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.
Karachi defaced by land mafia
The decision by Chief Justice to personally ensure that Karachi regains its past glory as a city of lights, with wide roads, buzzing commercial activity is a welcome sign. Nowhere else, has a big cosmopolitan city been systematically and criminally plundered, while its citizens deprived of amenity parks, with criminal gangs holding residents ransom defiantly. This abuse occurred with connivance of those who claim to be major stakeholders and were elected by citizens to act as guardian of public interest and not join hands with criminal elements. Karachi’s Circular Railway which existed and was functioning has been destroyed and land allowed to be occupied by criminal elements, while city and provincial governments stood by as spectators.
Karachi’s amenity parks have been up for grabs since 2004 by powerful land mafia in nexus with all those who matter. Over 72bn worth land, belonging to KPT, was grabbed by this mafia, in spite of the fact that illegal event was covered live on 9 Sept 2009. Earlier over 55 acres of Kidney Hill Park allocated for use as amenity park was illegally claimed by Overseas Housing Society, whose General Secretary had close political links with a prominent member of a leading political party.
For over 16 years the Kidney Hill Case was a subject of judicial battle, till such time that Sind Government changed and local government surrendered their rightful claim in an out of court settlement. The power and patronage of this land mafia can be gauged from the fact that General Secretary of OHS was appointed as MD of national airline. I pray that Chief Justice ensures that Karachi once again enjoys peace and tranquillity it was once famous for.
NIGHAT MALIK
Karachi
HIV/Aids in Turbat
In recent days, two diseases Human Immune Deficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome are too much usual in Turbat city, Balochistan. As we all have the awareness that these both diseases are incurable and there are fewer chances for the affected patients to remain alive. These are the diseases which can be transmitted from human to human, meaning thereby that the one, who is affected by any of these diseases, can transmit it to the other human beings.
According to a survey, our country is rated among top ten countries in terms of these diseases in Asia. According to the reports, the number of HIV/AIDS patients in the country rose to over 160,000 in 2018. Of these, around 110,000 were men; 48,000 women and 5,500 children under the age of 15. Approximately 6,400 died from the disease. A decade ago, in 2008, the number of patients living with HIV/AIDS in the country stood at 4,300. Undoubtedly, the number of patients would have risen even higher in 2019, which is alarming.
I earnestly request the authorities to please take some tangible steps for the control of these diseases so that the loss of precious lives is prevented and a huge amount is saved and instead spent on other welfare schemes for the general masses in the country.
ZAHEER DOSHAMBAY
Via email
Parking plaza
I want to draw the attention of authorities concerned that in the era of Mayor Karachi Mustafa Kamal, parking plaza was constructed in the area of Saddar and the objective was that the people who visit Saddar should park their vehicles in parking plaza and might move on foot for shopping or for whatever the purpose of their visit, vehicles to be parked in the plaza but since it was constructed could not be utilised for its purpose.
The idea was good but could not be materialised as people inclined towards ease and comfort and it becomes hard for them to move a few feet. Authorities concerned should first enforce people to park their vehicles in the plaza and if they fail to do so should make proper utilisation of this building like construction of offices or shopping plaza etc as huge building is going wasted.
FAISAL ANSAR
Karachi
Value of public shows
The well-known and one of the highest paid actors of Bollywood, Aamir Khan, is currently hosting a show in India namely Satyanev Jayate. in this television show, Aamir Khan interacts with general public of India and aims to enlighten citizens about the social issues present in the country. In this show, mostly high qualified doctors come for enlightening public about vital diseases such as Cancer, Jaundice, Asthma, Thalassaemia and Plague. They also highlight various aspects for the prevention deadly diseases.
Last Sunday, Aamir Khan was teaching children about sexual abuse and safety from culprits. The only purpose of my write-up is to appeal to the government and SAHIL (an NGO working for child safety) to conduct seminars and nurturing shows on television for general public because it is the best way to make public aware of fatal impact of diseases as well as measures to control them.
SAMEER UMRANI
Karachi
The future of small businesses in Pakistan
Ever since the PTI came into power, it has promised many changes and reforms that would resolve the current economic crisis of Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his first speech, touched those concerning areas that no other prime minister had done before. Now there is a question: ‘Can Imran Khan really pull the country out of economic crisis?’
Many Pakistanis were optimistic as Imran Khan decided to not take any more loans, fight against the menace of corruption and put more focus on human development in the country. But, the hopes started dashing when people saw that Imran Khan, unlike his earlier promises, started taking loans. Besides this, the value of rupee was already in a free fall at the time when Khan took over. It had fallen from Rs108 to Rs125 a dollar. Another part of his campaign was to alleviate the debt burden Pakistan was reeling under. Exports were falling and trade deficit was on the rise which was, again, another matter of great concern. In order to put the country’s economy on the right path, the then Finance Minister, Asad Umar, introduced very unpopular reforms and policies that were considered un-favourable for the people of Pakistan as those would have drastic effects on the common Pakistanis especially increase in taxes on imports has left its effects on not only people but also on the whole import industry.
The rate of tax on imported vehicles is around 170% and further raise in them continue to put heavy burden on small businesses. These new policies discourage even the middle-class to buy imported products, and have left this option available only to wealthy people. These non-friendly policies have, in fact, cost in form of losing industrialization and closing small businesses in Pakistan.
AHMED HUSSAIN
Lahore
Water crisis in Pakistan
At a time when the population of Pakistan has crossed the 200 million mark and is still rising rapidly, the country seems unable to cater to their water needs. In fact, Pakistan has been facing a serious water crisis for the past many decades. There is no doubt that Pakistan is a country that has been bestowed with five beautiful large rivers, i.e. Indus, Ravi, Sutlej, Chenab and Jhelum, with the Indus, being the largest. Each of these rivers carries abundant water but still we are facing water crisis. The real question here is how did Pakistan reach this situation?
If we take a look at history, we find that immediately after independence, a water crisis surfaced due to conflict with India, posing a huge challenge to the new country. However, the government somehow managed and resolved the issue with the signing of the famous ‘Indus Waters Treaty’ with India in 1960. After 59 years of that treaty, this problem has surfaced again and this time it is even going to be more harmful to Pakistan’s economy and its people with a threat of facing a drought by 2025, if proper measures are not taken to control the situation.
Pakistan is third-world country with poor literacy rate and a largely uneducated workforce. Most people tend to not care about water; the main key to our survival but such careless attitude can leave many affected.
One major reason for this water crisis is that Pakistan is heavily affected by air pollution. This causes the country’s climate to change rapidly and it keeps getting worse! It asks for plantation of more plants and trees. The government has to use its funds to accommodate more people in urban areas with more industrialization or to do more plantations for the better of the posterity!
AHMED HUSSAIN
Lahore
