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.
SC ruling
On 05 Jan 2022, the Supreme Court of Pakistan delivered its final verdict on the issue of private schools and colleges. SC gives further extension to private schools and colleges in Cantonment Areas.
Last month, the Cantonment Board issued a notice to all private schools and colleges that there would be no private schools and colleges within Cantonment Area limits, so make your own arrangements. From 01 January 2022, the Cantonment Board will seal all schools and colleges. The Supreme Court directed the Cantonment Board not to say anything to these schools or colleges and not to seal them.
AHSAN KAMAL
Islamabad
Child marriage
Marriage is an important part of our social life but in Pakistan child marriages are also common which is a source of concern for everyone. According to UNICEF data (2017) based on small sample surveys, 70% of girls are married off even before their sixteen birthday and many are married off even at the age of thirteen.
The consequences of the child marriage are long-lasting because it results in plenty of hurdles for the girls in their future life. One of the initial negative effects is a hurdle to their education. It forces children to engage in basic familial domestic duties before they have become mature.
As a result, the newlywed girls are thrust into a tough stage of life before they are adequately prepared for it. Another negative impact is on their physical health. They are prone to a variety of medical difficulties and have major health problems. There is a substantial link between marrying later in life and having a greater level of education, as well as good reproductive health.
To further gauge and quantify my research according to the real time data, 30 questionnaires were distributed among the students of the Fast University and also to their relatives. Only female students were targeted in this research. Main conclusion which was drawn from this research was that 22 out of 35 of females think that early marriage could result in family disputes and separation.
Moreover, students believe that early marriages also frequently damage education and cause medical issues. Respondents also believe that there is a need of large-scale activities for the awareness and to reduce the child marriage. The problem of child marriage is both long-term and chronic and mere laws and legislations have not been able to prevent such marriages.
SAMAN ZULFIQAR
Lahore
Lahore land pollution
It is to draw the attention of the government and authorities to the problem of sanitation in Lahore. The condition is becoming worse day by day. Waste management workers are irregular and careless. Sometimes they don’t come for days. When they come, collect only half of garbage and leave half that produces bad odour in streets and create diffusion.
The population of Lahore is increasing day by day due to migration of people. People migrate because more opportunities and facilities are available to them like health and education etc. To stop this migration and increase in pollution government should take measures. Otherwise, more people use more plastic and there will be more land pollution.
To get rid of it, people are burning bid of garbage, which adversely affects people’s health and increasing air pollution. Moreover, it blocks roads and drains, when it rains. Stagnant water stays on roads for days, creates travelling difficulties for the people and causes destruction of roads as well. There is another great risk to people’s health as it gives huge threat of dengue and malaria. The Municipal Corporation Lahore should take necessary action for the resolution of the issue.
MUHAMMAD DANISH
Lahore
Deforestation
Trees, plants and flowers give the feeling of being alive. Trees have many benefits for humans besides adding to the beauty of this planet. Unfortunately, trees are cut down in Pakistan very rapidly. Deforestation causes many problems. The relentless deforestation is a threat not only to humans but to all living organism. Forests in Pakistan are declining day by day. According to the World Wide Fund, Pakistan is the second largest country in Asia for deforestation.
Karachi is the biggest and dense populated city of Pakistan. Industries mills, and big factories making it the main metropolitan region of the country. Industrial development and the race to become a developed city have deprived Karachi of forests and natural beauty.
Deforestation cause air, noise and water pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions from factories and the lack of trees that cause air pollution are inevitably the cause of smog. Trees absorb noise and reduce noise pollution whereas deforestation is increasing this pollution. Due to this pollution, the people of Karachi are suffering from diseases such as hearing loss, irritability and high blood pressure.
HASSAN MUJHTABA
Karachi
Cyber crimes
Humans have invented innumerable objects to comfort their life. With the beginning of 21st century, mankind witnessed greatest invention of the history that is Internet. It connected the humans of one corner of the earth to those sitting at other corner. It was such an incredible invention that people were bound to opt it. With the massive use of internet, very rapidly trade, shopping, banking and other source of amusement were connected to internet.
Whilst, it was performing so excellently that it proved as merciful and benefactor for its users but several crimes incepted too which were obvious a danger posing serious threat to its consumers. Crimes with new outfit emerged with title of cyber crimes (related to internet based equipments). Some common forms of cyber crimes are discussed below.
Electronic Financial Fraud is most common form of cyber crime. It includes fraudulent activities committed through online means for gaining illegal financial benefits. These impersonators pretending to be an authorized person from some bank or Benazir Income Support Program ask for personal data, bank codes and other money-related information. In most cases, prey is illiterate strata of the society.
SAJID ALI NAICH
Khairpur Nathan Shah