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.
Gas shortage
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding shortage of gas supply during winter season, being resident of Allama Iqbal Colony Street 18 Rawalpindi. Gas shortage has already resulted in increased prices, making it difficult for ordinary citizens to afford heating their homes. This situation is particularly alarming for vulnerable populations, such as elderly and low-income families, who may already struggle to make ends meet. Furthermore, scarcity of gas could have far-reaching consequences beyond just heating homes. It could impact industries, transportation, and essential services, further exacerbating challenges faced by our communities.
It is crucial that immediate action be taken to address this issue and ensure that adequate gas supplies are available to meet needs of the population, especially during winter months. In addition, efforts should be made to explore alternative energy sources and promote energy conservation measures to reduce our reliance on gas and mitigate the impact of future shortages.
FATIMA SHAMSHER
Via email
Mental health
Studies by WHO have shown a significant increase in anxiety and depression worldwide, attributing this rise to various factors such as social isolation, fear of illness, grief and financial concerns. Alarmingly, vulnerable groups like health workers, young women and girls have been disproportionately affected by these challenges.
Furthermore, the disruption of mental health services, including those for substance abuse, has magnified existing crisis. The economic implications are significant as well, with The Lancet indicating that anxiety and depression annually cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion. Addressing mental health needs not only fosters individual well-being but also bolsters economic stability on a global scale. It is imperative for policymakers to acknowledge and act upon these findings to mitigate long-term consequences of this burgeoning crisis.
TALAL RAFIQ
Turbat, Balochsitan
Educational
issues
As concerned citizens, it is crucial to recognise and tackle educational challenges being faced by people of Sindh and in particular district Umerkot. These issues not only hinder our children’s development but also jeopardise future prosperity of our community. One of the primary challenges is poverty, which forces many families to prioritise survival over education, resulting in children being unable to attend school. Furthermore, numerous schools in district Umerkot lack basic facilities like proper classrooms, desks and chairs. The shortage of qualified teachers, especially in remote areas, further affects quality of education. Socio-economic factors, such as cultural norms and distance to schools, contribute to low enrolment rates, particularly among girls. Without access to education, children remain trapped in a cycle of poverty.Addressing these challenges requires a collaborative effort. Government intervention is essential to provide resources and infrastructure to schools. Community involvement can raise awareness and support initiatives to improve education. Collaboration with NGOs and other stakeholders can enhance quality of education. It is imperative that we unite to tackle educational issues by working together leading to a brighter future for our community.
AMRAT LAL
Islamabad
Reels on social media
We are living in strange times as any social media engagement tool is being taken to its maximum limits, not recognising adverse impact. We realised this during a discussion between my friend and me. Out of every 10 reels, 9 reels have vulgar content at its central point, either boys and girls mingling, dancing in universities, on roads, on every spot they can find.
Now I am not a traditional person and am present on all social media platforms. I also know that these follow a search configuration, so that they keep on sharing the reels that you might have searched but seeing an Islamic reel and suddenly a vulgar reel is next to it, I just cannot comprehend it.
Secondly, the content that is being shown is absolutely disgusting and not at all relevant to Islamic or western culture. Platforms were as addictive as they can get and now these reels are making the attention span of the current generation squeezed up to 5 seconds, which is horrible. This generation cannot tolerate or worse, even understand a video that is more than a minute long.
HASAN YASEEN MIRZA
Islamabad
Laptop distribution
Recently, laptops were distributed to high achiever students of different universities under Prime Minister’s laptop scholarship scheme. This scholarship started in 2011 and till now, millions of laptops have been given to students. It is a good project, and it has helped students in their assignments, research and studies. But one might ask, has the government done a cost-benefit analysis of it? The government often takes an initiative on a large scale without being fully aware of its outcomes. Is it the most critical area of education to invest in? If we look at the statistics, around 25 million children between ages 5-16 years are out of school, along with 60 percent of girls. As we look at poor economic conditions of households and expenses on education, this number is increasing. Fewer schools and universities exist for vast illiterate population, and available schools have rudimentary and poor infrastructure.
INAM KAKAR
Islamabad
Water crisis
Pakistan is facing issue of water crisis. According to UN water security assessment, the country falls into water insecure category. The issue arises due to various reasons like the outdated Water Apportionment Accord (WAA), imbalance in distribution and use of traditional methods. The problem can be resolved by orchestrating a policy, for instance, using technology in agriculture sector, which consumes 94 percent of water, for irrigation purposes.
Also, infrastructure must be bolstered because there is a massive loss of water due to poor infrastructure. Subsequently, Indus River System Authority (IRSA) should renew the WAA by accounting for variations in surface water flow. Lastly, surge in water crisis due to climate change accentuates the need for new reforms. Government must take immediate action before situation exacerbates.
MARIA ZULFIQAR
Islamabad
