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Mail Box
THESE days TV and magazines are full of various prize offering schemes. The main targets of these schemes are children. These schemes usually offer prizes such as televisions, cars, return tickets to foreign countries and lots more. These schemes create a buying frenzy in the middle class where everyone tries to raise their living standards by taking part. Besides this, they also give rise to a sense of inferiority among the social classes, while prizes are often given to the resourceful class. These schemes are a menace for our society.
Pakistan Penal Code1860, once had a clause 294-B in the chapter XIV relating to the offences affecting public health, safety, convenience, decency and morals that dealt with such advertisements strictly. But, unfortunately this law became ineffective from June 30, 1992, due to a decision taken by the Shariat bench of the Pakistan Supreme court, which considered the above mentioned clause against the teachings of Islam, I wish the government could make this law effective to curb this growing social nuisance.
TAHIRA SALEEM, MULTAN.
Women’s literacy
THE reason for a country being backward widely depends on the literacy rate. In our country it is usually seen that a man’s education is given more importance than that of a woman. I don’t know the reason for this discrimination. Some people say that a man and a woman both are like the wheels of a car, if one wheel is defective how can one expect the car to run. A Woman plays an important role in society, specially as a mother. She is responsible for the future of the country as she is the one responsible for the upbringing of her children. How can you even expect an illiterate mother to give her children the right kind of environment and training when she herself is not aware of what’s right or wrong. If we want to be a prosperous nation it is high time that we start educating our women who are responsible for the future of this nation.
MAHAN ABBAS
Lack of awareness
THIS refers to Syed Faisal Hussain’s letter “Spreading awareness,” YW December 27, 2003. In this letter, he wrote that public messages can be spread by inscribing them on public transport. I totally agree with him and I think that it is a good idea to do so. But how should the drivers be told to inscribe messages that create awareness among the people. The only inscriptions that we see on their vehicles are verses of silly poems and other such stuff.
Secondly, our literacy rate is not high enough. Many people don’t know how to read and write and if people cannot read, the purpose of the inscription is annulled. Literate people can however, help the uneducated, but for how long?
If people want to build awareness in society, they should force the government to change its policies and try to increase Pakistan’s literacy rate. Otherwise, we can only pray for improvement in our country.
SYED MUHAMMAD KUMAIL ZAIDI
Confused culture
PAKISTANIS are quite confused about their culture, traditions and lifestyle. They are misled by Indian and other Western channels that display their way of life in an extremely glamourous manner. This exposure to different cultures has affected our heritage and civilization. People, now address their elder sisters as didi instead of baji and say namastey, instead of salam, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a number of other similar incidents that have taken place. I would just like to tell my fellow country men not to lose track of their own culture. We can watch programmes that depict other cultures and lifestyles but it is extremely important that we don’t lose our own identity while doing so.
MINA KIDWAI
Illiteracy in Pakistan
NOWADAYS our country is facing a major crisis due to illiteracy. The main reason for illiteracy is poverty. Education is so expensive these days that people can’t afford it. This is a very sorry state. I wish that the government would look into the matter and make education more accessible to all.
NAJDA SHAIKH
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