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.
Ghastly
crimes on rise
An unfortunate lady, stuck up at the Lahore Motorway, was robbed and subjected to gang rape by criminals near Gujarpura in front of her children. What can be worse than this? Does anybody in power realize the life-long impact this gory incident would have on children and the humiliation and torture the lady and her extended family suffered.
While citizens face insecurity, infant girls raped, the state apparatus is too busy pursuing their egoistic agendas, covering those allegedly involved in corruption, land grabbing, sugar and wheat cartels, pilfering state funds and other irregularities. Even in the federal capital Islamabad, allegedly unknown people kidnap journalists and anybody who dares to stand up and speak. In the event of public outcry, the victims are released only if the PM and Federal Cabinet or National Assembly take up the matter.
Does anybody realize the damage being inflicted on federation by whoever is involved? Once the faith and confidence of citizens is shattered it can lead to chaos, which can only be to the benefit of our arch-enemy India, which wants this country to be destroyed.
Where are we heading for? Does anybody realize that nobody would benefit if Pakistan suffers? All their assets, ill-gotten or legal, in Pakistan or abroad, will be up for grabs if God forbid this country suffers. Quaid-i-Azam warned us that only Rule of Law, supremacy of the Constitution and appointments on merit will guarantee long-term survival of Pakistan and economic wellbeing of its citizens. All institutions of the State are there to serve the people and protect them, not standby while they suffer.
MALIK T ALI
Lahore
Secure women, prosper society
How well a society treats its women is one of the strongest indicators of the success and health of that society. It is no secret that despite the media uproar regarding this pertinent issue, women are constantly being harassed and cornered in our society. Traumatic and dreadful issues are emerging which are physically and mentally affecting the lives of women.
You cannot expect a woman to be safe, a woman to not think twice before going out late at night. Even in daytime they are being catcalled or followed. This has become a new normal for the women of our country.
Although the government has taken initiatives for the wellbeing of women in Pakistan, yet they haven’t been very effective. Seeing how little girls are being raped is proof of how our society is desperately in need for help. After proper inquiry, if proven guilty, the rapists should be hanged publicly. The only way to stop this is to inculcate fear amongst ourselves. We don’t realise how toxic this mistreatment can prove to be for our society. At the end of the day, it is our loss. It’s up to us to decide whether we want our society to prosper or not.
SHARMEEN FARASAT
Karachi
During Corona lockdown
Soon after coronavirus outbreak, many countries from across the world had started clamping severe lockdown as part of the containment measures. Life was literally on a slow track then. With no train services, no road traffic, no plane services and no daily activities out there, see the income sources falling down at all corners! I had kept myself aloof from the Internet and email activities. Even my content writing project had been kept pending. I had then got a big opportunity to furthermore sharpen my English knowledge domain [like reading, writing & speaking] through many English newspapers and magazines [mostly archives] out there despite already being a voracious reader/writer.
With unnecessary confusion and lockdown crisis looming large, I had taken my turns discussing the coronavirus lockdown matter with my friends and family members in Korkai, Tiruchendur, Tuticorin, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Marthandam, Coimbatore, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai. Food scarcity had been discussed at length. Bizarre as it would seem, lockdown news got flashed even in my dream one night. Such had been the impact and difficulty then. Even big cities like Mumbai and beautiful hamlet areas like Korkai in Tuticorin had remained the same during the lockdown.
Obedience to law, hygiene, taking care of health, understanding, having good rapport with others, helping tendency, hard work and expanding the knowledge sphere have all been the beautiful lessons learnt from the coronavirus outbreak control lockdown. At the same time, too much lockdown pressure had led to pent-up feelings, mental blockage and loss of confidence – then highlighted by CNN. I would usually send many positive vibes to the world outside through chanting positive words in mind and my email letters [including appreciation] to my favorite English newspapers in Asian region. Even a small act matters. There remain our resolve and capacity to fight inevitable like this.
P SENTHIL S DURAI
Mumbai
Raj Thackeray is being selfish
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray has written to the CM Uddhav Thackeray to reopen temples in the state. By just mentioning temples, he is doing injustice to the people of the state.
We have people of various communities living in Maharashtra — Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Parsees, etc. If temples have to reopen, churches, mosques, Gurdwaras and fire temples should also be reopened. Let’s be fair and square and respect all religions and communities.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Boom of population
The growing population could be disastrous especially for those nations who are already facing abundant of crises and in such conditions the growth of population could play negative role to a large extent. As per the recent report of the World Population Reference Bureau of Washington that the world today has a total of 7.8 billion population and Asia is one of the most populous regions in the world. And, in Asia there are around 4.6 billion people which is alarming especially for the under-developing nations.
More surprisingly, the report says that South Asia is the most growing region throughout the world where Afghanistan has the highest fertility rate of 4.5% per couple and second place secured by Pakistan 3.6% which is alarming! If we compare these figures with other countries, the figures are encouraging ones such as China has only 1.5%, India 2.2% and Bangladesh 2.3%.
The booming population at a fertility rate of 3.6% is a challenging one because Pakistan’s population is estimated at 220.9 million today and it would further increase in 2050 which is disturbing one. This fertility rate will further add fuel to the fire because people are already facing adverse conditions in the shape of Covid-19 and economic slump. There are many factors of growing population, the most common ones are poverty and illiteracy but apart from that other factors also contribute in the growth rate like early marriages, religious beliefs, conservative mindset, poor women empowerment and lack of family planning etc.
SAJID NABI KHOSO
Hyderabad
