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.
Injustice to transgenders
Problems surrounding gender have always been present in our society. Pakistan ranks third last country on the Human Rights Index with regard to gender-based laws. However, as most of us think gender inequality is not just limited to men and women, but transgenders too, a large portion of our population which is largely stigmatised and mostly ignored.
This was further highlighted when a transgender woman Julie, who happens to be an activist, was imprisoned based on a false allegation, and unlawfully kept in men’s jail despite her identifying as a woman. Her suspicious arrest took the social media by storm, since Julie had earned her self quite a rapport with social media activists for her ardour to blatantly state the truths about our society, which were otherwise shunned into silence; issues like sectarian unrest, sexual exploitation of transgenders and the prevalent class culture. The rage of her supporters resulted in her release after seven days.
However, in the past even when she was not a social media sensation Julie had fought for injustices against her gender, which are far too many to state. The question is how long we, as a nation, will continue to oppress the voices of truth and justice into silence, rather than addressing the issue at hand. It is high time that the law should be implemented and hold accountable even the enforcers of law (police), if they’re caught misusing. There needs to be further revision in laws which cater to minorities whether gender based, race based or religion based.
SAKINA RIZVI
Karachi
Suicide ratio in Pakistan
Pakistan’s suicide rate is below the worldwide average. The 2015 global rate was 6.1 per 100,000 people (in 2008, 11.6). Suicides represent some 0.9% of all deaths. Pakistan’s death rate, as given by the World Bank, is 7.28 per 1000 people in 2016 (the lowest rate in the 2006-2018 period). In 2015, the suicide rate in Pakistan was approximately 1.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, one seventh of the global average. Similarly, suicides represent only ~.1.2% of all deaths.
Diagnosing and covering suicide cases is generally difficult due to social stigma and legal issues that envelop the problem. Suicide is prohibited in Islam. Various obstacles restrict open discussion of the phenomenon. Suicide is a criminal offence under the Pakistan Penal Code, with punitive laws imposed for attempted suicide punishable by a fine of Rs10,000 and/or imprisonment. National suicide statistics are not compiled on a formal level nor officially reported to the WHO. Unofficial data is neglected and subject to underreporting. While suicide patterns have traditionally been low, the rate has increased steeply.
One analysis of suicide reports over a period of two years, showed over 300 suicide deaths in Pakistan in 35 different cities. The findings showed that males outnumber females by a 2:1 rate, and that the majority of male suicides tended to be unmarried; the rate for females is the opposite. Research indicated that the majority of female suicides were under age 30 and that “domestic problems” were the main stated reason. These include unemployment, health issues, poverty, homelessness, family disputes, depression and a range of social pressures. Hanging, use of insecticides and firearms are the most common methods for carrying out suicide in Pakistan.
ARSLAN KHAN
Karachi
Central superior services
The Central Superior Service can be defined as the machine which controls the whole engine of the state that has to move. The Civil Service is the competitive exam, conducted by Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC). This exam has the prestige of very low pass percentage. This service selects 7.5% of candidates on merit, whereas, the 92.5% are selected by Quota system. Moreover, these exams are held in the start of every year.
For this elite service, every year thousands of graduates appear in this exam and it is regretted, 95% of them couldn’t qualify. By the same token, the toppers of this exam are foreign graduates. Thus, it is the big question on our education system that it has failed to produce great names. Is there anyone listening!
MOOSA PANHWAR
Sukkur
Rote learning
One of the cognitive flaws in our education system is that pupils have not been ingrained a sense of investigating realities behind their topics of learning. They have been confined to definite answers of questions present in their curriculum. They have been enforced for cramming the questions. Unfortunately, the reason why the people like Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton are not born in our society is the culture of rote learning.
Students either from private or government sector tend to cram the logic of topic. How can logic be crammed? This is a question neither understood by the teachers nor the students. The logical schism from the opinions of teacher is absent. Students intend to learn whatever they are taught by teacher. A teacher standing in a class in front of many students can be misinformed or wrong in his perception. But students blindly take into his mind rather than being a critique.
This kind of education system bears no fruit in the society. It only produces the robots which only know how to cram not to penetrate the things logically. Moreover, the uncompetitive teachers are also responsible for this menace. Specially, some teachers from private institutions focus on small talks and motivational guidance rather than delivering proper lectures to the students. This motivational speech has nothing to do with students who want to learn something. Their lax behaviour and inactive attitude makes students cram the things. These people are hollow from inside because they have nothing to infuse in their students except tall claims.
“Empty jars make much noises”, this proverb can suit right to these people. The huge fee paid by the students is dashed into dire. They do everything except teaching for what they really are. They are propelling the nation towards darkness. If this attitude continues, the future of the posterity seems desolate and dark. To remedy the things the authorities concerned have to step forward towards solving this menace.
AWAIS GOPANG
Sukkur
Celebrate
eco-friendly Ganesh
Festivals in India are generally celebrated with all the frills, and the same is true for Ganesh Chaturthi. Right from handpicking flowers and decking up puja rooms and pandals, to making modaks filled with coconut and jaggery, people tend to immerse themselves in a host of activities. However, often, during the course of the celebration, we don’t realise the extent of harm we might be causing to the environment.
Many of the Ganesha idols that are sold in the market today are made of plastic, thermocol, POP, and other non-biodegradable material, which when immersed in water bodies have a detrimental effect on both the plant and animal life. Even the rangoli colours available in the market which are used for decorative purposes are made up of hazardous substances like mica, acids, and glass powders. Since these colours cannot be decomposed biologically, they tend to degrade the surrounding spaces.
It might not sound very significant, but even the plastic used to pack or give away the prasad, adds to the existing pollution in the environment. For decoration, use only fresh flowers, diyas and electric bulbs. Avoid the usage of shiny ribbons, thermocol, plastic beads, etc., as they all end up as reject waste. For the puja, use only flowers, fruits, coconut, mango leaves, tulsi, grass, beetel nut leaves.
Avoid purchasing beetel nut, haldi-kumkum or other puja items in packets, as they typically cannot be recycled. Instead, buy the whole beetel nut or buy haldi-kumkum in a box. Also do use a reusable bag when shopping. Hence, this time around, let’s look at some ways in which we can celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with all the pomp and ceremony, but without hurting the planet.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
