Kashmir Day
Madam,
Each year, February 5 is marked as Kashmir Day in Pakistan. It is national holiday. Since Independence, Kashmir has been caught in the middle between India and Pakistan. Yet it seems that there is no end to the troubles of the people of Kashmir.
Indian forces oppress the Kashmiri people because they raise slogans for freedom, justice and self-determination. Indian soldiers have taken many villages, towns and cities of Kashmir and have completely destroyed these areas. Despite this, the United Nations is silent.
Conditions of Kashmiri have been deteriorating since July, 2016, when Burhan Wani was killed. More than 300,000 people attended his funeral. His death sparked a war that has claimed many lives. Even hospitals and doctors have not been spared in this ghastly conflict.
Those with a conscience should speak up for Kashmiris and we should continue demanding that the conflict be resolved as soon as possible.
Sana Khan,
Lahore.
Merit in education?
Madam,
At least nine law colleges affiliated with Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) in Khairpur have disappointed thousands of aspiring law students across Sindh. The SALU management has announced direct admission of candidates without conducting entry tests as a prerequisite by the SALU and HEC. Why did the colleges receive hefty amounts of fees from students if they had to select a few of them on their choice, without an entrance test?
This is unfortunate because it shows to students that there is no merit in our country’s education system. I believe the court should intervene in this matter as soon as possible and resolve the problems of students who wish to become the part of legal fraternity in future.
Asghar Ali,
Larkana.
Hajj subsidy
Madam,
The federal government announced withdrawal of Hajj subsidy which makes it difficult, and even impossible, for a person from the middle class to perform their religious duties.
It is always an earnest desire of every Muslim to visit Saudi Arabia and perform Hajj. However, the surge in the Hajj prices has made it impossible for people belonging to the middle class and the working classes to travel. If Pakistan is an Islamic republic, than it is the duty and the responsibility of the government to ensure that each and every person has an equal opportunity to go for Hajj pilgrimage. I believe this is even more important for the PTI government, since it had promised that the country would soon be transformed into ‘Riasat-i-Madina.’ It is time for the authorities to review their decision so that the people do not suffer more than they already have.
Ali Bilal,
Via e-mail.
Metro Bus in Islamabad
Madam
The number of vehicles in the federal capital is increasing day by day. It has become necessary to extend the metro bus service in other parts of the capital to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. Driving in Islamabad has become a constant headache.
I urge the government to extend the metro bus service from Faizabad to Comsats University and all the way to Tramary Chowk. It would be a great facility for students who frequently travel for education. Some people use official vehicles along with drivers for this purpose. Again, this is total waste of resources.
It would be very economical and practical if universities and colleges be connected to the metro bus facility. In the future, universities and colleges should be established in those areas or sectors where the metro is already available or is being planned for the future.
We also need to change commute culture of students as well as their parents so that we begin to have some standardised means of transportation. But the government will have to work on this very seriously.
In the same way, the metro bus service could also be extended to Faisal Masjid from Blue Area. This will not only facilitate tourists but also provide a permanent transport facility to students and teachers who travel to F-7 and F-6 sectors.
Maria Khan,
Islamabad.
Sin tax
Madam,
The media is abuzz with what it has dubbed a ‘sin tax’ or health tax to be levied on cigarette manufacturers in Pakistan. Anti-smoking activists want heavier taxation on tobacco products as they feel this decision will discourage the smoking habit. This may not be the case.
A higher taxation rate on cigarette manufacturers may persuade smokers to switch to low-priced, tax-evading products. Hence, higher taxes may encourage and create a heavier burden on the public-health expenditure.
Civil society should realise that the tobacco industry in Pakistan is among the highest tax payers in Pakistan, while a much larger number of unregistered cigarette producers are not paying any taxes and selling their product at lower prices than the minimum rates set by the government.
One holds no brief for cigarette manufacturers but before raising taxes on the few companies that pay, the government and civil society must take effective measures to reduce illegal trade of cigarettes.
Haider Abbas,
Multan.
Peace in Afghanistan
Madam,
The late US Senator John McCain once said while visiting Pakistan: “there could be no peace in Afghanistan or the rest of the region without Pakistan’s cooperation.”
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s phone call to our prime minister was a positive and clear indication that the deadlock between Islamabad and Kabul is easing up and a thaw is imminent in the relationship between the two countries.
Pakistan’s new government and the US administration were looking for ways to reset the relationship, and the peace efforts this time appear to be are making some headway.
The need of the hour is that both Pakistan and Afghanistan should move on from here and build trust while taking on militants who have taken up arms and running terror campaigns.
Pakistan has to take a different approach and cleanse the state of non-state actors in an impartial way.
Shehryar Khan
Via e-mail.
Birds in Balochistan
Madam,
Birds arriving in Pakistan from colder lands to spend winter here add colour to our country’s natural scenic beauty.
It is unfortunate that the people of Balochistan do not treat these feathered friends with respect and thousands of birds are killed by hunters every year. Many of the species are nearing extinction, but still the massacre continues.
The Balochistan and federal governments should take measures to protect migratory birds and also promote tourism at the same time. Many such areas should be declared protected sites and tourist resorts and bird sanctuaries created. This will help generate income for the local populace and save nature’s handiwork for our future generations in an environment-friendly manner.
The Balochistan chief minister should look into these suggestions.
Hashim Khan,
Quetta.