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No pension?
A large number of retired employees of Radio Pakistan continue suffering on account of delayed payment of their pensions every now and then. Until mid-July 2024 they have not been paid their pensions for June 2024. Only last year, their pensions were not paid in a staggering manner for three months, arrears were paid every now and then in a very painful and unsure manner thus adding to their financial problems as the prices of essential daily use items continued their upward trajectory making their lives more and more difficult.
Last year, the federal government had announced a very meagre pension of just 17.5 percent and the retired employees were paid this “very kind favour of the regime” only in October 2023 and four months arrears thus accruing are still awaited by the resourceless retired Radio Pakistan employees.
More often than not, the federal government provides significant salary increases to current employees, but only a fraction of these raises reaches retired Radio Pakistan staff. This oversight disregards the fact that current employees already benefit from government-provided housing, unlike many retirees who rely on rented accommodations due to historically low salaries and pensions.
Additionally, in July 2022, the government quietly replaced Radio Pakistan’s pay scales with its own, promising medical allowances for both current and retired employees. Unfortunately, these allowances have not been disbursed alongside salaries or pensions for over two years, leaving retirees vulnerable to mounting inflation pressures each month.
M Z RIFAT
Lahore
Celebrate mass
Since the East Indians are the original inhabitants of Mumbai, it’s high time the Catholic Church all over Mumbai celebrated the Holy Eucharist (or the Mass as it is called) in East Indian Marathi dialect too.
When Masses in Mumbai can be celebrated in Konkani, Gujarati, Malayalam, Tamil and other regional languages, why can’t the Mass be celebrated in East Indian Marathi dialect too for the sake of the East Indians living in gaothans and villages like Gorai, Culvem, Uttan, Malwani, Manori and Dongri who cannot speak or understand English.
I hope Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the head of the Catholic Church in Mumbai gives a thought to it.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Resurgence
of terrorism
Terrorism is a double-edged sword which not only targets innocent people but also destabilizes society. After every attack, government pledges to rein in those who plunged country into violence and hostility but all in vain. According to a recent UN report, last year, almost 1200 attacks against Pakistan have been conducted by TTP. Taliban took over Kabul, proxy war, Indian factor, missing of sustained neutralized policy, a policy of appeasement, over-reliance on Afghan Taliban and digital terrorism are among the main factors which cause the rise of terrorism.
Terrorism can be coped by adopting these solutions: Bilateral talks with Afghan rulers, adopting holistic and multi-dimensional approach, zero tolerance against those mindsets, which justify violence, empowering NCATA and refocusing on the National Action Plan, adopting kinetic and non-kinetic measures.
M FURQAN ABID
Jaranwala
Individual actions for a sustainable Pak
Mitigating climate change and achieving a sustainable future in Pakistan necessitates individual actions. Energy efficiency is a key, using LED bulbs, optimizing appliance use, and observing energy conservation are some of the simple ways through which one can significantly reduce their carbon footprint while easing pressure on the national power grid. Rethinking alternative sources such as solar and wind power is another powerful method. Supporting community solar projects or adopting rooftop solar panels helps individuals minimize their personal emissions and advocates for broader uptake of clean energy solutions across the country.
Additionally, transportation behavior is enormous particularly within urban areas whereby vehicles’ emission heavily contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gases. Using public transport, carpooling, cycling or even walking when possible reduces carbon emissions and makes city environments healthier. Pushing for increased public transit networks and electric vehicle infrastructure also boosts sustainable transportation solutions.
Given Pakistan’s growing water shortage, which is being made worse by the effects of climate change, water conservation is essential. Fixing leaks, adopting water-saving habits at home, and supporting neighborhood projects for sustainable water management are all ways that individuals can help. with addition to protecting a valuable resource, these initiatives aid with community adaptation to climate change.
By encouraging the planting of trees and participating in urban forestry projects, one can improve air quality, reduce urban heat islands, and increase biodiversity. These steps help build resilient communities that are better able to endure the effects of climate change. Additionally important are advocacy and education, which can spark systemic change by increasing public knowledge of climate change and promoting laws that give sustainability top priority in business, agriculture, and urban design.
ROYYAM SAQIB
Islamabad
Box letter
Smog plan
Sir, I am writing to commend the Punjab government for recognizing smog as a year-round issue. This is a crucial first step toward addressing a significant public health crisis. However, the effectiveness of this new approach hinges on realigning infrastructure development to reduce emissions. The plan includes a crackdown on major polluters and community mobilization to create smog-free spaces through a multisectoral approach involving various departments. While the strategy is thorough, its success depends on a significant reduction in the governments carbon footprint, shifting from traditional development to a green framework.
GULZAR DILDAR
Turbat
