Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space.
Eroding liberal norms
Liberal democracy, once hailed as the repository of fundamental rights such as liberty, equality, and freedom, appears to be on the decline. After the end of the Cold War, America established its hegemony on the global stage, neutralizing the (former) Soviet Union and promoting a liberal world order as a core system to guide the world. Consequently, the American agenda of liberal democracy was embraced by almost every corner of the globe, including decolonized countries in Asia and Africa.
However, the current global landscape is shifting dramatically from the West to the East. With the rise of China, the resurgence of Russia and India’s economic emergence, the West is losing its grip on world affairs. As Yuval Noah Harari writes in 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, “people are losing faith in liberal democracy.” This statement underscores the bleak future facing liberal democracy.
China’s rise and its new economic model pose substantial trials to the liberal world. The liberal agenda of the West seems to be at a crossroads. Regional political blocs clearly manifest that liberal democracy might be challenged by a new world order based on the agenda of the Global South.
NASRULLAH KHADIM
Kandhkot
Pakistan serves fantastic tea!
I was reading an article that stated that Pakistan may invite India to a neutral venue, however! It shouldn’t be like this because when India was hosting the World Cup, Pakistan went there despite being taunted and hooted by Indian people. They persisted, although it was sad and we condemned it. But when it’s time for Pakistan, now, they have security issues? When the Pakistani team went there, they definitely had high alerts, as our commentator Zainab Abbas came back because of threats, but the team focused on the matches as if we were not denying the love they get from some people.
I must say that, as a nation, we’re always welcome to peace and harmony, and we always want a friendship page, whoever begins first. Pakistan knows the principles of hospitality, and Pakistanis have unconditional respect for their guests who come to the country. The Pakistan team openly accepted your invitation, whereas the players were uncomfortable there. Now it’s Pakistan’s turn to show its hospitality to you. If you come to Pakistan, you won’t be able to estimate the hospitality of Pakistan’s nation. Pakistan is a country that serves fantastic tea. Hope you will enjoy it! If India doesn’t agree to come to Pakistan, there should be no neutral venue because, without making an issue, Pakistan went there, and now it’s time for India.
AREEBA ALTAF
Larkana
Killing contracts of IPPs
Contracts with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in Pakistan, initially intended to bridge the gap between energy demand and supply, have instead become a significant burden on the economy and a source of widespread public discontent. These agreements, often made under duress and with less-than-favourable terms for the government, have locked Pakistan into high capacity payments.
These payments, due to irrespective of whether the electricity is utilized, strain the national exchequer. This model known as the take-or-pay contract, guarantees payment to IPPs even if their electricity is not used, leading to financial inefficiency. Consequently, the country has been paying for surplus energy, further exacerbating its fiscal deficit.
The cost of electricity produced by IPPs is significantly higher compared to other sources, leading to increased electricity tariffs for consumers. This has a cascading effect on the economy. High electricity costs contribute to inflation, affecting the cost of goods and services across the board. Increased production costs make Pakistani products less competitive in the international market, slowing down industrial growth. Frequent power outages and high electricity bills have led to widespread public dissatisfaction and protests.
The energy policies in Pakistan have largely been reactive rather than proactive. Several policy failures have contributed to the current scenario. Energy policies have often focused on short-term solutions rather than sustainable long-term planning.
Despite having abundant natural resources, Pakistan has failed to utilize them effectively for power generation. Corruption within energy sector has led to inflicted project costs and delayed implementations.
TOUSEEF A BOUK
Larkana
Poisonous breathing
A study conducted by top medical researchers from Pakistan, Bangladesh and the UK, has appeared in the Nicotine and Tobacco Research journal. The research shows the shocking impact of passive smoking on school-age children in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Data suggests that an alarming 95% of children in the two countries are at risk of developing health issues caused by breathing in fumes produced mainly by smokers. There is an obvious lack of awareness about the harm passive smoking can cause to children. The use of cigarettes in closed settings, including cars and homes, has a profound impact on the welfare of children, leading to problems such as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other complications. Research carried out in the past also suggested that second-hand smoke can contribute to lung cancer and other pulmonary diseases. We should seriously think about saving our young’s future. There needs to be much greater emphasis on educating parents especially fathers since tobacco use in urban and rural males in Pakistan is 26.1% and 24.1%, respectively, about the harm they are causing to their children by smoking, especially in closed environments. Doing this should involve a media campaign as well as campaigns at mosques and other places where men gather frequently. At present, the focus is on issuing warnings on cigarette boxes about smoking itself but not on the impact smoking has on people around the smoker. For many, it would be a surprise to learn that their smoking is creating medical emergencies for a huge number of people, mainly children. Indeed, even in more educated households it is uncertain whether people are aware about the dangers of second-hand smoke and the fact that it could be extremely dangerous for the health of infants and children.
MUUNAWAR SIDDIQUI
Lahore
