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.
Train inferno
October 31 will be marked the most horrific and nightmare in Pakistan railways’ history. It is heart wrenching to note that 73 passengers were killed and dozens injured after a cylinder explosion occured in Tezgam Express in Rahimyar Khan. We cannot bring the lives back we have lost but we can prevent such tragedies in future, if we focus on implementing and enforcing strong laws for railway trains.
Sheikh Rasheed himself has also lost the track. He takes much interest and intervenes in other political issues but has forgotten the responsibility the state has handed him over. He feels it a necessity including himself in other issues except railway systems. It has been observed on social media that he is much active in making memes on his oppositional parties but is ignoring the accidents emerging under his supervision. According to the sources, more than four accidents took place in just couple of these days.
Sheikh Rasheed must follow and seek advice from other countries for improving the railway system. Money you have allocated for the victims does not heal the pains of the beloved ones. The way through which you want a chance to prove is to improve the railway trains with advanced technology working with heart and soul.
ASIF MURAD UMRANI
Karachi
A victim of climate change
According to NASA, climate change is a change in the usual weather found in a place. This could be a change in how much rain a place usually receives in a year or it could be a change in a place’s usual temperature for a month or season. On the global climate risk index, Pakistan is the 5th most vulnerable country to climate change in the world. This vulnerability of high rank in the global climate risk index will continue for a long time due to the reason of geographical location of the country. Where Pakistan is situated, the entire region is prone to extreme weather conditions, especially heavy rainfall in monsoon season and flooding. Pakistan has lost 9,989 lives and has suffered economic losses worth $3.8 billion from 1998 to 2018 along with 152 extreme weather events.
The country’s economy is constantly at risk from climate catastrophe, which is not just an environmental challenge to Pakistan but an issue impacting the economy of this state, human health, agriculture, and ecosystem. The government of Pakistan should take it as a serious challenge to combat such kind of environmental threats, as recently the Imran Khan Government banned the plastic bags in the capital territory of Islamabad. This policy of Imran Khan Government has to be implemented in other areas of Pakistan, too. Energy will be used wisely in the country, the process of recycling waste material should be feasible and factors that are leading to global warming should be eliminated.
SABA NAWAZ
Via email
Really, a race against time
Nature’s fury seems to have no end and natural disasters like floods, droughts, earthquakes have been playing havoc with countries and human race all along the line. Speaking of the earthquake aftermath, Turkey has become the latest victim, having been hit by a mighty earthquake measuring 6.8 on Richter scale. As for earthquake casualties, so far over 29 people have been killed and many more, nearly 1,100 persons injured.
As a matter of fact, my workstations like Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad have encountered a lot of floods and other natural disasters – sometimes hit by floods and by drought-like situations on various occasions. In all these cases/situations, all we are in need of is to be helped through rescue efforts and makeshift arrangements. Damage control has so far come to the rescue of the people be it in my workstations like Mumbai or elswehre, all for the common good.
Right now, Elazig province in Turkey is crying for help as this magnitude 6.8 earthquake was centred in that province. Immediate help from neighbouring countries aside, the international community, world agencies and NGOs should send and transport relief material, rescue teams, urgent foodstuff and medical assistance/equipment to the affected and the needy in Turkey in this unfortunate time of a crisis of large size.
P SENTHIL S DURAI
Via email
Face continuous crisis
People face continuous crises suddenly whoever is responsible for the wheat shortage is responsible for a lot of misery. Many have blamed the government earlier decision to export wheat for causing the current crisis. The government has taken a novel approach, insisting that there is no shortage. However, the very decision to import wheat, which was taken to calm the markets and bring down prices, shows that there is a serious problem.
Even before the wheat crisis is over, there is looming sugar crisis. Again the cause is supposed to be an over-enthusiasm to export. It makes no sense to earn foreign exchange by exporting, only to spend that foreign exchange on importing wheat or sugar later.
MUHAMMAD HAIDER
Karachi
Save water
Water is the most important element for the preservation of life. Water is a finite commodity which, if not managed properly, will result in shortage in the near future. Water conservation can go a long way to help alleviate this impending shortage.
First accept that, it is your personal responsibility to save water in your daily life. Reduce the use of water for unnecessary activities. We can use the full capacity of our machinery like washing machine while washing clothes to reduce the maximum water consumption by our machines. We can reuse water where it is possible, like hand wash water can use for watering the plants. Watering the plants at the time of evening to minimize the water evaporation. By reducing the use of shower, we can use buckets.
It will definitely save more water in our daily life. Turn off all the running taps, when the use is done. The awareness about save water is to be spreads in our area, locality, school and public places. Educating the students for how to save water in schools and giving the knowledge about the values of water. Water can also be saved by installing the methods like rain water harvesting, storing the running water by making dams and in many other ways.
AROOJ BHATTI
Islamabad
Discipline
in life
Discipline can be explained as training which will develop one’s moral character and help to produce a particular type of behaviour. Discipline is an essential part of life. In fact without discipline life we cannot work smoothly. Parents, elders of the family and the teachers are the first persons to introduce the sense of discipline among the children. Discipline must be learning from the early stages of life. Discipline ensures the smooth flow of life without putting hindrance to the individual’s liberty. Discipline teaches us to be systematic towards achieving our goal of life. It helps us achieve our ambitions.
No nation can progress without the law abiding disciplined citizens. This helps build up the nation with the proper cooperation and unity. Strength of a nation lies in discipline. Self-discipline works automatically and leads to the success. In our spiritual life discipline is most essential. Our safe survival depends on nature. Nature strictly follows the law of nature. Nature is very systematic with its law. Nature is the best example of true discipline to all of us. Disharmony among the set rules will be disastrous to all of us. “Discipline works everywhere. It controls our morals and even our religion. There is no sphere in heaven and earth where discipline does not dominate…”
MISBAH RASHEED
Islamabad
