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Promised relief?
With government’s successful passage of the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, it is perhaps time to shift focus to addressing pressing issues faced by people. These challenges are multifaceted, including soaring commodity prices, inflated utility bills, steep transport fares, costly medicines, expensive medical treatment and rising fuel prices. Boasting about reduced inflation or a bullish stock market does little to ease the burdens of ordinary citizens.
One bittersweet piece of news circulating is the rising price of gold. While this might seem positive, it highlights a harsh reality: many people are selling their family gold, often saved for their daughters’ weddings, just to survive. People now wonder if the promises of change will ever materialize into tangible relief.
SAMEEN SHAKEEL
Karachi
Water scarcity
Gwadar is known for its stunning views and its potential as a trade zone in Asia. However, the city is facing a serious issue of water shortage for its residents. Clean water is essential for everyone, and without it, daily life becomes very difficult. The people of Gwadar are struggling with this water crisis. It is hard to imagine how the residents manage to live without enough clean water. This situation affects their health and their ability to work and thrive in their community.
It is important for local government to take action and find solutions to this water problem. If nothing is done, the situation may become worse in future. As Gwadar grows and more people come to the city, having a reliable water supply must be a priority.
AMAN MEERAN
Gwadar, Balochistan
Broken streets, broken mind
I am writing to share a concern deeply affecting Karachi’s youth: the broken, neglected streets of our city and their toll on mental health. Every day, young students and professionals, including myself, navigate roads riddled with potholes, debris and chaos. It’s not just physically draining, it’s also mentally exhausting.
Studies show that living in poorly maintained environments directly impacts mental health, increasing anxiety and frustration. For many of us, daily commutes feel like a battle with the risk of accidents, enduring delays, and facing constant stress. It’s disheartening to feel trapped in a city that seems indifferent to our struggles. As a young person striving to succeed in an already challenging environment, I urge concerned authorities to prioritise repairing Karachi’s streets. Not just for safety but also for mental health and well being of the very generation that represents the city’s future.
ZUNAIRA FATIMA
Karachi
Zionism: A threat to peace
The escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict highlights how Zionism endangers global peace and justice. Rooted in colonial ambitions, Zionism has perpetuated decades of violence and systemic oppression of Palestinians, ignoring international law and UN resolutions. This ideology’s expansionist policies serve geopolitical and economic interests rather than ethical or humanitarian principles.
The unwavering support of the United States, primarily driven by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), is central to this issue. AIPAC wields immense influence in Washington, ensuring US political and military backing for Israel regardless of its actions. With prominent Zionists occupying key positions in any US administration, AIPAC’s influence shapes policies that fuel this crisis. Moreover, the US supplies Israel with advanced weaponry, directly contributing to ongoing devastation in Gaza.
This alliance prioritises the exploitation of resources, such as Gaza’s vast gas reserves, over human lives and dignity. Meanwhile, Orthodox Jewish communities, like Neturei Karta, reject Zionism as incompatible with Jewish teachings, exposing its misuse of religion to justify political agendas. The global community must recognise the role of the US and AIPAC in perpetuating this conflict and demand accountability. Justice for Palestinians and adherence to international law are essential to end this catastrophe.
TASNEEM YOUSUF
Karachi
Unplanned infrastructure
Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan is facing number of difficulties because of unplanned development of infrastructure. These problems have threatened environment and quality of human life, including their health. Poor development has compounded traffic jams and provided uninhabitable housing especially to urban poor. Inadequate drainage systems are common in most urban areas and cause severe flooding during monsoon seasons and ruining property. High density of population also means that public means of transport are inadequate leading to the use of personal automobiles that elevate both air pollution and cost of transportation.
Vehicles emissions, and activities of industries have increased air pollution and caused increase in respiratory diseases. Water-borne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid are rampant. Litter and waste chocking various drains that are supposed to channel water to different destinations causes outbreak of diseases like dengue, malaria during rainy seasons.
A number of problems have been identified such as poor governance, inadequate coordination between civic agencies and insufficient funds available for sustainable infrastructures. Government must prepare an adequate number of well-coordinated ideas about an overall urban master plan in terms of work and resource use. Park and recreation areas should be restored and their size increased to increase quality of the air and decrease heat.
HAFSA AKHTAR
Karachi
Expanding tax base
The federal government’s failure to expand its tax net and curb tax evasion has led to a decline in the tax-to-GDP ratio, which dropped to 8.77% during the fiscal year 2023-24, down from 9.22% in 2021-22. This alarming decrease underscores the growing financial strain on Pakistan’s economy, with experts warning that continued reliance on the salaried class to meet revenue targets is unsustainable. There is an urgent need for collective responsibility to expedite measures against tax evasion, particularly in the tobacco sector, which remains a significant source of revenue leakage.
According to a report by IPOR (Institute of Public Opinion and Research), out of 264 cigarette brands surveyed, only 19 fully adhered to the TTS regime requirements, which mandate the use of Track and Trace stamps. Non-compliant brands accounted for 58 per cent of the market, comprising locally manufactured duty-not-paid (DNP) brands (65 per cent) and smuggled brands (35 per cent) with violations ranging from missing TTS stamps to non-adherence to pricing or health warning regulations. USAMA GHULAM
Karachi
