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Politics, panaflex and pollution
It is that time of the year, when political activity is flared up, around the country. Besides the politicians, media and advertising industry also bear the financial fruits of political commotion. Once again we will be forced to see thousands of Panaflex bill boards and banners, bearing the names and faces of not only influential politicians, but also of their minions.
I’ve never understood why these grown men with arrogant faces, pose like princesses, for Panaflex images. This collective narcissism and self-proclaimed grandiosity also sets negative example for our young minds. I suppose the same holds true for the huge cars these people move around in. They use impractical and excessively fuel consuming vehicles, just to flaunt their status; or maybe to make up for the littleness of their personalities.
Panaflex is made up of a chemical Poly-Vinyl- Chloride, more commonly known as PVC. This material is difficult to recycle, emits toxins in the environment, is non-biodegradable and releases dangerous gases when combusted. Most used Panaflex banners end up in landfills, where they will stay for many years to come.
The world has figured out much more cost effective and eco-friendly methods of street advertising. LED screens connected with solar energy can easily be used for this purpose, which can also be used for generating revenue for whatever government we have. The content in these advertisements can also be better monitored through this method as well.
DR M AHMED ABDULLAH
Rawalpindi
Flaws in our democracy!
These days our legal brains are busy confusing the people in deliberating over an Open and Shut case of illegal dissolution of National Assembly by a Deputy Speaker taking refuge under article 5 of our Constitution on perhaps a fabricated letter, while a “No-Confidence Motion” was already tabled and ready for Vote the same day, is a crude joke against the nation.
A big question under discussion is whether or not the Prime Minister represents the majority of people or not? Even an undergraduate student knows that in present political system he doesn’t represent even 30% of total voters, because our turnout of voters is less than 50% and out of that 4 to 6 parties beg sizeable numbers and out of that 50% the party that secures 25% is declared so-called majority party and saddled in power with minority votes as far a national representation is concerned.
Keeping this in view we have been demanding Proportional Representation system where at-least a party securing 51% of total vote is declared genuine representative of people.
ALI ASHRAF KHAN
Karachi
Tapping tax evasion
The implementation of Track & Trace system is a commendable effort by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) after 15 years of struggle. Through T&T, the collection of sales tax increased by 33% only from sugar industry. The FBR hinted that in the next few months, along with the entire tobacco industry, other important industries like fertilizer, petroleum and cement will also be brought under digital surveillance of the track and trace systems.
According to the Ipsos report, the illicit trade from five major industries (tea, pharmaceuticals, tobacco, real state and tyres) has reached Rs 310 billion. The fiscal stamps mechanism of Track and Trace system could be a game-changer. However, without a uniform and effective implementation of the track and trace system across the industries, the desired results for the track and trace system cannot be achieved.
ABU BAKAR KAREEM
Via email
Why illiteracy?
Current literacy rate of Pakistan is 62.3 which means that estimated population of 60 million is illiterate in our country (ministry of federal education and professional training) Why there are less doctors, scientist, educated people and more uneducated, beggars, thieves in our country? Is a great pianist or a master criminal is born, or made?
Founder of behaviourism, a famous psychologist John B.Watson said: “ Give me a dozen healthy infants, well formed and my own special world to bring them up in and I’ll guarantee to take any one at random, and train him to become any type of specialist I might select-doctor, artist, merchant, and yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talent, penchant, tendency, ability, vocation and race of his ancestors.”
So there are more chances a great scientist or a pianist is made, not born. Illiteracy rate in our country is so high because of our mentality, poverty and education system. Let’s see it in the picture of past and present. When great nations, like British and America were making Harvard and Oxford, we were making taj mehal, shahi qila, badshahi mosque in our subcontinent. They were promoting education, science and technology and we were opposing science and technical education. So they started ruling the world. Then we became victim of inferior complex that Britain or white skinned people are superior than brown and started adopting their dressing style, language, infrastructure. But what we didn’t adopt was their mentality, education system and behaviour which was making them superior. It is our responsibility that we and our government should take initiatives to financially support deprived children of our society and provide them quality education to make our future generations educated.
MEHMOOD HASHMI
Lahore
