Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Islamabad Airport structure crumbling
Within two years of its opening on 1st May 2018, (new) Islamabad Airport infrastructure started collapsing, and recently false ceiling panels started falling after monsoon rains. Almost 1000 feet of runway has caved in. The two parallel runways built for simultaneous arrivals and departures cannot be used for that purpose, because as per briefing by former DG,CAA, AM Asim Suleman, to Parliamentary Committee in May 2016, the spacing between two parallel runways was 200 meters instead of mandatory 1000meters. The design was approved by none other than CAA, and after completion, necessary approvals were given and payment made to the contractors.
Approval for choice of site, despite soil survey reports against it, was given by PM Shaukat Aziz in November 2005, and 3242 acres of land were acquired for Rs.2.5 billion. Foundation stone was laid by Shaukat Aziz on 7 April 2007, after the design plan was approved. It was officially opened on 1st May 2018 by PM Shahid Khaqan and commercial operation started by 3rd May. The project estimated at Rs 37 Billion escalated to over Rs105 Billion.
This cash starved country seeking economic bailout packages from international donors and friendly countries is not willing to proceed against those responsible for massive corruption, incompetence and criminal complicity. An investigation conducted by FIA in 2014 submitted a report to MoI which named 34 individuals, including over a dozen from uniformed services. The findings of this report were upheld by a Committee headed by Shamsul Mulk in 2015. It seems involved individuals of CAA, concerned ministry and contractors are far more powerful than the State, even if Rs.105B is at stake. The contractors involved have not even been blacklisted, let alone being prosecuted and fined. In all likelihood, they will be eligible for more mega projects. Almighty Allah SWT save Pakistan.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Plastic ban
Plastic bags are major cause of environmental pollution. Plastic is a substance a non biodegradable and thus plastic bags remain in the environment for hundreds of years polluting it immensely. It has become very essential to ban plastic bags before they ruin the planet earth completely. They are destroying nature due to their harmful ingredients. Waste plastic bags are the main reason for trapping the drains, sewers, especially during rain.
This can result in a flood like situation and disrupt the normal life of people. Although Pakistani government has imposed the ban on the usage of plastic bags, (but it is limited to Islamabad only). Its scope should be enlarged. It is our responsibility to stop using plastic bags. It is time when we all must contribute our bit to make this ban and success.
KANWAL ALI
Karachi
Internet access ridiculous
It is disgusting that Zimbabwean Minister of Information Communication Technology (ICT) Postal and Courier Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere promised Zimbabwean rural people that the government will expand internet services into rural areas. This is utter rubbish as all government radio stations in urban areas are not functioning well on internet. The Zimbabwean government has dismally failed to have four radio stations on a full functioning internet like in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi. These radio stations include Classic 263; Radio Zimbabwe; Power FM & National FM.
Listeners can only listen to these radio stations for not more than 10 minutes and the system will be down. It is painful because those people managing the ICT infrastructure for these radio stations should have been sacked long time ago in a country which has produced more than 4000 IT graduates who are jobless. Corrupt, careless and clueless ZANU PF government has failed and there is nothing good we can now expect to come from President Emmerson Mnangagwa and directionless Cabinet Ministers.
KUDZAI CHIKOWORE
London
Independence Day and GB
Pakistan jubilantly celebrated its 73rd year of independence on 14th August 2020. Where on one hand, the 22 billion people of Pakistan celebrated it enthusiastically, on the other, 22 lakh populace of Gilgit-Baltistan speculated it with the feelings of inferiority complex and resentment—GB has been rewarded with a constant limbo status and disputed territory for its unconditional accession and loyalty with Pakistan, after a revolted self-help victory against the Dogra Raj in 1948.
Today, after more than seven decades since independence, the state of Pakistan could not grant an unambiguous status to GB. This is either due to the intentional unintentional loopholes in legislations and verdicts on its status, or ‘one-step-forward-two-steps-back’ political shenanigans by state to keep GB out of its mainstream part.
Pakistan should not shrug off this issue anymore, for an unprecedented sense of marginalization and resentment is getting piled on the populace, especially among educated and media-savvy youth of the region, being relatively much more politically aware and conscious of their deprivations than their predecessors.
People of GB have always been sincerely patriotic, loyal and ready to render sacrifices like any other Pakistani. Hence, the state should also take this ‘prolonged limbo’ as a matter of great concern and strive to resolve all the legislative and constitutional imbroglios regarding GB before budding of any grim scenario.
ZAHID ALI ZOHRI
Gilgit-Baltistan
