Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
What after lockdown?
The Covid-19 lockdown is now in its tenth week but yet the government remains silent on how it will end. While the current emergency makes some home truths unhelpful, explaining where we are going with this lockdown is not one of them. If as a country we are unable to control Covid-19, the lockdown must continue. The longer and tighter the lockdown, the less Covid-19 infection will remain to be transmitted to the uninfected population. But how can Covid-19 be controlled after the lockdown ends?
We can hope for some vaccine to come to the rescue but not for many many months. Or we must wait in lockdown for the Covid-19 infection to reduce to a level we can control through increased testing and tracking and so hopefully reduce the infection rate to insignificance. The important number to watch is the percentage of people tested for Covid-19 who are found positive, a percentage today running at 40 percent. This is far too high to end the lockdown, not even adequate to properly allow the essential testing of NHS and social workers. Let us hope we see that crucial percentage quickly dropping in the coming weeks, so to allow a proper test and track programme to begin and thus allow us to ease up on the lockdown and start life once again afresh.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
So-called civilised people & nation
A very sad incident has happened in America where a black man was murdered by cops who was reportedly running away after stealing some valuables. Video of this sad incident went viral on social media in which it can clearly be seen that cops have grabbed that black man who was laid down and one of the cops put his leg on his neck. Black man cried repeatedly that he felt difficulty in breathing but cops gave deaf ear and kept putting leg on his neck. As a result, he succumbed to death in few minutes.
All the four cops who were involved in such a nefarious crime have been dismissed from service. Undoubtedly this is sad incident which has taken direction of discrimination and being considered racism against black people. Riots have erupted in America which is considered to be one of the civilized nations. Where the civilization has gone after only one incident took place that their people are clearly be seen in videos made by their own people that people are robbing valuables from shops and putting police vehicles on fire regardless of their colour and religion which means that it is not the matter of civilization it is a matter of every wrong action’s wrong reaction when justice is not made no matter which country it is and whosoever the people are.
It is often criticized that the people of third world countries are uncivilized and don’t know manners to behave well. They need to cognize that the people of third world countries are living and, in fact, coping with innumerable issues which are primary to live a decent life. In such a situation they are living in shows self-restraint, patience and honestly speaking they somehow behave in a civilized manner with some impunity.
FAISAL ANSAR
Karachi
Bogus/Fake domiciles
Nowadays, a strong campaign has been started by the Sindhis (and rightly so) at the social media (Facebook) against the issuance of bogus/fake domiciles and Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) in Sindh to the non-residents of the province. It has come to surface that many persons from the outside of the Sindh province have been able to get admission in the universities and jobs on the basis of the bogus/fake domiciles and PRCs. The shocking thing is that even in the competitive examination of the Central Superior Services (CSS), the non-Sindhi candidates have been able to get prestigious jobs on the basis of these bogus/fake domiciles and PRCs.
It has been learnt that most of these bogus/fake domiciles have been issued from the districts of Karachi, Larkana, Jacobabad, Thatta, Badin, Dadu, etc during the tenures of those Deputy Commissioners who belonged either to other provinces. Looking at the huge cry of the Sindhis at the social media and the seriousness and sensitivity of the issue, the Sindh Chief Secretary has constituted a three-member Committee under the chairmanship of Senior Member Board of Revenue, with the Secretary General Administration and Deputy Director(PRC), as its members.
The issuance of bogus/fake domiciles to the non-residents of the Sindh province is a very serious issue, as this deprives the genuine residents of the province of their right to get admission in universities and jobs against the vacant posts in/of the province. I, therefore, request that the constituted Committee should probe the matter with its utmost honesty and recommend all those domiciles and PRCs to be cancelled which are found to be issued in a bogus/fake manner. The Committee should also recommend stringent action against those DCs who are found involved in issuing fake/bogus domiciles and PRCs.
ABDUL SAMAD SAMO
Karachi
Western culture
We generally talk against western culture that they consider scorn to their folks when they arrive at the last period of their lives and send them to old age homes. Be that as it may, remorsefully, we have received their shocking society of hating and chastening guardians and sending them to old age homes. This is all over Pakistan. We can see old age homes. There are six in Karachi and two in Lahore and Islamabad. Sometimes, I think, how in an Islamic culture old age homes can be assembled? Clearly it is the most mortifying and insensitive act.
In the event that guardians deal with their youngsters for 3 to 4 decades, at that point why it gets hard for kids to live with parents in their geriatric period of life? This is the term when maladies become some portion of their day-to-life. As youngsters, we should offer clinical and enthusiastic help to them and must ensure that they are valuable pearls in our lives.
TAQDEES ZAFAR
Islamabad
