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.
Protective shields in online taxis
The other day when I sat in my usual Uber ride to get to work in the morning, I was quite pleasantly surprised at seeing a neatly installed shield separating me and the driver in the car. It seems like the ride-hailing app has designed the separator sheets as an added protection to curb the chances of Covid-19 transmission between us – riders and the drivers.
This comes at a very important time, since we have been hearing of a stronger, more vicious second wave of Covid-19 that seems to be arriving in Pakistan. While I don’t see much of the Covid-related SOPs being followed here, the news item does show a surge in infections and that’s quite alarming. Kudos to these transport services that are innovating in new ways to help us keep going in this new normal.
GULSHAN NAZ
Karachi
PM is not Covid-19
Every student of Turbat wished to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and to discuss with him the issues which are being faced by their schools, colleges and universities. But sadly, it was announced that educational institutions would remain closed on Friday due to the Premier’s visit.
It is really shocking to close educational institutions for the visit of the Prime Minister, as if he is Covid-19 that can affect the students. It would be better if the education system remains open during such high-profile visits.
MEHR BALOCH SAJIDI
Awaran
Trying to claim voters’ fraud
Trump is acting like Zimbabwean ZANU-PF presidential candidate who by all means try to rig elections by trying to claim voters fraud and abnormalities. The President has made unfounded assertions of victory and allegations of voter fraud, accusing Democrats of trying to steal the election. Donald Trump should clearly accept that he lost elections and should not waste his money by engaging in a legal battle.
America is not a third world country which rig elections and champion undemocratic election process. America is the mother and champion of democracy and Donald Trump should be stopped from eroding that USA global reputation of democracy in electoral system.
It is insane for Trump to claim victory before the end of counting of votes and Republican should severely rebuke his claims and utters that is only found in third world countries where there is no electoral democracy.
It is a shame that in undemocratic countries like Zimbabwe, the rigging party will eventually win the elections like what ZANU PF did in 2018 Zimbabwean harmonized elections. The elections drama and fiasco that took place in USA should remind the careless, clueless and corrupt president of Zimbabwe and his beleaguered ZANU PF party that democracy in the West prevail and there should be no room for rigging elections in Zimbabwe.
KUDZAI CHIKOWORE
London
Rural women’s health
Pakistan is a developing country where women have to struggle on different fronts in order to attain their due place in society. In recent decades, although women welfare has got a great momentum by dint of feminist activism like MeJoo and TimeUp, yet there is a long way to strive and resolve the issues faced by women currently.
From all the issues women suffer, the problem of women’s health is really notable. Women’s health is a neglected area with serious repercussions for individual and society in general. However, rural women have to face very miserable health conditions. It is estimated that about 1600 women out of 100,000 die during the child-birth. The reasons for this alarming death-ratio are the dearth of women education, debilitated health system, social undue-influence and traditional taboos attached to women.
Besides this, the major health problem for the rural women is sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive tract infections. It is thus quite noteworthy to reflect upon that the rural women are hardly aware of such physical and biological disorders. Also, the women in rural locations work double. Out of 278 women, 61.5% work in fields with their men even during the pregnancy.
Likewise, the patriarchal family structure is strictly practised in villages and women are compelled to deliver a lot at home that again causes various psychological and biological complications which consequently pervade a terrible track to women’s stature in society.
MAIRA MEMON
Khairpur, Sindh
The imbalance in our society
The first sale announced by all shops after the lockdown that I visited on the eve of Independence Day left me shocked. I entered an outlet of a well-known brand while going through the hanging dresses there. I took out one shirt, price tag placed on it made me completely amazed. It was Rs. 10,000 and something after a discount it costs Rs. 5,000 and something. It was their so-called SALE.
I kept the shirt back to its former place. Up to this day, I regret a lot about ignoring the price mentioned on it and not protesting. It is another form of corruption done by the elite-class in the name of their stupid brands which should not be ignored. WAKE UP. After lockdown, they are compensating their losses this way. Is it the only way left to earn? The pandemic has left no-one unbothered. Despite becoming more mature, we are acting like barbarians ready to do anything to earn profits. We all are responsible for this. It is so easy for us to take out anything no matter what price and buy.
Being a citizen of third world country we should be ashamed of wearing such extravagant clothes. Also, these brands should be ashamed of putting such unreasonable prices. This mentality is producing an imbalance in our society. It is leading towards complex among people when a few can afford expensive clothes while the rest is just watching and feeling worthless. Stop buying highly expensive clothes. We all have this power to protest against them this way. I would denounce the pricing schemes of all top brands.
MAHNOOR SURAHIO
Via email
