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.
Boat tragedy
This refers to the shocking news report dated 18 August that 10 picnickers from Karachi and three others lost their life in Keenjhar Lake in a boat tragedy. This is not the first incident that took place at Keenjhar but hundreds of innocent people have lost their life in the past also due to the apathy of local administration and non availability of emergency rescue and medical facilities at a place where thousands of people throng particularly on holidays to enjoy their leisure time. Ironically no proper facilities are available despite having the offices of irrigation, culture, wildlife & other departments which speaks volumes about the indifference of these bodies.
I have no qualms in saying it is the sheer criminal negligence of the district administration and all concerned departments that are responsible for the provision of basic amenities at the lake and play active role in case of any emergency. Reportedly, the rescue and medical emergency centres set up to meet such emergencies are redundant and dormant. No life saving boats and divers are provided at such crowded picnic point and even no one is deputed to inspect the shabby conditions of boats. This is deplorable and dismal performance of the administration.
Now, Commissioner Hyderabad has constituted an Inquiry Committee consisting of the district officers as usual to hush up the matter. I would like to request CM Sindh to take serious notice of the pathetic conditions at Keenjhar and this horrified incident and order the lodging of criminal cases against the responsible who have failed to discharge their duties diligently to provide safe and secure environment at the lake, compensation to the bereaved families and the boating at Keenjhar be banned forthwith unless proper safety measures, rescue and emergency services are not adopted and provided to save the precious life of the people.
TARIQ MAJEED ADV
Hyderabad
Action songs during mass
Nowadays, the number of Catholics going for Sunday and weekday Masses have decreased tremendously. Some don’t find the time, while others find the homilies boring. In my opinion, action songs should be sung during every Mass so that the atmosphere in the church may become livelier.
This way, more people will attend Mass. The reason why all retreat centres draw huge crowds is because action songs are sung and the Mass is not boring like the Mass celebrated in our local churches.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Disasters of monsoon
As we all know that monsoon season is in full swing and the situation of the city is disastrous. Our city has an abundant rainfall during the last few weeks. Our city was flooded because of it, and even after so many days, the rainwater has not been drained properly especially in low-lying areas. The reason behind this urban flooding is our poor drainage system. Although monsoon rain brings much awaited relief from summer heat, but it is also becoming quite heavy by nature and can cause significant flooding.
Though, a few responsible authorities are working but they have piled up all the filth on the roads. You can see the filth of sewerage oozing from the gutters everywhere. In the result, mosquitoes and flies are also back. And while monsoon rains will be back soon again, authorities need to solve these basic steps for the people who could enjoy the monsoon without being worried.
WAJIHA RIZVI
Karachi
Yes, only
time changed
The corrupt, monopolistic, elitist system of any country which favours corruption over democracy, falsehood over truth would never bring any change favourable to the poor and the weak. The system based on inequality, nepotism and corruption has no capacity to deliver and it needs to be rooted out in order to ensure safe future for the people. What has changed since independence? If anything, the changes seem to be driving the people faster and further into a dark hole of corruption, devastation and destruction.
We are deprived of basic rights and security even. Another fairy lost her wings!! I’m totally lost by the news of six-year old girl raped and murdered in Noshehra. In the 74-year history, many politicians, economists came, sympathizers, welfares and social services vendors came, rulers came, dictators came but no one could understand the problems faced by the nation so as to give some way-out. Problems grew with each successive government. Hopes of change have faded. Indeed, hopes have been extinguished. When we blindly adopt a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow. Wait for revolution or miracle.
ZAHOOR ABBAS SAMO
Larkano, Sindh
Political map of Kashmir
Unveiling a new political map by Pakistan on Aug 5, was a well-calculated move against the revocation of special status of Kashmir by India last year. It is considered to be a step towards the resolution of the Kashmir dispute by Pakistan. However, such abstract political moves may only provoke our Eastern neighbour to reply in the same coin and an endless cycle would ensue. The need therefore, is to take decisive practical step to resolve the 73-year-old dispute.
Bringing both countries — that are nuclear powers — to the negotiating table is the only solution to the issue. Negotiations in good faith will not only resolve the Kashmir issue, but also create a perennial friendly environment between both countries which hopefully one day will see the largest and most prosperous economic zone in the world.
ARSALAN KHAN
Karachi
