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.
Weird rule of Zakat deduction by banks
Sacred month of Ramadan has arrived and people mostly distribute money to needy people on account of Zakat in this month although it can be distributed in any month when it becomes due and it is principled in Islam that 2% zakat is calculated and deducted on certain amount of money which is saved for one year.
While what banks are doing is not as per this set principle instead banks deduct zakat on first Ramadan @ 2% on the available balance and do not care when the money is deposited whether a few days back or it has remained in the account for one year. Banks accept statements of account holders who do not want banks to deduct zakat from their account but banks should revise their strategy for zakat deduction which must reconcile with Islamic rule of deduction of zakat.
FAISAL ANSAR
Karachi
Inflation rate in Pakistan
Surge in prices in recent years has been abnormal, endangering the stability of our economy both nationally and locally. Inflation in Pakistan has deteriorated into a chronic illness for our economy. It is challenging for a state to escape the inflationary spiral once it has been initiated.
In Pakistan, the inflation rate increased from 24.5% in December to 27.6% in January 2023 as per Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The number of containers of food and raw material and equipment held in ports as a result of the cash-strapped government’s import restrictions reached its highest level since May 1975.
One of the challenges to development is inflation. It must be managed by strategic planning. Imports should be discouraged in favour of domestic production, consumer goods should receive investment preference over luxury, the agricultural sector should receive subsidies and foreign investment should be solicited. The purchasing power of money is diminished by inflation, resulting in a decrease in the value of each unit.
ZAINAB ARIF KHAN
Karachi
Population growth
Pakistan’s population has been growing steadily over the years. According to the World Bank the population of Pakistan was estimated to be around 220 million people in 2020. The population growth rate in Pakistan is one of the highest in the world with an average annual growth rate of 2:4%. Several factors contribute to the high population growth rate in Pakistan including high fertility rate as well as early marriage.
Lack of awareness and education about family planning and culture and religious beliefs are the contributing factors to the growth of population. The government of Pakistan has implemented various policies and programs to address the issue of population growth which include providing education and resources for family planning and reproductive health promoting women empowerment and increasing access to contraceptives. However, despite this effort, Pakistani population is still projected to continue growing rapidly which poses significant challenges in terms of providing basic necessities such as healthcare, education and employment opportunities for the growing population
PARVEEN ABRO
Karachi
Man behind Lahooti Melo
Saif Samejo is a name that resonates with the music aficionados of Pakistan. He is the love of Sindhi Youth. He is a renowned musician, composer and producer who has been making waves in the music industry for over a decade. Born in Khairpur and raised in the city of Hyderabad, Sindh, today he is a well-known personality in Pakistan.
Anyone can find his achievements on the internet and the hard work he did with consistency for those achievements. One of his great works is founding of Lahooti Melo, which is an annual festival for the celebration of Sindhi culture, music and arts in 2013 and this year it has been 10 years of Lahooti Festival, Apart from the musical performances, the festival also includes various workshops and seminars that aim to promote cultural awareness and provide a platform for emerging artists.
The Lahooti Melo is not just a music festival but also a platform for social activism. The festival’s organizers are committed to promoting gender equality, human rights and environmental sustainability, and these themes are reflected in the festival’s programming. Furthermore, the festival is known for its vibrant and colourful atmosphere with food and craft stalls lining the venue. Visitors can sample a range of traditional Sindhi cuisine and purchase handicraft made by local artisans.
UROOJ SABA
Pir Jo Goth
Box letter
Ramzan and pricey food
This is with reference to the letter “Food out of reach” (2023-03-19). As the fasting month of Ramzan is a blessing for all but it’s tough for the people. Most probably now Ramzan has become truly hard for the poor and middle-income population due to rise in all food prices. The prices of food increased just a few days before Ramzan which is the biggest indication that during this Ramzan more than a half of population is going to suffer harder since they aren’t able to pay for their food. The weekly inflation recorded a spike for about 45.64 percent and inflation is staying above 40 percent. Surely, certain situations won’t help the poor. For the sake of humanity and month of Ramzan, all of us need to help the poor population as well as government along with authorities need to decrease prices of food items and make it affordable for all so that everyone can pass a good blissful Ramzan.
ZAINAB ALIAHMED
Turbat, Kech
