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.
Plastic pollution
Plastic is everywhere, not only Pakistan every single country is part of this plastic crisis. Our oceans face a growing pollution crisis. According to reports about eight million metric tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans every year. There are already an estimated 150 million metric tons of plastic in our oceans because this problem hasn’t been addressed effectively. We need a global agreement to end plastic leakage into the seas by 2030.
Marine plastic pollution has serious consequences for people’s well-being and their livelihood. And it also has a devastating impact on marine life – causing injury and death to fish, sea turtles, whales, birds, coral reefs and much more. Every single country must be part of the solution: we need a united global response, with the world’s governments taking accountability for ending marine plastics pollution. The people of the world appeal for creating a global and legally binding agreement to stop the leakage of plastics into our oceans by 2030.
ANUM ZULFIQAR
Rawalpindi
Importance of first aid
May I have the honour to draw the attention of the authorities and the people through the esteemed column of your newspaper about the importance of knowing the first aid? Today a child met an accident near the school gate. Many people were standing around but did not know what to do. Finally, the child was rushed to hospital.
It is not known what happened to the injured in the hospital. Is it not a pity that there was not even a single person around who could provide first aid to the victim. One cannot deny the importance of first aid, which can be sometimes, life saving. I earnestly request the authorities that they mull over the idea of launching first aid centres in schools and some students may be given training so that they can provide first aid in case of an emergency.
The students should be made aware of the primary steps of first aid at school. In the school curriculum. it should be included.
Even competitions should be held to make them efficient at first aid. At the same time, they should have their own mini first aid box at their home. The parents should encourage their children for this purpose. They should know what to do in such situations before the victim is carried to the hospital.
At times, the first aid can be life-saving. The government and the concerned educational authorities should initiate a step towards this.
MUHAMMAD SARFRAZ
Rawalpindi
Let’s green our province
Plants in an environment function as lungs so that’s why they are termed as lungs of earth. Plants exhale oxygen and inhale corbon dioxide and purify the air we breath. Lack of plants means lack of pure air to breath and as a result lack of pure air gives birth to multiple diseases.
Plantation is a life-saving act but it pains that it has not received special attention in Balochistan, which is also a province of Pakistan. We, the youth, can play a great role with regard to plantation. We can initiate plantation campaigns and spread awareness among the citizens about the importance of plantation. I would like to request the youth of Balochistan to come forward with a motive to green our province and save it from dangerous diseases.
JUMMAH
Turbat
Traffic challenge
Quetta is the provincial capital of Balochistan. It is a small city surrounded by beautiful mountains. Furthermore, there is a good educational environment in the city that’s why a large number of students prefer going there for education. It is quite unfortunate that there is a huge increase in the population of the city nowadays and as a result the city is victimized by multiple challenges. Traffic jam is the most faced challenge which has made the life of the citizens difficult. Unfortunately, a large number of accidents take place frequently in the city just because of traffic jam. It is mostly faced by students as they fail to reach the examination hall on time during their examinations.
It is quite shocking that actions towards this challenge have been missing. It is high time for the concerned authorities to tackle out this issue. Traffic rules must be introduced among the public and more importantly, actions against those who drive vehicles without driving license should be taken seriously.
SHAHDAD QUMI
Turbat
Lahore ‘Creative City’ in Literature
A few days ago, Director-General Audrey Azoulay of UNESCO ranked sixty-six cities based on arts, food, history, music, design, and literature. Among them, Lahore was designated as the ‘Creative City’ in Literature; neither Delhi nor Lucknow but Lahore. This is a great achievement for the people of Pakistan. Lahore had a vast history of cultural variation including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Muslims. Besides, this city still embraces its culture, folk, arts, ethnic and tradition and this is the fundamental reason behind Lahore being declared with this prestigious title.
Furthermore, the community of Lahore has been admiring the intellectual work of authors, novelists and poets. Likewise, Lahore has the golden-stamp which has given status to many famous and prominent writers by recognizing and acknowledging their literary works. Moreover, the Lahore film festival is a continuing tradition of promoting literary activities in Pakistan. The purpose of this festival is to celebrate, discuss and appreciate the past and present diverse literary traditions of Lahore. Together all these efforts are making the city alive.
MAEEDA SHEIKH
Rawalpindi
‘Tourism’
Pakistan was once a tourist hub in the 1970s. The hippie trail brought many tourists, most of whom visited cities such as Karachi, Swat, Lahore, Rawalpindi, etc. When the war on terror began in 2001, the tourism industry saw a collapse. The media portrayed Pakistan as a dangerous country, so every day the nation started to see fewer and fewer tourists.
Pakistan’s natural beauty has no match. Server to the Himalayas ‘ highest mountain range in the world, peaks like K2 and Nanga Parbat draw plenty of adventure-seeking hikers. Pakistan’s northern part has a diverse landscape ranging from valleys to ranges, fields and mountains. The Swat Valley, Hunza, Deosai Plains, Neelum Valley, Utror, Thandiani, Hanna Lake, Saif-ul-Malook, Shogran and Babusar Top are some of the most beautiful places. Shandur Pass connects Gilgit to Chitral and is regarded as the world’s roof. It’s between three ranges of mountains, Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Pamir.
The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation is in control of tourism in Pakistan. Each province deals with its own sector of tourism. Many historic sites are being renovated and tour agencies are being set up to improve tourism in Pakistan. Although the government is not taking a lot of radical steps to revive this economic sector.The tourist industry improves the economy of any country.
The influx of foreigners brings revenue to the country and provides many opportunities for business and employment for citizens. Pakistan is so blessed with beauty, culture and history that even a small drive will do wonders for the tourism sector.
MISBAH IMTIAZ
Islamabad
