ensure that airlines regulated by it are airworthy and meet safety standards required by the ICAO.
Aviation safety and public interest is compromised just as with the supply of adulterated milk, the working of rail and road transportation, the provision of basic health and every other facet involving the public because of a corrupt bureaucracy, nepotism and an equally corrupt political elite with their greed-filled conflicts of interest. It is a failure of the state to enforce strict regulatory oversight in whose absence we see public interest and basic fundamental rights endangered. The rise in airline accidents and bird hits at airports points to failures of the CAA and the state, more than airline operators.
All employees of PIA are here to serve clients but it is shocking that the compensation announced for the next of kin of those who perished on board PK661 is even lower than two months’ take-home salary (inclusive of allowances) of senior pilots working on LPR in the national airline. For an airline surviving on dole-outs from the federal government, austerity measures must be confined to administrative costs, audited procurement and leasing etc. and cutting down a top-heavy management dominated by mediocrity.
It is a contradiction that while the FBR and federal government levy a reduced tax rate through an SRO for the cockpit crew based on the argument that their earning period is restricted by medical fitness requirements, they are the only category of employees rehired on contract beyond the national age of retirement which is 60 years. Is flight safety not being compromised?
It is time to restore PIA’s credibility to the level it enjoyed under Nur Khan by taking concrete steps to enforce administrative disciple, merit in recruitment and order a complete forensic audit of all recruitments carried out during the past three decades.
Malik Tariq Ali,
Lahore.
Burns Garden
Sir,
Illegal construction has started at Burns Garden to build a path for parking for the Sindh Secretariat and allied offices in the vicinity. This is at the boundary of Burns Garden (Plot No. RB-2 bearing enlistment number 843/2011 vide Notification No. No. OSD/CHC/1-85/2010).
Three wide driveways, including two from Maulana Deen Muhammad Wafai Road (Strachan Road) and one from Shahra-e-Kamal Ataturk (King’s Way Road), are under construction. Workers have removed trees, grass and soil underneath and concrete pavers are being installed. During a recent visit to the park by the Heritage Cell (DAPNED) team, it was learnt that green spaces on both sides of the under-construction driveways were to be used for parking vehicles.
It is an obvious guess that these driveways will not only divide the public park (along two roads as mentioned above) into four segments but that this space will be ultimately converted into parking lots and will become inaccessible to the public who otherwise use the park frequently.
We all know that parks are for the public and must be maintained as green spaces. In the case of Burns Garden, it has additional status of a Listed Property (Protected Heritage) under the Sindh Cultural Heritage Preservation Act 1994 and no activity can take place in it without obtaining an NoC from the Culture Department.
Farida G.,
Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture and Planning,
NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi,
Honorary secretary, Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP),
Karachi.
Governor House
Dear Governor,
Welcome to the new assignment. We hope you will have a happy and productive stay which will neither be too long nor too short like some of the earlier residents of this 32-acre residence. While you spend some happy hours exploring this huge mansion, please remind yourself that 80 percent of Karachi’s population lives in homes less than 120 square yards large. To keep a sense of proportion, it may be best to recall each day, that you now occupy, entirely at the taxpayers’ expense, the same area that is occupied by 1,066 average families of Karachi.
Your first assignment after taking oath of office will be to visit the mausoleum of the Quaid. Remember that you will be making this trip in an unregistered and unlisted vehicle that has never paid the motor vehicle tax. (data provided by the Excise and Taxation Department under the Right to Information Act). As you are known to be an honourable and law-abiding citizen, I am certain that you will refuse to travel by this unlawful carbon-emitter. You will instead demand something smaller, more ordinary and more law-abiding. Also please remember to leave behind the dozen or so heavily ‘loaded’ vehicles that routinely tend to tag along.
Back in Governor House, after paying your respects to the Quaid, you may like to inquire as to why does Governor House needs and maintains a fleet of at least 44 limousines. With your strong financial background, you will quickly work out the burden of this largely unnecessary indulgence. I am attaching a photograph of the 44th car in your inventory that was found gallivanting one recent morning in the commercial areas of Karachi. You may then decide to retain one or two of these vehicles and sell the rest to build more schools for the needy children of Sindh.
Around this time there will be a stream of luminaries who will be enthusiastically converging on Governor House to pay their respects to its new occupant. As you warmly greet the Stanford-educated chief minister, please let him know that out of the 20,986 government vehicles on the records of the E&T Department, 8,696 have not paid the motor vehicle tax for the last 10 years, while another 5,348 vehicles have not done the same for the last 20 years.
While the honourable chief minister ‘promises’ to fix this matter, you may gently whisper in his ears to begin this charity from home. Of the 36 cars maintained by Chief Minister house, 25 have not paid any tax for the last 10 years.
Paying motor vehicle tax, registering all vehicles and placing their data on the E&T website is a legal requirement already implemented for all private vehicles. You might wish to discover as to why the Sindh government has refused or failed to follow this law for its own vehicles.
While the government is forever demanding compliance of laws, can a citizen take the liberty to submit that the governments which do not follow their own laws are left with little moral authority to ask others to do so?
Hope you have a great time at the 32 Acres.
Warm Regards,
Naeem Sadiq,
@saynotoweapons,
citizensagainstweapons.wordpress.com