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.
What next?
The current situation of Pakistan seems to be reflected in all the dramas and movies where the climax part influences the audience to hold their breath. The recent terrorist attack on Pak military in North Waziristan, the threat from the opposition leader, Maulana Fazl ur Rehman for “Azaadi March” in case the Prime Minister fails to resign, the rising unfortunate incidents resulting from monsoon rain in Karachi, the increase in taxes and oil prices, the increasing tension along the LoC.
The recent bomb explosion in Quetta in front of police station, and so many more such events and incidents related to political instability, economic downfall, security threats, environmental problems that can be seen broadcast and published daily, have left the citizens of Pakistan holding their breath in fear of what will happen now? What is the strategy that the Government will take in order to tackle such situations? What is the price the whole nation has to pay accordingly? What next to expect?
KINANAH SHAHBAZ
Islamabad
JUI-F rallies
Since its independence from British colonial rule in 1947, Pakistan has been divided along ethnic, religious and sectarian lines, a condition which has been exploited by internal and external organizations to foster extremism and terrorism.
Currently JUI-F is doing “Tahaffuz Namoos-e-Risalat” rallies throughout Pakistan and its latest power show was at Quetta on Sunday, the 28th of July 2019. However with grief and heavy heart I have to say JUI-F is using this slogan for its own political interest.
Pakistan People Party which is also victimized and their Governor of Punjab murdered because of this also tweeting about JHI-F power show. We request PML-N and PPP kindly do not involve in this and keep distance from this kind of politics.
SYED AAMIR HUSSAIN
Karachi
Senate Chairmen from Balochistan
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan, covering 347,190 square kms and comprising 44 percent of the country‘s total land mass. Balochistan is rich in natural resources such as coal, copper, barites, sulphur, marble, iron ore, quartzite and limestone as well as solar and wind energy potential. It is the second major supplier of natural gas in Pakistan. Some of its copper and gold reserves are comparable to the second and third largest such reserves in the world. The regional situation of the province is also significant. It lies at the junction of the Greater Middle East, South Asia, Southwest Asia and Central Asia.
Studies conducted to determine Pakistan‘s standing in terms of the human development index (HDI) have revealed the existence of wide variations in life expectancy, literacy and standards of living across provinces as well as districts, and have found Balochistan to have the lowest levels of human development in the country. School and colleges that exist in the province show a bad image to the students as the most of schools lack proper facilities, no toilets, no classrooms, no boundary walls and clean drinking water.
According to the Survey, Balochistan has the most poor (48 percent of the province‘s population) and the worst level of rural poverty (51 percent). The most devastating consequence of underdevelopment in any society is high death rate, and Balochistan has the highest infant and maternal mortality ratio in South Asia. The infant mortality rate (IMR) in the province is 130 deaths per 1,000 live births; in comparison, Pakistan‘s national average IMR is 70.
SYED AAMIR HUSSAIN
Karachi
The heavens open
The recent news of over 1000 train passengers getting stranded/almost marooned amid floods near Mumbai got great attention at the world stage. Having worked in Mumbai, this place is somewhat familiar to me personally and professionally. Mumbai always tends to be vibrant and to move on despite such odd events or natural disasters. The crux of the fact is that Mumbai has always been prone to heavy rainfall and good monsoon prospects. Additionally, Mumbai city enjoys close proximity to Arabian Sea, often increasing the possibility of rainfall.
Incidentally, my native places like Tiruchendur, Tuticorin, Korkai, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu [mostly coastal/riverine/hilly areas] have been experiencing monsoon vagaries from dry spells to good monsoon prospects. A few friends have been into agricultural activities. I often telephone my friends from my workstations asking about the agrarian status.
I usually get “Senthil, the rain is not sufficient enough for crop cultivation here” as the answer. This is not the negative statement as such because my places like Korkai, Tirunelveli are riverine, situated on the Tamiraparani River. Rather, my friend’s statement only emphasizes the need for more water and rain for cultivation in those areas.
Monsoon vagaries and sporadic rainfall across the board have been playing havoc with the whole Asian region. Therefore, it is time to go deep into meteorological aspects and tropical storms through technology available in order to fix the monsoon issues.
P SENTHIL S DURAI
Maharashtra, India
PTI performance
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) had come into power in Islamabad and Lahore for the first time and in Peshawar second time as a result of securing majority of seats in the free, fair, transparent and orderly general election held on 25 July 2018. As such, the PTI’s federal government headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan and provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are completing first year in power in little more than a fortnight from now against all odds, internal and external challenges and hostile and vocal propaganda by the leaders of former ruling parties.
The PTI federal and provincial governments in all fairness have something to tell the people insofar as their achievements in the first year both external and internal despite serious economic crisis in the context of PTI’s election manifesto during the first year which is ending in the third week of August 2019.
This is to request PM Imran Khan, the Federal Ministers and the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to stop forthwith talking about the misdoings and black deeds of the previous rulers about whom the people know much more than what is being said, leave them to face the bad music in the superior courts and anti-corruption watchdog and other law enforcing agencies and concentrate on telling the people about their own achievements in the first year in power and what they are planning to do in the coming days, weeks, months and years for the welfare and well-being of the people at large topped by measures to overcome the inherited sick economic crisis.
The PTI is lagging behind in keeping the people updated about its federal and provincial governments working and performance through the print and electronic media by activating its media teams and number of media-related special assistants and this should better be done on a priority basis.
M Z RIFAT
Lahore
Future of Europe
Mainly, European Union is the world’s richest and successful organization. The Union has been providing single market without any kind of tariff and competitors to member states. It has been anticipating the employment opportunities and working for peace, stability, progress, cooperation and security of European people. Apparently, the member states are exiting the Union for their individual national interests such as British and Greece.
The exiting member states claim that the Union has been exploiting their resources and allowing three lakh foreigners to settle in the country every year. Subsequently, this process of exit is hurting the harmony, equilibrium, modernity and peace of the European countries as well as the world. These kind of events are promoting populism and nationalistic ideology in the world.
Abdul Bari Jagirani
Larkana
Ill-managed monsoon
Rain is considered as one of the blessings of Allah Almighty but it can take the course of the curse, if it is not managed timely, effectively and properly. The very scenario was depicted in most parts of the country as in Lahore, Karachi and Hyderabad when recently occurred monsoons have hit hard the country in multifariously as it has caused a number of deaths for various reasons that include landslide, wall-and roof-collapse and from the most death-defying electrocution reason—the leading one.
So far, the course of the events has deflated air from the promises of the Punjab and Sindh Governments. Only roaming, by the officials on the roads will not be enough to overcome the ill-managed monsoon crisis. It needs thorough preplanned strategy from the officials at all levels, who must act in time with adequate men and money at their reach as to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of Pakistan.
AAMIR KHAN WAGAN
Larkana