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Intelligentsia asks India, Pak to increase social sector spending
KARACHI: The governments of Pakistan and India should spend their budgets on social sectors, for provision of safe drinking water, education and healthcare facilities instead of spending huge chunks of the budgets for safeguarding the nuclear weapons, said participants of a book launching ceremony.
They said nuclear energy is as dangerous as the nuclear bombs. These views were expressed by the civil society activists, writers, columnists, intellectuals, scientists and doctors at the launching ceremony of an Urdu book “Taqat Ka Saraab” – Nuclear Bomb in South Asia: Technical Analyses on Benefits and Hazards, edited and compiled by senior physicist Dr. Abdul Hameed (AH) Nayyar jointly organized by Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) and Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) at PMA House here Sunday.
“The only attraction of setting up nuclear power plants is the huge amounts of kickbacks, which the government functionaries receive for installing a nuclear power plant in the country,” commented Dr. Tipu Sultan of Pakistan Medical Association at the ceremony. The other speakers at the book launching ceremony were Dr. Jaffar Ahmed, Director of Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi; Mohammad Ali Shah, Chairperson of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF); Karamat Ali, Chief Executive, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER); Dr. Haroon Ahmed, President of Forum for Secular Pakistan; senior columnist Muqtida Khan Mansoor; columnist and author Ms. Zahida Hina; senior journalist Ghazi Salahuddin.
The author Dr. A. H. Nayyar said that this book has been written due to dearth of information material on nuclear subject in Urdu language, despite the fact a lot of material is available n English language. He pointed out that he himself has translated a couple of essays for the book and rest of the material was translated by a professional translator.
Dr. Nayyar said that nuclear subject is kept very secrete and no information regarding it is shared with the people. In case of an accident in nuclear power plant, there is a danger of spread of radiation in the population, which may cause heavy destruction of life and property. “If you are asked that Civil Defence institutions would save you in case of any nuclear explosion, please don’t accept that argument,” he remarked. He said there are many problems in command and control system of the nuclear weapons.
Dr. Jaffar Ahmed, Director of Pakistan Study Centre, University of Karachi said that when India tested nuclear weapons in 1998 many meetings were held in Karachi in which the speakers urged the Pakistan government not to follow the suit, but both government and opposition were stubborn that Pakistan should also test the nuclear weapons. “After 15 years, we can see we have become more backward.”
He said in India corporate sector has further promoted the weapon race and now Pakistan is also promoting the private media.
Dr. Ahmed expressed concern over the growing extremism in Pakistan. He said he was part of a federal level committee for suggesting changes in the curriculum during the era of General (Retd.) Pervaiz Musharraf. But when the committee formulated the recommendations, the then Federal Minister of Education Zubeida Jalal rejected the recommendations after severe criticism of religious and right-based parties.
He pointed out that after 18th Amendment the KPK government is planning to revert the previous changes in the curriculum, which were made by the previous ANP government of the province. Now the federal government is intervening in the education affairs of Sindh government and it is dictating the provincial Sindh government to bring changes in the curriculum.
The “nuclear deterrence is an illusion.” He underlined the need to create awareness against dangers of using nuclear energy. Dr. Haroon Ahmed, President of Forum for Secular Pakistan appreciated the name of the book “Taqat Ka Sarab” and said that nuclear energy is really an illusion and for that purpose people should be educated. “We don’t have effective institutions to cater to the dangers in case of any nuclear accident.” He pointed out that radiation can affect the entire generation and its effects are longer lasting.
Senior columnist Muqtida Khan Mansoor said the humanity had seen the first destruction of humanity during the World War –II when the USA dropped two atomic bombs on the cities of Japan. The radiation not only killed hundreds of thousands people, but crippled millions of other people in the area. Effects of the nuclear destruction and radiation can even be sensed in the atmosphere of these two cities. Columnist and author Ms. Zahida Hina said the slogan by head of a political party of Pakistan “Qital Fi Sabillillah” is a quite dangerous.
She appreciated the book and said it is an attempt to create awareness about nuclear technology and its hazards. She praised the efforts of author and said he has warned that the competition in the nuclear technology is quite dangerous for the humanity.
“The rulers have told us that these weapons are acquired for peace, which is an illusion.” She pointed out that the people in South Asia are facing many social problems because of shortage of water, absence of education and health facilities but huge amount of money is being spent on acquiring deadly weapons like nuclear bombs.
Mohammad Ali Shah, Chairperson of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) said that this world does not need weapons of mass destruction. The bomb or weapons cannot be for the peace. About 1.6 to 2.4 trillion dollar trading of weapons is happening in the world every year. “The nuclear bomb itself is unsafe and we need millions of dollars to keep these bombs safe.” After the world war – II the world powers decided to convert the nuclear technology into nuclear power. Developing countries like Pakistan and India are facing energy crisis, so they are inclined to use atomic power for power generation. Instead of using environment friendly and peoples-friendly solution of power the governments are emphasizing to set up nuclear power plants.
He feared that fish stocks would be destroyed when new nuclear power plants will be set up along Karachi coast. At Chashma, about three new power plants are being established in Punjab along the river Indus, which would destroy the water of the river and its harms would be for the entire country. Over 40 million litres of water per day is required for running a power plant. In case of an accident, the entire Karachi may be destroyed. He recalled that civil society organizations had launched a movement against nuclear power plants when the federal government had decided to install two nuclear power plants. “We had decided to publish a book or literature and we requested Dr. Nayyar to prepare a book
in Urdu. We are grateful to him for
this book.”He said he considers the scientists like Dr. Nayyar as a real hero, not Dr. Qadeer Khan who had produced the nuclear bomb. Karamat Ali of PILER said that nuclear reactors are the most dangerous technologies. Many countries like Germany are phasing out their nuclear power projects, but the developing countries like Pakistan are setting up atomic reactors for power generations. In France a discussion is going on for phasing out the nuclear power plants. There is an uncertain situation between India and Pakistan and many times violations of cease-fire are happening, so the nuclear weapons in both the countries are unsafe, he added.
Mr. Ali said there is a need to make a united voice against nuclear weapons and power generation reactors, which can pose danger to the humanity. We need to declare a “Nuclear Free South Asia Zone” to keep the region free from the nuclear weapon. Senior journalist Ghazi Salahuddin said we have to wage a war against the nuclear weapons and nuclear reactors.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk