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.
Monsoon season
Our authorities should learn a lesson from last year’s flood where 33 million people were affected and it destroyed 2.2 million homes, yet many of the impacted districts in Sindh continue to face destitution and more than 50,000 people are displaced and still reside in camps. As rainstorms in Punjab and Balochistan destroyed infrastructure and livestock, authorities must take more action to mitigate effects of disasters. The NDMA must be strengthened with resources, funds, staff and equipment to respond to disasters and introduce safety measures. We can learn some valuable lessons from our neighbours, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka that have effective strategies to counter monsoon adversities.
Ayesha Arif
Via email
Why blame IMF?
I fail to understand why every successive government that has been at helm, starting from first IMF standby agreement for $25m signed on 8 March 1958, followed by the second for $37.5m on 16 March 1965 and third on 17 October 1968 for $75m etc. and yet we have failed to achieve economic self-sustenance. We as a nation must understand that geopolitics is a reality that we have to live with, as long as we are not able to generate enough revenues through direct taxation on all sources of income and not end up with huge budget deficits. Instead of blaming others, we need to set our own house in order, by enforcing financial discipline and eliminating black economy, instead of promoting it with endless amnesty schemes.
Our expenditures must be slashed and the bureaucracy needs to curtail its red tape hurdles, or be purged, to create favourable environment for foreign and domestic investment in export and employment generating industries. Failing which, Pakistan will forever be hostage to international financial institutions and countries that control them. Given the huge debts this country has to pay, it does not justify ostentatious lifestyle of its paid and elected public office holders, living in luxurious subsidised gated housing societies, surrounded by a multitude of poor living in utter poverty, deprived of basic necessities, like clean drinking water. Certainly, IMF cannot be blamed when land holdings of small farmers are forcibly taken over by powerful Land Mafia and the judiciary regularising such gross irregularities on basis of Third-Party interest. Industries built on land given by provincial governments are being demolished in connivance with bureaucracy and political executives and replaced with shopping malls and plazas, and not even the judiciary takes suo motu notice in the public interest. The Havala system will continue to thrive as long as real estate boom continues, with minimal taxation, although everyone knows that black economy is parked there. This has to stop.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
LAHORE
Demand a public library
Book reading and study of literature is essential for mental growth and a great source of availability of such literature is public libraries. It is strange that Jamshoro district despite having many reputable institutions of learning lacks a public library where one could go and read books of his taste and choice. Despite having four universities and hundreds of thousands students, the libraries of these universities are restricted for their own students.
Thousands of students like me have no access to books pertaining to science, technology, art and humanities etc. We need to open libraries in all districts and even in villages. Federal and provincial governments need to work on this project collectively for collective good of the people.
Imtiaz Essa Halepoto
Jamshoro, Sindh
Expensive tomatoes
The price of tomatoes has risen to more than Rs 80 a kilo in several parts of the country, including Mumbai and has become even costlier than petrol. Tomatoes are the major dietary source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They are also a great source of vitamin C, potassium, folate and vitamin K. The government must control inflation and must do something to bring down the price of tomatoes and other household ingredients as a relief to the common man.
JUBEL D’CRUZ,
Mumbai, India
Inflation
I am writing to express my concerns about current state of inflation. As you may be aware, inflation has been on the rise in recent months, and it shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Inflation is a phenomenon that occurs when general price level of goods and services in an economy increases over time. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) tracks the prices of a basket of goods and services commonly purchased by households and often measure it.
High inflation can have a negative impact on households, particularly those with fixed incomes or limited resources. It can make it more difficult for people to afford basic necessities, such as food and housing. It can also erode the value of savings and investments, leading to decreased purchasing power over time. As a concerned citizen, I urge our policymakers to take action to address very high inflation. This may include implementing policies that encourage investment and productivity, reducing supply chain disruptions, and adjusting monetary policy to prevent inflation from spiralling out of control.
AQSA WAQAR
Lahore
Thalassemia patients
In Balochistan, there are 2,000 thalassemia patients who are suffering from this blood disease, especially Turbat, with 600 thalassemia patients aged 5 to 29. Furthermore, it is much tough for them to get blood donation and sometimes they would not obtain it for many days due to lack of health facilities. Recently, a private school teacher opened a thalassemia centre for kids in Turbat. Finally, the public with matching blood groups must come forward and support and assist thalassemia patients.
ASMA NASIR
Via email
