ÿþ<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="en-gb"> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 5.0"> <meta name="ProgId" content="FrontPage.Editor.Document"> <META NAME="DESCRIPTION" CONTENT="PULSE International: Fortnightly Medical Newspaper from Pakistan"> <META NAME="KEYWORDS" CONTENT="Pulse, Medical, Pakistan, News, Professional Medical Publications"> <META NAME="OWNER" CONTENT="masood@masoodjawaid.com"> <META NAME="AUTHOR" CONTENT="Masood Jawaid"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=unicode"> <title>Pulse International - Main News</title> </head> <body topmargin="0" leftmargin="0" link="#000000"> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"><!-- imgsrc=new Array(); imgsrc[1]="a_current_button1.gif"; imgsrc[2]="p_current_button1.gif"; img =new Array(); for (i=0; i< imgsrc.length; i++) { img[i]=new Image(); img[i].src=imgsrc[i]; } function change(number, picture) { { document[picture].src=img[number].src; } } // --> </SCRIPT> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber1" background="../images/index_topstrip.gif" height="36"> <tr> <td width="33%" height="130" align="center"> <p><b> <font color="#008000" face="Arial" size="2">Fortnightly Medical Newspaper <br> published from Pakistan</font></b></td> <td width="33%" height="130" valign="bottom"> <p align="center"> <img border="0" src="../../images/pulselogo.gif" width="282" height="120"></td> <td width="34%" height="130" align="center"> <p align="center"><font face="Arial" color="#008000" size="2"><b>Published by <br> Professional Medical Publications</b></font></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td width="33%" height="26" align="center"> <p align="center" dir="ltr"><span lang="en-us"><b> <font face="Arial" size="2">January</font></b></span><font face="Arial" size="2"><b><span lang="en-us"> </span>1<span lang="en-us">5</span>-<span lang="en-us">31</span>, 20</b></font><span lang="en-us"><b><font face="Arial" size="2">12</font></b></span></td> <td width="33%" height="26" align="center"> <p align="center">&nbsp;</td> <td width="34%" height="26" align="center"> <p align="center"><b><font size="2" face="Arial">ISSN: 1026-6828</font></b></td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber2" height="36"> <tr> <td width="100%" valign="top" align="center" height="36"><font size="2">&nbsp;</font><div align="center"> <!--webbot CLIENTSIDE bot="XmmFpEx" MODULEID="'mj (project)\top_menu1_off.xws'" PREVIEW="&lt;img src='../../top_menu1.gif?02A9627E' editor='menumaker' border='0'&gt;" startspan --><script src="xaramenu.js"></script><script menumaker src="../../top_menu1.js"></script><noscript><img src="../../top_menu1.gif?02A9627E" editor="menumaker"></noscript><!--webbot bot="XmmFpEx" endspan i-checksum="64999" --></div> </td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber3"> <tr> <td width="100%" colspan="3"><hr></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%" align="left" valign="top"> <p align="center">&nbsp;<!--webbot CLIENTSIDE bot="XmmFpEx" MODULEID="'mj (project)\menu_r_off.xws'" PREVIEW="&lt;img src='menu_r.gif?02BBEDF2' editor='menumaker' border='0'&gt;" startspan --><script menumaker src="menu_r.js"></script><noscript><img src="menu_r.gif?02BBEDF2" editor="menumaker"></noscript><!--webbot bot="XmmFpEx" endspan i-checksum="5033" --> &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</td> <td width="76%" align="left" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber5"> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="center">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p align="center"> &nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b><font face="Arial"> <font size="5" color="#0000FF">Pakistan s real problems like Health, Education and Economy are <br> seldom discussed in the parliament<span lang="en-us"> </span>- Senator Haseeb Khan</font><br> <span style="font-size: 16pt">Most of the time, non-issues are debated and the situation will not change until the <br> quality of people elected to the Assemblies and Senate improves<br> <font color="#0000FF">Professionals and Technocrats should come forward and play their role to lead this <br> Nation which has tremendous human, material resources and talent</font></span></font></b></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><i> <b><font size="2" face="Arial">By Shaukat Ali Jawaid</font></b></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal" dir="ltr"> <font size="2" face="Arial">KARACHI: An eminent industrialists and businessman. Mr. A. Haseeb Khan, President of Brookes Pharmaceuticals and former Chairman of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry is known for his outspoken views. For the last many years he has been quite active and expressing his views on different issues facing the businessmen and industrialists community to accelerate economic growth in Pakistan which has earned him many friends. To begin with his focus was on the issues facing the pharmaceutical trade and industry and the health sector in general but then he also took up the challenge of piloting the cause of industrialist s community in general and helped solve some of the problems KATI members were facing. When he was offered the Ticket to contest Senate Elections, it helped a lot to improve the perceptions about his party MQM. He has been in the Senate now for quite sometime. He recently talked to Pulse Internationals Chief Editor to discuss a wide range of issues. Given below are the excerpts from the conversation:</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: normal"> <img border="0" src="images/Haseeb-Khan.gif" width="177" height="238"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: normal" dir="ltr"> <i><font face="Arial">Mr. Haseeb Khan</font></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b> <font size="2" face="Arial">Knowing Mr. Haseeb Khan, one expected lot of firework in the Senate hoping that you will take this opportunity to highlight various issues on which you have been agitating. What have you achieved and accomplished as a Senator.</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">The real issues facing Pakistan like Health, Education, and Economy are seldom discussed in the parliament and the assemblies. Most often the non-issues are debated. This situation is not likely to change unless the quality of people getting elected to the Assemblies and Senate improves. Let the Professionals and Technocrats come forward and replace the feudal and business tycoons, Waderas, Khans, Chaudhry , Mians and Sardars. We should say goodbye to dynasty politics. It is not the government alone which is responsible for the present gloomy state of affairs but the insensitive civil society and intelligentsia including the media also shares the responsibility equally. I myself and my party have tried our best to raise issues which concern the common man. I have moved Motions, given call attention notices to draw the attention of the law makers&nbsp; to the real issues we are facing but it is unfortunate that most of them are least interested.&nbsp; </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"> <b><font face="Arial" color="#0000FF">Control of Thalassemia</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">Just to take an example, we have not been able to control Thalassaemia though many countries have successfully eliminated this. Our neigbouring country Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia have controlled Thalassaemia. They have formed rules but here in Pakistan no rules exist. </font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">A Bill for control of Thalassaemia was moved in the National Assembly by nine members in 2004 but nothing happened. That shows the callous attitude of our law makers. Thalassaemia is a serious blood disorder and its prevalence in Pakistan is reported to be between 3-8%. Every year over five thousand children are born with transfusion dependent Thalassaemia. One of the important reasons is said to be consanguineous marriages which are quite common in Pakistan. Families with history of Thalassaemia have a high carrier rate of about 30%. I have now moved a bill which calls for compulsory blood test of couples before marriage. We also need to improve and provide screening and counseling facilities to overcome this disease.&nbsp; I am determined to pursue this with full force with the help of other colleagues in the Senate and hope I will succeed.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;line-height:normal"> <b><font face="Arial" color="#0000FF">Healthcare and Drug Regulatory Authority</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">Another important Bill which I have undertaken to introduce relates to the establishment of Healthcare and Drug Regulatory Authority. Final Draft of the Bill is ready and has been sent to the authorities concerned and I am hopeful an Ordinance will be issued soon which will later be approved as an Act of the Parliament. After the 18<sup>th</sup> Amendment, there is no body to look after, supervise Licensing, Manufacture and other issues related to pharmaceutical trade and industry besides provision of healthcare. These are very sensitive serious, ticklish technical issues which cannot be left with the provinces. India tried this experiment but then reverted back to have a central set up.&nbsp; You will see some movement in this regard as well in the coming days, Mr. Haseeb Khan remarked.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">I wish the PPMA and the Pharma Bureau was also active and played their role effectively by taking a united stand. Had they done so, we might have found a solution to most of the problems Pharma industry is facing. Similarly, if the various Trade Bodies, Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry were serious, united, it is not at all difficult to find a solution. But what happens is that every one is busy in loot and plunder. People with vested interests have formed different Mafia Groups which run and manage different bodies and associations. They are quite happy as long as their own problems get solved. They seem to be least interested in improving the economy of Pakistan.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">For the last over sixty years, most of the time, Pakistan has been ruled by incompetent, uneducated, educated illiterate, self centered and those with their own vested interests. How can you expect any improvement under these circumstances ?&nbsp; The people who get elected to the Assemblies, Parliament and Senate have no ideas and do not know the solution to the problems Pakistan is facing. Let the professionals, Technocrats i.e. Doctors, Engineers, Economists, Scientists come forward and contest elections. We have no dearth of talent. God Almighty has blessed Pakistan with enormous human and material resources. We have abundant talent in almost every field and we are capable of doing much better but it is a pity that we are not doing that.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b> <font size="2" face="Arial">Your Party MQM&nbsp; is also a part of the Government, hence don t&nbsp; you think it also shares the blame of lack of good Governance, massive corruption, destruction of state owned&nbsp; institutions and poor performance in the economic field?</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">MQM is not a partner of the Government, we are supporters. Had we been partners, then the government will not take any decision without consulting us. But it does not happen. Our support to Government is on issue to issue basis.&nbsp; When an attempt was made to get the NRO passed from the Parliament, MQM made it clear that it won t support it hence the Assembly Session was cancelled. Similarly we have taken a different stand on many other issues as well.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">During the Budget Session, MQM had prepared a comprehensive document and suggested to increase allocations for Education as 3.5% which should be further &nbsp;increased to 5% in three years. We also suggested increase of Health Allocations from 1.8% to 3% which should have been increased to 5% in two years increasing 1% every year. We have given suggestions that the government must control its expenditures, save some money and then spend it to improve the social services. We had suggested a small cabinet. &nbsp;Our budget estimates was one thousand three hundred seventy billion rupees but our suggestions were not accepted. A comparative study of population of various countries and their cabinet size is revealing. Total population of China, India, USA and UK put together is&nbsp; three hundred seven&nbsp; crore and the total number of Ministers in all these countries is sixty six whereas Pakistan with a population of just&nbsp; seventeen crore have an army of people with Ministerial status which is ninety six.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: normal"> <img border="0" src="images/Table.jpg" width="567" height="234"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">We have often protested when the Government raised Petrol, Gas, Electricity prices.&nbsp; But the society as a whole, the general public has not effectively protested whenever the government raises indirect taxes. No where in the word indirect taxes which directly affect the common man are more than 40% but here in Pakistan it is 70-80%. Media too has not effectively highlighted these issues. Whenever the public protested effectively, the government was forced to withhold or reduce the prices of Petrol, Electricity and Gas.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b> <font size="2" face="Arial">Health, Education are provincial issues and you are very much part of the Sindh Government. Are you satisfied with the performance of your party in this regard?</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">Tremendous progress and development work has been completed in the city of Karachi under the dynamic leadership of former City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal which is there for every one to see.&nbsp; Again the functioning of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital has been improved. We have established the Trauma Center. No one can eve get admission in Karachi Medical and Dental College without merit. We have appointed dedicated and devoted people in ASH, KM&amp;DC as well as KIHD Mr. Haseeb Khan claimed. When I became a member of the Governing Body of KIHD only angioplasty and stenting facilities were available. I pointed out that it is essential that we must have cardiac surgery facilities as well so that in case of any complication, cardiac surgery team is ready to undertake the surgical procedure and we do not have to send the patient in emergency to other institutons. We established the Operation Theatre, best equipped Intensive Care Unit, and CCU and provided cardiac surgery facilities. Now if the working of these institutions is affected for lack of funding, what can we do?</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">The services which we have provided have helped spread our party message across the country. That is why we were able to increase the strength of our members in the National Assembly from two to over two dozen. Not only that we have now members in GB Assembly as well as in Azad Kashmir.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b> <font size="2" face="Arial">Establishment of KIHD was the brainchild of Mr.Naimatullah Khan and he as Nazim laid its Foundation Stone. MQM did a commendable job of taking this project forward to its present status. Is it not fair to give some credit to Mr.Naimatullah Khan as well while we talk about KIHD?</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">I do not live in the past. I talk about present. We should remember past to learn lessons from any mistakes that we have committed so that we do not commit those mistakes again.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b> <font size="2" face="Arial">Street crime has increased in Karachi and the provincial government has miserably failed to check them and improve law and order situation. People are all the time worried about their &nbsp;security. Don t you think your party is also responsible for all this being a part of the government?</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">The population of Karachi has increased rapidly. Suddenly more than thirty five to forty lac people have come here from every where. One needs to look at this from where they have come, where they are living, what they are doing? Karachi was a peaceful city until 90s but then the situation changed. We need to look for the causes, &nbsp;study causative factors and take appropriate measures ensuring security of life and property of every one living here.</font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"><b> <font size="2" face="Arial">It is also alleged that your party keeps on blackmailing the government, goes out, gets something and then comes back and this game goes on?</font></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;line-height:normal"> <font size="2" face="Arial">It is absolutely wrong.&nbsp; We are keeping up the pressure on the federal Government.&nbsp; Whenever we went out of the government, we had difference of opinion on some issues. When the problems were resolved, we came back and had the same number of Ministries that we earlier had. Our decisions are based on the larger interest of the province and the country. We want to ensure Peace in the city which is essential for economic development in the country. That is why we decided to join the Coalition Government in the Province and at the Centre. The solution to most of the problems that we are facing today in Pakistan lies in&nbsp; upholding merit at all levels,&nbsp; ensuring justice, fairplay, safeguarding rights of every one irrespective of any other considerations and providing equal opportunities to all. It is also equally important that all those who contest elections to Assemblies and Senate fulfill conditions laid down in Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution. It is the duty of the Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure that and if it fails, there is no need to have such an Election Commission, Mr.<span lang="en-us"> </span>Haseeb Khan asserted. There are no restrictions on me, I am a free man as I used to be. I myself decide on which Forum I have to go and speak and I speak out my mind without any fear. I am not a hypocrite. I say what I feel and believe, Mr. Haseeb Khan claimed.</font></p> <p><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial"><font size="2"> The issues we have discussed are the bitter facts and nothing but the whole Truth. We have to find a solution to all these problems. We are capable of that and we will succeed one day. I will just end this conversation by stating that once Mahmood Ghazanvi asked Ayaz to write something on the ring which he will wear. The wording should be such that &nbsp;When I look at that, if I am happy, I start feeling sad and if I am Sad, I start feeling Happy.&nbsp; The few words which&nbsp; Ayaz wrote were&nbsp;  <i>Yey Waqat Ghuzar Jaiay Gaa</i> .<span lang="en-us"> </span></font> </span></p> <p align="center"> <img border="0" src="images/Poem.jpg" width="145" height="35"></p> <p><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: Arial"><font size="2"> This Time will pass. Even in this darkness, there is some light at the end of the tunnel which I can see. I am an optimist.&nbsp; Even if there is a very minute hole, it can bring enough light to end darkness that is how I feel. We have to live in this country and we will make it a great Nation, he remarked.</font></span><font face="Arial"><span lang="en-us"><font size="2">.</font></span></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="100%">&nbsp;</td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="6%" valign="top"> <p align="left"> <br> <br> &nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%">&nbsp;</td> <td width="76%">&nbsp;</td> <td width="6%">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="16%" bgcolor="#3366FF" height="1"><font size="1" color="#3366FF"> 1</font></td> <td width="62%" bgcolor="#3366FF" height="1"><font size="1" color="#3366FF"> -</font></td> <td width="22%" bgcolor="#3366FF" height="1"><font size="1" color="#3366FF"> -</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="16%" bgcolor="#008000" height="19">&nbsp;</td> <td width="62%" bgcolor="#008000" height="19"> <p align="center"><FONT color=#ffffff size="2" face="Arial">© Professional Medical Publications. All rights reserved.</FONT></td> <td width="22%" bgcolor="#008000" height="19">&nbsp;</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="18%">&nbsp;</td> <td width="76%">&nbsp;</td> <td width="6%">&nbsp;</td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>