International Youth Day
The International Youth Day was celebrated recently. While internationally people were aware of this day, in Pakistan not many knew about it. And even if they did, who really cares for the nation is going through such a tough period that anything else, like a special day, holds little or no meaning for us. It is a day to hail the youth for their undying optimism and to celebrate their achievements and strengths. It is a day to discuss the policies for providing them with opportunities to make life better for themselves and those around them. Unfortunately, our government has been busy in making lives better for themselves and those around them rather than work for the people of Pakistan in general and the youth in particular. Times are hard for everyone, but it's especially bad for the youth who have little or no job opportunities bringing them to such a point of frustration where they are willing to take up any job as long as it pays the bills. It's time for the country's leaders to do something before the youth is completely disillusioned.
Sabeena Jalal
Via email
No More Loans
It had to come to this that as a nation we are completely in debt. It is not just the mammoth loans that are dished out to us by the International Monetary Fund or the sort but the fact that most of the people are paying regular instalments for the coming three to fifteen years for commodities and property bought by them. We are now inevitably stuck in this vicious cycle of borrowing and paying back - buying and paying for it on high interest rates. Sooner or later, the entire country's population will be scurrying around like mice gathering morsels to feed their debts. It sounds ironic but it is a poignant situation and there is not much we can do about it… except pray that one day things would be better. At least on the personal front we can make a pledge not to acquire anything on loan. If and when the entire nation will think and act on these lines, things will look up eventually.
Jahenzeb Shah
Rawalpindi
Who Are These People?
It's very strange the way these 'technocrat politicians' deal with us in this country. Despite Mehboobul Haq's bright example in our country, who did well, but wasn't a World Bank employee, we are always under the hammer due to people like Shaukat Aziz, and their condescending understudies! The economic conditions don't improve due to these so-called 'corporate godfathers.'
Who told us 61 years ago that if we needed democracy, we had to have 'professional politicians?' For heavens' sake, we need men from our normal society, who go to the schools and colleges, who work in the industries, who are professors, engineers, visionaries, doctors, and others. If we are stuck with these professional politicians, who must get into parliament to prove their worth, and who are set to exact their personal vengeance after taking oath, rather than doing something concrete for the common man, then we must stop talking about this democ(k)racy!
Absolutely Livid
Time to take stock
While the politicians are embroiled in a political mess of their own making, the people of the country are suffering greatly. The price of basic eatables increases on a daily basis and petrol will soon be out of reach for the masses, if not the classes. Fake medicine plays with the lives of the ill, while the able-bodied are torn apart by rising crime rates, nepotism and political power plays. When will this end? When will we see the light? As we “celebrate” Pakistan's 61st birthday, it is time we all take stock and resolve to make a change for the better. Let's start small. Let's start with ourselves.
Annie Tarik
Karachi
Traffic Woes
I am the mother of two school going children. The locality where my children's school is situated has branches of at least four other big schools, resulting in a terrible traffic jam in the morning and afternoon. I would like to draw the attention of the school authorities to solve the problem of traffic by introducing a car pool system on a mass scale. The car pool will not only help parents save on petrol (which has become extremely expensive) but will also help control pollution, save time and curtail traffic jams. It will also bring about awareness in children for energy conservation and environment protection. Although there are some schools in the city which are using car pools, in my opinion, it has to be introduced on a mass scale by every big school in the country to truly be effective.
Talat
Via e-mail
Quote Me Not
“Now, I could stand up here and say, 'Let's just get everybody together. Let's get unified. The sky will open. The light will come down. Celestial choirs will be singing, and everyone will know we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect.'” Hillary Clinton
