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.
Without
public library
The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) greatly emphasised on gaining knowledge and said that, “Acquire knowledge from cradle to grave.”
He also said that, “Education is obligatory on every male and female.” For this to accomplish we need good educational institutions with competent teaching staff.
Studying books on various topics is an established hobby of students all over the world. Books are best source of knowledge for both students and literate people available in libraries of the country.
It is pertinent to mention here that many tehsils of district Kashmore, having a large population, even in 21st century are being deliberately deprived of purpose-built public libraries.
Consequently, students waste their valuable time sitting in hotels. Despite many hollow promises made by high-ups from time to time, dream of a decent public library remains unfulfilled.
Once again I request honourable CM Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Provincial Minister Mir Shabbir Ali Khan Bijarani and Deputy Commissioner Kashmore to kindly establish a modern public library, also having a digital section, at the earliest so that people and students of the area can get benefits from it.
NOOR KHAN BAKHRANI
Via email
Early marriage and health
According to UNICEF, child marriages in South Asia have halved in last 25 years. However, in Pakistan, only Sindh has child marriage restraint act whereby age of marriage has been increased to above 18. No doubt, it is difficult to measure the number of women who died while giving birth in Pakistan.
In Pakistan we can see that there is a poor healthcare status of women and that is a major reason of maternal mortality.
However, health facilities concerning pregnancy are too low in Pakistan. So a young girl’s body is not ready to bear the burden of pregnancy and childbirth.
Teenage pregnancy is one of the important causes of infant mortality which is amongst the highest in Pakistan, for 45 out of 1,000 newborns died within first 28 days of life compared to many neighbouring countries with lower GDP like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh that have a lower number of such deaths.
On the other hand, it is painful that majority of women have to face serious problems during their pregnancies. Many women died during pregnancy or childbirth because of anaemia. And most of the backward areas of the Balochistan totally lack maternity care, health professionals etc.
Lower spending on health care, lack of maternal care facilities in rural areas, early marriages, lack of standard or appropriate maternal care services and low birth weight are some of the main factors contributing to higher maternal mortality.
MOSHIN TAJ
Via email
Career selection
Many countries give importance to career selection. They make their students that much able that they can select a career themselves.
In Pakistan, things are different. Neither there is any focus on career selection of a student nor any kind of career counselling. Due to this, students get misguided. They cannot select what is good for them. This wrong selection of career puts them in future trouble.
According to an estimate, half of students select a wrong career for them. Another estimate shows that 9 out of 10 people regret rushing their career.
According to another study, 20% of students say, they would have chosen different course if given a chance while 18% regret their choice of degree.
Due to wrong selection of career, students and people become disappointed. Even some are forced by parents to choose their preference.
The government should work on guiding students to select right choice of career while parents should allow them to choose whatever they want.
WASEEM AHMED
Hub city, Balochistan
Cancer ends up many smiles
For last many decades province of Balochistan is facing increased cases of Cancer that has ravaged many lives. According to reports, there were 10,924 cancer patients in Quetta from 1998 to 2009.
From 2014 to 2017, 10,000 cases were reported in the city, most of which were cases of women with breast cancer. The number of people affected by different cancer diseases has also increased manifolds.
Moreover, due to fewer facilities cancer patients are forced to visit Karachi for treatment. Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Quetta some time back and announced that he would build a cancer hospital, yet noting practical has come out after this announcement.
Hope PM Imran Khan is able to provide a cancer hospital at the earliest. It is crucial and most needed by us.
SHAY MUREED JAN
Turbat, Balochistan
Parsi’s
New Year
Every year on August 16, Parsi’s celebrate their arrival in India and the acceptance of their new homeland. The Parsis were originally from Persia; the term ‘Parsi’ sprouts from ‘Persian’ in Gujarati.
They follow the religion known as Zoroastrianism, which was founded by Prophet Zarathustra in Persia more than 3,000 years ago.
During the Islamic invasion in the 7th century, many Zoroastrians migrated to India looking for a new land to call their home and landed on the Western coast in the state of Gujarat.
They may be a small community of people in a country like India, but like Christians, they too have contributed a lot to the Indian culture over the years.
One may come across Nouroz celebrations twice in a year. This is because the first Nouroz, which falls on the spring equinox that is, in March, signifies the beginning of spring and the New Year according to the Iranian calendar.
The Zoroastrians of India and Pakistan follow another calendar known as the Shahenshahi calendar, which does not account for leap years.
As such, the New Year falls 200 days ahead and is usually celebrated on August 16, known as Jamshed-i-Nouroz, named after the Persian king Jamshed who started the Parsi calendar.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Cousin marriages
According to a Quaid-i-Azam university research, “Pakistan is among those counties where cousin marriages or marriages between close relatives are encouraged to enhance family ties and please members of the family.”
In Pakistan, half of the population marry a first or second cousin. According to researchers, almost two quarters of all abnormalities in babies in Pakistani community are due to cousin marriages.
Cousin marriages have a high risk to activate genetic disorders. Not only this, marriages between first cousins double the risk of birth defects. Cousin marriages are not always successful. Acknowledge the fact and spread awareness.
GANJI ALI MUHAMAMD
Via email
