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.
Allama Iqbal’s death anniversary
It is indeed very sad that death anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, poet philosopher, who led freedom struggle from front, as President All India Muslim League Punjab, passed away almost unceremoniously on 21 April. Allama Iqbal, acclaimed as a modern Muslim philosophical thinker, formally laid down his vision for creation of a separate homeland in his presidential address in 1930 at Allahabad. What is surprising is that Allama Iqbal’s admirers in Turkey held special seminars to honour his memory, attended by leading political figures.
The politicians and intellectuals of Pakistan, who frequently quote Allama Iqbal for promoting their political rhetoric, must learn some lessons from artistes and actors, who on 19 May paid tribute to an icon of film industry, actor Mohammad Ali, who died on 19 April 2006. Almost every TV channel, both private and state-controlled, carried special programs highlighting his carrier.
There can be no excuse, whatever the circumstances or compulsions for Pakistan’s Federal and Provincial governments and major political parties for failing to pay due homage and hold commemorative meetings highlighting services of Allama Iqbal. We should have no doubt that we owe our liberation and identity as free citizens of sovereign Pakistan to men like Quaid-e-Azam MAJ, Allama Iqbal, Nawab Liaquat, Haji Abdullah Haroon, Malik Barkat Ali, Qazi Essa, Abdur Rab Nishtar and other pioneers of our freedom movement, who with blessings of Almighty Allah and Prophet (PBUH) succeeded in carving out a separate homeland, against all odds and opposition by Hindu majority dominated Congress Party and a biased Viceroy Mountbatten. Nations that do not remember their patrons and fail to follow the vision and path laid down by founding fathers, seldom manage to progress or sustain their sovereignty.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Coronavirus
Coronavirus pandemic has made the economic pain to be felt by all sectors. Thus, from big companies to small hair salons, from restaurants to movie theatres, retailers and oil companies, none of these sectors have experienced a crisis on this scale before as there had been a sudden stop in consumption, production and travelling. The hike in unemployment has resulted is due to the slowed growth in economy has affected the labour market drastically. Also the extended panic caused by this virus outbreak has led to businesses cut investment.
There has been a general belief that if social distancing, which ironically is the best way forward in the current economic meltdown, continues to be extended beyond summer, it is going to lead to the chain of bankruptcies. As the Coronavirus from the beginning has impacted both sides of the economy that is supply and demand, it makes it different from the earlier economic crashes the world has witnessed since 1930.
With supply stalled when factories and offices are shut down and demand falling when consumers are reduced to confines of their home. The way-out, apart from social distancing, is the quests of governments throughout the globe to release billions of dollars rescue packages to counteract this prolonged market contraction, slashing interest rates and pumping liquidity into financial markets. While we all hope to return back to normal activity and economy to go back to its heels once the outbreak contains permanently through a vaccine, no one really knows how this global crisis triggering a massive economic shutdown will play out and what final human and economic toll will be.
HADIA M SINGAPURI
Via email
Importance
of libraries
I want to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the lack of public libraries in the city. Libraries are very important for the progress and development of a society. They help in personality development and are significant for a civil society. No one can deny the importance of libraries they are useful for laymen, professionals and students alike. In foreign countries, library facilities have been extended even in remote villages.
Ages ago people used to read books in their leisure time and got lots of information or proficiency but today our not only the younger generation but also every age group factor using mobile and always get in touch with social media due to using so much usage of social media we are always trying to jealous others not only this we wasting our precious time too.
SHAHZAIB SHAIKH
Karachi
PM’s relief package
Premier Imran Khan has unveiled a financial relief package worth around Rs1.2 trillion to ward off the negative impact of Coronavirus on the country. It is a very good step for poor and needy people that the money raised through PM’s Relief Fund for COVID-19 would be used for giving financial assistance to the poor people hit by the COVID-19 at their doorsteps, through Ehsas Programme.
Another step which is highly appreciated is Corona Tiger Force which is here to help the government and institutions to reach out to the poor people affected by the lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 and provide them with food and other essential items. Youth from all segments of society including young doctors, nurses and others could join the Corona Tiger Force. The whole operation of the Force would be organized and coordinated by a data cell from the PM Office. This will be very helpful for those people who are facing financial problems nowadays due to COVID-19.
As in Pakistan 25pc of our population is living below the poverty line with further 20pc population hovering around this line, which means a total of 80-90 million population can head towards complete hunger in that case. Relief package worth US$8 billion which PM announced as the biggest one in the country’s history, the PM also compared it with that of US government which had committed a huge sum of US$2000 billion because they had rich resources. Through these steps the poor and needy people of Pakistan will easily overcome from these hardships.
SIBGHA ARSHAD
Islamabadssss
