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.
Venture into a business
Many young lads, the fresh graduates with dreams in their eyes and fancy degrees in their hands, step out of homes to make fortunes for themselves and their families. For many of them, those dreams are shattered pretty soon. Low pay, rare benefits, and the cutthroat competition punch them hard, that’s if they find a job, which is the very deficiency we have in our country.
Is that the only option they have? Enter into a job-deficient market, after acquiring a good degree, and fitting into one not suited for their shoes? They can start their own business, create a job market and offer back to the community and country. Sounds insane, and it is, but if we think about it, the challenges and hurdles can be converted into opportunities and revenues, to become financially independent. Trade starts from acquiring an asset and selling it; yes, it’s not as easy as it sounds and not as hard as looking for a job from office to office is, especially if not finding one.
Real estate can be the genie granting the three wishes, but the condition is that you find the lamp and rub it. Getting into the business requires good networking skills by working on your social interaction and PR. Also, watch your finances and define your goals; set your targets and objectives, by narrowing down your areas of work. Investments can be made in commercial properties and private lands. The underdeveloped land can also reap sweeter fruits on wait. On the other hand, rentals are a good start where you invest in apartments and give them for rent to tenants. Such initiatives help build confidence of investors and attract potential buyers to become owners of a property with little investments.
MARYAM NAWAZ KAYANI
Islamabad
Drugs abuse
According to the United Nation report on drug addicts, Pakistan has 7.6 million drug addicts, where 78% are males while 22% are females. It is the highest number for any country in the world. Addiction to drugs among young men and women is an acute social problem faced by most countries, especially Pakistan.
Illegal trafficking of narcotics is on the increase despite vigilance on part of the government. Heroin, cocaine, Hashish, Marijuana are easily available today. Due to easy access, youngsters use drugs. At first, youngsters take drugs in small doses just for a thrill but gradually they become addicted to and then there is no easy way of escape. This drug addiction causes lethal poisoning and brings physical problems which can lead to prolonged depression cycles.
Today we not only find drug addicts on the roadside but also in educational institutions. This is alarming. To be precise we have fallen deep inside a frightening pit that there is no easy way to escape. The reason for the widespread use of narcotics by students and youngsters is that the indigenous culture enthusiastically embraced them.
The first and foremost step to take against this abuse, our law agencies, police force and anti-narcotics force should break the channel of drug suppliers. We should have to start massive education programs and dynamic leadership from the government. Families also have to take responsibility for check and balance and nip the evil in the bud. We should tackle the problem of drug abuse on a war-footing
SHAHBAZ JHOD
DI Khan
Pak passport ranking
We as a nation felt ashamed when heard news that Pakistani passport has been ranked fourth-worst for international travel in the world for the third straight year. It went viral on social media with people wondering what became of the tall claim that people would line up to visit and invest in Pakistan because PTI would put things right after it came to power. It together with Pakistan alongwith war-torn countries like Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan; even below Yemen, which is also in the grip war with Saudi Arabia. There’s also a general tendency to brush all such news under the carpet as some sort of conspiracy against Pakistan. The fact, however, is that such reports only show how little we are trusted or respected elsewhere and how uneasy other countries are at the prospect of our citizens crossing their shores. It exposes the abject failure of the Foreign Ministry to portray a democratic, corruption free image of Pakistan before the world. Except beating the trumpet of “Corruption” nothing has been done for the prosperity of the country. Common man’s life is becoming miserable day by day due to ever soaring. If the present administration wasn’t busy blaming India for every foreign policy failure and previous governments for whatever goes wrong inside the country, perhaps it would’ve been able to do something constructive about the social, economic and political climate here so others would respect it from the outside as well. Alas, none of that happened. And just like the economy, our perception in the international community also continues to tank.
MUNAWAR SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Water on road
Every day more than 10 accidents occur in Malir, which is also a part of Karachi because there has been water on the road for the last two months till now.
On the other hand, wrinking water pipes and sewerage are broken along the highway. As a matter of fact, people are disappointed in living here; there is no available way that people can comfortably go and buy things for their homes.
It stands a catastrophe for the people to manage their directions of going to their works, hospitals or schools. The concerned authorities are requested to take action for the redressal of this problem.
DADSHAH BAHADUR
Malir, Karachi
