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.
Mission statement
To live a successful and complacent life, one has to make a mission statement and whatsoever the situation arises, should not deviate from it. And once anyone perseveres on mission statement, the day comes when it pays back.
For instance, Lawrencepur had made a mission statement before start of their business that they would not compromise on quality of fabric come what may whether they face loss or benefit from their business and Albaik restaurant in Saudia Arabia made their mission statement that they would give certain amount of money like 2% in charity whatsoever they earn. Both businesses are reputed now and have a good name worldwide and people prefer to be their customer.
Well, as an individual or as a nation if we make a mission statement that we would not do corruption and would not allow anyone to do the same whatever happens, the day is not far away when we start progressing because whether it is an IMF instalment or any foreign country’s aid is spent honestly and in the right direction we would see some improvement in the country but it is not the case which depicts that there is something at the bottom.
Instead, we as a nation exploit the situation like what happened in the name of flood in our country which mostly made horrible destruction in Sindh and Balochistan that 100% donations and stuff could not reach to affected people then where it has vanished is a question mark and tell us sad story of our nation’s norm.
FAISAL ANSAR
Karachi
Pakistan’s social programmes
Pakistan has various social programs in place to address a range of issues including poverty, healthcare, education and social welfare. Here are some examples of social programs in Pakistan:
Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP): This program was launched in 2008 to provide financial assistance to vulnerable families. The program aims to reduce poverty and increase human capital by providing cash transfers to eligible families. BISP also provides vocational training and health services to program beneficiaries.
Ehsaas Programme: Launched in 2019, the Ehsaas Program is a comprehensive social safety net program that aims to reduce poverty, promote economic empowerment and provide social protection to the marginalized segments of society. The program includes various initiatives such as cash transfers, scholarships, interest-free loans and health and nutrition services. Prime Minister’s National Health Program: This program was launched in 2016 to provide health insurance to families living below the poverty line. The program covers the costs of hospitalization, surgical procedures and other medical expenses for eligible beneficiaries. Though all the aforementioned programs are functioning satisfactorily, to a great extent, yet there is a need to bring some more improvement to them. Awareness campaigns to educate the masses about these programs would also be a welcome step. It is hoped that the authorities concerned will take steps for their improvement.
ZEESHAN ALI ARAIN
Sukkur
Crisis of hunger
Pakistan is currently facing a severe food crisis, with the country being forced to import basic food items due to a shortage of supplies.
Unfortunately, this has resulted in a surge in food prices, making it difficult for low-income groups to access essential food items. In fact, food prices have increased by nearly 42% in urban areas and 47% in rural areas in the last month alone. This has worsened the living conditions of those who were already struggling to make both ends meet.
In a highly inflationary environment, with the cost of food rising on a daily basis due to steep currency depreciation and a hike in indirect taxes, it is the responsibility of both the provincial and federal governments to ensure that the people, especially the poor and vulnerable, have access to basic and essential foods.
Artificial shortage, created by unscrupulous elements, cannot be allowed to further curtail access to food. If left unchecked, it could lead to severe hunger and even death for a large portion of the population. It is crucial that the government takes immediate action to address this crisis. The import of food items must be facilitated and the distribution system should be made more efficient and transparent.
This will not only ensure that the people have access to food, but it will also bring down prices, making it easier for low-income groups to afford basic necessities. Moreover, the government should also focus on developing a sustainable agriculture sector to ensure food security in the long term. This can be achieved by investing in research and development, improving irrigation facilities and providing incentives to farmers to adopt modern techniques.
Ultimately, the food crisis in Pakistan is a grave issue that requires urgent attention from the government. The situation demands immediate action to ensure that the people, especially the poor and vulnerable, have access to basic and essential foods. Failure to do so can have dire consequences, exposing a large portion of the population to severe hunger.
TAHIR JAMALI
Shaheed Benazirabad
Box letter
TikTok
TikTok is an entertaining and funny app yet it is harmful for humans’ brain, specifically in lowering your attention span. TikTok was first released in 2016, and it has increased in popularity over past years. On of the main effects of watching Til Tok for prolonged periods of time is that doing so lower your attention span. This is due to constant stream of new videos and new stimulation on the app. Of a poll taken at high school students in France 88% of students reported that they feel TikTok has lower their overall attention span. It would be very beneficial to delete TikTok yet that can be difficult. If that seems like too difficult a challenge, it would be best to decrease your amount of TikTok usage gradually overtime.
NADIL RAHIM BAKSH
Turbat, Balochistan
