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Honour killing
Women play a significant role in everyday life, serving as mothers, daughters, wives and sisters. However, they are often held back due to gender inequality and are killed in the name of honour. In today’s era, women are not safe in their own country, even in their own homes. This is particularly true in rural areas of Pakistan, where illiteracy and backwardness force women to struggle and compromise in various situations.
Recent incidents in Pakistan highlight the brutality of honour killings. In Korangi town, Karachi, a 20-year-old girl named Shahzadi was killed by her grandfather with an axe. The reason behind this murder was that Shahzadi had married a man of her choice a year ago and had moved to Jamshoro. Her grandfather took her back from Jamshoro and brutally murdered her in the name of honour.
Similarly, in Sindh’s Nausharoferoz district, a woman named Sobia Batool Shah had her legs cut off by her father and uncles. This brutal act was done in the name of honour when Sobia wanted to end her toxic marriage by filing a divorce case.
These incidents demonstrate the cruelty and brutality shown by family members towards women in the name of honour. It is essential for our country to take strict action against such suspects and work towards eradicating honour killings. The government should establish organizations and NGOs that work for women’s protection and provide safe shelters for women who are not safe in their own homes.
ALIZA TARIQ
Rawalakot
Inflation rising
This is not good news for the government, which has probably correctly identified inflation as its worst enemy, the worst eroding of support which is decking day by day. It should also note how quickly its assumptions have evaporated, and how quickly it finds itself forced to face reality. The IMF also insists both on a power tariff increase as well as further taxation measures. These also will be inflationary. The IMF regards the recent interest rate announced by SBP as a kind of panacea for inflation, but the role of oil prices has not been closely examined.
The IMF has insisted that interest rates be kept as high as possible for as long as possible. As a result, growth has been squeezed and one of the basic problems of the economy, the saving rate and government spending, are sacrificed without compunction. The inflation figure might well persuade the IMF to insist on keeping it high for the foreseeable future.
Average inflation of the year has been finalised at 23.4 percent, as compared to 29.2 percent of the year before. Rising prices of eatables have broken the backbone of the common man. The sale prices of vegetable and fruit are too high as compared to market prices in retail. The role of price monitoring committees is very poor which raises questions on their performance. The government must wake up before the wrath of the public reaches its peak and culminate in overall protest and agitation on roads.
MUNAWAR SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Zimbabwean election integrity
Another area of concern is the integrity of the electoral process. The recent elections were marred by reports of voter suppression, intimidation, and irregularities. Independent observers and opposition parties have accused the government of rigging the elections to maintain power. “The elections were neither free nor fair,” asserts opposition leader Nelson Chamisa. “The government’s manipulation of the electoral process is a direct assault on democracy and an insult to the people of Zimbabwe.”
Corruption remains a pervasive issue, with numerous high-ranking officials implicated in various scandals. Despite pledges to combat corruption, there has been little to no progress in holding perpetrators accountable. High-profile cases often disappear from the public eye without any resolution, leading to widespread belief that the govt is protecting its own.
Transparency Intl’s latest report ranks Zimbabwe among the most corrupt countries globally. The organization’s Zimbabwe chapter highlights a lack of political will to address corruption, noting that anti-corruption agencies are often underfunded and lack independence.
NOMA MPOFU
UK
Modi’s promises?
The Union budget presented in Parliament on July 23 was deeply disappointing. There was no mention of healthcare, education and the railways, especially given the recent track record of accidents. The budget also reeked of partisanship, as evident from the special treatment given to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, two states whose allies prop up the NDA government at the Centre. Most importantly, the poor, whose real income has been falling and exacerbated by galloping food inflation, has been ignored.
The people of India should realise that PM Narendra Modi had made many promises in the past, like IK of Pakistan, but has never fulfilled any of them in the last ten years of his tenure — not even the promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of every Indian citizen. The BJP had come to power in 2014 by selling the dream of ‘achche din’. But the people now understand that those promises have long fallen flat. Modi has been betraying the people of India to a large extent right from the time he became the PM of the country.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Box letter
Digital visa initiative
The recent approval by the federal cabinet to grant digital visas to citizens of 126 countries, facilitating free visa entry to Pakistan for business and tourism, marks a significant policy shift. The promise of obtaining a visa within 24 hours via electronic forms is a noteworthy step towards easing business operations and potentially boosting foreign investment. The government’s intention behind this initiative is clear: to simplify the business environment and attract more international tourists. However, while the efforts to promote tourism and business are commendable, there is a pressing need to scrutinize the underlying issues that have historically hindered foreign investment and tourism in the country. In analyzing the efficacy of this policy, it is crucial to understand the broader economic and security challenges that overshadow mere visa regulations. For instance, in the fiscal year 2024, the contribution of investment to Pakistan’s GDP was a mere 13.14%, a figure alarmingly low. This dismal performance is attributed to several critical factors, including exorbitantly high interest rates and escalating energy costs. These economic hurdles present a formidable barrier to potential investors who may otherwise be attracted by streamlined visa process.
GULAB UMID
Turbat
