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Underage drinking
I am writing to express my concern about the issue of underage drinking, which continues to affect many communities, including our own. Underage drinking is not only illegal but also poses significant health and safety risks to young people. Engaging in alcohol consumption at a young age can lead to a range of negative outcomes, including impaired brain development, poor academic performance, and an increased risk of addiction later in life. Moreover, it often leads to dangerous behaviour, such as drinking and driving, which puts both the drinker and others at risk.
I believe it is crucial for us as a community to take proactive steps to address this issue. This includes educating our youth about the dangers of alcohol, creating supportive environment where they feel empowered to make responsible decisions and enforcing the legal drinking age to protect their well-being.
I encourage our schools, parents and local organizations to work together on preventive measures, such as educational programs, workshops and open discussions that can raise awareness and provide young people with the tools they need to make informed choices. Additionally, strengthening enforcement efforts and ensuring that consequences for underage drinking are clear and consistently applied can help deter this behaviour.
SARFRAZ ISHAIQ
Karachi
Underground water depletion
Each year, Pakistan’s monsoon season delivers a deluge of rain, bringing floods that devastate communities and infrastructure. Yet, as the skies clear, the country grapples with a critical shortage of water resources for irrigation and daily use. For nearly twenty years, experts have sounded the alarm about the combined threats of a booming population, climate change and mismanagement of underground water. Their warnings are now underscored by a recent alarming report: Pakistan is facing a severe underground water crisis.
In just six years, the situation has become dire. An astonishing 22.84% of the country is now experiencing severe water scarcity, with an additional 36.17% on the brink of depletion. Water levels at depths of 5 to 10 feet have dropped by 10.94%, while those at 10 to 20 feet have dwindled to a mere 37.07%. In northern regions, typically rich in rainfall, the groundwater has sunk to depths exceeding 200 feet, leaving it largely inaccessible except for basic domestic needs.
This looming crisis could soon rival the country’s energy challenges, highlighting an urgent need for action. Immediate and collaborative efforts from policymakers and citizens alike are crucial. Survey data reveals that northern areas, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Kashmir and upper Punjab are ripe for the construction of hundreds of medium and small dams.
These dams could capture and store the monsoon rains that currently flood the rivers and eventually flow into the sea. By harnessing this water, Pakistan could significantly bolster its irrigation and drinking water supplies, providing a sustainable solution to its mounting water woes.
GULAB UMID
Turbat
Rhetoric of respect
During a public rally, especially when running a government, a politician should be mindful of their language and cautious with their words. Every word matters, particularly when leading a government. When criticizing someone, it’s better to use respectful language within certain limits. On Sunday, 8 September, a chief minister used derogatory language during a political rally, especially targeting journalists, which is highly inappropriate. As a government representative, such behaviour is not suitable for politicians. Raising your voice or shouting does not make your points valid.
While it’s understood that politicians may harbour anger toward their opponents, this does not justify personal attacks on any individual, institution, or group. Everyone deserves respect in society, and politicians must carefully consider their language. Politics has become more of a spectacle now, with no sense of decorum. No other country has witnessed as much political chaos as Pakistan.
Protocols are being ignored. Is this a country or a show where everyone says whatever they wish? There is a distinction, there is morality, and there is a proper way to speak. While freedom of speech exists, it must be exercised within limits. Every party has the right to hold a peaceful rally, but not at the cost of disrupting or frustrating the public. Politicians should control their language and not lose their dignity by using offensive words. What a poor message this sends to future generations of the country.
AREEBA KANASRO
Larkana
