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 illness
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I would like to draw the attention of the public towards mental illness. Mental illness is all around us, whether we know it or not. Those with a diagnosed mental illness can be your neighbour, family member, friend or even you. It affects children, adults, men and women. We live in a society that makes it difficult to live and thrive with a mental illness because of the stigma around it. It is looked down upon, criticized, valued less and even dismissed.
We live in a society that tells us to get over it or it is just a phase, even though people’s lives are crumbling inside and they are afraid to ask for help. People suffer in silence every day because of the way we judge mental illness.
We need to change the way we think about mental illness and the way we talk about it. Education is the foundation of any change. Better education in schools is one way we can start helping the people understand mental illness. We need to teach people that mental illness can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, traumas or major life events.
Teaching people how to recognize when someone may be struggling and then encouraging them to seek help can be the support someone needs. This can help others feel like they are not alone and that it is not uncommon for individuals to struggle with their mental health. Although you cannot see mental illness on the outside, it does not mean it does not exist.
An individual’s mental health is just as important as their physical health. I believe that small changes will eventually lead to a big shift in the way mental illness is looked at in our society.
Hafiz Bilal
Islamabad
Harassment of women
Harassment is an unwanted physical and verbal act that intends to offend and abase someone. In Pakistan, besides many other issues, women are being confronted a crucial issue of harassment at workplace. It has been revealed that harassment of women is routinely practised at workplace. It is an existential issue and an unfortunate reality that has been prevailed in society.
At any private or public sector, some person who has lust, practised this abhor act with females. Specifically, those who are at the helm of the affairs use different tactics to have relationship or friendship with women.
Any resistance meted out from women could result threat to their career or even removal from their job. But, women who are solely breadwinner for their family and those who come of from humble family are left with no other option than to carry out their job under such circumstances.
According to the Data provided by the Ministry of Human Rights, more than 1600 cases of violence against women have been reported so far in this year. Now, it is need of the hour to protect women from any kind of violence so that a conducive environment could be established for women to work without any fear. To ameliorate this condition we must acknowledge this fact that women constitute half of the population of the country and are equal stakeholders for the economic stability of the country. Another thing that could be done is that male employees should point out any case of harassment and gender-based stereotyping at workplace and responsibly take action against such people.
The protection against harassment of women at workplace Act, 2010 has been passed to protect women against harassment at workplace. There is now crying need to implement this act against harassment of women at workplace so that women could independently and fearlessly perform their job. The concerned authorities should take action against perpetrators who do this malicious act and they must be punished.
MUHAMMAD SUFYAN
Bhimber Azad Kashmir
Deforestation
Gone are the days when our earth was full of forests. Except deserts, the whole land was covered with different kinds of trees which made the air fresh and breathable for humans and for other living things. But, as the humans progressed, slowly the forests got cut. As a result, today deforestation has become a huge challenge for complete world. It is affecting the life on earth in the shape of global warming, climate change and more.
However, the absence of tress, on earth, is really a great concern since the presence of harmful gases in the air are increasing. They can lead us to big challenges. The deforestation is rising because of the silly activities of human beings and it needs to be stopped soon. On the other hand, one thing must be known to us that the more we cut down trees, the more we are putting the life, on earth, in danger.
Trees are very important for the environment and for the health of all living things. They give us oxygen, from utilisation of harmful gases, which we need to be alive. So, it is for the good of all living things that we, humans, should plant more trees and do those things that promote greenery in our surroundings.
SHARAN YOUSUF
Awaran
Pakistani talent
Recently, a news item astonished me. I read that a Pakistan-born American doctor, Mohammad Mohiuddin, along with his team, transplanted a pig heart in a human. It is all-time record. Pakistani people are very talented indeed. Countless instances can be cited in this respect. For example, Professor Asim Khwaja is the frist professor of Pakistani decent that has been hired by the prestigious Harward University’s John F Kennedy School of Government. Ali Moeen Nawazish secured 22 A grades, 1B and 1C A Levels in 2009. It was the world record at that time. We will never forget Arfa Karim, who became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional in 2004. Mufti Taqi Usmani, an eminent Pakistani religious scholar, had been named on top of a list of 500 most influential Muslim in the world in the survey which was conducted by a Jordon-based international institute, The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre.
The talented people of Pakistan exhibit their hidden potential only through individual efforts and take great pains. The government as well as stakeholders do not support and promote them. Many skilled and expert persons go away from Pakistan in order to support themselves financially. Our own motherland is deprived of utilizing capabilities of such precious citizens. Quality education, adequate facilities, financial support, masses’ appreciation, government’s aid and constructive criticism are essential ingredients for boosting talent and talented people.
NAEEM UR REHMAAN
Karachi
