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Global power dynamics
Disputes are fated in the fate book of weaker nations. On the international chessboard, it is not Kashmir or Palestine alone, 76-year-old bleeding disputes, the playground of incessant barbarity, there are many other disputes as well.
Research reveals that all disputes, whether territorial, political or geographic, are creations of big powers at the back. Big powers’ interest in generating disputes is to keep open their avenues for their arms producers, manufacturers, sellers and price manipulators to keep their arms industries all seasons progressive.
So, Kashmir or Palestine are live disputes; if they end, then the Middle East/South Asian arms consumption markets for big powers will go dormant. The folly of weaker nations is that they do not solve disputes facing them by mutual negotiations. Mutual negotiations mechanism is the biggest death blow to the big powers’ blackmailing strategy.
HAMEED SHAHEEN
Rawalpindi
Post-poll anarchy
Chaos ensues after the polls in Pakistan as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and other political parties protest the results showing significant wins for Independents backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. PMLN and PPP, along with some other minor parties, have formed a coalition government, while Imran Khan, claiming victory from behind bars, congratulates his supporters.
Imran Khan’s party refuses to accept the election results, escalating tensions in a country already grappling with economic downturn, domestic terror threats, violent rebellion in Balochistan and border tensions. Amidst such a volatile situation, it is imperative for all stakeholders to come together and find a solution that is acceptable to all, fostering progress and prosperity for the Pakistani people.
M HAMMAD
Lahore
Monetary aid
When a frail old man braves the dawn deluge to provide monetary aid (according his means) to an unknown dying girl on pavement and leaves off with his umbrella without caring to advertise his noble deed; when a set of humanitarians rush towards the collapsed cyclist at the height of the pandemic, rejuvenate him and send him off to hospital in an ambulance with a policeman taking care of him there and ensuring the diabetes patient’s safe return home, when Muslim villagers carry the corpse of their only Hindu neighbour to the crematorium or a Bengali Hindu lady offers sehri and iftar to the Kashmiri Muslim traders who got stranded during lockdown — Religion shine at its divine best as individuals link with their fellow human beings by transcending all petty barriers of religion and creed.
No wonder why that much far-sighted visionary came up with the lyric “I too remain connected to you in the same way you move around connected to the universe”! Through this song, Rabindranath Tagore had urged all to unite with the human beings of the whole world according to the spirit of the divine.
Wherever all would align themselves with each other, we would meet the divine in that very place. So by discarding the narrowness of personal interest, one would have to work for the welfare of the fellow citizens of the country and world with such charity beginning at home or immediate neighbourhood.
Hope the global society, plagued by silly divisions of religion, race, language, colour, caste, nationality, politics, gender, class and economy; would learn the essence of religion i.e. humanity and try to uplift themselves to another level by lending cooperative hands towards all specially the deprived marginalised vulnerable people.
KAJAL CHATTERJEE
Kolkata, India
Govt stability
I am writing to share my views on the stability of the current government in Pakistan. Undoubtedly, the government has faced tremendous difficulties, and I would like to shed some light on the challenges we have encountered.
Firstly, Pakistan’s economy is ranked 24th globally, but we still grapple with significant issues, particularly concerning water scarcity. Additionally, a concerning statistic reveals that Pakistani youth rank among the highest consumers of adult content online. Shockingly, 40% of our population lives below the poverty line, highlighting the stark reality of deprivation for many.
In my opinion, the current political system has contributed to chaos rather than stability. An illustrative example is the creation of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) following attempts to oust the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
During this tumultuous period, Pakistan’s economy deteriorated significantly, with depleting reserves and soaring inflation rates, pushing us to the brink of being labeled a default state by June. Despite efforts to mitigate these challenges, the government struggled to regain control.
However, amidst these challenges, there are glimmers of hope in the current government’s policies, particularly those introduced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. His focus on increasing tax collection to 1.2 trillion rupees, reducing federal employee salaries, and combating power theft are steps in the right direction.
LARAIB JAMIL
Via email
Overpopulation
Overpopulation remains a critical global issue, with the world’s population surpassing 7 billion; however, authorities worldwide have yet to take significant action to curb its rapid increase. The swelling numbers of people are placing immense stress on virtually every state, impacting resources and infrastructure.
If authorities prioritize birth control measures, many of these challenges could be mitigated. My observations suggest that large families with eight or nine children often struggle to provide proper education and care for their younger members, potentially jeopardizing the future well-being of these children.
In contrast, countries like China have implemented strict population control policies, such as the one-child policy, to address overpopulation. It is imperative for both authorities and the public to consider measures to control new births, as our limited resources may not suffice to meet the needs of future generations.
ULFAT NAZEER
Karachi
Box letter
Play a safe Holi
Festivals are a source of great joy in India. Holi, the festival of colours, is one such important event. It is arguably the most fun-filled and boisterous of all Hindu festivals. However, it has been observed that residential societies waste a lot of water during the festival every year. People should be asked to play Holi only with dry colours. They should avoid colours that are mixed with harmful chemicals, as these may lead to skin allergies and even cause blindness if they get into the eyes. Also, everyone should take care not to waste water while celebrating the festival. Every drop of water is precious, and costs money. So play a safe Holi with caution and let the colours of Holi spread the message of peace and happiness to one and all.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
