College teachers
Sir,
Turbat’s Atta Shad Degree College teachers suffer while the provincial government maintains a mysterious silence about their needs. New libraries, laboratories and classrooms are needed. The Balochistan government and education minister should do something to pay attention to this college.
Shah Bakhsh Hakeem,
Kech.
Fundamental rights
Sir,
More and more people are leaving their villages to try to come to Turbat to find work as there are more facilities in the city. They feel that their lives will improve if they make this move. Take the example of Askani which is 4km from Turbat bazaar. Its population consists of about 300 houses but its people do not have access to basic needs such as electricity, water supplies and schoolteachers. Can the Balochistan government please do something about this?
Sarfiraz Majeed,
Turbat, Kech.
Girls in Balochistan
Sir,
Girls play an important part in the development of a country. But unfortunately they are beleaguered by constant threats to their safety. There is little investment in their futures. Baloch girls are perhaps the most neglected in Pakistan. Because they are ignored, they come to nothing. In fact, they are not allowed to do something for their nation because they are not allowed to leave the home as it puts the family honour at risk. This means that the government should ensure that every Baloch village has a school.
Balach Raza,
Turbat.
Pakistani team
Sir,
As a fan of Pakistani cricket I am really glad that international cricket has come back to the country and that it is not just some festival. Secondly, I really appreciate the world IX team for agreeing to come to play matches with our talented young cricketers. I wish to congratulate the cricketers for putting up an unforgettable performance against the world IX team.
Bakhtiyar Phullan,
Kech.
Passive smoking
Sir,
Passive smoking is the inhalation of smoke, called secondhand smoke (SHS), or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) by other than the intended active smoker. It occurs when tobacco smoke permeates any environment, causing its inhalation by people within that environment. Passive smoking can cause cancer and coronary heart disease. Passive smoking can increase a non-smoker’s risk of getting lung cancer by a quarter, and may increase the risk of cancer of the larynx and pharynx.
Coronary heart disease can cause a heart attack, angina and can increase the risk of heart failure. It can also increase risk of stroke. Children are especially vulnerable to the damaging effects of secondhand smoke. Children exposed to passive smoke are at high risk of respiratory infections, asthma, bacterial meningitis and cot death. For children the majority of exposure of passive smoking happens in homes. Smoke can spread throughout the home, even if you open the windows. Almost 85% of smoke is invisible and smoke particles might build up on surfaces of clothes. The smoke can stay in the air for up to 2.5 hours, even if a window open. Especially in small-enclosed places like cars, smoke may still be present in large amounts even after the person has stopped smoking. There are two types of tobacco smoke; one is mainstream smoke, which is inhale through the mouth from the end of cigarette, and second is sidestream smoke, which come from the burning tip of cigarette. Second hand smoke is made up of sidestream smoke and exhaled mainstream smoke, mixed with the surrounding air. Frequent exposure to other people’s smoke can increase risk of lung cancer even one is a non-smoker. It is necessary to quit smoking as soon as possible not for oneself but for the ones we love.
Kiran Fatima,
Islamabad.
Benefits of writing
Sir,
Here in Turbat, we have many writers who are being published in various national newspapers. When I asked one of them what was the benefit of writing, he answered: “Nothing”. But then I thought, how can an action occur without an equal and opposite reaction? I ignored his words and aimed to write as much as I could.
With time, I started getting published in local newspapers. I got a bit fame in my domicile and became more creative, which helped with discussions. So, I would like to request writers not to quit writing even if they are initially not successful. We may not directly get much motivation, but there are hidden benefits of writing. Keep doing it even if you don’t get published.
Ali Jan Maqsood,
Turbat.
International cricket
Sir,
A salute to the Pakistan Cricket Board and its management with thanks and gratitude to Shehryar Khan and Najam Sethi, the chairman, for working tirelessly to revive international cricket in Pakistan, first in the form of the PSL final in Lahore and now three T20s and Pakistan v. World Eleven once again in Lahore.
Such efforts will bear fruit and soon Pakistan will be a venue of all international cricket events, hopefully. Tragically only the people of Lahore will have the honor and privilege to enjoy the cherished game, as Takht-e-Lahore is the only “safe city” in Pakistan.
It is the same city where in broad daylight the cricket team of Sri Lanka was attacked by terrorists at the most populated spot in the city, Liberty Roundabout.
The decision to hold all international events in Lahore will definitely ring alarm bells and the smaller provinces will be justified in concluding that the priorities of the government of the day lies only in Punjab in general and in Lahore, in particular. Surprisingly for the last two years the management of the Lahore Literary Festival was forced to cut short their event from three days to two and one day over security threats, while the Karachi Literature Festival takes place every year according to schedule in Karachi.
Earlier, the M2 motorway was built by the Pakistan Muslim League-N government from Lahore to Islamabad and it is known to everyone that our all imports and exports to and from Karachi were sacrificed just for a six-lane motorway. The smaller provinces were justified in questioning the logic behind holding the three T20s only in Lahore whereas the cricket stadiums in other cities like Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Quetta are as safe as Qaddafi Stadium of Lahore.
The PCB must consider the whole of Pakistan its domain. The people of Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar and Rawalpindi are as enthusiastic and zealous about cricket as ‘Zinda dillan-e-Lahore.’
Aamir Aqil,
Lahore.
Early marriage
Sir,
It is really unbelievable that some families marry their children off at very small ages and do not even understand that this puts their health, physical and mental, at risk. But child marriage is a common phenomenon in Pakistan. So, it is my humble request to parents that they please think before they take any such decision for their children.
Noor Zaman,
Kech.
Bilawal House
Sir,
Is there anything that can be done to open up the road that runs past Bilawal House? It has been barricaded off for public access for a long time. A wall was erected opposite Bilawal House but that narrowed the service lane. This was a reasonably well-used road for the residents of Clifton and people who would visit the restaurants that have long existed there. Iron grill fencing has made the place look even uglier.
I understand that VIPs need security and there are many threats to their lives but surely there are other solutions to their problem than disrupting entire neighbourhoods?
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf picked up this issue a while ago and some of the blockades were removed. Can the place not be restored to its original open plan?
JK Jatoi,
Karachi.
Turbat water
Sir,
We the residents of Kech, the second largest populated place in Balochistan, have been suffering due to a shortage of water for years now. The area does not get adequate rainfall and the water shortage has become a topic of discussion with almost everyone. I request the government of Balochistan to pay attention to the issue and find some solution.
Jalal Baloch,
Turbat.
Garbage in Karachi
Sir,
Karachi produces at least 12,000 tons of garbage every day, according to some estimates that emerged in studies. The minister for local government has seen it fit to bring in a Chinese company to outsource garbage collection to. This is a rather ridiculous and unsustainable venture because garbage collection is really the city government’s job. But then, the Pakistan People’s Party has systematically taken power away from the city government and put it in the local government’s hands, especially with the creation of these hulking entities such as the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board.
The minister defends his decision to outsource the garbage management. This neoliberal model of outsourcing what are essentially jobs that the government should do, is an old trick. In the Punjab, it was done with Turkish companies. Today a local private company is managing the Deh Jam Chakro landfill site. And while the company is a good one and does good work, one must ask if the government should not have a long term plan for Karachi’s garbage?
The minister has said that the Chinese company is paid by the ton at the garbage transfer stations and for taking the garbage to Deh Jam Chakro. This incentivises the garbage collection; if they don’t collect it, they won’t get paid. In fact, when the garbage is weighed they can tell how much approximately has been left in the city, especially in the cantonments. The cantonments have been dumping their garbage in DHA Phase VIII, and over the years it has compacted down to be used to reclaim land.
The worst offenders, perhaps, are the trucks, however. As they take garbage and head to the landfill sites, they strew it all in their path because they do not cover the trucks.
Surely, at some point, one can expect our city and local governments to realise that this is not going to work in the long run.
Niazi,
Karachi.
Cricket in Pakistan
Sir,
A total number of 14 members from various international cricket teams of the world have come to Pakistan and played a three-match T20 series. The National Cricket Team has thus given a green signal to the world that there is peace in Pakistan and they can come and play here.
I would like to appreciate the work done by the chairman of the board Mr. Najam Sethi, who has been successful in bringing international cricket back to Pakistan. On the other hand there is the chairman of South African Cricket Haroon Langat, who said that if the tour in Pakistan is successful, he would be willing to send the South African side to Pakistan for the series. So, this series is very important for Pakistan.
Ali Jan,
Turbat.
Orange line
Sir,
Pakistan Civil Society Forum is shocked at Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif’s call to public violence in the event that the Supreme Court’s ruling does not sanction the current Orange Line project plan. We strongly condemn his 8th October 2017 address to the media in which Mian Sahib stated that stopping public projects would result in a bloody revolution and called on the awaam to declare war on those preventing the timely completion of the Orange Line Project. This can only be seen as an attempt to influence the Supreme Court, to incite violence and silence dissent.
The continuing construction of the Orange Line along a route on which 11 listed heritage sites are located, despite the Lahore High Court Judgment and despite the fact that the Supreme Court has yet to take a decision on the matter, not only shows a complete disregard for the judiciary but also undermines the authority of the courts to prevent public harm. By employing the fait accompli argument of money already spent, the Chief Minister of the Punjab is not only attempting to influence the courts, he is also showing a blatant disregard for wastage of public funds should the Supreme Court decide that the project either fully or in part violates the law, as has already been determined by the Lahore High Court.
In his speech to the public, Mian Shehbaz Sharif declared that the Orange Metro Line was a project for the poor. However, he failed to take into account the large scale displacement of largely poor populations, the removal of thriving economies and the extraordinary human rights violations caused by this project. He failed to mention the 69 deaths and dozens more injured, primarily from among the poorer sections of society, due to the careless, unregulated and speedy construction of this project. He failed to mention that the project is financially unfeasible and will require enormous subsidies on a daily basis, which will come from the pockets of the same ‘awaam’ for whose benefit this project is intended. He failed to mention that the case regarding the financial transparency of the project is still pending in the Lahore High Court.
Mian Sahib’s allegations of political partisanship against the petitioners in the court cases do not hold water since none of them are affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or any other political party. Indeed it is Mian Sahib who is politicizing the Orange Train Project through false accusations. This approach undermines the democratic right of citizens to seek redress and to hold the government accountable for the violation of national laws and the fundamental rights of the people.
However, we appreciate Mian Sahib’s statement that the Punjab Government will abide by the Supreme Court’s decision and choose an alternative for project completion should the Lahore High Court’s judgment be upheld by the Supreme Court. We urge the authorities to make any alternative plans for the Orange Line project fully available to the public as is required by law, and to issue visas to the UNESCO Reactive Mission to Shalamar that have been pending since 2016 so that requisite international oversight is provided for the protection of our National heritage.
Mohammad Tahseen
Pakistan Civil Society Forum,
Lahore.