Mapping ourselves over

Pulished in Daily Times  

Sir, 

There is talk about a new map showing a truncated Pakistan, which is causing much concern. Whoever made the map has suggested that parts of Iran and Pakistan be united to form a new country. Further, the proposed name of this new country is Balochistan. The northern Pashtun areas of Pakistan should be given to Afghanistan, leaving a truncated and demarked version of what was once though of re-drawing India's boundaries? After all, India is rife with communal and sectarian violence, with many freedom movements in which rebels are demanding independence. In some areas of the northeast, the writ of the state does not exist. 

Obviously, since Pakistan and Iran are Muslim countries, it is acceptable to talk of breaking them up, while a "secular" India, with its huge market remains a sacred cow and no one even dares consider dividing it into smaller units.

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

Baby ban

Published in The Friday Times on May 20-26, 2005

Sir, 

Sometimes you can't help wondering why government functionaries haven't been con-signed to mental institutions. I refer to the attempt to involve the ulema in the population planning program. Considering that orthodox maulvis have always opposed birth control, isn't it a bit too ambitious to ask them to do an about-turn now? Will their illiterate audiences take them seriously if they're told to limit the number of children they have to two or three? Despite the difficulties the common man faces in making ends meet, city-dwellers continue to have six children or more. The problem is compounded by the belief, common among the masses and reinforced by the ulema, that the non-Muslim world is keen to reduce the world's Muslim population. It will take years of education for the ulema to realise that resources are finite, and the only way for Muslims to prosper is to practice birth control. 

Shakir Lakhani, 

Karachi.

Letters to the Editor

Published in Time Magazine on March 31, 2003

INSTEAD OF OFFERING BILLIONS OF dollars to Turkey for support, the US would be much wiser to use the money to get Saddam and his cronies to leave Iraq and settle in a safe place. In fact, maybe the U.S. should consider offering Saddam American citizenship; he might even run for public office. I am sure Americans wouldn't mind having another crooked politician deciding what to do with their tax money.

Shakir Lakhani,

Karachi, Pakistan.

Service to Pakistan

Published in Dawn around 1972-73

 Dr. M. Ibrahim has indeed made a commendable suggestion by advising the Intellectuals and Workers of Pakistan Abroad to use the services of the Institute of Engineers for attaining their noble objectives.

I have another suggestion. Since the country has not yet fully recovered from the recent revages (ravages) of the nature, it would be in the fitness of things if unemployed engineers are utilised on a massive scale in the mammoth reconstruction effort.

The advantages accruing to the nation would be tremendous.The graduate engineer, by virtue of his strenuous training, is readily equipped (to) deal with exigencies the likes of which are certain to be faced when reconstruction begins. And since graduate engineers are also thoroughly trained in economics, their service need not be confined to the engineering aspects only. They can be utilized as accountants as well.

This step will reduce to a considerable extent the chronic unemployment situation among fresh graduate engineers.

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

Languages

 Published in the Morning News on February 6, 1967

The protagonists of Arabic have advanced a host of reasons in favour of the proposal. One of them has suggested that it will bring the two wings of the country closer to each other. Another argues that as it is the language of the Quran, it will enable us to become better Muslims. A third claims that it will promote friendlier relations with the Arab states. All of them are agreed that it can be done easily and smoothly.

The amazing thing about it all is that in spite of these self-evident facts, there are some who propose the step. These well-meaning souls have underrated the genius of our people. By all means, let us all learn Arabic. 

And while we are at it, I propose that we adopt Chinese as one of our State languages as well. The enormous benefits that will accrue from such a step should be obvious to anyone who reads newspapers. For one thing, our country will make tremendous serides in technology in no time at all. Just think of what happened to all those workers who read Mr. Mao's thoughts. And those students who were so inspired they marched hundreds of miles into Peking!

Of course, a few hardened skeptics will say that Mr. Mao's thoughts have been translated, and will serve the purpose equally well. Nothing could be more fallacious than this misleading argument. Everyone knows that a great deal is lost in translation. All that it caused this writer to do, for instance,  was to sit down at once to compose this letter. And if there are still some incredulous beings who claim  that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to learn such an alien language, we can learn Arabic without any difficulty, why not Chinese?

Indeed, we could go further and learn Russian as well. With our stupendous capacity for mastering foreign language speedily, it should pose no problem. Besides, it would enable us to understand how the Russians managed to become one of the strongest nations in such a short time. 

As a matter of fact, since we have so much time at our disposal, let the masses learn French as well. President de Gaulle will be delighted. And after we have become a truly strong nation, both culturally and technologically, we could turn our attention to a very minor problem -- learning Urdu. 

For it is an awkward philological fact that very few of our citizens speak Urdu as it should be spoken. This is not surprising, since it is the mother tongue of only a small percentage of the population. But our educationists, specially those who advocate the cause of Arabic as a state language cannot be bothered by such trifles. And rightly so. Our masses must first become adept at foreign languages before learning to speak one of the national tongues. 

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

We do not deserve dedicated people

 Published in The News on November 2, 1995

Those who matter in this country cannot tolerate anyone else achieving popularity. We all know how Imran Khan has been made into a non-person, simply because they think he has the potential of becoming a popular public leader. Now, it's the turn of two dedicated individuals in Karachi, the two who have made CPLC an effective organisation, perhaps the only one untainted by corruption. 

These two men of God (Nazim Haji and Jameel Yousuf) have risked their own lives as well as those of their families to bring relief to suffering people. While others of their kind were merrily making their fortunes, these two were in danger of losing whatever they had.

However, I doubt if the decision to remove them will ever be reversed. Someone has decreed that they should go, someone whom they have perhaps offended, someone in Islamabad with friends who have nothing to do and need lucrative jobs. Their only fault is that, while they were serving the people, they did not lick the boots of their masters. 

We do not deserve to have these saints in our midst. This ungrateful nation would have hounded the Quaid-e-Azam out of office, if he had lived any longer. They should go and serve suffering humanity in some other country where their services will be recognized, where people do not pay lip service to Islam but practise it in the real sense

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

Origins of Purdah

 Published in Asia week on April 3, 1998

"THE ASIAN LANGUAGE" (Feb 13) says that "purdah was introduced in northern India by Islamic invaders." It may actually have been the other way around. Long before Islam appeared the Hindus of northern India (descended from the conquering Aryans) were already secluding their women to defend them from other invaders.The Dravidians never adopted purdah, not because Islam did not penetrate into the region but because they were a conquered race, and the caste system of the Hindus compelled them to work in fields and to indulge in menial jobs. 

The veil, of course, was part of Arab culture before Islam. However, instead of confining women to their homes, Islam allowed men and women to work side by side, especially during the wars which took place at the time. In fact, the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad was a businesswoman. Moreover, Islam prescribes no punishment for any woman who does not observe purdah. 

Islam is opposed to immodest dress and behavior, the kind that can result in women being exploited. Although thousands of Muslim girls work in offices and factories in Islamic countries, you never hear allegations or even rumors of the kind which are being made about President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. 

Shakir Lakhani,

Clifton, Karachi

K.E.S.C, live-wires

 I was delighted to read that the Managing Director of the K.E.S.C. rushed to supervise repairs to a damaged transformer in the Queens Road area recently. The fact that the transformer was located in a very posh area of the City is neither here or there. I am sure he would have done the same if the breakdown had occurred in a slum like the Lyari. It seems that the power company has at least got a chief who really cares about its customers.

I wish, however, that he would pay an early morning visit to the Industrial and Miscellaneous Zone recently shifted to the Civic Centre where those consumers who have problems like inflated bills have to go for redress of their grievances. He will find a long line of suffering souls with no one to attend to their problems till 9.30 am., for that is when the staff arrives, after which they huddle in a corner discussing such pressing problems like what went wrong with the Challenger, or whether the Soviets will ever leave Afghanistan. It is not until 10 a.m. that they suddenly realise they have a job to do, and that people have come to meet them.

The K.E.S.C. chief could also devote some time to find out why so many customers do not get their bills in certain areas to the meter readers, who have to visit the consumers' premises every month -- or do they? At least this is much better then sending the bills by post, for the post office (like the K.E.S.C.) is not a very efficient organisation.

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

Published 1999??

LPG on car fuel

Published in "Morning News" 1975

This refers to the article "New fuel, old cars" (30th April). Much has been said about the advantages of using LPG in automobiles. But is it as good as it sounds? At first sight, yes. But a closer look reveals that the only people who benefit are the importers of conversion kits. Consider the following facts:

The cheapest conversation kit in the market is priced at Rs 6,000, with a running life of 40,000 miles. For an average motorist, who drives 20 miles daily, the kit will require replacement after 6 years.

The interest on Rs 6,000 compounded annually at 9% over a period of 6 years amounts to approximately Rs 3,500. The total effective investment which the motorist makes over the period of  6 years is therefore Rs 9,500.

The petrol bill for the average car will amount to Rs 13,500 assuming that it gives 35 miles to the gallon. With LPG, the fuel cost will be Rs 3,500 over the same period of 6 years. The motorist therefore saves Rs 8,000 in 6 years, after switching over to LPG. But he initially has to invest Rs 9,500. He therefore loses Rs 1,500 (equivalent to Rs 250 per year).

Shakir Lakhani

A-Won Estates Lilly Rd.,

Frere Town, 

Karachi

The Fate of a Girl

Published in "Morning News" 1962??

The fate of Rosy, as described by Saira Begum in her letter under the caption 'The fate of a Girl.' is an everyday occurrence in Pakistan, many talented girls are married off at early ages by their parents and in my opinion these parents are a menace to our country, which is in dire need of doctors, teachers, nurses etc. 

It is very strange that in this enlightened age of ours there are people who are very much against their sons and daughters receiving good education,  for reasons known only to themselves. They are under the mistaken impression that higher education is very harmful, and against religion. 

In the Bantwa Memon community the bridegroom's parents receive a large amount of cash from the bride's parents, which usually runs into tens of thousands of rupees. It is not surprising therefore, that the girls are married off whenever their parents can arrange a marriage in which the amount demanded by the bridegroom's parents is not large.The result is that the girls do not get any education at all.

The only possible remedy for this is that education should be compulsory for all, and when the girls realize that they can earn their own living, their parents will be reluctant to marry them off at an early age, and perhaps the groom's parents will be equally reluctant to demand such huge amounts of money. 

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi