------------------------------------------------------------------- DAWN WIRE SERVICE ------------------------------------------------------------------- Week Ending : 26 August 2000 Issue : 06/32 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents | National News | Business & Economy | Editorials & Features | Sports
The DAWN Wire Service (DWS) is a free weekly news-service from
Pakistan's largest English language newspaper, the daily DAWN. DWS
offers news, analysis and features of particular interest to the
Pakistani Community on the Internet.
Extracts, not exceeding 50 lines, can be used provided that this
entire header is included at the beginning of each extract.
We encourage comments & suggestions. We can be reached at:
e-mail dws-owner@dawn.com
WWW http://dawn.com/
fax +92(21) 568-3188 & 568-3801
mail DAWN Group of Newspapers
Haroon House, Karachi 74200, Pakistan
Please send all Editorials and Letters to the Editor at
letters@dawn.com
(c) Pakistan Herald Publications (Pvt.) Ltd., Pakistan - 2000
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
CONTENTS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS + Mori asks Pakistan, India to sign CTBT + Musharraf, Mori hold wide-ranging talks + Commanders evaluate vital issues + Fresh ceasefire in 2 months likely: Hizb + Policy to recover arms soon: Moin + SHC dismisses Nawaz's application + Bangladesh's envoy to deliver Hasina's message to CE + C'wealth to seek polls within three years + Civil service set-up being reshaped + Govt lodges protest with India + Parties oppose Kalabagh dam + Human resource uplift top priority: Rs5bn IT policy unveiled + PPA amendment: GDA to move court + Nawaz no longer PML chief, says Shujaat + CBR seeks copies of boarding cards + Medical colleges seats in Sindh cut by 10% --------------------------------- BUSINESS & ECONOMY + Privatization Commission gets Rs630m offer for three LPG units + CE wants revival of sick units + Dollar sturdy despite SBP intervention + Punjab restores 12.5 acres ceiling: Agriculture income tax + Deal on debt relief in second session: IMF + World Bank lauds devolution plan + Turnover tax cut to 1%: Stock amnesty scheme from Sept 1 + $85 million investment projects approved + Limited funding by Japan likely + External debt reaches $29.52bn, says report + Traders agree to return tax forms + KSE 100-share index loses another 19.08 points --------------------------------------- EDITORIALS & FEATURES + Fellow-man Ardeshir Cowasjee + Who should be pointing out the lies? Ayaz Amir + Gateway to peace Irfan Husain ----------- SPORTS + Abdur Razzaq excels as Pakistan reach final of Singapore Cup + Dubai series called off + No cricket in Toronto this year
=================================================================== DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS =================================================================== NATIONAL NEWS 20000823 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mori asks Pakistan, India to sign CTBT ------------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DELHI, Aug 22: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on Tuesday called upon Pakistan and India to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and resume talks aimed at bringing stability to South Asia. In an interview with the Times of India, Mr Mori said: "It is extremely important that both India and Pakistan sign the CTBT towards preventing nuclear proliferation." The interview was conducted before he left on Aug 19 for his ongoing South Asian tour. "I hope to see progress during my visit in this end," said Mori. Regarding any easing or lifting of sanctions, the premier said Japan would "continue to carefully watch progress made regarding nuclear non-proliferation, including the signing of the CTBT". Mori, who will hold talks in New Delhi with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other Indian leaders on Wednesday, said it was also essential for Pakistan and India to resume talks, frozen since the Kargil conflict. "The relationship between India and Pakistan is important to establish peace and stability in the region," he said. "I strongly hope that both India and Pakistan will overcome their difficulties and resume dialogue."-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000822 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Musharraf, Mori hold wide-ranging talks ------------------------------------------------------------------- Hasan Akhtar ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, on Monday assured Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori that Pakistan would always act in the most responsible manner in the nuclear field and would not be the first to break its moratorium on nuclear tests. Islamabad would be open to any offer to intercede on or mediate in the Kashmir dispute with Delhi as has been repeatedly stated earlier, the Foreign Office spokesman told a news briefing. At their formal talks, the CE urged the Japanese premier to assist Pakistan in relieving the debt burden. Mr Mori reiterated that full economic relations, including the aid, would have to wait till Islamabad adhered to the CTBT and nuclear non-proliferation. The CE informed the Japanese premier that the economic sanctions imposed on Pakistan were a serious handicap in its efforts to recover and restructure its economic and political affairs. Tokyo and several other industrialized countries had slapped those sanctions on Islamabad after its nuclear tests in response to India's in May, 1998. Mr Mori, however, indicated some relaxation in reviving the aid held in pipeline. In this connection, Spokesman Riaz M. Khan said, the funding from Japan would be available for the under- construction Kohat Tunnel. The talks held on the second day of the Japanese leader's visit were satisfactory from Islamabad's point of view and reflected no reservations on the part of Mr Mori to see promotion of all-round relations between the two countries, said the spokesman. Pakistan, he added, was satisfied with the tone and contents of the discussions. In reply to questions, Mr Riaz said the Japanese PM had commended the domestic agenda of Gen Musharraf and his vision about the political and economic recovery. Mr Mori had also appreciated the "vigorous efforts" for implementation of the domestic agenda and showed understanding of the circumstances that had led to the change of the government in Islamabad in October, though emphasizing the need for "reintroduction" of democracy. Mr Mori had hoped that the military government would adhere to the time-frame set by the Supreme Court to introduce democracy after the legal and political reforms by the end of 2002. He had explained the strong Japanese sentiments against nuclear proliferation because of having suffered the nuclear catastrophe in the World War-II. The Japanese PM had hoped that while Pakistan was yet to adhere to the CTBT, it would stick to its moratorium against further testing. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000820 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Commanders evaluate vital issues ------------------------------------------------------------------- Faraz Hashmi ISLAMABAD, Aug 19: The two-day corps commanders conference concluded here on Saturday after reviewing a host of issues pertaining to national security and defence, an inter-services public relations (ISPR) spokesman in a statement said. The conference, presided over by the chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, on the second day mainly focused on the defence-related issues, Maj-Gen Rashid Qureshi said. The conference, held at the general headquarters (GHQ) at Chaklala in Rawalpindi, was also attended by all the principal staff officers. The military top brass discussed the operation preparedness of the armed forces and other professional matters. Issues pertaining to internal and external security also came under discussion, the statement said. In the conference detailed briefings were given about the professional training, including enhancement of air defence capabilities of the armed forces, it added. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000823 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Fresh ceasefire in 2 months likely: Hizb ------------------------------------------------------------------- SRINAGAR (Occupied), Aug 22: Kashmir's frontline guerilla group Hizbul Mujahideen said on Tuesday a new ceasefire was possible within two months but denied plans for secret talks with the Indian government. "Efforts at the international level are on to remove the bottlenecks and impediments coming in the way of resumption of a dialogue," Hizb's field commander in Kashmir, Abdul Majid Dar, told the local CNS news agency. "I am confident that the ceasefire will again come into force within two months" Dar said. "Hizbul Mujahideen is fully aware of the wishes and aspirations of the people (of Kashmir) and that is why it is desirous of the resumption of talks with the Indian government." The Hizbul ended a 15-day unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir on August 8 after India refused its demand to include Pakistan in peace talks, demanding Islamabad must first suspend its support for the armed insurgency in the disputed territory. In his latest remarks, Dar, 50, said the freedom struggle, which has left more than 25,000 people dead in Kashmir since 1989, will not end without Pakistan's involvement in tripartite talks. "Whatever solution comes out of the trilateral talks will be acceptable to my organisation irrespective of whether the solution is in favour of India or Pakistan", Dar told CNS. "India should realise that Pakistan is an important party to the Kashmir dispute. Without its participation, the resolution to the dispute cannot be sought," he said. Dar said that several people had offered to play a role and try to end the deadlock. He also appealed to Kashmir's political parties to help "create a congenial and conducive atmosphere for the resumption and successful culmination of negotiations." Dar rejected suggestions that a secret dialogue between the Hizb and India was on the cards. "There is no question of holding secret talks with New Delhi. "We believe in transparency, and whenever talks will take place they will be open and the media will be aware of it," Dar said. Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had said on Monday that Hizb was preparing to open a secret dialogue with the government of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. "Abdullah should act in a realistic way and adopt a policy which will bring the parties nearer to each other rather than create mistrust," Dar said in the interview.-AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000823 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Policy to recover arms soon: Moin ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: A new policy to recover arms and free the society of violence will be made public in the next two years, Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider said on Tuesday. The minister told the newsmen that the task force constituted for the purpose had completed work and he would be holding a couple of meetings with concerned officials after which it would be submitted before the cabinet for approval. He said data had been collected about how arms licences had been issued by the interior ministry and similar data was being collected from the districts to know the exact number of licences issued so far. As for police reforms, Lt-Gen (retd) Haider said details had been given for the devolution plan. Some other aspects of improvement in the police system were being looked into. Regarding the posting of ASPs at police stations he said their service structure, recruitment and training were under consideration. He said initially ASPs would be posted at police stations of major urban centres and some rural areas.-NNI DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000822 ------------------------------------------------------------------- SHC dismisses Nawaz's application ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shamim-ur-Rahman KARACHI, Aug 21: A full bench of the Sindh High Court on Monday dismissed the deposed prime minister, Nawaz Sharif's application, seeking adjournment of proceedings of three appeals in the plane hijacking case. Mr Sharif had sought the adjournment of the appeals till he obtains clarification from the Supreme Court regarding its judgement in Syed Zafar Ali Shah's case in which the SC had declared that the removal of Gen Pervez Musharraf as chief of the army staff and chairman joint chiefs of staff committee was illegal. The full bench, comprising Chief Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Wahid Bux Brohi, also ordered for holding the hearings in the appeals against the April 6 judgment of an anti-terrorism court from Aug 28 on day-to-day basis. The application was filed by Ejaz Hussain Batalvi on behalf of Mr Sharif after an objection was raised by the Sindh advocate-general, Raja Qureshi, last Wednesday on Azizullah Shaikh's contentions that the appellant's action of removing Gen Musharraf was legal and that he was an "ousted COAS." Mr Batalvi had contented that the entire incident was spread over three hours and the Supreme court's judgement, being relied upon by the prosecution, "has nothing to do with those three hours." The bench observed: "At this stage it would not like to express any view on the matter and that the proceedings should continue during which both sides will be free to refer to the record and to the law in any manner. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000823 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bangladesh�s envoy to deliver Hasina's message to CE ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary C.M. Shafi Sami arrived here on Tuesday to deliver a message of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed to the Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf, diplomatic sources said. Heading a two-member delegation, the special envoy of Bangladeshi prime minister will hold formal talks with Foreign Secretary Inam- ul-Haque. He will also call on Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar. Pakistan and Bangladesh are the members of 7-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) that also includes Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and India. The biennial SAARC summit was scheduled in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu in November 1999 but was indefinitely postponed due to Indian intransigence citing change of government in Pakistan. Islamabad has called for immediate convening of the SAARC summit and suggested expansion of its charter to include political issues in its fold. According to diplomatic sources, Bangladesh is interested in the holding of overdue SAARC summit and Sami's visit is taking place on the personal initiative of Sheikh Hasina. The Bangladeshi foreign secretary visited New Delhi on August 6 and conveyed Sheikh Hasina's letter for Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000826 ------------------------------------------------------------------- C'wealth to seek polls within three years ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ansar Abbasi ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said on Friday he would ask the chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, to hold election before the three-year deadline set by the Supreme Court. "We are beginning a series of discussions that should result in elections well inside three years time," Mr McKinnon told a press conference soon after his arrival here. Even two years timetable could be addressed during these meetings beginning on Saturday, the secretary-general said, adding that he would convey to the CE the Commonwealth's concern for an early restoration of the constitutional and democratic rule. Being the secretary-general of the Commonwealth, he said, he was to make contact with the military regime that had overthrown an elected government, and to hold discussions with it to bring Pakistan back as a full member of the Commonwealth. He said his discussions on a return to the democratic rule would be in the context of establishing a timeframe in which Pakistan could be brought back into the councils of the Commonwealth. During his stay in Pakistan, Mr McKinnon said, he would also meet leaders of different political parties to seek their views on the political situation. About the possibilities of Pakistan's expulsion from the Commonwealth, he said membership of the countries coming under military rule had been suspended in the past but so far no such nation had been expelled. He said he would also discuss with the CE the forthcoming local government election and the devolution plan. He disclosed that Pakistan foreign minister had been invited to the Commonwealth foreign ministers' meeting in New York during the first week of September to explain the position of his government on these issues and also to respond to the concerns of the Commonwealth ministers. Mr McKinnon indicated the Commonwealth might extend technical assistance to Pakistan for restoration of democracy and added that discussions on holding a fair and free election had already started. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000822 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Civil service set-up being reshaped ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: The military government is reshaping the civil service structure of the country to the extent that even the fate of some of the most important services/groups is in limbo, it is learnt. According to sources the groups like district management group, office management group, secretariat group and military land and cantonment group may not figure in their present shape, if not abolished altogether, in the future civil service structure of the country. The services like Police Service of Pakistan, Foreign Service of Pakistan, income tax group and customs and excise group are also under-going structural changes. This massive restructuring has left a very large number of the civil servants into complete disarray. Uncertain about their own future and completely dark about the shape of their service, majority of these civil servants do not show much interest in their assignments. According to sources the recently unveiled devolution plan has put the fate of the DMG at stake by proposing the abolition of the centuries old divisional/district administrative set-up. The new system of district government does not recognize the office of deputy commissioner which has always served as a linchpin for the DMG. With the abolition of the offices of commissioner, deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner, the DMG will lose the actual base of its cadre posts. According to sources the very existence of the DMG is in question as the newly created office of district coordinating officer under the district government has not been specified, exclusively, for the DMG officers. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000826 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt lodges protest with India ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with India over trespass of the residence of an official of its high commission in New Delhi. According to foreign office spokesman six intelligence officials barged into the residence of an air adviser in the Pakistan High Commission in the Indian capital on Friday and carried out an "unauthorized" search. "India has geared up its harassment campaign against Pakistani High Commission officials in total violation of Vienna convention on diplomatic relations", he said. "At around 1100 hours (0600 GMT) today, six persons in civilian clothes forced their entry into the residence of the air advisor and carried out unauthorized search," the foreign office said in a statement. The leader of the group introduced himself as Bindra, deputy commissioner of police in the Central Bureau of Investigation, it said. It came a day after India expelled a Pakistan high commission employee on "baseless charges", he said. Pakistan immediately lodged a strong protest with Indian government on Friday. The protest was handed to a senior Indian diplomat who was summoned to the foreign ministry, the spokesman added. India asked Pakistan on Thursday to withdraw Malik Mohammad Rafique, an official of the high commission in New Delhi by Aug 31. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000822 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Parties oppose Kalabagh dam ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report PESHAWAR, Aug 21: All major political parties of the three provinces - Frontier, Sindh and Balochistan - have once again unanimously rejected the proposed construction of the Kalabagh dam, an issue reopened by the military rulers, at the "Anti- Kalabagh Dam: Seminar" organized by the Awami National Party at Nisthtar Hall here on Monday. They had questioned the constitutional position of the present government and said the constitution was in abeyance, while the government had no legal, moral and constitutional grounds to re- open a debate on a dead issue like Kalabagh dam. Of late, three elected provincial assemblies of Sindh, Frontier and Balochistan had passed unanimous resolutions against the construction of the dam, they added. ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Begum Nasim Wali Khan, Pakhtoonkhawa Qaumi Party chief Afzal Khan, Sindh Awami Tehreek president Rasool Bakhsh Palejo, Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party president Qadar Magsi, Social Democratic Party president Gulzar Ahmed, Balochistan National Party's leader Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Balochistan National Movement chief Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, PPP Frontier chief Khwaja Mohammad Hoti, PPP deputy secretary Syed Khursheed Shah, chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Afrasiab Khattak, Mustafa Rizvi, a former MQM senator and other representatives of the Jamiat Ulema-i- Islam, Pakistan Muslim League spoke against the construction of the dam. According to the newspaper reports, HRCP chairperson Afrasiab Khattak said, all important decisions were taken at corps commanders' meetings in Rawalpindi. He asked: "Do corps commanders represent a central committee of a political party. Who has empowered them to decide about the basic issues confronting the nation. If the military will indulge itself into the politics, then the politics will spoil its body," he warned. Mr Khattak warned that military government's decisions were gross violations of human rights and in today's world these violations were not confined to a particular country. The world had witnessed the treatment meted out to Serbs in Kosovo and the Indonesian army in East Temore, he added. He called upon the government to leave this issue (the dam) for the future elected governments, otherwise it could be placed at the United Nations agenda for its massive destruction of economy and ecology in Sindh and Frontier. Begum Nasim Wali Khan said it was a gathering of the people who had a positive approach on collective national issues. "We are affected people. We have one agenda to resist the usurpers and to fight for common cause. None of the military dictators, she said, had succeeded in uprooting Pakhtoons in the name of Kalabagh dam and neither the present would be allowed to play havoc with the life of people in Frontier. She thanked politicians who came to Peshawar to attend the seminar. Asif Ali, a local engineer, said it was not a workable project and everywhere the governments had abandoned the idea of making huge and big dams. He quoted a western expert saying "large dams are built by dame fools". DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000824 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Human resource uplift top priority: Rs5bn IT policy unveiled ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: The government has unveiled an information technology policy, allocating Rs5 billion for the development of the IT and telecommunication sector. Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday, the federal minister for science and technology, Prof Attaur Rehman, said that under the policy, which had already been approved by the federal cabinet, four IT universities and one virtual IT university would be set up. He added that a faculty of IT teachers and professionals would be engaged from abroad. The minister said a National Testing and Accreditation Service would be set up to ensure quality IT education and training. A written press statement containing the salient features of the policy said the government had committed Rs5 billion for the IT and telecommunication sector for 2000-2001. Rs2 billion, it said, had already been allocated as a block allocation. The minister said IT boards would be set up in all the provinces. He added that the government would include local software houses in public projects. He said that for the development of the hardware industry the government would waive duties and taxes on the import of hardware, and would offer incentives aimed at reducing the cost of raw material and inputs. Mr Rehman said that for the growth of the internet, unnecessary regulations would be avoided and its provision at low cost would be ensured. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000824 ------------------------------------------------------------------- PPA amendment: GDA to move court ------------------------------------------------------------------- Nasir Malick ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: The Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) has rejected the amendments in the Political Parties Act (PPA) and decided to challenge them in court, a spokesman for the alliance told reporters here on Wednesday. The decision was taken at a meeting of the alliance, presided over by the veteran politician, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, at the Pakistan Peoples Party's central secretariat here today. It was attended by the heads and representatives of 18 political and religious parties and groups. The alliance also expelled Tehrike Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehrik from its fold after accusing them of "deviating from the GDA policy." The two parties had decided to boycott the meeting. The Nawabzada, who briefed reporters after the marathon session of the alliance, said that the member parties were of the unanimous view that the recent amendments in the PPA were aimed at minimizing the role of the political parties. Hence, it was decided to challenge the amendment in the court. The amendments bar a convicted person from holding any party office which ostensibly affect two major political parties - Pakistan PPP and PML (N) - as heads of the two parties have been convicted by the courts. "No individual can be given a right to reject the leaders of political parties," the Nawabzada, who was flanked by PPP leader Amin Fahim and ANP leader Asfandyar Yar Wali at the briefing, told reporters. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000825 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Nawaz no longer PML chief, says Shujaat ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mohammad Yasin RAWALPINDI, Aug 24: Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said on Thursday that Nawaz Sharif was no longer the head of the PML in the wake of the recently amended Political Parties Act. At the Meet the Press programme of the Rawalpindi Press Club, Chaudhry Shujaat said his sympathies were with Nawaz Sharif but the fact was that he (Nawaz) could no longer claim to be the president of the PML following his conviction in two cases and the amendments made to the PPA. As far as the PML constitution was concerned, he said, there could be no acting president in the party. In reply to a question whether Begum Kulsoom should be made the president, the former interior minister disagreed with the idea. He remarked that Raja Zafrul Haq was the "most suitable" candidate for the top slot. Raja Zafrul Haq, he said, was not interested in contesting the election for the party presidentship. He, however, cautioned if any one else was made the president, it might be challenged in a court of law. Chaudhry Shujaat appreciated the services Nawaz Sharif had rendered for the party. He demanded restoration of assemblies. Referring to storming of the SC, the PML leader said that people had been brought from Lahore for that purpose. He named the then chief minister Shehbaz Sharif in this regard. He said that in his capacity as the interior minister he had tried to stop it but he could not succeed. He announced that the PML would take part in the local bodies polls. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000821 ------------------------------------------------------------------- CBR seeks copies of boarding cards ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: The Central Board of Revenue has requested the interior ministry to submit copies of all boarding cards on international flights for matching the travel expenses of Pakistani passengers with their income figures declared with the tax department. The request was made last Saturday by Pakistan Revenue Automation (PRAL), which is responsible for data analysis on tax survey and is assisting the CBR in detecting tax evasion. Official sources told Dawn that the PRAL was also approaching the provincial vehicle registration authorities to supply records on ownership of all the 1300CC and above vehicles, to check whether they were registered as taxpayers. Similarly, the government and private schools, charging more than Rs1,000 fee per child, are also being approached through the federal and provincial education departments, to supply the details on children/parents, their residential addresses, and the annual fee charged from them. The government, semi-government and private housing societies would also be asked to submit their data on leasing, land-deeds and acquisition for matching these with the existing records on taxpayers, to check whether the buyers and lease-holders of land/houses are paying taxes. If they are paying do their declared sources of income tally with the money with which they have entered such deals. Official sources said that those steps were necessitated after finding "glaring" discrepancies in the declarations on the prices and rents of residential buildings in the posh areas of 13 major cities. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000822 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Medical colleges seats in Sindh cut by 10% ------------------------------------------------------------------- Nizamuddin Siddiqui KARACHI, Aug 21: The Sindh health department has decided to reduce by 10 per cent the number of seats to be offered for admission by the five public sector medical colleges of the province this year. Next year also there will be a similar reduction. The decision has been taken because even the better-known colleges like the Dow Medical College do not have necessary staff and infrastructure. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) says that at best the medical colleges are capable of imparting education to 250 students per batch. A source toldDawnthat the health department had been considering for the last two years a proposal for reducing the number of seats, but it was not implemented due to political pressure. Provincial Health Minister Ahsan Ahmed confirmed on Saturday that this time there would be a reduction in the number of seats. The five government-run medical colleges offer each year 1,574 seats for admission under various categories. A total of 1,211 seats are reserved for the open merit category and the rest for 'quota categories'. If there is a reduction in the number of seats this year the medical colleges will be offer-ing admission to only 1,417 students. And the total number of merit seats will decrease from 1,211 to 1,090. Last year the Dow Medical College and Sindh Medical College admitted 511 students under the open merit category. This year the two institutions are likely to offer, under the same category, admission to only 460 students. The health minister told this reporter on Saturday that in the past, the number of seats had been increased in the medical colleges without keeping in view the available infrastructure and strength of the teaching staf."And often these decisions were taken due to political reasons more than anything else," he said. The minister said that a chief minister, not too long ago, had suddenly increased the number of seats to be offered for admission by the Liaquat Medical College (LMC) from 350 to 666. "The decision was purely a political one. And the step was taken on the basis of the discretionary powers that this CM had," said Mr Ahmed. "And not enough was done to increase the faculty strength, etc, in the college. As a result, the academic standard suffered." He said that his ministry was trying to reverse this trend. In response to a question, the minister said that the number of seats was being reduced " because we want to improve the academic standards in the government-run medical institutions. There's no other reason."
=================================================================== BUSINESS & ECONOMY 20000825 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Privatization Commission gets Rs630m offer for three LPG units ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Aug 24: The Privatization Commission received a total offer of Rs630 million when the LPG business of three state-owned companies came under hammer on Thursday. The bidding of LPG business of Sui Southern Gas Company was closed at the highest Rs369 million offered by Caltex. SHV, another private firm, offered Rs140 for PSO's LPG business, while Petrosin won the bidding of SNGPL at the highest offer of Rs121 million. In the afternoon, the PC met to evaluate the bids and made its recommendations for the Cabinet Committee of Privatization (CCOP) which would accept or reject the bids. The bidding was held at a local hotel in presence of all the representatives of the prequalified companies and the media. PC chairman Altaf Saleem said the presence of some international players at the bidding was an encouraging sign and a reflection of growing confidence of international investors in the country's economy. Mainly, he said, the gas quota of these companies had been auctioned while the machinery and equipment component was negligible. He said the PC had received a good response. Ten companies had been initially pre-qualified for the bidding, and six of them turned up. Mr Saleem said that the CCOP would finalize these transactions within one week. When asked whether the privatization of the LPG business would have any impact on the prices, he said the government had already deregulated the gas business. Mr Saleem informed the PC meeting that the chief executive had, in principle, approved the privatization of PIA. He said the government would keep on adding more public sector companies in the two list of the units to be privatized. The meeting reviewed the bidding results of the LPG business, and called for resolutions from the respective boards of the companies before obtaining final approval from the CCOP. It discussed the appointment of financial advisors for divestment of government's working interest in nine oil and gas discoveries. Members of the commission, S.M. Naseem, Khalil Mian, Saquib H. Shirazi, Zafar Ali Khan, and others attended the meeting. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000824 ------------------------------------------------------------------- CE wants revival of sick units ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, on Wednesday called for efforts to generate economic activity, said an official statement. Presiding over a meeting of his cabinet he said that investors should be motivated to invest in different sectors, it added. The sick industrial units should be revived to create more jobs and generate more funds, the CE said. Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz briefed the cabinet about his negotiations with the traders on tax survey and other related issues. The chief executive appreciated the efforts of the minister in resolving the issue. It was observed that the tax survey campaign was progressing satisfactorily and the government was moving successfully towards achieving the target of documentation of the economy. Gen Musharraf said the performance of the ministries should be projected properly so that the people could know what the government was doing for their betterment, revival of economy, elimination of corruption and for curbing the smuggling, said an official statement. He directed them to explain the devolution plan to the people in its true perspective and spirit. "The people need to be informed of the special values and benefits of this programme. How people at the grass roots level are being empowered to run their own affairs," the CE said. He said, the people should also be informed as to how the politicians in league with the bureaucracy have been playing havoc with the nation. And how under the new system, the people at the grass roots level would become masters of their own destiny after becoming financially and administratively independent. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000822 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dollar sturdy despite SBP intervention ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mohiuddin Aazim KARACHI, Aug 21: The dollar climbed up to Rs55.10/ Rs55.20 in inter-bank market on Monday against the weekend close of Rs54.40 /54.50-losing 70 paisa in one session. The State Bank intervened in the market but the intervention failed to fortify the rupee. Senior bankers said the SBP intervened when the dollar had shot up to Rs55. The intervention reined in the galloping greenback and held it firm at Rs54.70 for some time. But the small intervention soon lost its grip on the greenback that rose again and reached the heights of Rs55.10 and Rs55.20 at the end of the day. There was no official word on intervention but senior bankers said it pumped in no more than $5-6 million in the market. This was the second intervention after the State Bank removed an unofficial cap on inter-bank exchange rates free floating the rupee on July 20. On July 27, the SBP had intervened after the dollar had risen to Rs53.65. The intervention estimated around $1.5-3 million had forced the dollar down to Rs53.35 at the end of the day. But that small intervention had produced the desired result because it was accompanied by a surprise inspection of some banks reportedly engaged in creating artificial shortage of the dollar. This time the intervention was not supplemented by such moves. The reverberations of the inter-bank market were felt also in the open market where the greenback closed at Rs57.25/Rs57.35: On weekend the dollar had traded between Rs57.15/57.25. The open market normally reacts to inter-bank fluctuations the next day. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000823 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Punjab restores 12.5 acres ceiling: Agriculture income tax ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter LAHORE, Aug 22: The old ceiling of 12.5 acres land holding for exemption from agriculture income tax has been restored in the Punjab. The chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, on Tuesday issued necessary instructions in this regard to the Punjab governor. In the current year's budget, the tax ceiling was reduced from 12.5 acres to five acres for generation of more funds. Inaugurating a kissan mela at Company Bagh, Sheikhupura, the chief executive said that the old ceiling was being restored in the interest of the growers. The governor, Lt-Gen Mohammad Safdar, Corps Commander, Lahore, Lt- Gen Khalid Maqbool, Punjab Agriculture Minister, Khurshid Zaman Qureshi and senior civil and military officials were also present. Gen Musharraf credited the farmers for enabling the country not only to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat but also producing one million tons surplus crop for export. The chief executive defended the newly-introduced local government system, saying it would empower the people and help them change their fate. He said now funds would be available at the district level and the district governments would be able to approve development projects according to their own requirements. Enumerating the positive aspects of the new system, he said the women had been given more representation on the local councils. He asked the women to take part in the new system to be able to play their due role in the national affairs. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000823 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Deal on debt relief in second session: IMF ------------------------------------------------------------------- Jawaid Bokhari KARACHI, Aug 22: The visiting IMF technical team, now busy in preparing a financial table indicating the overall economic picture, will be followed by another mission to negotiate conditionalities for Pakistan to qualify for funding and debt relief by the Paris Club, sources say. The table is expected to be ready, after completion of talks with federal and provincial governments, by the end of the current month. On the basis of this table, the sources say, quarterly targets will be set for compliance or indicated in areas where some degree of flexibility becomes unavoidable because of variable factors. Any accord with the IMF will not, therefore, be applicable before the second quarter of the current fiscal. The sources say the visit of the second IMF mission in the current fiscal to negotiate the IMF programme can only take place after the financial table is ready as a reference and starting point for any negotiations, for which Fund officials may either arrive in Islamabad by the end of August or early September. In case the talks conclude on a positive note, the IMF will also broker a debt relief deal with the Paris club. The IMF would develop an overall package which would include rescheduling of bilateral debts. Multilateral loans are preferred debts and no relaxation in repayments are allowed. The negotiations between the two sides earlier this year, after an impasse of one year, was seen as the first step towards an anticipated new and perhaps augmented facility from the Fund. These discussions helped Pakistan evolve policies that correspond to the IMF prescription for crisis-ridden economies. Experts agree that the budget 1999-2000 is primarily "stabilization" effort rather than growth oriented with focus on poverty alleviation. A substantial cut in the fiscal deficit, from 6.1 per cent to 4.6 per cent of the GDP, has been proposed for the current fiscal, with an eye for multilateral assistance. The IMF prefers stabilization to growth. However, government borrowings are still a source of concern for IMF officials. Sources close to the IMF say the budgetary policies have been appreciated by the Fund because they are generally in line with the IMF approach to the solution of the country's problems except for minor deviations. Though ambitious, the Fund officials believe that the tax revenue target of Rs436 billion is more creditable than any of those presented by the previous government. Similarly, there is a realization that it is for the first time in several years that a concerted effort for poverty alleviation is being mounted. With the critical negotiations with the IMF just round the corner, the State Bank has removed the unofficial band for inter- bank dollar trading and has allowed free float of the rupee to create a conducive environment for talks. The visit of the next IMF mission, carrying a mandate to negotiate conditionalities on economic and fiscal issues has been preceded by a dialogue with the visiting Japanese prime minister on political problems between Pakistan and the G8 industrialized states. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000823 ------------------------------------------------------------------- World Bank lauds devolution plan ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bureau Report ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: The World Bank praises the military government's initiative on devolution plan and also lauds its efforts to build Kalabagh dam but without showing any sign of financial assistance. Influential diplomatic sources told Dawn that the World Bank agreed that the Kalabagh dam was the most viable project to be pursued by the government. The bank, however, is reluctant to offer financial assistance required to construct the dam if finally decided by the government of Pakistan. The World Bank, these sources said, was of the view that it would not be in a position to offer around $6 billion to Pakistan, for the purpose of constructing the dam, when the country is already under huge foreign debts. The World Bank is also said to be happy with the unveiling of the military government's devolution of power plan and believes that this initiative will have positive impact in the development of the country. It is said that the World Bank also supports the strengthening of the local government institutions and has been pursuing successive governments in Pakistan to protect these democratic institutions at grass root level through a constitutional amendment. According to sources the Bank had also demanded the devolution of power from provinces to the local governments, in one of its reports submitted before the government of Pakistan during the recent years. The WB, it is said, believes that the frequent dissolution of the local government institutions and the appointment of hand picked administrators could never solve the problems faced by the masses. The Bank has also demanded of the government of Pakistan to abolished the offices like commissioners and deputy commissioners which are used by the provincial government to influence the democratically elected local government institutions. All major subjects like health, education, planning and development etc should be handled by the local government institutions instead of the provincial governments. The Nawaz Sharif government, which was asked to implement WB's recommendations, had though not implemented these proposals forwarded by the Bank, the NRB formulated a plan which matches the international donor's objectives. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000823 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Turnover tax cut to 1%: Stock amnesty scheme from Sept 1 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ikram Hoti ISLAMABAD, Aug 22: Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz here on Tuesday announced reduction of turnover tax rate for the wholesale and retail traders from 2 per cent to 1 per cent for one year, and also announced the launching of stock amnesty scheme operative for one month, from Sept 1 to 30th, 2000. Representatives of the trade bodies from all over the country, sans NWFP, met him to conclude a package for these two trade sub-sectors which have been agitating against the documentation of their turnovers and profit-sources under the existing rules. "The traders have assured the government that now they will cooperate in the documentation process, pay tax in accordance to the agreed formula, and maintain record-keeping on their sales- purchases", said Shaukat Aziz. He added that the traders will now fill monthly tax returns as "enrolled" (not registered) persons, and will be bound to declare volume and value of their stocks by the end of each quarter (four times a year). "In view of their specific status of non-registered persons, they will now pay 1% turnover tax, but will be charged one and half per cent additional sales tax on their purchase" as a penalty stipulated under the law for non-registered persons. "We will step up our campaign to register all businesses under the GST regime after arriving at an agreement with the trade sector to bring them under a specific mode of documentation. The documentation of economy survey is now being extended to 13 more cities", said the minister. The retailers will now get their undeclared stocks documented under the Tuesday agreement by paying 2% of the actual volume of stocks- in-trade. A new facility allowed to them is that a variation of 15% will be applied in determining the taxable stocks (at 2%), each year. The Gross Profit Rate for determining the income tax amount in each case of trade and business will not be applicable in future. The formula of Net Profit Rate will be adopted for this purpose at the rate of 3.5%. Retailers' stocks will be multiplied three times for calculation of their Net Profit Rate, while the wholesalers' stocks will, initially, be multiplied 6 times, until a new package is announced for them. Wholesalers and jewellers have been promised a separate package of taxation with simplified documentation and "attractive rate" under the Tuesday agreement, which would be announced shortly. The agreement envisages that the trade bodies' nominees would be accompanying each of the survey teams, during their visits for distribution and retrieval of the survey forms, at each of the markets in 13 major cities and, after extension, in 26 towns of the country. A partial immunity from audit operative under self assessment scheme has been allowed to traders but their demand for increasing the exemption limit for assessment of turnover from Rs1-3 million has not been accepted. Stocks put up for declaration under the formal will be subject to audit at the discretion of the tax authorities, wherever necessary. The retailers' NPR at 3.5%, as proposed by the trade bodies, has been agreed, with the condition that the NRP rate for wholesalers would depend on categories of traders, and that details on this count would be finalized through further negotiations. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000822 ------------------------------------------------------------------- $85 million investment projects approved ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: The Cabinet Committee on Investment (CCI) met here on Monday with Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz in the chair and approved various investment projects worth $85 million. Commerce Minister Razak Dawood stated that this was in addition to the investment of $500 million under way in the textile sector, which would modernize the sector to produce high value-added products to meet the challenges of the international market. This would also create jobs and promote exports, he added. The meeting reviewed progress on the implementation of 16 investment projects worth $210 million and noted with satisfaction that trans-national corporations like Sony, Copula, Daihatsu, Hyundai, McDonald and Nike had plans to increase their investment in Pakistan. The meeting directed the concerned ministries and agencies to expedite the pending proposals by the end of September. Earlier, the finance minister said that Board of Investment had been re-activated under the new chairman, Wasim Haqie. The next CCI meeting will take place in September. The meeting was attended by the ministers for commerce, communications, food and agriculture, health, petroleum and natural resources.-APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000822 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Limited funding by Japan likely ------------------------------------------------------------------- ISLAMABAD, Aug 21: Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori in his talks with the chief executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf, on Monday expressed concern over terrorism and nuclear non-proliferation, and hoped that Pakistan would not undertake further nuclear tests under its self-imposed moratorium. A senior Japanese foreign ministry official told a news briefing that Mr Mori had informed his host that Japan would seriously consider a limited resumption of funding, which was in the pipeline, for the Kohat Tunnel in view of Pakistan's nuclear testing moratorium. He, however, had indicated that wide issue of aid resumption and economic relations remained linked to signing of the CTBT by Pakistan. Mr Mori was the first Japanese PM to visit Pakistan after a lapse of 10 years when Mr Toshiki Kaifu came here. The official said Mr Mori had suggested renewal of economic and political dialogue process after the long break and said that the Pakistan foreign minister might visit Tokyo during the current fiscal year for the purpose. The official said the Japanese prime minister was not here as an intermediary between the two South Asian neighbours, though his next stop would be Banglore. The reference to Kashmir by Mr Mori at his meeting with the CE, the official said, was made while recalling the G-8 statement made at the end of the Okinawa summit last month, urging Pakistan and India to resume the Lahore dialogue process to reduce tension. The Musharraf-Mori talks were spread over two sittings and they were described as "cordial and constructive" by the official.-H.A. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000824 ------------------------------------------------------------------- External debt reaches $29.52bn, says report ------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent ISLAMABAD, Aug 23: Pakistan's external debt on May 31, amounted to $29.520 billion of which $23.611 billion was long-term and $1.484 billion short term, says a report on the economic situation sent by Pakistan to the international donors this week. The foreign exchange reserves stood at $1.352 billion at the end of June, against $1.729 billion on June 30, 1999, showing a decrease of 21.8 per cent. The exchange rate (Pak rupee-dollar interbank) for June averaged Rs52.05, showing a depreciation of 0.7 per cent over the exchange rate of Rs51.70 in June 1999. Foreign currency account situation is reflected by the fact that $68.7 million were converted into rupee and special dollar bonds from frozen FCA in May. Of this, the conversion in rupee amounted to $42.3 million (61.6 per cent) and $26.4 million were converted into special dollar bonds (38.4 per cent). The balance under FCA scheme is constantly decreasing. In May, the balance amounted to $3.055 million, of which the resident accounts were $1.374 billion (45 per cent) and the remaining 55 per cent belonged to non-resident accounts. Workers' remittances during 1999-2000 amounted to $983.7 million against $1.060 billion in the previous year, indicating decline of 7.2 per cent. It says that the current account deficit during July-April 1999- 2000 narrowed by 36.1 per cent to $1240 million over the level of $1940 million of the comparable period last year. This was caused by a reduction in trade deficit (FOB) and substantial rise (42.9 per cent) in private transfers. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000821 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Traders agree to return tax forms ------------------------------------------------------------------- LAHORE, Aug 20: The traders have assured the military authorities that they will return tax survey forms by Aug 27. The assurance was given at a meeting of the representatives of various trade organizations and army officials at the garrison headquarters here on Sunday. The traders' representatives also assured that they would extend all out cooperation to the government in its efforts for documentation of the economy. Brig Nadeem asked the traders not to take the law into their hands. He said that the government would not compromise on the documentation issue and would complete the task at all costs. He said: "We are trying to accomplish the task smoothly and in an atmosphere of brotherhood." He hoped that the traders would not become a tool in the hands of the "anti-state" elements and those having "vested" interests. He said, "in the past we adopted lenient policy for those traders who violated the law, but from now onward we will adopt, 'no negotiations' policy, with such elements. He said the role of the armed forces was of a facilitator and we sent all the suggestions received from traders to the quarters concerned. He said the army personnel were working with the survey teams to keep a check on the CBR officials, so that they could not harass the traders unnecessarily. Nevertheless, the army was working to facilitate the traders as a "fair broker". He said it was encouraging that the process of return of survey forms was going on and almost 60 per cent forms had been received. DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000826 ------------------------------------------------------------------- KSE 100-share index loses another 19.08 points ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reporter KARACHI, Aug 25: The KSE 100-share index on Friday narrowly escaped to breach through the barrier of 1,500 points as some of the leading base shares managed to finish modestly recovered but the underlying sentiment continues to be highly shaky in the absence of strong demand. What ails the market is now pretty difficult to fathom but one thing appears certain that "it is not only the victim of slack demand and there could be some more pressing negatives", floor brokers said. After breaching the barrier of 1,500 points at one stage, the KSE 100-share index finally finished at 1,500.97 as compared to 1,519.87 a day earlier, showing a net loss of 19.08 points. The predictions that the sell-off of the LPG quotas of PSO, Sui Southern and Sui Northern, the three state-owned units will lure investors back in the market did not prove correct as auction bids are said to be far below the officially fixed minimum selling price, analysts said. The bids amounted to Rs630 million, with Caltex Corporation being the highest bidder for the Sui Southern's quota at Rs369 million followed by SHV Energy Pakistan, Rs140 million for PSO and Petros in Rs121 million for Sui Northern Gas. Whether or not, the cabinet committee will accepts the auction bids will be known during the next couple of days but the privatization commission has already sent the report to it with its comments. "The sell-off of the LPG quota could well prove a forerunner of the massive privatization programme involving about four dozen state- owned units valued at $4 billion", analysts said "hoping investors will be back in the market after their tax worries are over". The prevailing prices of both Sui Southern and Sui Northern below Rs20.00 are quite attractive for long-term buying as they could get the needed boost after the outcome of their LPG quote are out, they added. However, unlike the previous two sessions, all was not bad with the broader market as some of the selected shares attracted good support under the lead of Fillips despite fall in interim sales to Rs 1.288bn from the previous half year's Rs1.402bn but on the other hand Pakistan Gum Chemicals rose modestly to Rs175m from the previous Rs158m. The market decline was led by the energy sector where all the leading shares suffered fresh decline on renewed selling, Shell Pakistan, Pakistan Refinery, Pakistan Oilfields being the leading losers. However, it was said to be profit-taking at the higher levels and has nothing to do with any negative news. But the largest fall was noted in Nestle MilkPak, which remained under post-dividend selling. Textiles shares followed it, major losers being among them being Ishaq Textiles, Sapphire Fibre and Fazal Textiles, falling by Rs2.50 to 5.00. Other leading shares, which suffered fresh decline included Al- Meezan Investment Bank, Adamjee Insurance, General Tyre, Millat Tractors, Engro Chemical, and Lever Brothers, falling by Rs2.50 to 12.00. Some leading shares managed to show fractional gains but lacked aggressive support from any quarter. DEFAULTER COMPANIES: Trading on this counter remained insipid in the absence of demand. Al-Qaim Textiles was, however, an exception, which came in for active buying and was quoted higher by 45 paisa at Rs2.45 on 9,500 shares. DIVIDEND: Century Insurance interim at the rate of 10 per cent for the year ended June 30, 2000.Back to the top
===================================================================
EDITORIALS & FEATURES
20000820
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Fellow-man
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ardeshir Cowasjee
MUCH to our comfort, press headlines in the Republic of Pakistan
scream no more. They whimper. For instance, let's have a look at
yesterday's four main English-language morning newspapers of
Karachi.
Dawn : A six-column wide headline at the bottom of the page read
"Musharraf says he will stay on as COAS." In the text of the PPI
news item, dateline Tokyo, he is quoted : " 'I am not retiring. I
am not going to retire in October 2001.. . . . . ..', the General
said . . . . dismissing speculations that he was planning to enter
politics and stay in power beyond the deadline set by the apex
court."
The News : A two-column wide front page second lead headline read
"Signing CTBT to lead to internal disturbances : CE." In the text
of this same PPI news item he is quoted as having said, "I am not
retiring. I am not going to retire in October 2001. . . .".
The Nation : A three-column wide front-page lead headline read :
"Musharraf says he will remain COAS," and he is quoted by PPI as
having said the same thing.
The Business Recorder : Sensibly, to my mind, a third-page headline
read "Time not ripe for signing CTBT, says Musharraf." PPI conveyed
the same message from the general.
To the credit of the general, though there may have been
speculation as to his plans in October 2001, he has never announced
that he intended to retire on his due retirement date. Power in
Pakistan rests firmly with the largest single disciplined party,
the army, and it will remain so until the large majority of our
people are literate, properly educated and are able to acquire
trained or semi-trained minds, and for as long as the politicians
who wield power remain materially and morally corrupt and dishonest
to the core.
Musharraf has no intention of proving wrong that great Englishman
Winston Spencer Churchill who said that the last victorious ruling
general who went back to his plough was Lucius Quinctius
Cincinnatus in 458 BC.
On record, so far Pervez Musharraf and his men have been better
rulers than Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif, both plunderers poorly
disguised as democrats, who between them managed to sink the
country, contrary to the claims of their cohorts who maintain that
there is still six inches of water beneath the keel. To some,
Musharraf has ruled for ten months as a benevolent dictator - but,
then, it is said, no dictator can possibly remain benevolent for
long. It is imperative that Musharraf and his generals ensure, by
ordinance or constitutional amendment or otherwise, that neither of
these two 'elected' leaders nor any of the men and women who
acquiesced in their doings and were party to their crimes, are
allowed to hold any office of state for at least the next ten
years.
Helpless as we are, the least we all can do is to try to see that
our fellow-man has enough to eat, enough water to drink, and is
allowed to live freely and with dignity.
Fellow-man Mirza Mubarak Ahmad Nusrat : An Ahmedi of Mirpurkhas was
arrested in 1989 for allegedly distributing a "Prayer Duel
Pamphlet" and was detained in a police lock-up. While he was under
detention Mullah Ahmad Mian Hamadi accused him of "offering
prayers" and a criminal case (13/88) was registered against him at
Tando Adam police station under Section 298 of the PPC. His trial
lasted 11 years, his case being heard at various locations - Tando
Adam, Sanghar, Hyderabad and Karachi. It was referred to the Sindh
High Court on three occasions, and eventually the SHC ordered that
the case be transferred to Hyderabad and heard there "at an early
date."
On May 20 of this year judicial magistrate of Hyderabad, Fida
Hassan Mughal, announced his decision and wrote :
"The point for my determination are as under : 1) Whether on
15/1/89 in between 2.30 to 5 p.m. in the lockup of police station
Tando Amad, the above named accused being Qadiani offered prayers
like Muslims with Sajdah and Rukoo with face towards Kabatullah
Shareef by posing himself as Muslim. 2) What offence, if any, the
accused has committed."
He "reached the conclusion that the prosecution has established its
case against accused beyond all shadow of doubt." He convicted the
accused "for an offence u/s 298 PPC but looking to the
circumstances of the case as accused has suffered the agony of
protracted trial for more than eleven years and also remained in
jail from 8/2/89 to 29/4/89 when he appeared on bail, for the
period of about 2 months and 21 days, I therefore sentence him for
the period of 2 months and 21 days which he has already suffered as
UTP by giving him benefit of section 382.B Cr.P.C. Accused has also
to pay fine of Rs3,000, in default thereof he shall have to suffer
S.I. for one month more. The amount of fine is to be paid by
accused within one month from today. Accused is present on bail.
His surety will remain good till depositing amount of fine by
accused. In case of non-payment of amount of fine within one month,
the accused will be taken into custody by issuing his NBW and will
be sent to jail to serve the period of sentence in default of
payment of fine."During the trial the accused and his advocate, Ali
Ahmad Tariq, had to travel thousands of kilometers for their
appearances in the various courts. The accused, a meticulous man,
claimed that had he kept a proper log it would have shown that by
January 2000 the total number of kilometers covered would have
amounted to 98,840. Nusrat and his attorney may like to know that
this distance is over twice the measurement of the equatorial
circumference of Earth (40,076 km), the planet on which they exist.
Should we not all plead guilty for having made this man suffer for
so long?
Next, to fellow-man Sher Nawaz Khan. On March 23, 1999, I reported
an incident to the police. The day before, on the two-way public
road running between the Federation of Commerce and Industry
building and the Cupola complex, "I was in my open Suzuki jeep
driving towards Clifton. I was stopped by private security guards
of Field Security who asked me to stop and turn back as I was on a
one-way road.
"The security guard was informed that it was not his business to
interfere with public traffic on a public thoroughfare notified as
a two-way road. Another armed guard appeared, rushed towards the
jeep with an automatic rifle, shouting and screaming in Pushto,
clicking it, making it ready to fire. He was overpowered and
disarmed by his comrades. He then mounted the rear platform of the
jeep, hit me on the head, grabbed and pulled a handful of my hair.
Again he was overpowered and taken away by his fellow guards. Upon
enquiring what his name was, I was informed it was 'Javed'
(possibly not true).
"At this point, several guards along with a crowd of what appeared
to be employees of the Cupola organization lifted my jeep off the
road, waved at the oncoming traffic, cleared the road and allowed
me to pass."
On May 17, 1999, a widow, a resident of Mardan came to see me and
informed me that her son, Sher Nawaz, a hot-tempered youth, was the
security guard who had behaved rather badly outside Tesmart. He was
in jail, and she had come to ask me if I was willing to forgive him
and have him released on condition that she guaranteed that she
would immediately take him back with her to Mardan. Surprised to
find the man had been jailed, I gave her the letter she sought. I
heard no more from her and presumed all was well.
At the end of July this year I was served with a summons to appear
before Judicial Magistrate Court No.1, Karachi South, as a witness
in Case No.88/1999 (FIR No.117/1999), The State versus Sher Nawaz
and Ors. My conscientious lawyer, Rustom Virjee, the sole surviving
Parsi pleading advocate of Pakistan, discovered that Sher Nawaz had
been kept in jail for some nine months until he was bailed out. He
said we should appear before magistrate Irum Jehangir, a kind
woman, and try and help him get off. We did so, and we can now only
hope that the man is freed.
'Speedy justice' is what General Musharraf promised in his address
to the nation on October 17, 1999.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
20000825
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Who should be pointing out the lies?
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ayaz Amir
AFTER the skeletons of the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report have
come tumbling out of that dark cupboard where we keep our national
secrets locked there has been an outcry over what should be done.
Publish the full report. Call the guilty, living or dead, to
account. Face up to the past. And so on.
Maj-Gen Rahim Khan, one of the heroes of the East Pakistan debacle,
has spoken out in a slightly different vein. Immortalized for the
manner in which he deserted his command and later escaped from East
Pakistan on board a helicopter meant to fly out a team of female
nurses, Rahim has exonerated himself of any wrongdoing and put the
blame for everything on Bhutto. Audacity and more audacity, urged
Danton, the French revolutionary. Having made a career out of
audacity, Rahim would no doubt agree.
In most other climes commanders like him would be stood up against
a wall. In Pakistan which has always had a soft spot for
charlatans, he continued to climb the ladder of success even after
his wartime exploits had become known: chief of the general staff,
boss of PIA, secretary-general, defence. Eden never recovered from
the Suez debacle, General Westmoreland, or President Johnson for
that matter, from the Vietnam war. We have always been kinder on
our losers perhaps because we have had so few victors.
The problem, however, is not Rahim Khan but the past as a whole.
How to come to terms with it or how to exorcise its demons? Air
Marshal Nur Khan says the army should own up to past mistakes and
thus drain the puss from its body. "You cannot live with a lie
forever," he says. These are fine words but I wonder whether all
that realistic. Governments and government institutions are not
programmed to come out with the truth. They live with lies all the
time. Not only here but around the world. It is others - lone
rangers, lonely knights, toiling authors, persistent journalists -
who ferret out the truth and put up a mirror to a society's face.
Governments historically have not performed this function unless
absolutely forced to do so by defeat, upheaval or revolution.
Consider the case of France during the Second World War. Hollywood
notwithstanding, much of the French population quietly acquiesced
in the German occupation. Many French functionaries openly
collaborated with the Germans. There were French actors and
actresses, famous faces, who kept on performing in films during the
Occupation. German officers stationed in Paris faced no shortage of
French mistresses. The Resistance came later and although during
the course of it people suffered, made enormous sacrifices and
showed exceptional bravery, there is much in Resistance folklore
which is myth and fantasy, a reflection of the need to touch up one
of the more shameful episodes in French history.
What was de Gaulle's greatest achievement? To succeed in restoring
French pride even when the basis for this resurrection was weak and
tenuous. The Free French did not liberate Paris. The Allied armies
did that. But when the Allied armies were closing in on Paris, de
Gaulle insisted that a division of the Free French should be the
first to enter the city in order to help create the myth that the
French themselves had liberated their capital. Leadership has a lot
to do with the making of such myths. After the war some
collaborators were rounded up and a few were shot but anything like
a full-scale inquisition was avoided because that would also have
put the spotlight on the ugly face of France.
Yet over the years a picture has emerged of what went on during
that period. No thanks to any French government but because of
journalists and scholars who have pored over lost archives and
talked to survivors. Their painstaking research is what forms the
backbone of the historical record.
Where in all of Churchill's writings will you find any remorse over
the hundreds of thousands of Soviet POWs freed from German
captivity at the end of the Second World War and sent back, in most
cases against their will, to Stalin's Russia? At best they faced an
uncertain future; at worst a fate worse than death. Yet you will
not catch any British prime minister shedding tears of sorrow over
this squalid episode.
Perhaps there is a wider lesson in this conspiracy of silence.
Gorbachev started owning up to the Soviet Union's past and see
where it took his country: disintegration and the depths of
humiliation. The Chinese Old Guard was wiser. It cracked down on
the Tiananmen Square protests and thus held the winds of democracy
and who knows what else at bay.
Coming to the world's greatest democracy, when has the United
States chosen to live with the truth? The US has never come clean
about CIA-inspired plots, upheavals and assassinations. The US
government has never expressed regret, much less sorrow, over the
wholesale destruction of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in pursuit of a
policy now universally recognized as misguided and ugly. Yet if the
truth or a bit of it is known about these distant events, if the
Vietnamese experience has come to be branded on the American
consciousness, it is because of the efforts of individual Americans
who contributed their bit to the writing of history.
This is the difference between them and us. Governments, war
ministries and the established centres of power over there live
with lies all the time, being no more enamoured of the truth than
institutions in this part of the world. The difference lies
elsewhere. In our societies the intellectual tradition is weak. We
do not ask questions, do not question authority, are not as
diligent in searching for the truth. Books that should be written
stay unwritten. Forget the '65 war or the East Pakistan debacle.
Even as regards Jinnah foreigners have to come and do our history-
writing for us.
The hard-to-speak secrets of the French Occupation, French
atrocities in Algeria, America's role in Vietnam, other events: all
laid bare and put on the dissecting table by individual
journalists, researchers or historians. Slowly over time an opinion
is created about a particular event. Fresh evidence leads to a
fresh evaluation. And so it goes on, opinions being revised, fresh
interpretations leading to new insights.
Sometimes fantasy and make-believe triumph as in the case of
Mountbatten whose role in the events leading up to partition have
been glorified by outsiders, to some extent because of his links
with the British royal family. Now at last the truth is catching up
with this pompous ham too who is being seen, albeit slowly, as less
of a hero than made out to be. But we in this country, vigorous
Mountbatten-haters, have had nothing to do with this revisionism.
The books looking afresh at the man have been written by others.
When we say that the government should come out with the truth
about 1971, the Ojhri Camp blasts or the fighting in Kargil we are
in fact betraying and revealing the non-existence of any worthwhile
intellectual tradition in our country. Governments lie, they live
on lies. This is one source of their power. The truth has to be the
concern of other members of a society. If they cannot perform this
function it is no use asking the guardians of the establishment to
unlock their innermost sanctums. That is like asking them to
surrender some of their power which no holder of power does
voluntarily.
DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS
20000826
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Gateway to peace
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Irfan Husain
I HAVE often been accused by friends of trotting out a set "re-
entry blues" column each time I return from a trip abroad. In this,
I am supposed to vent my frustration over the fact that things are
worse than they were before I left.
It is true that as I returned last week after three months, nothing
seems to have changed according to the newspapers: the bloodletting
in Kashmir continues unabated; the economy continues to slide;
accountability meanders along in its usual desultory fashion; and
our leaders go on making inane statements. In short, business as
usual.
But before I get down to the substance of this column, I would like
to thank the scores of readers who e-mailed me to wish me luck in
my coronary bypass last June. I was deeply touched by this
outpouring of support and sympathy from total strangers, most of
them Indian and Pakistani expatriates who read me on the Internet
edition of this newspaper. As it was, the quadruple bypass seems to
have been a total success, and I was extremely well looked after by
the highly competent nursing staff of my hospital in London.
One of the people who promised to pray for me before I left was a
nun who has devoted much of her life to the Dar-ul-Sakoon ("Gateway
to Peace"). This remarkable institution shelters mentally and
physically handicapped children who have either been abandoned, or
cannot be looked after by their families. Established by the
Franciscans in 1969, Dar-ul-Sakoon is run entirely by donations. It
is heartwarming to know that in a brutalized society like ours,
there are enough individuals and organizations around willing to
support such worthy causes.
Spread over three houses in different parts of the city, the
operation is supervised by ten nuns and fifty paid employees.
Although aware of its existence for some time as a relative is
cared for by the nuns, I am ashamed to admit that I only started
taking an active interest in it a couple of years ago.
The Besom Foundation, a UK-based charity, asked me to identify a
project they could help, and sent three thousand pounds with which
we bought refrigerators and other electrical items.
Since then I have been visiting the institution on and off, helping
in whatever small way I could. It is heartwarming to see the care
and love the children receive from the nuns; indeed, the warm glow
I feel when I leave restores my faith in humanity. Many of the kids
have grown up here, and know no other home. A few of the less
handicapped among them is transported to special school every day.
Despite the extreme nature of some of the mental illnesses, they
are gentle children who would not hurt a fly.
Unfortunately, mental illness in Pakistan carries such a stigma
that to admit its presence in a family is like revealing a shameful
secret. As a result, very little is done for retarded children or
adults, apart from locking them away. And yet the problem is widely
prevalent, and millions of people suffering from it receive no
professional attention or care. At best, victims are the objects of
pity and offhand charity; at worst, they are secluded from society
as pariahs who have no place or role in Pakistan.
Whatever else one may say against the late military dictator Zia-
ul-Haq, one must give him credit for not being ashamed of his
retarded daughter, taking her with him on trips everywhere and
spending much time with her. Perhaps as a result of his own
experience with a mentally retarded child, he was the first head of
government to recognize the problem and allocate funds for "special
education." To this extent, mentally ill children have been given a
little more attention than in the past. However, given the
reluctance of most people to work closely with them, they remain
largely neglected and unloved.
Under these circumstances, Dar-ul-Sakoon is indeed a gateway to
peace. Children here are looked after, irrespective of whether
their families are paying for them or not. But despite their
dedication and devotion, the nuns are not professionally qualified
to diagnose the nature and severity of the mental problems their
charges are suffering from. These range from autism to cerebral
palsy, with each ailment requiring highly specialized treatment. As
it is, Pakistan is desperately short of doctors trained to cure
mental disease, and most of them have lucrative practices. There
are very few doctors like Dr Haroon Ahmad and his team who are
giving their time free of charge to these unfortunate people.
A society is ultimately judged by its willingness and ability to
care for the old, the infirm and the handicapped. Pakistan fails
woefully on this count. Except for a handful of NGOs and charities
like Dar-ul-Sakoon, there is no safety net for the weak and the
dispossessed. Most families are so ashamed of mental illness in
their midst that they keep the afflicted family member at home
without seeking medical advice. Among the uneducated, the trend is
to take patients to one quack or another; alternatively, they treat
the problem as one of demonic possession, and subject the patient
to often-brutal exorcism at the hands of pirs and other religious
divines. Far too often, the cure is worse than the disease. In many
such cases, somebody with a mild problem is pushed over the edge;
in others, incarceration with mental patients drives almost normal
people into insanity.
Under these conditions, it is a minor miracle that 350 children
have found a safe haven. But even for them, the quality of life
could be greatly enhanced with better medical care and improved
facilities. Understandably, the nuns are handicapped by limited
resources. Development work proceeds in fits and starts, depending
on donations. For instance, the erection of a lift is currently
stalled, and as a result, some children now too heavy to carry are
consigned to the top floors, unable to climb down by themselves to
the small playing area on the ground floor. The school van is
constantly breaking down and badly needs replacement.
But despite these problems, Sister Ruth and her colleagues are
remarkably cheerful, serenely confident that they will continue
aiding the unfortunates placed in their care. If only the rest of
us had a fraction of their goodness and desire to help those unable
to help them selves, this would be a far better place than it is
today.
=================================================================== SPORTS 20000824 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Abdur Razzaq excels as Pakistan reach final of Singapore Cup ------------------------------------------------------------------- SINGAPORE, Aug 23: Pakistan took South Africa's last five wickets for seven runs on their way to a 28-run win and a place in the final of the Singapore Challenge cricket tournament on Wednesday. South Africa, chasing Pakistan's 227 for nine from their 50 overs, were struggling to keep up with the run rate at 192 for five in the 46th over at the Kallang ground. But Azhar Mahmood, who ended with three for 37, and Man-of-the- Match Abdur Razzaq, who took three for 39, then helped wrap up the innings in 18 balls as South Africa were bowled out for 199 in 48.4 overs. The last four batsman managed three runs between them. It was Pakistan's second straight victory in the three-nation competition after they beat New Zealand by 12 runs on Sunday. The South Africans had begun their run chase well, with openers Gary Kirsten and Andrew Hall putting on 61 before Hall edged Azhar Mahmood behind. The score moved on to 90 before four wickets fell for 39. Kallis also edged Azhar Mahmood behind, Kirsten, after top-scoring with 54, was run out by Imran Nazir's throw at the non-striker's end and Lance Klusener was bowled by Razzaq. Neil McKenzie and debutant Nic Pothas put on 63 for the sixth wicket before the dramatic finale. Wicket-keeper Pothas, on his One-day International debut, scored 24 to go with the three dismissals he had a hand in during Pakistan's innings. Pakistan's score was built around a 104-run stand between Ijaz Ahmed, who made 56, and Abdur Razzaq (47), for the fifth wicket.- Reuters/AFP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000822 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Dubai series called off ------------------------------------------------------------------- KARACHI, Aug 21: The three-match One-day International series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka scheduled to be held in Dubai next month has been called off, Director Operations, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Yawar Saeed told newsmen here at National Stadium on Monday. Yawar said organizers have regretted to organize the series which was to start from Sept 22. He said PCB General Manager Operations, Zakir Khan last month visited Dubai and recommended to PCB to go ahead with series after inspecting the facilities there. He said a representative of International Cricket Council, Raman Subba Row had visited Dubai on Aug 17 to check the facilities to submit his recommendations for staging the series. PCB official said, Dubai organizers told him that there will be very little time left for marketing the series when the final approval comes from the ICC. He said Dubai organizers were interested in hosting the series later as no team was available during the next few months, therefore the series was called off. Commenting on Indian team's tour to Pakistan in late December, Yawar Saeed said PCB was making contingency plan if Indians were unable to visit Pakistan. He said in consultation with coach Javed Miandad, PCB is planning to invite a World XI if Indian team's tour is called off. He said they are planning to organize one day matches in flood lights to attract the public. Responding to a question about action against three young players who allegedly invited girls to their hotel room in Lahore, he said disciplinary action will be taken after proper report from team coach Javed Miandad was received on return of team from Singapore, he added. -APP DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS*DWS 20000825 ------------------------------------------------------------------- No cricket in Toronto this year ------------------------------------------------------------------- KARACHI, Aug 24: The organisers of the Toronto cricket series, International Management Group (IMG), announced on Thursday there will be "no cricket" in Toronto this year. "IMG announces with regret that due to the non-availability of any suitable team there will be no cricket in Toronto this year," the group said in a statement released from London. IMG on Wednesday said they were trying to arrange a team to play India and Pakistan separately in a replacement series for the cancelled Sahara Cup. "Its disappointing to cancel the event and we apologise the fans all over the world for this and would like to use all our energies for the event in 2001," the statement said. IMG tried to bring in Australia, South Africa and New Zealand after the Indian decision but they all refused. The group's representative here declined to say whether the series next year would be between Pakistan and India. Pakistan Cricket Board senior official Yawar Saeed expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the Toronto series. "It's disappointing. Pakistan would raise a question at the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting why itineraries are made well in advance when teams pull out of the event," Yawar said. He said Pakistan would lose financially as well as preparation- wise. "The event could have earned Pakistan half a million dollars and tuned the players for the ICC knock out event in October. Pakistan should not have lost the money because Pakistan was always willing to play." India, where match-fixing controversy has gripped cricket, pulled out of the Singapore tri-nation series and also refused to play a three-match series in Dubai. Pakistan replaced India in the current Singapore event. Yawar said Pakistan would press for a new contract to play in Toronto. "We will definitely press for a new contract in Toronto next year with enhanced money," he said.-AFP ------------------------------------------------------------------- You can subscribe to DWS by sending an email to <subscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with the following text in the BODY of your message: subscribe dws To unsubscribe, send an email to <unsubscribe.dws@dawn.com>, with the following in the BODY of you message: unsubscribe dws ------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to the top.
Dawn page
Webbed by Philip McEldowney
Last update: .