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.
Finally, the wait is over!
The most awaited decision regarding the reopening of educational sector is over now. Finally, the decision was announced in the last federal-provincial meeting of education ministers, held on September 07, 2020. The meeting concludes that all the educational activities will resume in three phases starting from 15th September. In the first phase, colleges and universities will be reopened along with the classes of 9th and 10th. Education department will monitor the situation for a week and then classes from six to eight will be resumed from 23rd Sept in second phase. In last phase, primary classes will be resumed respectively.
As the decision has been finalized, now the question arises in the minds of common people, how federal and provincial ministries will put into practice the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in a right way. It is now the huge responsibility lies on the shoulders of concerned authorities to make the students aware about the proper use of masks and hand sanitizer process. Nevertheless, it is a great decision to resume all the educational institutions again. Pakistan, now among a few countries that rescheduled the educational activities again after severely hit by COVID-19. It is a great success of the government that we are now in a position to resume educational activities.
SHAHZAD PANHWAR
Sukkur
Karachi Transformation Plan
The other day, Prime Minister Imran Khan together with his aides visited Karachi to announce an enormous package for resolution of city’s problems. It seemed a decent to bring all stakeholders of Karachi on one page. While sitting between CM Murad Ali shah and Governor Imran Ismail PM announced an ambitious 11.13 million package for development of Karachi.
It’s a large amount ever announced for Karachi, for correct utilization of such amount a committee has also been established with the name of Provincial Coordination and Implementation Committee under the chairmanship of CM Sindh. Now, there’s need of sincerity to work for the Karachites who have lived their life under threat whenever any natural disaster came.
SANAULLAH KALWAR
Kashmore, Sindh
Marwah’s murder case
Most of us remember the story of seven years old Zainab Ansari, the rape and murder victim, whose body was found in Kasoor in 2018. Her murderer has since been hanged, but the memory of the horrific crime lives on. Unfortunately another victim or case has been appeared on the screen namely Marwah, a five-year old girl kidnapped, raped, murdered in Essa Nagri area of the port city, Karachi. The autopsy revealed that she was raped and cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head before her body was torched in garbage.
It is sad to see the Justice System of Pakistan which is merely pathetic and allows the culprit to commit such heinous acts across the country. It is likely to say that every single government department is involved in these incidents therefore they don’t take any of these cases seriously. But, still I believe that the government will find out that culprit and hang him in the public so that no one can dare to commit flagitious crime
ARZISH KHAN
Sukkur
Balochistan without education
It is a well-established fact that education is incredibly essential for building a nation. No country and state can dream to be developed until its citizens are educated. Education brings interminable positive changes in a nation. Unfortunately, the Balochistan Province is deprived of a blessing like education due to poor condition of education system. Balochistan is officially reported to have the lowest literacy rate in Pakistan.
Furthermore, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, from 2017 to 2018, 45% of Balochistan’s population has been illiterate among which 30% males and 63% females. The illiteracy rate is higher in rural areas if compared with urban areas. Approximately, 50% of the rural population is illiterate and 32% of urban population is illiterate. Illiteracy is major reason which impedes development of the province. The govt has to pay attention towards education and it must eliminate all hurdles that are preventing province to get education.
FARAHNAZ FAROOQ
Turbat
Sing action songs
Nowadays, the number of Catholics going for Sunday and weekday Mass have decreased considerably. 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.
At retreat centres, we sing, dance and clap our hands when hymns are sung. In our local parish churches, we should do the same thing. Also, the Sunday Masses in our churches are only celebrated for 40 minutes. Like retreat centres, they should be celebrated for two full hours. People should feel the joy when they attend/celebrate Mass. This is the reason why people flock to retreat centres and give donations there.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Pakistan TV drama
In the modern age where everything is being performed on social media platforms, television plays an important role in shaping human behaviour and crafting the public opinion. Norms and traditions that evolve with the passage of time are largely impacted by the content aired on television. Unlike the past generations, today’s values and norms are heavily derived from the internet and the media.
Even though many countries have wisely understood the significance of pleasant contents aired on television that promote brotherhood, humanity and respect, the case in Pakistan is quite different. The theme and content of Pakistani dramas nowadays have done more harm to our young minds by perpetuating patriarchal societal patterns. It is generally the case that most film directors in Pakistan are men, so they often come up with ideas that demonstrate a kind of society where male are dominant in every sector.
In almost all of our dramas, female characters are painted as innocent, submissive, quiet and shy, depicting the gloomy picture of the society under which a girl is unable to speak up for her rights; while males are portrayed as spoiled aristocrats. Taking inspiration from such characters, young boys take pride in hanging out, going to clubs, partying while remaining manipulative and hostile to girls.
It is high time for producers and writers to realize that such depictions form the future of our society. Television content must not be filled with intolerance for those who have different identity.
(This piece has been written after getting inspiration from the write-up by Maemuna Sadaf on 08 Tuesday Sept 2020).
FABIHA QADRI
Karachi
