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.
Unhealthy competition
Being a student majoring in Mass Communication and Media Studies, I am writing you this letter because I wish to highlight the issue of unhealthy competitive environment that is prevailing in our country. Competitiveness is so high in our society that not only do we go out of our way to be better, but we are forcing our children to see world as dark as we see it. Parents often take pride in having a child who excels in a lot of skills and knowledge – which has no harm in it – but they take it so far that it ends up being mentally and emotionally exhausting for child.
From learning in schools to having extra classes and tuition even after school, parents are so transfixed in making their child the ‘smarter’ kid that they stress them out. Children suffer so much under the pressure of getting higher grades, pleasing their parents and relatives. Being compared with others in such a way that they start feeling a rage or anger towards others and began to face mental issues. We must raise awareness of the danger we are putting our children through this competitive environment. We must stop the damage we are causing to our children.
MARYAM MALIK
Karachi
Challan fee for job recruitment
Preliminary fees/charges to apply for newly announced posts is a bane for those who are unemployed. How the unemployed could pay massive fee and heavy charges to apply for vacant seats. Unemployed youth cannot manage loans from others. Nobody comes forward to help them fill their needs.
Furthermore, they may pay interest for loans and consequently if they fail to earn a job, they may face serious dilemmas. The resultant disorders are many. Above all, depression and suicide are prevalent. Both these ailments are engulfing the unemployed exposing them to brink of devastation. I request incumbent government to take back fee challan or reduce it to minimum level.
AFZAL SHAIKH
Gambat, Sindh
Poor water quality
Through your newspaper I want to draw attention of a basic problem. Drinking water available in most areas of our country is of very poor quality. In this era of development and progress peoples are deprived of clean water. In most areas people have to cover long distance to gain access to water and fulfil their daily needs, yet quality of water is below the standards.
Also harmful and contaminated water discharged from industries is greatly affecting water quality. Due to poor quality of water, people face several health problems. An estimated 40% of all deaths in Pakistan are caused by contaminated water. Government must take serious measures to treat water in affected areas and also make easy access to potable water.
SAEED ANWAR
Khushab, Punjab
Rising illiteracy
Education is basic right yet in many underdeveloped countries people are deprived of this right. Illiteracy is the root cause of backwardness. Pakistan’s illiteracy rate is increasing rapidly. Main cause of illiteracy in Pakistan is lack of facilities for education, poverty, overpopulation, lack of human development resources etc.
As a result, such countries do not have enough competent skilled and professional people like doctors, engineers, lawyers, scientists etc.
ATIF RASHEED
Turbat, Balochistan
Traffic accidents
Rising traffic accidents in Pakistan is quite alarming. Whenever you listen to TV or read newspapers, you will never miss accidents reports.
One of the causes of these serious traffic accidents is under age drivers. Whenever you travel on roads, you will see underage children driving cars and riding motorcycles — fast and careless. The traffic police don’t notice this at all!!
According to Provisional Police Departments total number of accidents in 2019-20 were 9701 out of which 5436 people have lost their lives and 12317 got injured.
The number of vehicles involved in these accidents was 12894. Another survey report of WHO’s data published in 2018, the road traffic accidents deaths in Pakistan reached 30,046 or 2.42% of total deaths. The age-adjusted death rate is 17.12% per 10,000 population ranks Pakistan 95 in the world.
The government should come up with a viable solution to control hike in traffic accidents. The awareness regarding traffic rules should be part of the education curriculum at primary and secondary levels. There must be a proper training session for those who want to get driving licenses. It is time to act and save people from deaths caused by traffic accidents.
SALMA G R
Turbat, Balochistan
