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LETTERS:

Post letters to Letters to the Editor, The Daily Times, 41-N, Industrial Area, Gulberg II, Lahore, Pakistan Phone: 92-42-5878614-19; Fax: 92-42-5878620 E-mail: letters@dailytimes.com.pk . Letters may be edited for length and clarity

Direct subsidies

Sir: It was reported that Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shehbaz Sharif sent Rs 3000 as eidi to deserving persons in his constituency. This is a commendable move, and shows that Mr Sharif is in touch with the needs of his people. However, one hopes that this eidi was taken from the amount budgeted for that constituency or for humanitarian purposes by the government of Punjab, and not taken from money budgeted for other purposes. The chief minister’s move is yet another in a series of cash grants over the last eight years, under the idea that direct subsidy to the needy is better than subsidy on particular essential commodities. For example, some argue that direct subsidies, such as the Benazir Income Support Programme, are more enabling for the poorest of the poor than a blanket subsidy on, say, wheat or oil. There is not enough data to support or debunk this idea. However, the government should keep its economists on the task of monitoring the success of these direct cash grants to see if they work. The results of these studies should determine future policy. Experience, evidence and careful study should determine policy, not mere populist ideas.
SADIA KHAN
Lahore

Waking up to the crisis

Sir: This is with reference to the report in your paper of September 30, 2008, entitled “Pakistan urgently needs $3-4 billion to stabilise: Advisor”.

It is a relief to see that we are finally waking up to the seriousness of the economic situation that Pakistan faces. As the expression goes, “better late than never”, although, I fear it may be too late to avert a full-blown crisis and debt default. The report quotes a government economic advisor saying “Now, whether we have a policy framework or not, the donors needs to step in and give us the money”. I’m afraid that is not the way it works. There could be nothing worse, and more disorderly, than financing without a coherent macroeconomic framework of adjustment that underpins it.

I continue to be baffled by the inordinate amount of time that it has taken to put together a macroeconomic framework and seek donor views on its viability. We know exactly what needs to be done.
MEEKAL AZIZ AHMED
United States

Untapped potential

Sir: Most developed countries — and those aspiring to reach that level — spend considerable amounts of money on social development. While this includes expenditures on health and education, there are other ways of channelling energy and resources for the betterment of society.

One move that has worked very well for countries like Austria is compulsory military service for at least one year. Young people, after they are finished with high school, spend a year in the armed forces. Apart from the discipline this programme brings to the youth, it also trains them in rescue operations, basic first aid and organisation skills. This also enhances the civil defence capacity of a nation in cases of disaster or war. And given the troubled circumstances we find ourselves in, this could be just the programme to help bolster our defences against attacks and disasters.

Another programme that needs to be seriously considered is a volunteer programme. Given the expansion of the middle class in Pakistan, there are many families with children studying in good schools who have hardly anything to do all summer. Instead of wasting that time, the government and civil society should introduce programmes that employ these students for the betterment of society. For example, urban cleanup programmes manned by these students can work wonders for the state of our cities. This will not only give these children valuable experience, it will also help better society and will nurture better citizens for the future.
JAMSHED HASAN
Islamabad

Corrupt and reprehensible

Sir: In its latest hour-long video, Al Qaeda has called on Pakistani Muslims to take up arms and prepare for ‘holy war’ against what it calls ‘corrupt governments’. There is nothing more corrupt than encouraging poppy cultivation (in Afghanistan) and indulging in the trade of hard drugs like heroin, which facilitates the large arms purchases by Al Qaeda and its affiliates. Equally corrupt and infinitely reprehensible are the terrorist attacks carried out by this organisation which kill only innocent humans, majority of whom are Muslims. Pakistan should not rest until the Al Qaeda menace is totally weeded out from its soil.
KANGAYAM RANGASWAMY
United States

Innovative solutions needed

Sir: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s statement that Pakistan will seek a civil nuclear deal similar to the one worked out between the United States and India is encouraging. Pakistan is facing an energy crisis of enormous proportions and we need to be creative with solutions. The same old will simply not do. While most of our power is generated through thermal plants, we need to ensure that we fully explore other options like nuclear, wind, hydel and solar. A civil nuclear deal, with China or the US, will go a long way in diversifying our generation capacity.

At the same time, it is important for us to emphasise alternative sources. An alternative energy board has been set up by the government. However, its impact has been less than impressive. Next door, India is generating thousands of megawatts through wind farms. We have the geographical potential in the south of the country along the coastline to do the same. Also, we receive ample sunlight throughout the year, which is worth looking at, especially for projects such as rural electrification. One hopes the government has its priorities right as far as the energy crisis is concerned and will act in an innovative manner to meet the country’s growing demand.
JAVED AKRAM
Karachi

Charsadda attack

Sir: The suicide attack targeting Awami National Party leader Asfandyar Wali Khan is highly condemnable. The people of the NWFP elected his party with a heavy mandate, as the party has secular and pro-people ideals, as compared to the extremist ideas propagated by the Taliban who have taken large parts of the country hostage. Now these extremists want to destroy the leadership that opposes their harsh ideals, and are using terror tactics to achieve their goals. However, the people must not be deterred and should continue to fight this menace.
TANZILA KHAN
Islamabad

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