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.
Introspection not confrontation
Pakistan today faces constitutional and economic crises which require introspection by all three pillars of the state (Parliament, Executive, Judiciary) and the civil and uniformed establishment for their unconstitutional interventions which derailed the political process. Decades of mismanagement by mediocrity at helm and poor governance by successive governments since 1956, has landed this country in a mess.
A country, which cannot develop its human resources and utilize its talent, will face a brain drain. Propping mediocrity at helm, through political manoeuvring by the powerful few of this country, in violation of the Constitution, has finally thrown Pakistan in a royal mess. There is no long-term plan to sustain an economy which can provide food and employment to an ever increasing population.
For the large majority of Pakistanis, who have voluntarily pledged to live and die in this country, the survival of Pakistan is far more important than egoistic pursuits of individuals and powerful groups, slave to their conflicts of interest, in pursuit of this game of thrones.
Confrontation, be it the boycott of SC 3-member bench, or the refusal to constitute a full court, is definitely not a way forward, but a path that will lead to more chaos, confusion and ultimately anarchy.
It is an unfortunate reality that the path of confrontation is being treaded upon by those, who have already either adopted foreign nationalities, or are in the process of doing so. Be it PTI, PMLN or PPP etc., they all have let their constituents down. Their present leaders do not possess the vision required of statesmen, but men captive to egoistic mindsets, blinded in the pursuit of power, irrespective of the consequences this path may land 230 million citizens in.
Pakistan was created through a democratic political process and it can survive or flourish only if democracy survives and the political process facilitated. As long as our economy does not stabilize with a balanced budget, through restructuring the whole system, this political uncertainty will continue to haunt us.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Carbon removal for sustainability
In recent years, the issue of climate change has become an increasingly pressing concern for policymakers, scientists and the general public. As a result, there has been growing interest in developing technologies and approaches to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is one of the primary drivers of climate change. While there are many different approaches to carbon dioxide removal (CDR), researchers have recently been exploring the potential benefits of using a diverse range of approaches to reduce the impact on the energy-water-land system.
One of the primary concerns associated with many CDR approaches is that they can be energy-intensive and require large amounts of water and land to implement. For example, approaches such as direct air capture and mineralization require significant amounts of energy to operate, while afforestation and reforestation require large amounts of land to be dedicated to new forests. These impacts can be particularly problematic in areas where water and land resources are already scarce.
To address these concerns, researchers have begun exploring the potential benefits of using a diverse range of CDR approaches. By combining multiple approaches, it may be possible to reduce the overall impact on the energy-water-land system while still achieving significant reduction in carbon dioxide levels. For example, a combination of afforestation and direct air capture could allow for the production of bio-fuels while also removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
FAYYAZ SALIH HUSSAIN
Via email
Pak economic crisis and
real estate
THERE are two reasons for Pakistan’s economic crisis, one is the internal economic crisis and the other is the national political crisis. As we know that the national economy and national politics are equally in turmoil. On top of that international economic pinning is an added disadvantage. But we are unable to see that there are still potential opportunities available that are not being utilized optimally. One of them is the real estate of Pakistan which we are not taking advantage of.
Pakistan’s real estate sector is estimated at 1 trillion dollars which means that it is worth three times more than the total GDP of Pakistan. Overseas Pakistanis invest in real estate and thus a lot of remittances and foreign direct investments are also part of the real estate business. This is why there is an investment in real estate when the rupee depreciates. Moreover, there is more investment in Pakistani real estate when the economy faces a crisis abroad or suffered a global pandemic like Covid-19. Real estate is also a stable and growing source of income that offers high returns on investment and growing appreciation rates over the years. Another fact is that national economic growth is profitable to the real estate sector, as the value of real estate inclines with the increase in GDP.
Pakistan has a lot of potential to use the real estate sector since our national gap in the housing sector is around 300,000 units per year. Companies have got a lot of possibilities in order to provide their services to fulfil that gap. It has provided premium living conditions and safeguarded gated communities as well as commercial areas to fit international brands as well.
The real estate sector will continue to remain an integral part of the economic ecosystem, despite the fact that there exists a less-than-logical economic rationale for it. Pakistan has got more than 20,000 companies in real estate that can contribute a lot to its economy. It will continue to attract retail investors in large numbers and real estate investment trusts will keep on forming. Pakistan’s real estate sector has got unusual drivers of investment besides domestic housing and commercial needs.
WAQAS ASMAT
Islamabad
Box letter
Fruit boycott
I am writing on the issue of high prices of fruit items in Karachi during the month of Ramadan. As you may be aware, fruit is an essential part of the diet during the month of fasting, and their consumption increases significantly during this period. However, it is unfortunate to note that the prices of fruit items have skyrocketed, making them unaffordable for a large section of society. This situation is particularly concerning, as the majority of the population is already struggling to make both ends meet. I urge the government to take immediate steps to address this issue. The government should take measures to ensure that the fruit prices are reasonable and affordable for all people, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. Furthermore, I also request that the government launch a campaign to promote the boycott of expensive fruit items in Karachi during Ramadan. This will put pressure on fruit sellers to lower their prices and make fruit more accessible to the general public. It is responsibility of the government to ensure that the basic necessities of life, including nutritious food, are available to all citizens, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. I urge the government to take swift action to address this issue and help alleviate burden on the people of Karachi.
MUHAMMAD FARIS
Karachi
