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.
Mental health
Unfortunately no attention is paid to mental health in Pakistan while number of patients having psychological problems are increasing day by day due to different causes such as unemployment, escalating prices of gas, electricity, petrol and other basic necessities of life, economic difficulties social and sexual exploitation forced marriages and poor academic performance.
It is a bitter fact that treatment facilities for mentally ill people are insufficient. In our country the people having mental disorders usually goes to custodians of shrines and spiritual healers because they consider psychological problems as a result of black magic and possession of evil spirit.
A report says that 14 million people in Pakistan have mental health issues and 36 percent out of them are suffering from depression and anxiety while schizophrenia, bipolar depression are also quite common. World mental health report says that severity of depression in women is fifty percent high than men but women are not ready to accept this fact.
The situation in rural areas is worse where domestic violence, disputes with in- laws, divorce, infertility, additional responsibilities such as working in fields and etc badly effect the women’s state of mind and make them depress. Besides these causes some more reasons such as continual sadness, loss of appetite, disturb sleep, feeling of guilty, inferior complex, feeling of tiredness and lack of concentration also create depression and adversely affect daily life.
Studies reveal that most severe depression can lead to suicide. Almost one million people take their own lives each year. Sometimes depressed person become violent and even commits a crime. Bipolar disorder brings unexpected and unpredictable changes in mood and behaviour resulting in significant difficulties in life.
The growing number of cases of mental illness demands concrete steps to address the issue. There is a need that government should set up psychiatric faculty in all big hospitals. A campaign, regarding mental health, should be launched to raise public awareness through media. In far-flung areas community based programmes should be initiated to solve psychological issues of the people. The subject of mental health should be included in curriculum at college level.
RIFFAT SULTANA
Rawalpindi
Inflationary trend
The International Grains Council (IGC) puts Pakistan total gain production at 34 million tonnes, up from 33.3 million from previous year. Wheat crop is forecast at 25.5 million tonnes, up from 24.9 million tonnes. However prices of food items is highest in the country that deprives poor from two squares meal a day. Inflation has crossed all limits, making the whole nation to suffer. When Asad Umar was questioned in this regard during a conference, he replied that PM Imran Khan is supporting the farmers. The PTI government decided to increase wheat prices by Rs 400 to Rs 1,800 per 40Kg to support farmers. Though rising inflation has added to the income of farming community, the underprivileged are paying for this inflation.
Additionally, this has to be kept in mind that these are not only farmers who are poor or who are supposed to be subsidized but the government has to care for rest of the population, especially workers whose daily wages are inadequate to feed their family.
MARIA NASEEM
Turbat, Balochistan
*****
The current alarming inflation that has hit whole nation has destroyed various communities but mostly poor families. However, the new Pakistan deprived the one who works to earn some money to fulfil expenditures of two meals.
Moreover, will new Pakistan come from those who are sitting in Parliament and earning huge benefits from public exchequer? Generally they never think of poor who empower them. I would ask PTI government to stop befooling people and instead fulfil their election manifesto promises.
ASIF JAMEEL
Awaran, Balochistan
Devoid of education
Out of school children is serious issue with socio-economic ramifications. Situation is much more serious in Sindh. There are massive numbers of children that are out of school. It has been over a decade since state made a promise for every child to be provided free education but no practical and result oriented measures have so far been undertaken.
Currently about 6.2 million children in the province are out of school. There has been no considerable progress since 2010 on putting out of school children back in educational set-up. The number of non-functional schools is massive. During Sindh High Court hearing on free education and reforms earlier in the year, then educational secretary submitted a report acknowledge that 6866 schools were closed and approximately 7974 schools were non-functional.
Significant push by political parties, civil society organization and media to make education part of reforms agenda is yet to bear fruit. The provincial education requires a lot of work, resources and consistent educational reform policies. The provincial authorities need to address underlying issues plaguing the education infrastructure.
AKBAR ALI BANGWAR
Via email
