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.
Legality of encroachments
The havoc left behind by rain in Karachi, with infrastructure collapsing, has exposed the greed of those tasked to administer posh areas of DHA and Clifton or the most neglected localities in the vicinity of Gujjar Nallah. When drainage nallahs, which existed for decades, are encroached by statutory housing societies that collect billions in taxes, and commercialization of residential areas allowed without catering to capacity of existing drainage systems, then rains will create the chaos and disruption that we witness in Karachi and other cities.
I fail to understand the rationale behind the statement of NDMA chief that the biggest issue Karachi faces is legal and illegal encroachments. How can an encroachment be declared legal? What stops the state from demolishing encroachments which cause havoc and endanger the lives of citizens? No constitutional elected or paid executive has legal authority to declare a criminal illegality as legal. The crime cannot be condoned; it is the penalty imposed which can be diluted. It is lack of political will and moral courage to enforce laws in existence and instead circumnavigate them for the benefit of a few, which is the root cause of most ills Pakistan faces.
Unfortunately, when greed and conflicts of interest blind those whose role it was to enforce basic principles and guidelines of town planning, and regularize every irregularity committed by powerful individuals and groups, then systems collapse. Ultimately the state itself can collapse into chaotic disorder. Lives of citizens are endangered, while foreign assets of beneficiaries increase in Dubai, UK, Canada or US etc.
Land allocated for drainage system, amenity parks, graveyards etc., has been illegally occupied with criminal connivance of paid officials. Flow of water is regulated by laws of physics and not the whims of powerful men blinded by greed.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
PTI, PPP
clash
PTI and PPP are always seen in the clash since the beginning of PTI’s government. Even at initial time of COVID-19, PTI and PPP were not seen at the same platform which caused many hurdles in controlling the virus. This time monsoon season has ruined the map of the country but media is biased and highlighting only Karachi’s situation and holding Sindh government responsible for everything.
Media should also highlight the situation in Lahore and other cities of the provinces which are ruined by Monsoon. Our media is busy in criticizing only Sindh Government for having worst infrastructure in the Karachi region but in actual, majority of the MNAs, MPAs and Local Government body of the city belongs to the federal ruling parties MQM-P and PTI. Each of the UC of the Karachi gets 5 lacs per month budget, from which almost 2.5 lacs are the salary of the employees but who is accountable of rest of the budget. Monsoon has also shown the visible apathy of the local government body of the city that has done nothing for the betterment of the city.
Almost 50 people died in the city due to unstoppable rain in the city but PTI and MQM-P instead of working with Provincial government of PPP, they are busy in blaming them for everything happening currently in the city. The apex leadership of PTI and MQM should also ask their MNAs, MPAs and local government members of their party and hold them accountable of the budget they have been allocated for the development of the metropolitan city. CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah with his team members seems very active in this rainy season, he was taking every possible measure for the Karachiites. If the Federal Government has to do something better for the people of Karachi, they have to work on the same platform with the Provincial government of PPP.
GHULAM MUSTAFA BALADI
Jamshoro/Sindh
Obnoxious lesson depicted in Pak dramas
Gone were the days when Pakistani drama got fame across the country and attracting people abroad even. The leading reason of its huge success rested on its positive message, reality and set of ethics, values and morale which created the place in the hearts of millions.
But in the recent past, what has been offered to watch is totally against the taste of audience. There can be no denial that evil characters are found in every society but not of all can be aired on television. The limits and ethics of journalism were crushed by electronic media when they flaunted showing father-in-law loving his daughter-in-law on the same channel another drama showed a girl loving five boys at a time.
Isn’t this against our cardinal virtue, values and culture? On the other hand , Sindh media has crossed the limits by promoting weapon culture in a number of their dramas is totally against the culture of hospitable people famous for being generous hosts. Producers and writers must go on their basics and re-learn the things for which Pakistani drama got fame. Moreover, whatever is shown on electronic media, it’s adopted by the people blindly. This is done because actors are role model to many. People follow their characters without considering, if it is right or wrong.
The owners of channels must give thought to it since it was a platform wherefrom nation is taught and educated. If the syllabus will be of low quality and teachers opt immoral things, the students will surely turn ill mannered. We must not forget that these dramas are also watched by young generation. What message actually we want to communicate. For God’s sake, come back from the arrest and attraction of west and follow and promote your own culture. Don’t go for short cuts. Try not be rich over night. Calculate the damage done and impact of such write-ups on children.
ABDUL SATTAR TUNIO
Miro Khan, Sindh
Zimbabwean healthcare system
I am astonished that the second Vice President of Zimbabwe Kembo Mohadi has accused Zimbabweans for not appreciating the improvement in healthcare systems that were done by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the past two years. Are Zimbabweans so dull and daft to give credit to abject failures and reward increased failure to promote and protect health in Zimbabwe?
President Mnangagwa has failed the health system of Zimbabwe. Doctors and nurses spent more time protesting against poor salaries and working conditions. Hospitals and clinics have no adequate machinery and equipment to provide best patient experiences. Some patients are sleeping on the floors and bed linen being washed in a river. There are no enough medicines in hospitals. ZANU PF incompetence and irresponsible government have wrecked healthcare systems and brought it to its knees.
How on earth should Emmerson Mnangagwa be praised for failing dismally to drive wider improvement across health and care? He even failed to address multiple challenges that the health sector is facing in Zimbabwe. He failed to listen to patients, families and carers when he makes decisions. A few rich Zimbabweans and corrupt ZANU PF members receive medical treatment in South Africa burdening the healthcare system in South Africa. President Mnangagwa deserves to be fired from his job because he has ruined the healthcare system of Zimbabwe.
TAPIWA MUSKWE
United Kingdom
