The article, "Saudi Arabia gets closer to building own cars," by Rob Wagner (July 16), instantly brought back to my mind the issues that I always propagate for the Saudi economy to take a big lead. The columnist has very rightly highlighted the fact that the country would continue to spin off its energy expertise into other fields. After demonstrating its prowess in oil and gas and petrochemical sectors by establishing several world-class plants, facilities, refineries and a solid manufacturing base for a number of byproducts and chemicals in different parts of the country, the need of the hour is to extend this dominance into other industrial sectors.
I agree with Wagner that the recently passed mortgage law will broaden business opportunities and with the total bank deposits exceeding SR 1,150 billion, it is the right time to step up the pace of industrialization in the Kingdom. In the recent past, we did see some mega investments by the local and foreign investors in different nonoil related sectors. Meaningful utilization of the liquid funds and available infrastructure while piggybacking on a robust economy that has been reporting surplus for several years will rapidly change the entire industrial landscape. Moreover, the returns will automatically take care of the burgeoning population and lift their standards while eliminating for good the problem of unemployment.
It is heartening to note that a prototype sport utility vehicle (SUV) has been developed by the engineering students of King Saud University and I recall there was an agreement with the Gulf Automobile Manufacturing Co. to set up the first car manufacturing plant in Dammam. A very high per capita usage of vehicles in the region should have warranted setting up of assemblies and plants for manufacturing all types of vehicles ranging from different types of luxury cars and coaches to basic pick up vans & trailers.
Impressive achievements by Indian companies (like Tata and Maruti) stand as testimony to the fact that national companies can effectively compete with the foreign companies in this arena for not only producing cars for use and sale in the Kingdom, but could be exported to other countries. (Safi H. Jannaty, Dammam)
Polio vaccine campaign
Though I agree with the letter writer, "Polio vaccine ban," (July 18), that it's the security situation in Pakistan's tribal areas which has made it impossible to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of children against polio, I disagree with his contention that this ban has got something to do with the campaign to hunt down Bin Laden in Pakistan. It's mere an excuse on the part of Taleban and their apologists and we shall not be swayed by their propaganda.
Taleban groups led by Mullah Nazir, Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Mangal Bagh have banned the polio vaccination in protest against drone attacks; that means they understand the importance of vaccination but are making a point at the cost of their future generations. It's not only tribal areas, vaccination teams are facing resistance in Pashtun areas in Karachi as well. On July 17, WHO car came under fire in a Pashtun locality in Karachi.
I wish someone may ask Taleban and their educated apologists in the media: Why do the Americans need to use drones when Taleban are good enough to make their handicapped children a burden on the society for years to come?
It's the responsibility of tribal leaders, religious scholars, civil society and media to play their role to convince Taleban not to endanger the lives of their future generations. Where are religious parties, Imran Khan and other right-wingers who are busy organizing protest rallies and long march against the opening of NATO supplies, why don't they protest against the Taleban's ban on polio vaccination.
It's so pathetic that in today's Pakistan, gun is the law and this gun is in wrong hands. (Masood Khan, Jubail)
Letters — Pace of industrialization
