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.
Capitalist system
Only in a week (last week) there are at least three news items circulating in the media showing how the capitalist system and it’s secular liberal values have failed mankind. At an individual level, the story of the fentanyl stealing nurse who would switch it with saline sends shivers down one’s spine. How can one risk patients’ lives and subject them to extreme pain just to satisfy their own addiction?
At an institutional level, the Aspartame controversy in which a potentially carcinogenic substance got away with FDA approvals is just another addition to the long list of such wrongdoings. Be it scapegoating fats on the behest of the sugar lobby (Coke, Pepsi) or the opioid crisis which caused thousands of deaths per year are just a couple to mention.
At a national level, Sweden’s court sanctioned the burning of the Quran on Eid day, right in front of a mosque, all in the name of freedom of expression! Laws of hate-speech, libel or minority rights don’t apply when those at the receiving end are Muslims. One wonders where these people and countries get the audacity from to lecture us on values, ethics and human rights!
DR BASIR
Via email
Migrants’ measures
The state of Pakistan’s relationship with its citizens can be measured by the number of people leaving the country in search of better job opportunities abroad. Shockingly, the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment reported that in 2022, over 832,000 Pakistanis left the country for work, and the first five months of 2023 saw 315,787 citizens depart. This is a significant decline in population that hasn’t been seen since 1971. The economists are of the view that the unemployment rate is at a record high of 11 to 12 percent. Pakistanis are now the third most populated nationality in Italy.
The government’s policies have been blamed for this mass exodus as they have led to inflation, political instability, insecurity and rupee crash. These factors have compelled citizens to leave the country in search of a better life. The poor, who cannot afford to leave, and the wealthy, who are enjoying the protection of the state and its resources, show the government’s failure to provide basic needs and rights to its poor people.
The high unemployment rate and rising food costs, coupled with lower corporate profits, are not helping the youth of the country in any way. It is time for the government to take responsibility for its citizens and provide them with the opportunities and resources they need to thrive. Only then can Pakistanis be convinced to stay in their homeland and contribute to its growth and development.
MARYAM MOHSIN
Dasht
Water crisis
Pakistan, a land blessed with abundant natural resources, stands among the top countries in terms of its blessings from nature. With its picturesque landscapes, fertile lands, majestic mountains, and flowing rivers, Pakistan truly encompasses the beauty bestowed upon it. However, despite these blessings, Pakistan is grappling with a critical issue that threatens its very existence: water scarcity. This article sheds light on the severity of Pakistan’s water crisis, its causes and the urgent need for action to secure a sustainable water future.
Water, often referred to as the essence of life, is a vital resource for every nation. In Pakistan, the available water supply stands at 2.5 billion cubic meters, with the majority, 90%, allocated for agriculture, 4% for industry and a mere 6% for domestic use. Disturbingly, Pakistan reached the water stress line in 1990 and surpassed the water scarcity line in 2005, becoming the fourth highest water-consuming country in the world.
According to Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), Pakistan’s water availability per capita has dwindled to 1017 cubic meters, a significant decline from 1500 cubic meters in 2009. Alarming projections suggest that if this availability drops to 500 cubic meters, Pakistan will face absolute water shortage by 2025.
The country’s water demand for 2025 is estimated to be 274 million acre feet, while the water supply is projected to reach only 191 million acre feet. Mismanagement, ineffective agricultural systems, poor policy-making, and a lack of awareness about water conservation among the populace contribute significantly to this crisis.
Pakistan relies heavily on rain, melting ice and glaciers for its water supply, as approximately 92% of the country is semi-barren. However, climate change has accelerated the melting of glaciers, leading to a decline in water availability. Soil water rapidly evaporates due to rising temperatures, further exacerbating the demand for water in agriculture. Tragically, the value of water in Pakistan has plummeted from 5,600 cubic meters at the time of independence to a meager 1,017 cubic meters, leaving nearly 60 million people with no choice but to consume contaminated water.
Faisal Azfar Alvi
Islamabad.
Box letter
The climate crisis
Pakistan is one of the most climate affected countries of the world. The glaciers in northern Pakistan are melting fast and old waterways are being closed or changed due to huge land-sliding. In addition, the weather patterns are changing rapidly and unexpectedly. Ultimately rains and droughts are badly affecting crops and making the population vulnerable to food security. However, deforestation of jungles is also resulting in landslides. In the coastal areas of Pakistan, the mangrove forests are being hacked which are a natural protective wall against sea-storms. Due to the non-release of water into the sea, the Indus River Delta is deteriorating fast and three million acres of land have already been eroded by the sea. Resultantly, hundreds of thousands of people have been deprived of their livelihood, many villages have been left deserted and a large number of families forced to migrate to other areas. The climate crisis must be focused on seriously. Governments do claim to pay attention to environmental problems, but in the end, they meekly safeguard the interests of capitalist greed. Climate issue needs immediate attention and it must be solved as soon as possible.
AYESHA PEERAL
Turbat
