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.
Some constitutional provisions
With continued blessings of the Almighty, the 1973 Constitution has turned 50 and its golden jubilee is being celebrated at various levels in the country now. This scribe would like to reproduce here some relevant constitutional provisions for all including those treading the corridors of power to read, understand and implement all that is in the Green Book in letter and spirit for a better and prosperous future in united and strengthened Pakistan.
Article 50 inter alia reads “‘There shall be a Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) of Pakistan consisting of the President and the two Houses to be known respectively as the National Assembly and the Senate”. Article 54 (!) reads “The President may, from time to time, summon either House or both Houses or (Parliament) in joint sitting to meet at such time and place as he thinks fit and may also prorogue the same”.
Articles 175 to 212B pertain to the superior judiciary of the country. Article 191 reads “Subject to the Constitution and law, the Supreme Court may make rules regulating the practice and procedure of Court.”. Article 202 reads, “Subject to the Constitution and law, a High Court may make rules regulating practice and procedure of the Court or any court subordinate to it.”
There is lot more in the Green Book which require everyone to read every word, understand and implement in letter and spirit be he/she in the public sector, the private sector, individually and collectively. Merely celebrating golden jubilee of the 1973 Constitution and most unfortunately intentionally or otherwise doing to the contrary is least understandable or appreciable in larger national interest.
M Z RIFAT
Lahore
Gas woes
in Ramadan
I am writing to express my concern regarding the severe shortage of gas in Pakistan during the holy month of Ramadan. This shortage has caused immense discomfort and inconvenience to the citizens who rely on gas for cooking, heating, etc.Ramadan is the month of spiritual reflection and worship for Muslims, and it is essential for them to prepare and consume meals before dawn and after sunset.
However, due to the lack of gas, many households are unable to cook properly and efficiently, causing delay in meal preparation and forcing people to rely on alternatives, often more expensive and that too in this era of stagflation.The shortage of gas has also impacted small businesses that rely on gas for cooking and heating such as bakeries and tea stalls. This has led to decreased productivity and revenue for these businesses, and many are struggling to stay afloat.The government must take immediate action to address this issue and ensure that there is a sufficient supply of gas during Ramadan. It is unacceptable for the citizens of Pakistan to suffer due to the negligence of those in power. I urge the authorities to take this matter seriously and work towards finding a sustainable solution to this problem.
BUSHRA KHAN
Via email
Unhealthy environment
Toxic environment mercilessly shatters one’s self-confidence and moral integrity, whether they are present in your home, educational institutions or on job. These poisonous settings foster bullying, incite violence and increase chronic stress in the life of individuals and those around them. A large number of adolescents drop out of school each year as a result of bullying or the harsh penalties that their teachers impose.
Many employees resign from their workplace due to their manager’s persistent rudeness and unprofessional behaviour. Such a toxic situation is incredibly upsetting and has a long-lasting traumatizing effect on our psychological and emotional well-being. In addition to this, unhealthy environment encourages sexual harassment, favouritism, unfair work practices and the expansion of gossip culture.
In consideration of this, to avoid such hazardous conditions, our institutions and organizations must build counselling rooms in their settings to offer suitable therapy and rehabilitation. In other words, we will observe a decrease in the possibility of intimidation and threats.
YUMNA ZAHID ALI
Karachi
Box letter
Energy crisis in Pakistan
I’m writing to convey my serious concern over Pakistan’s prolonged energy crisis which has significantly affected the life of millions of people. There must be immediate action made to address this dilemma because it has persisted for far too long. Since there is now a serious lack of electricity in Pakistan, there have been frequent power outages and load shedding. This has not only interfered with people’s everyday life and caused them great inconvenience, but it has also had a negative effect on the economy of the nation because companies and industries have been forced to close down or function at a reduced capacity. Additionally, as a result of people turning to fossil fuels and other non-renewable energy sources to meet their requirements, the energy crisis has had a severe effect on the environment, increasing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. It is crucial that the government act right away to alleviate Pakistan’s energy issue. This can entail making investment in sustainable energy infrastructure as well as in renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. We cannot afford to wait any longer because doing nothing will have disastrous effects on Pakistan’s citizens and the environment.
AQSA WAQAR
Lahore
