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.
Save food crops
WE have been talking about climate change. On the other hand, weather vagaries like droughts and flooding have been causing damage to food crops across the world. First up, the international media houses have long been highlighting issues like food shortage and poverty-hit people the world over.
What exactly is the reason for this? Why have people been suffering problems like poverty and hunger even now? These can be attributable to various factors involved. For example, many parts of the world have been losing crops to torrential rain from time to time.
Due to excessive rain and lack of storage facilities, food crops have been wasted so far. So it is all the more important to build storage facilities equipped with technological advances. Seriously speaking, the UN and the international community should come forward to contemplate better ways to save food crops at the earliest. Apart from harvesting good monsoon rain, it is time again to fight the impact of climate change through various means like strengthening green cover/activities across the globe.
P SENTHIL S DURAI
Maharashtra, India
Railway underpass
Despite the approval of 30 million rupee-budget and inauguration of an underpass to be built under a railway track in Joharabad, Tandoadam by the then Chief Minister Sindh Ghulam Arbab Raheem along with the then MPA and present Senator Imamuddin Shouqeen on 22 April 2006, the construction of the underpass after fifteen years of its inauguration remains an unaccomplished project.
Due to the narrow road and lack of proper infrastructure, Kaali Road, which is the only way to link the area with the rest of the city, remains busy with the whole-day traffic and hence is a serious trouble for citizens. The local residents, on numerous occasions, have protested, demanding the construction of a railway underpass, but unfortunately, no one seems to be bothered.
SHAHZEB ALI
Sindh
Women’s rights and Islam
Gender inequality is always the most common allegation on Islam. Gender inequality is genetically ascribed to religion whereas its causes are purely non-religious. The different education systems and opportunities in many Muslim countries are used as the primary example for this accusation. Education is the fundamental key for the pivotal development of the economic, political and social factors. If we deprive50% of the world population of education, we may not be able to educate future generations. It is rightly said that mothers are the first educational institutes for children as clearly emphasized in our religion. However, right now this is the biggest crisis that countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan are facing that we are not following Islam the right way.
The fact that the first revelation of Islam started with the word ‘read’, which highlights the importance Islam gives to education regardless of the gender. The misconception also comes to mind when the term ‘parda’ is used as people believe that it is related to women only, whereas it is clearly stated in the Holy Quran that ‘parda’ is mandatory for both men and women. Islam also provides economic rights to women as at the time of the Last Prophet (PBUH), interest-free loans were given to women to start their business.
A clear example of this was the wife of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) Hazrat Khadeja (RA) was a very famous businesswoman of Arab. But when we talk about Muslim women in Pakistan and Afghanistan they are not given the rights, which are guaranteed by Islam. It is thus imperative, if a nation wishes to be successful and move towards a sustainable reality, the women of that society must be given every opportunity which is her due right that has been ordained to her by the Almighty.
TEHREEM AFZAL,
LARAIB FATIMA
Via email
Failed democracy
All types/models of democracies have failed to protect, promote civil and economic rights of the ruled masses of peoples across the globe; one democratic model cannot work for all; democracy has become a tool to grab personal, groups greed; after this worldwide expository experiment, let there be Geographic Democracy for each geographic region/state in the world; biggest act of immorality, illegality of traditional democracy is the introduction of tricks to purchase by money, influence conscience and intellectual property of each economically vulnerable person; this unethical practice is practised in each society of each state/country across the globe; this has reduced humans to the level of animals being sold/purchased in animal markets.
Woe to democracy – only in hell in the Hereafter shall be huddled together the sinners as is the act of democracy in the living world today and from centuries back. Condemn imposition of imperialism in the name of democracy, the looters tool!
HAMEED SHAHEEN
Rawalpindi
