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Floods wreaking havoc
Economic turbulence has already caused food prices to skyrocket in Pakistan. With the floods wreaking havoc across the nation, wasting millions of acres of agricultural land and destroying crop yields, food scarcity and inflation are expected to get much worse. In such a situation, the government’s proposal for importing crucial vegetable such as tomatoes and onions from India and other regional partners must seriously be considered.
However, decades’ worth of disputes has made this difficult. In the last few months, prices for basic commodities like tomatoes and onions have reached Rs.400 and Rs.300 per kg respectively, making them unaffordable for the common man. The quality of life is decreasing across the board and the situation is going to get worse considering that 33 million people have been displaced because of the floods and most productive land is likely to remain underwater for the next few months.
Troubling times are ahead and the government must prepare a strategy which focus on exploring trade opportunities in the region.
According to Finance Minister, Miftah Ismail, the authorities are considering importing vegetable and other commodities from India. However, the disturbance that India has caused in Kashmir, and for Pakistan generally as well, over the years has made such a collaboration nearly impossible.
Despite the hurdles that we might face, the government is still open to the possibility of trading with India and has expressed hopes that both countries will be able to come to some sort of agreement. Meanwhile, it would be wise to approach other regional countries for food items. All avenues must be kept open to mitigate the losses suffered from an unstable economy and climate disasters.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Terrorism: A threat to peace
The term “terrorism” is defined as the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political or religious purpose. Terrorism is not legally defined in all jurisdictions, however, the statutes that do exist, generally share some common elements.
Terrorism involves the use or threat of violence and seeks to create fear, not just within the direct victims but among a wider audience. Terror has been practised by state and also non-state actors throughout history. During a Roman Emperors in 14-37 AD such as Tiberius and Caligula used banishment, expropriation of property and execution as a means to discourage opposition to their rule. Terrorism against the enemy has often viewed as a religious act and suicidal person will get the reward in the heaven.
History of modern terrorism began with the French Revolution. The term terrorism was also coined during the Reign of Terror, the period of the French Revolution from September 1793 to July 1794, during which the Revolutionary Government directed violence and harsh measures against citizens suspected of being enemies of the Revolution. This was also the birth of State-sponsored terrorism. In State-sponsored terrorism, the major goal is to eliminate the opposition and consolidate the power.
Late 19th Century, terror was adopted in Western Europe, Russia, and the United States by adherents of anarchism, who believed that the best way to effect revolutionary political and social change was to assassinate persons in position of power. From 1865 tLincoln assassination.
RAJA FURQAN AHMED
Islamabad
Diseases after the flood
After the torrential downpour, now the children of the victim families are facing the devil of Cholera. Many other seasonal diseases are also common now. On the score of unavailability of clean water, many children are suffering from Cholera in different areas of Balochistan.
As per some reports, 50 thousand children are suffering from Cholera in Balochistan. The most affected areas include Killa Saifullah, Lasbella, Hub, Zhob, Kharan, Panjgur, Turbat, Gwadar. Nearly 23 districts are affected by Cholera and other seasonal diseases too.
Due to this pandemic, 35 children have died as of now but still, there is a high risk of dying many more because of the lack of basic health facilities. Numerous people became homeless and they are residing in relief camps.
Their all livelihood is submerged in flood water. In this difficult times, flood victims are worried about two times of food, unluckily this pandemic further added salt to the injury of affected families.
Hence, the government of Balochistan must provide basic health facilities to victims of families in order to nip into bud this deadly disease.
MUHAMMAD SHOAIB
Quetta
