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.
From Auschwitz to Gaza and Kashmir
As the world remembered plight of Jews, almost 1.2M of them confined to concentration camp Auschwitz in occupied Poland by Hitler’s right-wing fascist Nazi Germany, no lessons seem to have been learned. It is shocking that Zionist elements within Jewish community, whose ancestors were once victim of collective punishment and atrocities almost 75 years ago are today perpetrators of similar atrocities committed against Palestinians of Gaza and West Bank.
While Auschwitz was liberated by Russian troops, the world stands by and allows unchecked brutalities and atrocities committed on Palestinians living in the land of Palestine for centuries and Kashmiris living under Indian occupation, confined to their homes for over 100 days. In 1992 the world witnessed the systematic murder and ethnic cleansing of Muslims living in Bosnia and Herzegovina, once part of Yugoslavia, at hands of Serbs and Croats. Visuals of Srebrenica massacre have haunted world conscience, where almost 100,000 were killed and 20,000 women raped. The victims of Bosnia and Herzegovina have got some sort of justice from International Court of Justice in 2008, but Palestinians and Kashmiris still await justice.
There has been a rise in intolerance with right wing nationalism and Neo-Nazi groups gaining foothold, although still in minority, within Europe, USA, Africa, Myanmar and India etc. However, in India the elected government openly touts Hindu Supremacist Groups who go on a rampage killing Muslims, Dalits and Christians, destroying their places of worship, while the world looks on.
MALIK T ALI
Lahore
Coal mining in Balochistan
Mining is one of the province’s most profitable industries. The coal miners’ faces are covered with a black layer of coal dust; they work hard and put their life in danger. Coal mining has historically been fraught with dangers with aftermath of natural disasters, suffocation, gas poisoning, injury or death, gas explosions .
The miners are working in semi-darkness and breathing in corrosive air, the coal miners of Balochistan risk their life daily for a meagre income just to be able to support their families and feed their children. The miners do not even have access to social security, old age benefits, proper housing, health and water facilities or education for their children. Many miners have lost their life or suffered a physical disability in frequent accidents in mines. Poor working conditions inside coal mines in Balochistan claim life of miners on an almost daily basis.
Facilities in coal mining sector in the country are becoming commonplace highlighting the need for better labour protection. The government should focus on this issue and provide protection and facilities to the miners of {poor} Balochistan.
BANADI ALI
Turbat
Cultural imperialism
Though social media and its outlets have revolutionized the world, their role in spreading cultural imperialism cannot be set aside. Impact of this type of imperialism is visible on various aspects of society. It has replaced regional languages, cultures and values, and has instead induced in society complex, trends, often negative ones, leading to disparity, confusion and inferiority.
It has impacted our society to such an extent that today one feels pride in adopting English language and Western costume rather than speaking one’s own native language or wearing cultural dress. This is by no means that social media tools should be not be used, but their role in promoting and propagating cultural invasion must be discouraged.
ABDUL HAFEEZ JATOI
Hyderabad
Highest rating drama
Meray Paas Tum Ho is a 2019 Pakistani romantic-drama television series. It is sensitively directed by Nadeem Baig and beautiful dialogues written by Khalil-ur-Rehman Qamar. It features Humayun Saeed, Ayeza Khan and Adnan Siddiqui in lead roles. The serial aired on ARY Digital on 17 August 2019, gained popularity, and became the most popular serial of 2019 after airing its first episode. It started off very well.
The first episode gained highest TRPs, the ratings continue till last episode. This drama has created many rating records and also broke many records. Humayun Saeed at his very best, makes his audience cry with him. The final episode was a ‘mega double episode’ and aired on 25 January 2020 and was simultaneously shown on TV as well as being screened in major cinemas across Pakistan. It is a step in the right direction towards reviving the drama industry of Pakistan. It has a lesson for society that being disloyal cannot give satisfaction. Wealth and fame cannot replace love affection and family.
HAFSA NADEEM
Islamabad
Procrastination
I was scrolling down through my Instagram feed. I came across a random post. It was: “Your competition is not other people. Your competition is your procrastination. Your ego. The unhealthy food you are consuming, the knowledge you neglect. The negative behaviour you are nurturing and your lack of creativity. Compete against it.” Trust me whenever I read it, I feel motivated. We think we are in competition with other human beings.
We think our follower is our competitor. Actually, this is human nature. We keep envy feelings in our hearts all the time. When we see someone prosper, that envy feelings from our heart dominated on our mind. Procrastination is our enemy. Ego is our enemy. We need to accept this fact and should work on ourselves.
NIMRA ANJUM
Faisalabad
First rabies case of 2020
The first rabies case of the year was reported at Jinnah hospital Karachi on 1 January 2020. The victim, Shahid Iqbal, a 20-year-old boy from Shikarpur was bitten by a stray dog. According to the doctors, he shows the symptoms of hydrophobia (fear of water) and irritability.
Also, 15 more dog bit cases have been reported from various parts of the city and all of the patients were provided anti-rabies vaccines. Remember last year in Sindh, 22 people died because of rabies. I wish and pray that this year must be much better for Pakistan and government should take strong measures against stray dogs.
JUNAID KHAN BALOCH
Larkana
Test syllabus for english lectureship
This is apropos to Sindh Public Service Commission’s recently announced syllabus for lecturership test in English subject in which literature and linguistics have been placed together which is unfair and injustice because these are two special and quite different areas and the students have to opt one of these different disciplines to do M.A English.
Moreover, all the universities of Sindh province run classes for literature and linguistics separately with separate syllabi, therefore, it will be unfair with the candidates if the syllabus is not reviewed and revised as per the ground realities. Keeping in view the aforementioned situation, the concerned authorities are requested to review and revise the syllabus uploaded by the Commission and please, the tests as per rules and different syllabi, may be conducted separately from the candidates with MA English literature and MA English Linguistics.
ASIF JHATIAL
Hyderabad
