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.
Apathy towards Urdu as National Language
In consequence to my articles in your esteemed national daily on the subject, dated: 21,22,23 May’2021 and your editorial dated: 5th June, we must congratulate the Editorial Board of Pakistan Observer for lucidly highlighting the national voice.
But, I must indicate the obviation of an important national issue in your holistic Editorial.
The Editorial Board should have taken a strong notice of the long abandoned national issue and have referred it to Parliament for proper legislation in the form of Bill to give the Urdu language a legitimate place at the official, educational and all other relevant levels without further loss of time.
Soon after the inception of Pakistan, the father of our nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah stressed the importance of Urdu to be adopted as a national language forthwith on the basis of a most resilient lingua franca of the subcontinent and to adopt it at all levels.
In view of Naya Pakistan and State of Medina, we request our honourable President, Prime Minister, Members of Parliament, Social Organizations, Media, our readers, Federal Urdu University, National Language Promotion Department and as well as your readers to re-activate their efforts to adopt and enforce the Urdu language at all levels of the society.
It will certainly increase the literacy rate of the country, alleviate poverty and to build a formidable economy in the country.
In view of promoting and implementing Urdu language, we are not against the western education we are simply against adopting the western culture in our society.
We never, mean to eliminate English from our ranks, as today, it is a language of Science and Technology and we should continue it as a co-language, not at the cost of our national identity.
Finally, I advise our educated mothers to start teaching budding children in our mother tongue.
PROF DR YASIN DURRANI
Islamabad
Silence is complicity in crime
We must salute social media for exposing this shameful incident involving a clergy indulging in sexual abuse of a Madrassah student of Lahore which occurred over one and half years ago.
It was reported by the victim, but those responsible opted to ignore and protect the criminal involved.
This was an act of an individual evil person, and the institution of madrassa is not involved in this practice. However, silence is a crime and amounts to complicity in it.
There is total silence on the part of the State, political parties and even the so-called civil society which had no hesitation in making an issue about the casual remarks by Malala, but are silent on this matter.
It is time we recognize that this cancer of abuse and paedophilia exist within a few seminaries etc.,
and the need to surgically eradicate it. The Church has accepted it after years of denial, because of the nexus of the State and Monarchy in exploiting religion to accentuate their hold on power.
Denial that this exists is criminal. It is, perhaps, the immense political clout that religious parties enjoy, that became powerful under Zia junta, and their patronization by powerful stakeholders who have chosen to exploit religion, despite Quaid’s warning that religion should not be exploited, nor should paid establishment be involved in politics, that this has been ignored.
Immorality of a few within the clergy has gone unnoticed, just like the irregularities of powerful land mafia, both enjoying support of powerful quarters.
This complicity and exploitation of religion by the State has been going on for decades.
On 15 June 2008 when an 18year girl was subjected to gang rape within the Quaid’s Mausoleum, the CII helped the criminals by declaring that DNA is not acceptable as evidence.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Please save us from our Parliamentarians
The scenes of parliament during budget session were shameful, obscene and derogatory. PTV rightly muted the abuses and obscene remarks that were exchanged.
It seemed like a world wrestling finale where a bunch of looneys were having a free go at each other.
Such a scene could not be watched with kids as hard core naked abuses were hurled across the Parliament Hall along with the budget copies.
So much for the sanctity of parliament and the vote, these are all hollow slogans that carry meaning on the current parliamentary system – a system which has completely collapsed and it’s high time we should say good bye to it once for all.
Powers of the State are requested to scrap it as it has not only become non functional but are now dragging the whole country down to the ghettos of irrelevance. Please act now before it gets too late.
RUBINA MALIK
Islamabad
Remittances helped family
Every year June 16 is observed as the International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) after the UNGA, in 2015, adopted this day.
This day recognizes and raises global awareness of the critical contribution that migrants around the world make for wellbeing of their families.
Remittance flow into Pakistan increased by about 17% in 2020, even in the presence of Covid-19, proved all the gloomy forecasts false.
A survey ‘Financial Inclusion Insights’ by Karandaaz Pakistan which was carried during Oct to Dec 2020 showed that the pandemic, besides bringing more users towards online transactions and away from cash, also drove an increase in remittances and the use of bank and mobile money accounts.
There can be multiple reasons for this inflow of remittances by the Pakistanis working abroad, especially in the Middle East and EU countries, but the end result remains that the country has benefitted in the shape of a V-shaped economic recovery.
Add to that the improved quality of life of the families for these expatriate Pakistanis and we have a winning formula.
It is absolutely overwhelming to learn that Pakistanis are finding the benefits of the formal banking channels, cashless banking and fintech.
It can be forecast that Pakistan can now look forward to a future of prosperity for all if we continue to adopt modern technology.
FARYAL REHMAN
Islamabad
Electricity crisis
Electricity is a basic need yet unfortunately citizens of Turbat are deprived of this basic necessity.
After Ramazan, we are facing load shedding of 12 to 14 hours a day. In this hot weather the temperature goes above 50 but citizens are deprived of electricity.
One agrees that there are people who are not paying electricity bills, but it’s also a fact that a large number of people are paying bills on time.
It is responsibility of authorities concerned to provide electricity to people who are paying bills, whereas authorities can disconnect those people who are not paying bills or stealing electricity.
As a matter of fact, serious actions should be taken against such people. But everyone must not suffer.
MUHAMMAD BAKHTIYAR
Turbat, Balochistan
