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.
Teleschool vision
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a new initiative by the name of Teleschool Pakistan which aims to digitise education in the country and promote individual-level skill development. Had Pakistan already had a base-level, functioning and accessible education system, such measures would make sense. But in a country that lacks infrastructural development, qualified teachers and a significant population of out-of-school children, such digitisation efforts may not bear any fruit.
Little can be done through apps and laptops if students are struggling to receive a basic level of education. There is a severe shortage of schools, especially in far-flung areas, dilapidating buildings in areas where schools have been constructed, lack of equipment needed to teach and even a severe shortage of qualified teachers. Little attention has been paid to teacher-training programmes and setting up vital tools and avenues needed to ensure that at least primary and secondary levels of education are accessible to all.
Funds allocated and driven should be redirected towards improving the education system brick by brick. Setting up the infrastructure needed, providing equipment, training teachers, reducing fees and encouraging parents to send their children to school should be the top priority of the government. Only when such a standard level of improvement is achieved can we focus on digitisation as envisioned by the Prime Minister.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Embracing mistakes
Mistakes are an inevitable part of life and no one can avoid making them. It’s human nature to err, but what truly sets us apart is how we respond to our mistakes. Those who embrace their missteps and use them as opportunities to learn and grow are better equipped to handle the challenges that come their way. In doing so, they enhance their intellectual capacity and avoid the pitfalls of arrogance and self-righteousness.
Even the first prophet, Hazrat Adam, made a mistake in paradise, but he repented and sought the Almighty’s mercy. Such humility and introspection are essential for personal growth and development. Those who embrace their mistakes see them as learning experiences which can guide them towards better decisions in life.
Conversely, those who are too rigid to accept their errors often face emotional and mental turmoil that can hinder their ability to learn and grow. It’s important to understand that making mistakes is a natural part of being a human. The Quran reminds us that mankind has been created weak and mistakes are just one of the flaws that come with being human. However, embracing our mistakes and learning from them is a divine intervention that can help us become better versions of ourselves.
TAHIR JAMALI
Shaheed Benazirabad
Connecting the unconnected!
Starlink, an internet service provider founded by Elon Musk, has finally registered in Pakistan. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, wants to provide everyone with high-speed internet, focusing on improving connectivity in remote areas. Starlink’s entry into Pakistan, the local economy is expected to receive a boost as more people gain access to the internet, which will create more job opportunities and promote digital inclusion across the country.
One of the main advantages of Starlink is the potential to close the digital divide between urban and rural areas. Pakistan is a vast country, and many rural areas lack adequate infrastructure to provide high-speed internet access.
Starlink’s satellite-based technology is ideally suited to these regions, and its registration with the SECP will enable it to operate within Pakistan’s legal framework. This will help ensure that more people have access to the internet, regardless of their location, which will significantly impact the country’s economy.
MISBAH IMTIAZ
Islamabad
Impact of Ukraine war
The war in Ukraine has negative effects on Europe’s energy supply. The use of energy resources by Russia as “political weapons” has always raised questions about Europe’s reliance on Russian natural gas.
The economy is negatively impacted by the energy crisis which also raises company costs and decreases consumer spending power. Energy costs rise as a result of rising petrol prices, which causes exceptionally high inflation.
Russia is the world’s top oil and natural gas producer and major gas exporter. It takes 45% of its federal budget from its natural gas and oil market. The EU consumes 40% of its gas from Russia and being a dominant of the European oil and gas market it is turning off gas supply to the EU and its neighbors for gaining support in the Ukraine war.
From 31 August to 3 September 2022 Russia closed off Nord Stream-I gas pipeline to Germany seeking sanctions relief and did the same with France, Poland and Bulgaria in April and August. A monitoring satellite indicated that each day Russia’s natural gas plant near the Finnish border is burning 4.34 million cubic meters of gas, $10m (£8.4m) worth, which is enough to supply 1.5 million homes.
It is a significant energy crisis in the history of the European continent due to massive gas shortage. Gas is mostly consumed in Europe’s production cycle of steel, cement, chemical and paper industries which support 8 million jobs. Europe adopted REPowerEUstrategy, released in May 2022 in response to energy market disruptions from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, aims to strengthen energy security by rapidly reducing dependence on Russian fossil fuels by 2027.
RIMSHA SAJJAD
Sialkot
Rs 10 fruit stalls looted
Citizens in the Jail Chowrangi area of Karachi looted a charitable stall set up by YouTuber Mustafa Hanif, who was selling a kilo of fruit to the poor for only Rs 10. What was supposed to be a noble and charitable gesture by the vlogger and philanthropist, turned into a complete nightmare as a mob of looters barged into his stall and stole all of the supplies, grabbing as much bags of fruit as they could.
Mustafa Hanif was left in shock when people rushed into his charitable stall, just to steal small kilo worth of fruit bags. Clips of this heartbreaking act of vandalism during the holy month of Ramadan has gone viral all over social media as people are left in shock.
MAHNOOR YOUSUF
Karachi
Box letter
Inflation in Pakistan
It has become a hard nut to be cracked. The recent rate of inflation is 36.5 % which is very high as far as poverty is concerned to add, the situation in Pakistan, one of the largest Islamic countries, is perhaps equally bad, if not worse. The prices of all essential items, including chicken, beef and mutton, wheat flour, cooking oil, have already soared enormously in an environment that is characterized by, among other things, growing joblessness and deepening poverty. Ramadan has arrived, in this inflation era how poor can feed themselves moreover, it is very hard for those who live below the line of poverty and want to make a good break fast. They can’t because inflation has increased too much to add, there are crises of everything in Pakistan including meat, watermelon, milk, oil, flour and many more, these challenging problems need to solve in no time.
QAIS GULZAR
Via email
