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Congratulations Mr PM!
Heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency Anwar ul Haq Kakar on being appointed as the 8th interim Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The first time I heard Pakistan’s interim Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar speak on a burning national issue was at one of the joint sittings of Parliament. I must admit, I was profoundly impressed by the eloquence and clarity with which he vent his views on the critical issue of terrorism during the course of his address.
The predicaments that confront Pakistan today are gargantuan and multidimensional. The tasks before Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar may be uphill, but I am confident he would be able to accomplish them with utmost conviction and unparalleled alacrity.
Needles to say, conduct of fair and free elections in the country and addressing the gigantic economic predicaments that overwhelm Pakistan today are two major areas that would need his undivided attention. I wish him the best in all his endeavours directed towards attainment of particularly these two profoundly vital goals.
M FAZAL ELAHI
Islamabad
Transparency in AJK
In the heart of Muzaffarabad, the proposed Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Right to Information (RTI) Bill remains in limbo, leaving journalists grappling with challenges in accessing vital government information. This deficiency limits their access to legal documents and records, forcing them to rely on alternative approaches like cultivating confidential sources and data analysis, all while upholding ethical principles.
The AJK Legislative Assembly received the RTI Bill proposal in December 2021; it remains stagnant, stalled by political instability and a lack of government interest. AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq in a recent discussion with the Central Press Club team, emphasized the right of citizens to request government-held information, holding department heads accountable for facilitating this process.
Meanwhile, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir High Court’s acceptance of a writ suit advocating for the RTI Act underscores the urgency. The petition, titled “Zafar Mughal etc. vs. Azad Govt. and others,” calls for the establishment of an Information Commission/Tribunal and appointments in government institutions, emphasizing the need for reliable information dissemination.
Kashmiri journalists, like Syeda Faiza Gillani, lament the repeated denial of their RTI requests. Advocate Sabiha Munir, highlighted the pressing need for comprehensive access-to-information rules and reforms to facilitate journalistic rights and transparency. Individuals can seek legal remedy if AJK officials deny information requests, offering a ten-day window for response. Should this fail, filing an appeal with the Pakistan Information Commission promises a path to accountability.
In a region where the right to information is stymied, the collective efforts of journalists, advocates and concerned citizens persist, determined to break down barriers and unveil the truth. The adoption of the RTI law in AJK would not only empower journalists but also ensure a brighter future for transparency, governance and informed public discourse.
ALISHA ANDLEEB
Via email
Exploring exciting world of tech
In today’s world, technology is everywhere, changing how we live and making things exciting. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is like our clever helper. It looks at a lot of data, finds patterns and helps doctors, money people and makers. Machine Learning is part of AI and makes cars drive themselves, shows us ads we like, and guesses what happens next.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a web of connected things, like gadgets talking to each other. Smart watches, thermostats, and cars are some of these smart things. They’re cool, but they also make us think about who sees our info.
Blockchain is tech that’s super safe. It’s a chain of secret boxes for keeping info safe. Crypto-currencies are special money using this tech. They’re new and can be confusing, but some folks use them instead of regular money. Being kind to our planet matters. Green Tech is tech that helps nature. Solar panels use the sun, wind turbines spin in the breeze, and cars that don’t need gas are cool. Tech is helping us keep Earth happy.
Learning and working are changing. Computers help us learn at home, and jobs can be done from anywhere. The bug called COVID-19 made this happen faster. In the future, we might have robots to help us learn and do tasks. As tech grows, we need to think about fairness and safety. Tech is like a big adventure, and we all need to make sure it’s good for everyone.
M ARSAL NAEEM
Rawalpindi
Education should be free
Education is the fundamental right of everyone. Everyone should take education, even a poor person must be educated for good living, earning, making and saving money for their future use. Education should be free for all, especially the poor, who can’t afford the expenses of the education.
If education were free for all, the poor could easily be educated and our country could grow faster due to talented people who are not coming in the front just because of the expensive education, and if it will be free for all then they can’t hurt their feelings of being uneducated.
JAWERIA AARA
Hyderabad
Box letter
Air pollution
Air pollution greatly affects air quality. Drastic reduction in forests due to the spread of water, loss of fertile land, increase in industries, vehicles etc and other similar items are all the environmental pollution to an alarming extent. Due to this environmental pollution the temperature of the entire world has increased by 0.6 degree Celsius, which can prove to be very destructive on a global scale. According to a survey, where the number of diseases is increasing due to this environmental pollution, every citizen is losing three years of his life on average due to this pollution. The entry of harmful gases and toxic elements into the air is responsible for air pollution. These diseases include cancer, brain disease, lung planning commission, 40% of deaths in Pakistan are due to consumption of contaminated water. So I request you to clear the roads, vehicles and water as soon as possible
MALIHA ZUBAIRI
Karachi
