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.
Hunger in Pakistan
As we all know that nowadays Pakistan is facing a problem of high inflation. Due to this, high prices of commodities and constant level of income have created the hunger in Pakistan. Also, food security may cause political instability or even unrest.
In previous years, Pakistan has become a food surplus country and a major producer of rice and wheat. Then slowly it decreased. In the last year, approximately 60 percent food insecurity was recorded. As previously, Pakistan was ranked 106th out of 117 countries in the world. But now it has been ranked 94th in the index. It has been scored that 20.3% of people are undernourished. It can cause high commodity prices as well as devaluation of currency which is led through money laundering. But now it is improving through like PM Langar Programme.
About 26 districts in Balochistan and Sindh provinces are affected by drought due to crop and livestock losses and high level of food insecurity. It had created difficulty for meeting basic needs and lacking sufficient water and fertilizer for crop cultivation, and diseases in livestock. Many areas in Sindh and Balochistan are backing of livestock like Tharparkar where cattle are catching diseases. Thus, for overcoming the hunger in Pakistan, government can take steps to subsidize the farmers providing seeds and fertilizer to them.
SURESH KUMAR
Sukkur
Dharna and citizens
The citizens of twin-cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Wednesday took a sigh of relief when the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman announced to end the dharna (sit-in) going on for last 13 days. Due to the dharna by JUI-F and some other opposition parties, life in the Capital City was very badly disturbed.
The common people had to suffer the most. The Sunday market (Itwar bazaar) remained closed, adding more problems to lower middle class people. Daily wagers who earn their livelihood on a daily basis were unable to find any work. Lakhs of govt and private employees and businessmen who travel daily between the two sister cities had to face severe problems due to divergence of some routes which usually led to heavy traffic jams.
The office-bearers and students were daily late to their offices and schools/colleges due to heavy traffic jam and route diversions. The patients who needed emergency medical treatment were most affected by the dharna as it took more time to reach medical facility. Students were the worst sufferers as internet services remained blocked around the dharna site where many colleges and universities are located. The internet blockade added to the students’ miseries who nowadays are taking their exams. It means that everybody young and old, men and women suffered from the dharna though its severity was much less than the dharnas of the past years. I urge the Government and other authorities concerned to make sure that common people and students should not suffer by such sit-in and govt measures to restrict dharnas in future.
SEHAR RASHEED
Islamabad
Dam construction
Through your esteem newspaper I want to draw the attention of higher authorities about the need of construction of new dams in our country. As we know that in modern age three thing are very important for the survival of man water, air and electricity. Without these three things life is miserable.
In our country main Source of power production are dams. The electricity produced by hydropower plant is much cheaper as compare to electricity produced by thermal power plants. Therefore running power plants through our hydro resources will save billions of dollars. So the Production of some new dams are need of the hour. By construction of the dams not only water shortage can be avoided but production of cheap electricity can also be made possible. Hence I request to government to construct new dams for new generation and for the Better future of our beloved country.
HUDA ABID
Rawalpindi
Gender disparities
There are almost 22.5 million kids out of school. Girls are affected in particular. In Pakistan, 32% of girls in primary school age are out of school, compared with 21% of boys. By sixth grade, 59% of girls are out of school, compared to 49% of boys. Just 13 percent of girls in ninth grade are still in school. All boys and girls in disproportionate numbers are losing out on schooling, but girls are worst affected. Political instability, disproportionate influence on security forces ‘ governance, repression of civil society and the media, violent insurgency, and escalating ethnic and religious tensions are all poisoning Pakistan’s current social landscape. These forces are distracting from the government’s obligation to deliver important services such as education— and girls are losing most.
There are large numbers of out- of-school children across the country, and significant gender disparities in education, but some areas are much worse than others. In Balochistan, the province with the lowest percentage of educated women, 81% of women did not finish primary school in 2014-15, compared with 52% of men. Seventy-five per cent of women had never attended school at all, compared to 40 percent of men. According to this data, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had higher education rates but equally wide gender disparities. Sindh and Punjab had higher education rates and slightly lower gender disparities, but gender disparities remained between 14 and 21 per cent.
Generation after generation of children, particularly girls, are locked out of education throughout all provinces— and into poverty. Most girls spoke about their desire for learning over and over again, their desire to “be someone,” and how these hopes were shattered by being unable to learn.
MISBAH IMTIAZ
Islamabad
Natural lens
As we care about camera lens so much, we must take measures of natural lens (human eyes), which is most precious than camera lens. In the era of technology, eye problems are increasing rapidly.
Screen is harmful for natural lens so we should take care of natural lens. If we have to use screen for long time, we may reduce the lightening level. We must take care of the blessings of Allah.
KAMRAN MURTAZA
Islamabad
Vulgarity
There is something very straightforward about the terms of use on social media sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, where people of all ages can register, and that is the outright ban on posting pornographic and perverted images, but that doesn’t mean dignity is held on these sites. The line that determines what we see as “correct, ethical or moral” is becoming increasingly thin.
Countless posts and memes are constantly being posted (pictures of anything with a message on any topic that adds a touch of humour), available for any user to see. Some, however, scratch the edges of the obscene. These include pictures of a taunting nature that ridicule people who are badly dressed, in an embarrassing situation, with unattractive mechanics or even normal photographs that are turned into a degrading montage. Ultimately, I would like to note the nonsense of “having more likes” that are not offensive to eye, even though they are very childish.
Unfortunately, the most common are those kinds of things that catch fire and become viral on the internet. Therefore, if something is published about a serious issue, it is ignored, especially if it encourages a debate or people to think a little about what they are going to put in their comments. Vulgarity is encouraged without signs of stopping; we could almost suggest it replaces innovative and intelligent ideas. Not only in depth, but also in morality, everything is gaining a nasty, cruel voice.
MISBAH IMTIAZ
Islamabad
