Blame game
Madam,
I am getting sick and tired of hearing from PTI representatives that the PML-N is responsible for all the ills that our country faces today. Be it the economic situation, the political issues or our relations with India, the onus of the present state of affairs is quickly passed on the previous government’s shoulders. The PTI government has been in power for the last one year. It is high time it started taking some responsibility.
The prices of all essential commodities have skyrocketed, beyond a poor man’s reach. Imposition of new and additional taxes to please the IMF have added to the miseries of almost all segments of society. Is the PML-N responsible for all this? My request to PTI is that the blame game should end now. Let us look forward and do something for the better future of our new generation.
Rania Amjad,
Via e-mail.
Cumbersome tax
Madam,
This year, the tax levied on 1,000cc is Rs31,000 for non-filers and Rs21,000 for filers. This tax is to be deposited in National Bank Excise and Taxation branch in Islamabad after being processed by the excise and taxation department.
This tax is totally unjustifiable and without any rationale. For a senior citizen living on a pension this is too much. The exercise of going to the excise office and depositing the amount in the scorching sun by standing in a line of hundreds of people outside the office is cumbersome.
The chairman of the Federal Bureau of Revenue should revise the amount to a reasonable figure and allow post offices to collect it as per previous practices.
Zulqarnain Shah,
Islamabad.
Monsoon floods
Madam,
Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh are affected by monsoons floods every year. According to Al Jazeera, in South Asia more than 660 people have died because of floods caused by torrential rains, including 467 deaths in India, 95 deaths in Nepal, 78 deaths in Bangladesh and 26 in Pakistan while many are still missing. The Bangladesh disaster management minister has said that government has provided over 24,450 tons of food-aid and over 8,000 tents to affected victims.
These yearly monsoons always take lives of hundreds every year. Despite having safety measures in place, people always become victims of these rains. The government should step up its efforts to prevent death and destruction during monsoon.
Tariq Mehmood,
Lahore.
Plight of Afghans
Madam,
Kabul has been the site of many terrorist attacks and this time three consecutive blasts rocked the city and killed 15 people and wounded dozens. Responsibility was claimed by the Taliban.
These types of killings are now increasing even though a dialogue for peace is underway and a settlement is being touted by the American leadership.
The Afghan government has offered several talks with the Taliban but peace still appears far. Sufferings of Afghan citizens continue. One bomb targeted a bus carrying government employees. It left eight people dead and 27 wounded including five women and a child. After few moments of this attack, another suicide attack killed seven more people and injured 20. When will such tragedies end? Who is listening to the voices of common people?
Rafia Bashir,
Lahore.
Useless exercise
Madam,
I wish to draw the attention of the Italian ambassador to a bizarre, expensive and inefficient activity. It might be well intended, but it is really quite useless.
I fully support any and all processes that must be followed for the issuance of a visa, but imposing completely unnecessary and avoidable burdens is rather shocking for a civilised country.
Recently, my son-in-law was granted a tourist visa with the condition (quite common and fair) that he report back to the Italian embassy upon his return.
He duly complied with this costly requirement only to be told that he must come back only after his visa had expired in another 15 days.
No such advice or guidance was offered by the embassy staff in either oral or written form at any point. I am sure the Italian ambassador is well aware of the costs and time involved in going repeatedly to Islamabad.
There are now numerous ways to prove that a visitor to Italy has indeed returned home without having to show his face to the embassy staff.
I request the ambassador to kindly resolve this issue without weakening any safeguards that the Italian government may consider necessary.
Muhammad Aslam Khan,
Lahore.
Congo virus
Madam,
Congo virus lives in animal hides. According to experts, there are higher chances of humans getting the infection by dealing with sacrificial animals on Eid.
I urge people to remain alert. It affects lungs, the stomach and kidneys. Initial symptoms include headaches, fevers, back pain, joint pain, stomach ache, and vomiting. Red eyes, a flushed face and a sore throat are also common. Symptoms may also include jaundice, and in severe cases, changes in mood and sensory perception. People should take care and try not to take children near animals.
Waheed Ajmal,
Multan.
Collaboration with Sindh
Madam,
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) director for Sindh and Balochistan has said that the US government is proud and keen to collaborate with Sindh in a joint initiative promoting education for all.
USAID has decided to provide 165 million dollars to the Sindh Basic Education Department. It is a fact that Pakistan’s literacy rate is only 58 percent and an investment of 165 million dollars in the education department of Sindh will most certainly boost literacy rate in the province. I hope the money will be invested in education sector only.
Sana Irshad,
Karachi.
Street crime
Madam,
For the last couple of months, Karachi is once again facing street crime. The Citizens Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) issued a latest report which says that over 9,000 in Karachi fell prey to street crimes in just three months. 60 lives were also lost during these incidents. An approximate 5,813 motorbikes and 345 cars were seized. The situation is so dire that people are scared to be on the streets even during the day. It is time the police department and high authorities took necessary action to curb the menace as soon as possible.
Murad Usman,
Karachi.
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