Minister faces a big challenge

A reader says the new Indian Foreign Minister needs to concentrate on bilateral relations with Pakistan. Other letter topics: ID cards, doing business in Dubai and chocolate.

A reader says Salman Khurshid (on left, with former Indian foreign minister SM Krishna) has a big job ahead of him. AP

ID cards make perfect sense

I fail to understand the objections to the new ID card being trialled in India (Backlash over hurried reform of welfare, October 28).

If these cards can accurately identify welfare recipients and make sure they get the money intended for them, rather than it going to corrupt middlemen, they should be welcomed with open arms.

I appreciate there are logistical problems, but there must be solutions to these, such as setting up local bank agencies in cafes or grocery stores.

I also know there have been objections to ID card schemes elsewhere in the world, but people are kidding themselves if they think they are somehow living "under the radar".

Many of us already have passports and we accept them as an essential tool for travel.

Nobody who is behaving legally has anything to worry from a transparently operated ID system.

In the future, I'd like to have just one plastic card that is my ID, passport, bank account, credit card and driver's licence all rolled into one.

Trevor Long, Abu Dhabi

Some patients abuse system

I write regarding Pressure on health care as hospital visits soar (October 29).

Many people are really sick and have to see a doctor, but there are plenty who are malingerers and abuse health-insurance privileges.

And that's aside from those who just want to step out of the house and avoid work, and those people who plan their sick leave.

James Donato, Dubai

Challenge ahead for new minister

Regarding the Indian reshuffle (Singh tries to blend youth and experience, October 29), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has given the foreign affairs portfolio to 59-year-old Salman Khurshid.

This was a dramatic development in Indian political history, but whether the change will reduce the corruption in bilateral relations with Pakistan is yet to be seen. K Ragavan, India

Dubai really does mean business

Regarding Entrepreneurs aim to grow in Dubai (September 16), Dubai is one of the few places in the world where we see such enthusiasm in entrepreneurship.

The liberal policies and forward vision of the rules have made it relatively easy to pursue one's dream to do business.

Also, with hard work and dedication, positive results are much quicker to see.

Mohammed Poonawalla, Dubai

Expectations of integration differ

I write regarding Ali Al Saloom's article Holding down a job with a hijab (October 26).

While I agree that there are prejudices and stereotypes hindering hijab wearers in Germany and other European countries, you need to consider some other differences between the social structures of the UAE and Germany (as an example).

Immigration to Germany in the last five decades was mainly from Turkey and Eastern Europe.

Immigrants of the first generation were mostly uneducated blue- collar workers or asylum seekers who could make little contribution to the economy or society.

Today, immigrants and their offspring have a permanent status in the country with the right to obtain citizenship.

Migration to UAE, however, is in most cases temporary, based on a completely different legal system, and with the probability that people of different cultures will leave the country after a few years.

Their presence is tied into active contribution to the economy.

All these factors clearly have an influence on the hosting population's attitude and the expected level of integration.

There is good and bad in both variants, and we all can learn a lot from each other.

Eva M, Dubai

Instant pictures from times past

I enjoyed your article about Polaroid photography, Instant gratification (October 27).

In fact, I'd like to see more recognition of superseded technology.

Perhaps we will soon see an edition of The Review published in cuneiform on clay tablets.

Colin Richards, Abu Dhabi

Statistical sweet spot is missing

There are about 31.5 million seconds in a year (60 x 60 x 24 x 365 = 31,536,000).

If 95 tonnes of chocolate are consumed worldwide per second, as we are told in Paris pays sweet tribute to chocolate (October 29), then total annual consumption would be 2.99 billion tonnes, not the 9 million mentioned in the story.

Ernst Rausch, Abu Dhabi