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.
Decline of Aviation industry
There are disturbing reports that ICAO may blacklist Pakistan CAA, following EASA’s extension of suspension for another three months, after which if it fails to satisfy them, the possibility of revoking their Third Party Operation to EU exists. As for PIA management, their arrogance and unfamiliarity with international regulations, which commercial aviation is subjected to, can be judged from the fact that a Manager Routes has been deputed to correspond with Executive Director EASA. It seems that the Federal Government does not realize the gravity of this crisis.
AM Arshad must definitely be a good professional fighter pilot, but he lacks the competence and experience required to steer PIA out of the mess which it has been. The difference between commercial and military aviation is as vast as between Oncology and Dentistry. AM Nur Khan succeeded because he accepted this reality, while others failed. The rot in PIA started under Viqar Azeem, Shujaat Azeem, Irfan Elahi etc. Zardari’s choice of a crony Aijaz Haroon and Nadeem Yusafzai was unpardonable. During Zia tenure, a matriculate was appointed as Director Precision Engineering and later Director Engineering just because he knew him.
Aijaz Haroon, despite his baggage of financial and administrative indiscipline, was appointed as MD. He recruited Saleem Siyani whose sole aviation experience was Maintenance Repair Overhaul sales promotion as DMD. Under Siyani PIA’s revenues in MRO reduced, while maintenance cost escalated when an unknown vendor located in Dubai was appointed as Spare Parts supplier, with first right of refusal. Most fake degree holders were recruited during Aijaz/Yusafzai tenure. PIA ended with a partial ban by the EU.
It is not just PIA, but its subsidiary PIAIL, which owns hotels in NYC and Paris etc have been going in losses, and yet it continues to be headed by the same management which is responsible for its undoing. Before COVID19, hotels in New York were minting money while PIAL was losing by the day.
GULL ZAMAN
Peshawar
OCD and COVID-19
OCD (Obsessive Complexion Disorder) is a mental illness. Some people experience obsession and compulsion and some experience both which causes distress among them. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts which cause anxiety. These thoughts can be uncomfortable. Basically obsessions are neither thoughts on which a person will focus on nor they are the person’s character. Whereas Compulsions are the action which reduce anxiety caused by obsession. COVID-19 pandemic has caused distress around the globe. After COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by WHO, it resulted in extraordinary precautionary measures i.e. quarantine, self-isolation and social distancing. These measures were imposed globally to reduce the risk of Covid-19 spread. But these measures, in return, have also caused many serious psychological problems.
According to the current bio-psychosocial model of psychiatric disorders, socio-cultural, biological and psychological factors interact synergistically to determine the onset of different disorders. These factors include the patient’s belief and behaviour which may be influenced by historical and environmental changes. Diagnostic classification systems, including the DSM-5 and ICD-11, include the core symptoms of disorders, as well as the level of distress experienced by patients and the impact of symptoms on functioning. In such cases, clinical reasoning should counterbalance the degree of protection these rituals produce with their level of interference in functioning. Such reasoning is required to confirm an OCD diagnosis or consider treatment changes for those already on medication or in cognitive-behavioural therapy.
Recommending unrestricted exposure to feared stimuli may prove imprudent. Psychological strategies for treating OCD should consider the well-being and safety of patients. Pharmacological strategies should be guided by the best evidence-based recommendations. Therefore, engagement in exposure and ritual prevention activities may be lower, which could impact the long-term prognosis for OCD. Although the above considerations should be considered speculative, they are based on clinical experience and previous scientific research. Predictions regarding the outcome of OCD in response to stressful situations should be confirmed by longitudinal studies.
SYEDA AMMARA BUKHARI
Islamabad
Gas shortage
Every winter the country faces a severe shortage of gas. The shortage has been persisting for the past six years. Unfortunately the authorities have been unable to overcome the gas shortage. One fails to comprehend the inaction on the part of the authorities. They keep people in the dark about the availability of gas, and the people continue facing the gas crisis.
On the one hand, there is gas crisis and, on the other, the government has increased gas prices several times in the past. We have electricity shortage, gas shortage and shortage of public transport in cities. The whole drama is beyond comprehension
HAFSAH SHEIKH
Karachi
