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Austerity paradox
The recent Auditor General of Pakistan’s report has unveiled a glaring contradiction that undermines the very essence of the country’s austerity policy. Ironically, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)—the institution tasked with approving and promoting austerity—stands accused of violating the very principles it advocates. This exposes a troubling disconnect between rhetoric and practice at the highest echelons of government.
According to the report, during the fiscal year 2023, the PMO not only neglected to implement austerity measures but actively engaged in practices that contradicted its own directives. Over a staggering 108.9 million rupees were allocated as bonuses to PMO employees.
This is a flagrant violation of the regulations governing financial propriety, specifically the authority granted to the Principal Accounting Officer, who is responsible for approving such expenditure. This lavish spending starkly contrasts with the austerity policies that the Prime Minister has repeatedly urged the public and government officials to adopt.
Compounding this issue is the revelation that the PMO purchased medicines worth approximately 9.6 million rupees over three years without adhering to competitive bidding practices.
GULAB UMID
Turbat, Balochistan
Container capital
The other day, a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) rally took place in Sangjani, Islamabad. In an effort to avoid disturbing the public in the twin cities, the government authorised the PTI to hold a public rally in Sangjani, a suburban area of the capital. Although it wasn’t a working day, the road closures caused significant disruption. Emergencies can arise at any time, yet travel became hazardous due to confrontations between police and protestors.
As residents of Islamabad, we have come to view our capital as a ‘Container Capital.’ It seems that once or twice every month, political unrest forces schools, colleges, and universities to close, while the working class faces severe mental strain. These frequent disruptions not only interrupt daily life but also cause undue stress, making it difficult to maintain a sense of normalcy in what should be a peaceful and beautiful city.
HIRA AYAZ
Islamabad
Terror attacks
Recent terrorist attacks in Baluchistan are an alarming sign, and despite having so many operations, why is terrorism rearing again in the country? Our soldiers are toiling, they are sacrificing their lives and day and night they are on borders to defend us. People are losing their lives in deadly terrorist attacks, Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks since 2021, when Taliban came into power in Afghanistan.
Different strategies should be made to eradicate terrorism from the country and eradicate terrorists, as next month Pakistan is hosting the SCO summit. If these attacks continued, then it might affect our reputation as a peaceful country. The sudden rise in these horrific incidents can create fuss internationally, it’s crucial to address the challenge and work on it through new and effective strategies. It’s also pivotal for country’s prosperity.
AREEBA ALTAF
Larkana, Sindh
Obesity surge
Obesity is a significant and growing concern in our country. According to statistics, Pakistan is ranked 165th out of 194 countries in terms of its overweight population, with 22.2% of individuals over the age of 15 crossing the threshold of obesity, which is quite alarming. One of the factors responsible for this is the change in dietary habits, including high consumption of meat and extra calories adopting a sedentary lifestyle.
We are now shifting from traditional diets to westernised eating patterns, with limited physical exercise, which ultimately leads to diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers. Efforts should be made to address this issue and raise awareness to promote healthier eating habits and also increase physical activity.
HIRA AYAZ
Islamabad
Railways in Balochistan
Balochistan’s railway system, once the lifeline of this rugged province is now in ruins with 80 percent of it effectively paralysed. This collapse is more than just a failure of infrastructure as it is a symbol of neglect, exacerbated by nature’s fury and unrelenting shadow of terrorism.
The most recent blow came when the monsoon rains unleashed devastating floods, washing away a critical section of the railway tracks between Sibi and Harnai. The floodwaters, surging through the Nari Gaj and Spin Tangi, obliterated the tracks, leaving behind a barren path where once the trains used to run.
This wasn’t just a freak incident—it was a catastrophic event that has plunged the already struggling railway system into further disrepair. The Sibi-Harnai train service had been suspended a month earlier, but now, with the tracks decimated, the prospect of restoration seems like a distant dream. What should have been a straightforward repair now looms as a multi-year ordeal.
This disaster is the latest in a series of events that have crippled Balochistan’s railway network. Terrorist attacks have relentlessly targeted this system, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Bridges have been blown up, tracks torn apart, and stations reduced to rubble. The government’s response is slow, under funded and often too late. The result is a rail network that has been slowly choked into non-existence, leaving entire regions cut off from rest of the country.
But this collapse is more than just an operational failure, it’s an economic and social catastrophe. The railway once served as a critical artery, pumping life into remote corners of Balochistan, transporting goods, connecting communities and fuelling local economies. Now, with this artery severed, the province is bleeding with economic activities grinding to a halt. Goods are stranded, communities are isolated and already fragile economy is further weakened.
GULAB UMID
Turbat, Balochistan
