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.
Distorting
our history
We have been distorting our history, instead of being proud of the political struggle for independence led by Quaid-i-Azam, who in the words of Wolpert Stanley “Few individuals significantly alter the course of history.
Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation-state. MAJ did all three”.
MAJ’s choice of first Law Minister was a Hindu Dalit, Jagannath Mandal, who played a key role in creating Pakistan, giving him the task to formulate a constitution on the guidelines of his address to First Constituent Assembly on 11 August 1947.
It was never the vision of MAJ that Pakistan would a theocratic state, but a modern democratic welfare state, where all citizens would be free to exercise their faith, enjoying equal rights irrespective of their faith, sex or ethnicity.
It is a tragic criminal historical distortion that books on Pakistan being taught to our younger generation have intentionally skipped these facts.
Our heroes should have been Fatima Jinnah, whom MAJ described “Like a bright ray of light and hope”.
Numerous youths like Malala from Swat, who was shot by extremists on 9 October 2012 for being a girl daring to study, or Aitzaz Hasan from Hangu who gave his life to protect his school in Hangu on 6 June 2014 should serve as role models for us.
The Wali of Swat Miangul Gulshahzada laid down the foundations of a network of schools in 1922 with primary school for boys and within years first school for girls, which extremists forbade in 2012.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Water deficiency
Our population was 110 million in 1981 which has currently crossed the figure of 220 million.
According to available data of 1981, 112 MAF (Million Acre Feet) water was available in our rivers and presently it has almost 30 % reduced.
From these figures we can easily find out that per capita water availability has reduced to more than 50 % during the last four decades. There are many reasons of this water deficiency.
Climatic changes have a very deep impact on the hydrological cycle in our region. Not only the pattern of rains is continuously changing on the year-to-year basis but also the intensity and quantity of rains is unpredictable.
Secondly, rise in the average global temperature has caused the glaciers to melt rapidly. These rains and glaciers are the major sources of water in our rivers along with aquifers.
The aquifers are the underground water reservoirs that are rapidly depleting because we are rapidly pumping out water for urban, commercial and agricultural uses. Our rivers have large basin areas which are mostly situated in India-held Kashmir.
The Indian government is constructing new dams with large water reservoirs here and also, they are diverting flow of rivers. Ultimate result of all these developments is acute deficiency of water in our rivers.
This deficient amount of water has very deep and bad impact on our economy as well as society. We are facing deficiency of water for domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural purposes.
Perhaps the most badly affected sector is agriculture where water is needed throughout the year.
This deficiency causes low crop yield which not only affects the farmers but also the economy of the entire country.
We will have to learn to live with this water deficiency or take immediate steps to recover it. For this purpose, more water reservoirs are needed on the rivers in the form of dams, barrages and headworks. Moreover, an efficient system of water usage should be adopted which will be helpful in preventing water wastage. This is the need of the time.
TARIQ MAHMOOD KHAN
Via email
Pathetic Pakistan cricket team
For a long time we have been waiting for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. When PTI came into the government and Imran Khan became the prime minister, we were hoping a marvellous change in our Cricket structure and behaviour of our team.
Unfortunately Imran Khan changed the cricket structure and system but was unable to change the behaviour of our team.
Same situations, same collapses, same pathetic decisions by board and same pathetic selection of coaches.
Unfortunately, it has become a culture in our cricket to take your friendships into your profession.
Same liking and disliking system is growing. But after 3-0 defeat from England C team our so-called high bowling attack with high coaching staff having bowling coach Waqar Younis has been exposed.
Head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has nothing to do with the team performance as he is doing pathetic team selection for the playing eleven.
He has also injected the defensive approach in the players’ mindset. There is no intent of winning and aggression in the player’s approach.
To get better results in the future, we have to select players on merit and also remove the system of friendship and liking and disliking.
AMEER TALHA
Narowal
