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.
Plea in defence of nature
The eluding question is not whether man and nature can be together in harmony. Of course, they can, and that has been the case for thousands of years. Theirs is a symbiotic relationship based on the wellbeing of each other. Even beyond that, man had grown a great reverence to earth, calling it Mother Nature. Chief Seattle’s letter to the President of the USA in 1854 is a testament to that spirit. But that is the thing of the past when the industrial revolution was still in the twilight. Now lush green landscapes have changed into rocky moon-like surfaces, and you can find opaque sludge of industrial waste in many cities.
Now, unimaginative breeds of men, possessed by their greed, have turned their heads towards Pakistan’s natural wonders. For them, it is a matter of supply and demand, and the wealthy tourists, with good intentions, bring pockets full of cash to breathe in the fresh air, but they also need urban comforts. Instead of going into nature, their rigid temperaments insist on bringing the city life into the wilderness. They are like those who have lived in hell for so long that they have lost their ability to appreciate paradise.
But it is a plea after all. Whenever you plan for a trip, among essential items, carry a bag for your trash and do not use plastic bottles only to throw them away. Carry only one bottle and protect it as your power bank. Its worth is not in money but the conservation of what you see. Take care of nature while you are with it so that your children can have the same amazing experience for years to come.
DR ANS FAROOQ
Lahore
Education
is bliss
Education is deemed to be the third eye of a man. It renders ample masterpieces of knowledge to a person. It enables him to differentiate between fair and foul. Education is the most important and constructive element of any nation to underpin its roots. There was a time when the quantity mattered a lot now it is the race of quality. The quality of ideas is only produced when one attains quality education.
Education is of utmost importance for an individual to make progress personally and professionally in this age of technology. But, unfortunately Pakistan is very much backward in acquiring education. The sinister elements like feudalism and gender discrimination has impeded the way of people in accumulating education especially for girls. Matriarchal education has become a stigma and taboo in our ambient.
The girl is restricted to home on the name of Islam. But we must bear in our mind that the first revelation on our Prophet (pbuh) by Allah Almighty was “Iqra” which means “To read”. So, it is useless to say that Islam restrains its followers from getting education. The staunch and sensible nations of the world focus on their education. It is a panacea to all our socio-economic constraints. So pragmatically if our country is to make progress, it has to spread education by taking concrete measures.
AWAIS GOPANG
Pind, Sukkur
Social media anxiety disorder
Through the courtesy of the columns of the daily Pakistan Observer, I wish to draw attention of concerned authorities towards the onslaught of social media. I am really concerned with the consequences of the social media in our lives. Another important factor about it is social media anxiety disorders. Believe me or not social media anxiety is a real disorder. It seems like more technology we acquire the more stressed out we become. We all are holed up in between the fake and true news.
According to an experts report people spend an average of 2 hours and 22 minutes per day on social networking and messaging platforms. For many being away from their Facebook and Twitter Accounts for a few minutes can cause severe anxiety. They are wasting their precious time instead of making their life more meaningful by being in touch with reality. “Focus on how to be social, not on how to do social”
UNZELA HAYEE
Karachi
Say no to sectarian violence
Abysmally tarnished image of the Muslim community has flaccid its decades old glory swiftly. Amorphous beliefs, sodden response, and divided opinion have made the survival of the community around the world in a precarious state. Tellingly, the fiasco of sectarian violence has been the back bone of the imbroglios the Muslims have been facing.
Pertinently, aforementioned circumstances prevailed and became gnawing in 1980s. It was the era when the processions of the shia community was started to be targeted by militant outfits and besieged salutary environment of the country with extremist ideology. Thus, the cry of the hour is to replete the solidarity, unity, and brotherhood as much as possible. However, as the processions of Muharram-Al-Haram are approaching, government and genteel individuals must ensure the harmony during these days and eschew the antagonistic feelings for one another.
LAL BAKHSH SOOMRO
Sindh
SEPCO mafia
It is a matter of great concern that, over the last many decades, the humble citizens of Sukkur have been facing myriad of problems, among them loadshedding is the most serious one. Owing to long hours of loadshedding, people cannot achieve their desired goals. From shopkeepers to students, all get interrupted in their work. Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) is obliged to solve our electricity issue but it has some corrupt line-men who deliberately practise long power interruptions so that the people are compelled to grease their palms. Despite installing new electric meters and power cable system, the issue is unresolved.
Though SEPCO has reduced power outages from many of its feeders, yet Ahmad Nagar feeder experience up to 12 hours of loadshedding a day. In the age of science and technology, the masses of Sukkur city still live in the Dark Age. The concerned authorities are requested to take necessary measures to resolve the issue as well as take action against SEPCO Mafia.
FAROOQUE PANHWAR
Sukkur
Karbala episode in syllabus
Firstly, this world knows about Karbala and Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) that how did he sacrifice life of his innocent family; even each and everything with his companions only for the sake of Islam in the worsened state of intense thrust and hunger etc. Imam Hussain (RA) stood firmly in front of Yazeed, his evil practices and wrong doings. Imam said “even I sacrifice my life, family and everything of fact and highness of Islam which has been preached by my grandfather, the Last Prophet of Islam (PBUH) and its only apodictic, you are totally wrong, your all rules are hand made and fabricated only for your sake nothing else which are against the genuineness of great Islam”.
Some Muslims (only by name) say that the War of Karbala was political and own self not for the interest of religion, so its answer was given by a non-Muslim famous English writer Charles Dicken that Hussain fought and sacrificed purely for the sake of Islam. It’s the slap on the face of those Muslims. Secondly, being a Muslim homeland, we are not highlighting this mournful incident as it might be. It is earnestly requested that the government may add this incident in syllabus from class three to high level so that the young generation can understand the great sacrifice and message of Imam Hussain (RA).
GHULAM SHABIR SIYAL
Dadu
