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Accidents due to violations
In December last year, during the peak sugar cane cutting season, a long line of trucks and tractors congested road, inconveniencing commuters. To navigate traffic, many vehicles, including vans and buses, veered onto wrong side. Amidst this chaos, a 17-year-old boy riding a bike with an average speed of 40 km/h found himself on national highway near small town of Sarhad. Running out of petrol, he decided to stop at an oil station on opposite side. Lacking a side mirror, he glanced back at a heavily loaded truck approaching.
Despite this, he attempted to cross the road and collided with a van that had taken the wrong side, leading to a chaotic scene. Upon regaining consciousness, the injured boy found himself in the arms of a plainclothes policeman who offered him water. Examining himself, he discovered his clothes covered in dirt and blood, with scratches on his left arm and a severed finger. Struggling to speak, he heard tumult of onlookers, including men, crying women, and children. Amidst this, he noticed that seemingly educated bystanders were recording videos, while drivers, waiters and others from nearby restaurants were actively involved in rescuing injured passengers. Eventually, a police mobile arrived to transport the injured to hospital.
ABDUL QUDOOS
Ghotki, Sindh
Empowerment is better than charity
Empowerment stands as a superior approach to addressing socio-economic challenges when compared to mere charitable actions. As highlighted in the World Bank’s December 2022 report 37% of the rural population still resides below the poverty line. The predicament in Pakistan is not rooted in the absence of resources, rather it is fundamentally attributed to prevailing issue of poor governance within the country. Despite its abundant natural resources encompassing coal, oil, gas, agriculture and a vast coastline, government is wasting potential due to mismanagement.
Regrettably, the focus has largely been on superficial displays of support, channelling funds without a comprehensive strategy for sustained transformation. In the contemporary landscape, alleviating poverty necessitates a departure from conventional charitable gestures such as disbursal of 12,000 rupees. Genuine progress emerges from fostering empowerment among the populace.
The government must take proactive measures, establishing small-scale industrial units across the country to invigorate local economies. Prioritising enhancement of educational institutions is paramount, ensuring that government schools provide quality education that can serve as a catalyst for empowerment. Astoundingly, despite budgeting a substantial 450 billion rupees for charitable endeavours, the transformative potential of empowerment remains largely untapped. Redirecting these resources towards initiatives that bolster skill development, entrepreneurship and education would yield remarkable advancements in societal development.
MUHAMMAD AQUIB
Karachi
Air pollution
Air pollution in Pakistan and across South Asia is a grave concern, significantly reducing life expectancy and adversely impacting the overall quality of life. These distressing revelations are brought to light in the University of Chicago’s annual Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report. This document serves as a resounding wake-up call, not only to the policymakers within Pakistan but also to the broader South Asian region.
The report underscores that South Asia is now the global epicentre of pollution, emphasizing that pollution is not merely an environmental issue; it is a profound public health crisis. Lahore, often dubbed Pakistan’s most polluted city, faces an alarming reality. According to weather reports, residents of Punjab’s capital and those living in Sheikhupura, Kasur, and Peshawar are witnessing a staggering reduction in their life expectancy by approximately 7 years due to the dire state of air quality.
This stark reality places South Asia at the forefront of a health crisis caused by polluted air. The AQLI study makes a crucial observation, highlighting that with political will and the allocation of necessary resources, positive change is indeed possible.
SHAMSA NADIL
Karachi
City of crimes
Karachi’s residents live in constant fear, their safety compromised by ruthless criminals. Incidents of robberies have escalated to alarming proportions, with innocent lives lost and valuable possessions stolen. Tragically, recent events have shaken the city to its core – a young girl was shot and numerous others have fallen victim to these heartless criminals. Shockingly, 100 lives were lost in these robberies, while countless valuable items including cars, motorcycles and phones brazenly stolen.
The grim reality is starkly reflected in the statistics, with a jaw-dropping 60,000 crime cases reported in Karachi thus far. The situation has reached a breaking point, with safety of the city’s inhaitants hanging in balance. The time for action is now. The people of Karachi deserve to live without fear, reclaiming peace and tranquillity that is their right. Let this be a clarion call for change, a collective effort to make Karachi safe again, preserving lives and dreams of its vibrant inhabitants.
NOORULNISA SAMEER
Karachi
