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.
Advanced technology
Mobile phones, computers, laptop etc are modern gadgets hence included in the list of modern technology. These devices include social media apps like: Instagram, Facebook, snap chat, U Tube etc.
Its fact of matter that every one of us is hooked up tightly , even unconsciously with these social media apps for the whole day. These days young children know about these social media apps and are connected with them.
Honestly, it’s effecting them physically as well as mentally and many other serious problems. Moreover, it is destroying their future and our future.
Social media isn’t a tool that is waiting to be used, it has its own goals and it has its own mean of pursuing them by using your psychology against you.
There are only two companies that call there customers “users” illegal drugs and software. And social media is a drug which we are addicted to and without using social media we can’t live in this era .
Presently, if you don’t have social media contact apps to waste time and in case you are not part to it then possibly you may be tagged as pendo ( primitive) uneducated so and so.
Nevertheless, you may receive derogatory comments and ill treatment . These social media apps are controlling our minds like we are “ pupits” And seriously we are dancing on their finger tips.
These technologies were not designed by psychologists who are trying to protect us. They were just designed to make these algorithms that were really good at recommending the next video to us to take a photo with a filter on it .
HAANI MUSTAFA
Karachi
6th dangerous country for women
Women have never been safe in Pakistan whether it be domestic violence, honour killing, rape or forced marriage.
But due to lockdown, drastic rise in women violence has been seen during the last 6 months of 2020.
The domestic violence is taken very lightly and isn’t even considered as a crime by law enforcement agencies.
According to a report by “The Sustainable Social Development Organization”,1422 cases of domestic violence and 9401 cases of women violence overall have been reported from January 2020 to December 2020. This data is collected from media reports and government records.
This is only the number that has been registered, there are a number of cases that go unnoticed due to lack of self rights awareness, courage and other pressure.
According to statistics, 10 rape cases are reported everyday with 22,000 cases reported to the Police in last 6 years.
85% of these have been from Punjab out of which only 77 have been adjudged which is only 0.3% of the total. This is an alarming situation as no serious step is being taken for the protection of women.
The main reason for this rise is the lack of punishment. The criminals are aware of the fact that it is a big deal to escape the law without conviction.
The other reason is the misogynist thoughts and, everytime, a case is reported, people start victim blaming. This gives these monsters the confidence that they can do whatever they want.
It is high time for the government to take serious actions against such people and severe punishment for the culprits should be implemented to stop others from such crimes.
Instant crime punishment is the only way to reduce number of women violence cases in Pakistan.
WAJEEHA ASHFAQ
Islamabad
Petroleum prices and common man
TO revive the IMF program of PKR, 1 billion 5 million and 90 lacs, prices of petroleum products, electricity and gas have been increased.
As petrol is used in private transport, small vehicles, rickshaws and motor-bikes, this hike has affected the common man severely. The prices of housing utilities have also jumped up to 12% and 14% from 9.7% and 9.1% respectively.
For the first time in the history of Pakistan, petroleum products have crossed PKR 100. The Opposition has rightly named it as a “Petrol Bomb”, which has reduced the purchasing power of the masses.
On the other hand, due to corona pandemic, many have lost jobs in the private sector. The middle class is facing extreme difficulties in earning their bread and butter.
A question arises here! Are the petroleum product prices are only the way to collect money for the repayment of IMF instalments? Why the government is keen in getting money from the IMF ? Why the internal resources are not tapped in a proper way? Present government has spent three years wailing for bringing the looted money of the country back, but still not a single penny is recovered. The whole burden of IMF and other loans has been put on the shoulders of the common man.
To conclude, the present government should try to bring back the looted money and make some viable mechanism through which the financial requirements of the country are fulfilled internally.
Because, loans are loans, this is a liability which has to be returned with heavy interest rates. The payback is always a burden on the economy.
In fact, this is not the last loan. Pakistan is already entangled with a chain of loans that should be broken as soon as possible.
MAEMUNA SADAF
Sindh
