CSS result
Madam,
The Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) announced the final result of the 2018 competitive exam recently in which 281 candidates managed to get allocations out of 567 candidates who actually qualified the CSS exam.
This means almost half of the qualifying candidates who passed will get no chance to serve the country. There is a concern whether these candidates should be treated like failures — which is the actual case — or should they be given a chance to work in grade 16 in the respective service for which they have qualified. The government is preparing reforms for the Central Superior Services. It is requested that the government should ponder over this issue. Candidates who pass all exams should be allocated service in grade 16.
Riaz Hassan,
Lahore.
Horrible news
Madam,
I was horrified when I read about the rape and death of a child in the Punjab.
The news, which included the deceased child’s photograph and interviews with the family, was all over social and electronic media. While the media has tried to cover the incident from all angles and debated about its coverage, I want to point out that this is not the first (nor the last) rape case we will hear of. Remember the case of Zainab?
There are scores of rapes cases that go unreported as people often fear humiliation and violence at the hands of the perpetrator.
For example, in this rape case, the incident took place on May 15 but the police did not register a first information report (FIR) till four days later.
I heard that the family was told that their daughter, who wasn’t even a teenager, had run away with someone. I want to know: how can a 10-year-old take such a decision by herself?
Once the case got some limelight, people held the police accountable for their behaviour. But it was too late as the child had already left the world.
I hear the SHO and other police officials were eventually suspended for not doing their jobs. There were protests but will that achieve? We need the government and civil society to come up with a plan to protect our children.
Fariha Arif,
Peshawar.
Better policy
Madam,
Environmental degradation and climate change is a reality. I’m not talking about some stubborn world leaders who ignore such realities when I say this. But one cannot emphasize enough that our environment is severely impacted by our actions.
It is estimated that at the end of this century, global temperature will have risen by three to four degrees centigrade. This does not seem like much but in the last century, global temperature rose less than one degree. Countries such as Pakistan, which are still developing, will suffer the most from the effects of environmental degradation as we are ill-equipped to deal with the disasters which will come about. Look at the recent floods which displaced millions of people. Our environment is being destroyed and if attention is not paid soon, it will be too late. I urge the prime minister and officials concerned to take note of this issue and find a remedy as soon as possible. Our climate change minister needs to be more effective in making policies and directing legislation.
Rida Zahra,
Multan.
Dirty beaches
Madam,
According to recent reports, Karachi’s coastal areas have become host to many disease-causing bacteria.
The source of the bacteria is said to be the Lyari River as well as untreated waste from urban areas near the coast. The problem is compounded by littering at beaches.
This is a very serious public health issue and action be taken immediately to resolve this issue. Bacterial infections are not the only danger as pollution on the beaches also affects marine life with disastrous consequences for the environment.
Karachi’s administration should pass and enforce anti-littering laws for the city’s beaches. The city should also have sewage treatment plants to stop hazardous waste from making way to the ocean.
Fatima Zaheer,
Karachi.
Good effort
Madam,
The Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and the Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd (OGDCL) played an important role in the deep offshore well Kekra-1 under the Joint Operating Agreement of the Production Sharing Agreement. Both state-owned companies showed diligence with priority given to organisational and national interest.
Despite the fact that Kekra-1 was a challenging deep offshore well, operator ENI along with joint venture partners PPL, OGDCL and Exxon Mobil drilled it successfully. That said, pressure gradient data confirmed the presence of a water-bearing reservoir so there is no question of oil and gas water separation.
Foreign companies have been operating in Pakistan for many decades and producing hydrocarbons under rigorous monitoring of the Directorate-General of Petroleum Concessions. I believe the era of cheap oil and gas and easy discoveries is over, and high-risk frontier areas must be explored for which foreign investment and specialised technology transfer through foreign operators is not only preferable but mandatory.
Ejaz Shah,
Islamabad.
Modi again
Madam,
Modi’s electoral win, because of which he will remain in power for the next five years, can be the reason of another escalation between Pakistan and India.
Modi has won the election with a huge mandate. Anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan narratives were the main tactics he used to regain power. This could be another era of hardships for the Muslim community in India.
I want to urge the government of Pakistan to shape an effective foreign policy with regards to India to build a strong foundation of bilateral relations between the two nuclear states.
Rehmat Khan,
Islamabad.
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