Where are you, dear politicians?
Our motherland Pakistan has been in the grip of Corona pandemic like rest of the world for the last couple of months. The federal and provincial governments and agencies and departments down the line particularly doctors and medical staff are doing their maximum possible to effectively and positively counter and check the invading pandemic. This is only possible with the continued blessings of Almighty Allah and the strict observance of all preventive and safeguarding measures essentially like social distancing, frequent hand washing with soap and staying at homes.
For generating maximum resources, the federal and provincial governments have established relief funds to which generous donations are being made to ensure all possible relief is provided to those who are suffering one way or the other due to lockdowns and other preventive measures. But the most pertinent question, which this scribe wants to ask through these few lines, is as to where are the political parties, their leaders and parliamentarians and dear politicians on the whole? Some of them are continuing indulging in politics, which is not good in the prevailing circumstances to say the least. But one has not heard any politicians making donations to the relief funds at the federal and provincial levels. These relief funds are meant for helping the needy and destitute people throughout the country and not for any political gains of the prime minister or chief ministers concerned.
If at all they are concerned about well-being and welfare of the people, they should open up their hearts and pockets and make generation donations as this is the best time to help the poor needy people. If at all they are carrying out some relief works at their own levels, they should let it be known so that supporters and followers follow their good example in this regard.
M Z RIFAT
Lahore
*****
World over, people are facing great challenges of Corona Virus. Nowadays, this pandemic disease is spreading rapidly all over the world especially in Pakistan. People need to understand that their carelessness can give rise to horrible outcome.
When there is a pandemic it is always advisable to take precautions against it so that we do not catch it. It is foolish to neglect laws of hygiene and invite illness, fall ill and then to take medicines to cure your self. It is a humble request to all of you to protect yourselves from this pandemic disease by adopting due precautions.
UMAIMA SHEIKH
Karachi
*****
I hope COVID-19 will teach us to stop judging people based on their job titles or earnings. Grocery store workers, bus drivers, delivery drivers, fast food workers, garbage collectors, sanitation workers etc, they are the ones taking us through this crisis, making sure we have the essentials to survive on and even risking their health. I understand what living below the poverty line is like, and I know that a minimum wage job is not indicative of a person’s intelligence, work ethic, or character. Honest work is honest work.
Never look down on anyone for the job they have. This superiority complex, especially where some people think that “I’m more valuable than you” because they make more money needs to end. Everybody is important and his or her contribution matters. Thinking of yourself as superior because of money, status or job is pure foolishness. Respect everyone for whatever they do and stay away from pride and arrogance.
IQRA SIDDIQUI
Karachi
PTI relief plan
The ruling party’s relief plan must be approved by Parliament. There is urgent need to call a joint session of Parliament in this matter. Pointing out technicalities in constitutional process is one thing, but when these political points come at the expense of citizens, politicians should learn to stop and consider implications of their words and actions.
While there is a dire need to hold a parliamentary session over several pertinent issues, the situation at hand requires that we first ensure that the virus is kept at bay, and our people don’t starve. Everything else is secondary. There will always be a difference of opinion on what the best course of action is during this pandemic; Pakistan is not the only country that is grappling with the debate for a smart lockdown versus closing down everything. Both sides have valid points. But for now, let’s roll up our sleeves and get the work done, time will judge the suitability of the policies we employed
QAZI ALAM SIDDIQUI
Via email
Avoid cold drinks
Fizzy cold drinks look good but are bad for your health. The biggest brands in the world are selling extremely unhealthy products (fizzy drinks). Let us see why we should avoid soft drinks to maintain good health. A single can of soda contains large quantity of sugar. This amount of sugar, especially in liquid form, skyrockets the blood sugar and causes an insulin reaction in the body. Over time, this can lead to diabetes or insulin resistance. Man with a three-litre-a-day cola habit drinks himself to death. Drinking fizzy pop for a month ‘can lead to lifelong health problems’
Some chemicals that are used to colour soft drinks can cause risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, liver damage, Alzheimer’s, premature aging, early puberty. They can make us violent and fatty. They can change your brain. So what are some better choices? There are plenty of other refreshing beverages, with nutritional value, that you can drink instead of soda. It’s still important, though, to consider what’s in your soda substitutes. Replacing soda with fresh juices. Soft drinks only do harm and no good. We should drink water whenever we feel thirsty. Water is the most important constituent of body. Water is the best drink in world.
HAFSA NADEEM
Islamabad
Adopt book reading
It can clearly be noticed in the statistical data published by Amy Watson in 2020 that the number of movies released during year 2000 to 2019, has increased dramatically just in North America. It sure is considered a great success in the respective field, but is it really something the world should be proud of? The initial thought of making movie was to entertain people for a limited time, make them have a good time once in a while, but having so many movies to watch, it is no more left as a rare activity. The purpose of this article is to highlight how movies have replaced the reading habits of people in every age group.
This is affecting the innovative capabilities of youngsters and psychological thinking of elders. A very few adults are fond of reading books for leisure; this has reduced the number of public writers as well. Not many find in necessary to mark reading as one of most essential portion of life for developing a healthy and productive mind. Parents should be encouraged through different platforms to help their kids by inducing reading and writing habits in their daily life. They can do so by following it themselves, as children always follow what they see.
SARA SALEEM
Islamabad
Don’t
spread lies
Television news anchor, Arnab Goswami of Republic TV should stop spreading lies about Sonia Gandhi and the Congress Party.
What he does not realise is that India belongs to Indira (Gandhi) and Indira belongs to India. Strict action by the Indian government should be taken against him.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India