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.
Pakistan running dry
Apropos to the National Annual Plan 2019-20, Pakistan faces a serious water crisis as per capita water availability falls due to diminishing freshwater supplies and the exponentially increasing demands of the country’s burgeoning population. During the last 71 years, the per capita availability of water in the country has come down to an alarming level of 935 cubic meters from 5,260 cubic meters. If an effective water storage strategy is not adopted, the per capita water availability in the country would decrease to 860 cubic meters by the year 2025. It is not the first time that development and research organizations have alerted Pakistani authorities about an impending crisis, which some analysts say poses a bigger threat to country than terrorism.
Unfortunately, the country and the people suffered enormously for making the Kalabagh Dam a political issue, otherwise, that vital dam would have been completed by now. The country would not have been facing the long hours of load shedding and unscheduled floods. Diamer-Bhasha Dam has already been delayed. Government is executing a number of medium size dams in the four provinces and the government hopes that these dams along with Diamer-Bhasha Dam would be completed on schedule. For the purpose, the Government should set up a system to monitor the progress and to ensure that the project is completed on time.
ANZA KANWAL
Rawalpindi
Quashed
The Apex Court of Pakistan has quashed the Presidential Reference sent against Justice Qazi Faez Essa in verdict announced on Friday. Like Pervez Musharraf the zealots of current regime had another shot in their foot. Farogh Naseem left his ministerial portfolio to prove reference but to no avail. Established on weak footings, reference could not hold its feet.
It is, indeed, the victory of Judiciary against the scions of dictatorship/PTI must think twice before wasting time in such fruitless activities, The remarks of Firdous Ashiq Awan that the Justice was playing on front foot showed the mental frame of government. There are numerous flaws in our Judiciary but having said that no one should have embarked upon humbling the judicial system. With a strong, sound and resolute judiciary the other pillars of state stand secured.
Our history is replete with examples when the Judiciary melted the whole system crumbled like a house of cards. From Maualvi Tameez-ud-din case to Ishaq Khan, and from Benazir Bhutto to Nawaz Sharif, there are different grey shades. It is hoped that in future no such adventurism will be exercised. Alas! Farogh Naseem could not save the sinking ship of presidential reference.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
Declare medical emergency
When New York faced an onslaught of COVID-19, choking all state-owned health facilities, the Governor declared Medical Emergency, acquiring all available health facilities to cater needs of citizens. In compliance with requirements, Pentagon complied, by placing a fully equipped and staffed 4,000-bed large hospital ship at disposal of NY State. Hospitalized patients suffering from various ailments were shifted to ship, so that select hospitals located in State would cater exclusively to pandemic patients, which also prevented spread of this infectious virus.
Pakistan, with an already insufficient and neglected health infrastructure, faces a far worse situation, which requires Federal and Provincial governments and all civil and uniformed services and private hospitals/clinics to pool their resources and provide relief to people. All State institutions exist to serve the people and must be seen doing so.
Provincial governments and areas under jurisdiction of cantonment boards and local civil authorities allot expensive real estate at subsidized rates to private individuals and groups for construction of hospitals, schools etc., to cater for essential facilities to taxpaying residents who live there. It is unfortunate that the State has failed to regulate existing medical health facilities to provide affordable subsidized health care, even in times when a deadly pandemic COVIT19 has infected large numbers, including most deprived sections living in utter poverty. Same is the situation with education.
The Federal and Provincial Governments must declare a medical emergency. We need to learn from what others have done. The Government should shift patients suffering from other ailments who require hospitalization, or were already in a hospital, to specific hospitals, either civil, military and private while ensuring COVIT-19 patients were housed in separate hospitals. Profiteering in such times must be checked and if any private hospital refuses, the State must acquire it.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Father’s day
If the paradise lies in the mother’s feet then the father is the door for that paradise. If mother gives you birth, the father earns for the body. If the mother wakes up for whole night for ease and comfort of the child, the father spends whole day in heating sun to earn bread and butter for us. Father is a person who selflessly thinks of providing all the necessities and comforts of life to his children. He never thinks ever about himself but for his kids.
21 June is celebrated globally as the Father’s Day worldwide, but I will say that everyday should be celebrated as Father’s Day by acknowledging the sacrifices of fathers and giving them love, care and affection. We should make sure to obey them as they are the ones who guide us well throughout our life to the right path in order to be successful.
They have experience about so many things and we may learn many lessons from them. They try to make us aware so that we don’t have to go through any hardships. So, we should show them utmost respect and look after them in a great manner to gain the paradise in this world and hereafter.
HAFSA NADEEM
Islamabad
Yoga
Yoga is the best medicine any doctor can ever prescribe to a person. It plays an important role in our life and it keeps us fit and healthy. It is an invaluable gift of ancient Indian tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature and a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
Through yoga, you can explore profoundly the very mechanics of life. It is a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline. It is beneficial if it is practiced on a daily basis in the morning. In India, yoga day is celebrated on 21 June.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Refugee protection
It is adequately clear that Great Britain will be leaving EU on 31 December 2020 and its laws and commitments will therefore be subjected to greater reviews, amendments and rescindments. Britain’s commitment to the Geneva Convention 1951 which is considered a rule of customary international law based on core principle of non-refoulement which asserts that a refugee should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or freedom.
The UK has earned an envious reputation of effectively giving sanctuary to refugees which the public hold dear. UK should not divorce from its legal obligations of protecting women, children and men who escaped horrendous homophobic attacks, political and human rights activists who eloquently criticise their governments, women besmirched by wicked domestic violence, ethnic minorities exposed to pathetic discriminations and individuals who have been drawn into vast hell of attacks because of the choices of their religions. It will be fundamentally a grave and regrettable mistake for Great Britain to shut doors on refugees who genuinely need international protection.
HANDSEN CHIKOWORE
London
