I was highly amused to read a news item that the Government of Punjab has sought the Turkish collaboration for the cleanliness of Lahore. Our nation may not be proficient enough to handle projects requiring high technology and skill but it is certainly capable of looking after the chores of daily life. Our cities are dirty because the authorities have never imposed the sanitation rules as strictly as it is done in foreign countries. If the cantonment areas, DHA and other private societies can be kept clean, why not other areas and cities? Dependence on foreign cooperation has become more of a habit with our high-ups. To quote a few examples the Government Transport Service (GTS) served the people for half a century with the highest standards of efficiency and punctuality. Instead of modernizing the existing system we preferred to import Daewoo from Korea. Since the creation of Pakistan we managed the Karachi sea port efficiently operating both the naval as well as commercial shipping. Now when Gwadar sea port has been built we have invited the Singapore Port Authority to operate it. Similarly the Pakistan railway system was managed and the trains operated all over Pakistan by our own people. Now when it has suffered a set-back due to unchecked corruption and in-efficiency, we have asked Korea to run five of our trains. There could not be a bigger matter of shame to seek foreign collaboration on projects which our own experts can handle. We only need to expand our infrastructure, enforce strict rules of business and ensure accountability and efficiency. RAFI NASIM, Lahore, December 23.