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.
PPP
and Sindh
It is true that in the past the PPP had to face a number of obstacles from powerful circles but after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto at least in Sindh the party has enjoyed absolute power.
While its leaders enriched themselves, the province did not witness any substantial change.
All areas of the province continued to be dominated by feudal families. The archaic tribal laws in practice remained effective instead of progressive legislation carried out in the last 11 years.
The party did not come up with any concrete measures to rid the province of the clutches of the landed gentry, which now also dominates the bureaucracy of the second biggest federating unit in the country.
Moreover, there are still thousands of schools that are believed to be non-functional.
Fishing communities say that more than 95pc schools in Sindh’s coastal areas lack access to pure drinking water. And dozens of schools in the metropolis also suffer from shortage of pure drinking water.
Activists say that more than 20,000 of the province’s 46,039 schools are without working lavatories.
Furthermore, the PPP has already been in power for more than 11 years now. This is its third consecutive term in Sindh.
If it fails to deliver this time, it may still win the polls but it will go down in history as a party that was voted again and again into power but did not meet the expectations of the people.
Every victory should not be taken as a reward for good performance.
If the PPP wins the next polls, it could well be its last chance to rule over the province.
SARFRAZ SOOMRO
Sukkur
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering is a kind of technology which is related to the transformation of genes. It is not just part of the human body, but it can be helpful to make things artificially.
Pakistan is not adopting such technological benefits. On the other hand, Chinese people eat a heavy amount of non veg food.
Currently they are working to make all kinds of meat artificially through genetic engineering to save the life of animals.
The US also adopted genetically modified organism (GMO) techniques to make soyabean, corn, sugar and cotton.
In 2018, the US made 94% of soybean and cotton, 92% of corn and in 2013, 99.9% sugar was made through genetic engineering.
On the other hand, researcher say, “Pakistan made corn and maize through genetic engineering, but a few farmers claimed this technology damaged the land and caused allergies and cancers.
Still many issues arise in implementation of genetic engineering. However, such reasons and research does not seem effective. Because the world is going to be competitive.
When competition increases then moving back or giving arguments is considered as defeat. If there is a problem then a solution is also present.
Why have other countries adopted such a technology? Are they not faced with such issues?
Genetic engineering is a kind of technology where making profits is easy by enhancing the ratio of imports.
Specifically, Pakistan is taking on a large amount of debt to fulfil economic demands.
Therefore, implementation of such technology may increase cost at the initial phase but slowly and gradually it will be proved as a better decision.
RAGNI LUND
Daharki, Sindh
Most Catholics have no time to pray
There are some people who call themselves Catholics (yes, Roman Catholics) which is a very good thing but they have no time to pray either at home or in church.
These very same people keep spending five to six hours partying every weekend but when it comes to Mass in church, they walk inside the church when the homily has just finished or during Communion time.
When the priest gives a long sermon, they keep yawning and find it boring.
But for weddings, they walk in at the reception hall even before the bride and the groom could enter and wait there till the wedding comes to an end.
What kind of Catholics are they? At retreat centres like Potta and Tabor, the Eucharist is celebrated for two full hours with a very long homily. Why can’t we have the same in our local churches?
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
ICTs and
new normal
It has been more than a year now that we are engulfed in the horrors of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Everything we knew as normal is now subject to Coronavirus and its SOPs. We cannot have family gatherings as we used to, we cannot work or conduct businesses as we used to, we cannot perform our religious duties as we used to.
It seems like we have been jailed, and our prison cells are our homes and offices. It has been a year; however, we are still uncertain how to educate our children. This situation is identical in almost all parts of the world.
However, the technologically advanced countries had a minimum issue to adapt to these new normal settings.
In Pakistan, we need to have Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) accessible to every citizen, regardless of their gender, age and economic classification.
Companies that have already tested for 5G technology like PTCL, Zong and even Ufone have the capacity to achieve this access of ICTs for the citizens of Pakistan.
It’s high time that ICT companies operating in Pakistan must be provided support they need from government quarters.
This shall certainly enable and equip them to adapt to the new normal, demanding provision of connectivity services to every citizen of the country but unfortunately, it’s not.
ATIF IQBAL
Rawalpindi
