Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space.
Our education system
We are living in the 21st century, but our education system is still based on old practices. Currently, 64 percent of the population of Pakistan is under the age of 30 years, and among them, 71% of those are of school-going age. In the era of modern technology, our children are forced to follow rotten rote memorization system. Our teaching methods are outdated and students are required to follow rigid curriculum. They are often judged by their high grades and not by their skills and abilities, which in turn put a lot of pressure on them and compromise their abilities.
The education infrastructure is lacking basic necessities. Many schools are running without any proper building, under a tree or in a tent and a lot of schools are without proper facilities of safe water for drinking. Classes are overcrowded. The Student-to-Teacher ratio in primary schools is 39:1. Which means there is only one teacher available for 39 students. A single teacher cannot give proper attention to every student. This intensifies their struggle to keep up with the pace of instructions. Schools have become stress generator for young generation, which is taking a toll on their mental health.
To address all these issues, educational reforms are inevitable. These reforms should focus on better infrastructure, proper teacher’s training, flexible curriculum (more focusing on digital education) and strong focus on providing mental health support to students. By taking these measures we can save our future generation from becoming a generation of depressed people.
Bilqees Ramzan
Sukkur, Sindh
School meals programme
Many children go to school with empty stomachs, or minimal breakfast. They even do not carry lunch with them and remain hungry all day unless some of their class fellows share their food with them.
Due to empty stomach they cannot concentrate on the studies fully and their educational performance is affected. Stock market in Pakistan has gone too high but so have the food prices. Touching horrendous levels especially in fresh vegetables, meat and milk three commodities basically required for balanced nutrition of children. Food scarcity in average households of our society is compromising our future. One third of children have stunted growth due to lack of nutrition. According to a report by Food and Agriculture Organization, about half of the population is deficient in one or more of essential nutrients and women and children are most affected and vulnerable in this regard. Morbidity and mortality rates are higher than other developing nations.
School meals programs can help improve nutrition standards in poor urban areas, slums and also in rural and remote areas. Some NGOs are already working on this issue however their contribution is negligible at the national level keeping in mind magnitude of problem. If government and civil society shares this burden in form of school meal programmes, school dropout ratios will reduce and more and more children will enrol in schools with free meals programmes.
FarrukhShahab
Lahore
Mainstream media
I, as a media student feel compelled to share my disappointment with the state of mainstream media today. TV channels, newspapers and news websites failed to deliver balanced reporting. Instead, they appeared to follow a single narrative favouring the government, often without questioning its accuracy. In some instances, misleading information was presented as fact, making it seem like official statements were being broadcast without any critical evaluation. This situation is both troubling and unfortunate. If people lose faith in mainstream media, its credibility will crumble. Who will continue to watch or read outlets that seem to prioritise biased agendas over truthful reporting? Furthermore, lack of diversity across media platforms is striking. No matter which channel you tune into, same one-sided, exaggerated stories dominate the coverage. The role of journalism is to inform public honestly and hold those in power accountable. Sadly, this purpose seems to be fading, replaced by partisanship and sensationalism. I urge media organisations to reflect on their responsibility and work to regain public trust by prioritising fairness and accuracy in their reporting.
WASIF KHALIQ DAD
Rawalpindi
Drug addiction
Drug addiction not only harms the body but also disrupts the mind and soul. It starts innocuously — perhaps as a means to cope with stress, peer pressure, or curiosity yet quickly spirals into dependence, creating a vicious cycle that’s hard to break. The consequences are severe: broken families, health deterioration, financial ruin and in far too many cases loss of life.
It is crucial to understand that addiction is not a moral failing but a complex disease that requires empathy, awareness and appropriate treatment. Education about dangers of drugs, fostering open communication and encouraging a supportive environment can play pivotal roles in prevention.
For those already affected, timely intervention and rehabilitation is key. Community support systems, counselling, and rehabilitation centres can help individuals regain control of their lives. However, combating addiction requires collective action from individuals, families, governments and society at large. Let us work together to create awareness and advocate for a world free from the grip of addiction. By fostering hope, compassion and resilience we can help those in need find their way to recovery and a brighter future.
SARFRAZ ISHAIQ
Karachi
Digital technology
IN the world today, digital technology is evolving with each passing day. Though there have been many fields benefiting from digital technology, it is the marketing field that has been thriving a lot on digital technology. Knowledge is the best and safest treasure to acquire as the saying goes. With due knowledge and great confidence, we humans can rise up to the new challenges posed by the future. An in-depth study begets more knowledge. According to a recent survey conducted, almost 93% of the online interactions start with a search engine. All these interesting revelations point to a clear paradigm shift towards the digital world. That is why digital marketing matters the most. Apart from making big bucks through wider reach and best output, digital marketing helps improve the business tie-ups between the marketing companies and the clientele.
P SENTHIL S DURAI
Maharashtra, India
