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.
Protest against electricity bills
We can understand anger and frustration of tax paying citizens, pensioners, orphans and widows over the increase in electricity bills, but not the loud protests by those sections of society who are the root cause of the economic ills, because they refuse to pay taxes. What more will it take for the State, politicians and the paid bureaucracy, to realize that tolerance towards tax evasion and their failure to recover taxes has finally landed this country on brink of economic collapse. IMF bailout package will provide brief respite, but the debt burden is simultaneously increasing and is not the remedy.
Can the traders involved in retail business, who live in self-owned houses, own expensive cars, but don’t pay taxes proportionate to their earnings, justify taking part in protests? Where else in the world are real estate investors exempted from tax, or the Tobacco Industry exempted from paying Sin Tax that is levied in all major developed countries of the world.
Sin Tax is levied to recover cost incurred by the State on medical expenses linked with smoking cigarettes. It is also an established fact that drugs like marijuana etc., are linked with smoking cigarettes. Levying exorbitant taxes on selling cigarettes is to make them so expensive, that they become unaffordable. Pakistan today has become one of the few countries in the world, which Tobacco Cigarette manufacturers consider friendly.
Big landlords holding above 20 acres of irrigable land, or 35 acres of unirrigated barren land, must pay their share of taxes. We expect our lawyer community, to realize that branded few amongst them, charge crores from their clients, but pay just a fraction of what they earn. The Bar Associations must rise above petty politics and follow the ideals of Quaid for the good of Pakistan.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Minorities in Pakistan
Pakistan came into being not only as a Muslim State but as a separate and an individual entity where all minorities belonging to every ethnicity and religion had equal share in the land of hope and peace – Pakistan. A diverse and culturally rich nation is home to a myriad of ethnic, religious and linguistic groups. While the majority of its population adheres to Islam, the country also hosts several religious and ethnic minorities, each contributing to the nation’s unique tapestry.
This country has faced many atrocities since the day of its independence, yet it stays strong and every Pakistani stays firm together against any and every possible threat or challenge. With a unanimous foundation so strong when it comes to Pak vs India matches, seasonal flood/earthquake or any anomaly such as Covid, why does everyone later overshadow about the contribution that these minorities make?
From serving in defence forces to being bureaucrats, lawyers, doctors, scientists and engineers every Pakistani who is a minority represents their country at every cost without any conditions and it hurts to see them being pointed out as being rebels against our nation.
M MAIRAJ KHAN
Lahore
Mankad rule
The name is derived from the great Indian All-Rounder Vinoo Mankad, who ran out Australia’s Bill Brown in the Sydney Test in 1947. This law pertains to the “Non-striker leaving his ground early. At the time the ball comes into the play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be run out if he is out of his ground.
The match between Pakistan and Afghanistan had been tense. It looked as if Pakistan would win out but Shadab kept Pakistan in the hunt with a sparkly cameo, hitting a six and a four to take down to 11 needed of the last over. Desperate to regain the strike, with Tailender Naseem at the other end, he tried to take a headstart as Farooqi was running in. Afghanistan quickly spotted this and instead of bowling, whipped off the bails.
Shadab seemed to cross and walked off, and there was a chorus of protest on social media. Farooqi’s act could not prevent Pakistan from winning. Naseem, who hit two sixes in two balls to win a one-wicket thriller in Asia Cup last year, repeated the trick with two final-over boundaries.
CHAHAT SANTWANI
Sukkur
Unmasking intolerance
My heart aches and I can’t find the right words as I write this. We, as a nation, are in distress about something terrible that happened in Jaranwala, a city near Faisalabad. This recent incident has shocked the nation and raised serious concerns about the prevailing sense of intolerance and violence. The incident, involving a heinous act of vandalism, highlights the urgent need for societal introspection and a collective condemnation of such actions.
Acts of violence and destruction have no place in a civilized society and the incident in Jaranwala is a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked aggression. It is crucial for individuals, communities and authorities to come together and unequivocally denounce such acts, irrespective of the perceived motivations behind them. Such incidents not only tarnish the reputation of the country but also foster an environment of fear and discord among its citizens.
It is important to recognize that the incident in Jaranwala is not an isolated event. It underscores the broader issue of minority rights in Pakistan. Not only have we destroyed a Church in Jaranwala but we are destroying the white part of Pakistan’s flag and Jinnah’s dream of a pluralistic. Inaction by the state emboldens extremists to kill minorities with impunity. Today it’s them, tomorrow it will be us from the majority.
UNZILA TAHIR HUDA
Karachi
Box letter
Street harassment
Street harassment is rampant in urban areas, creating difficulties for women to move about freely. This type of public bullying, often involving men on motorcycles inappropriately touching or snatching their scarves, undermines women’s safety. Consequently, parents feel apprehensive about allowing their daughters to pursue education and learning, thereby infringing upon women’s fundamental rights. I humbly implore the government to undertake substantial measures to eradicate street harassment and establish a safe and secure environment for women.
AMINA AMJID
Turbat
