This is apropos the news reports ‘Current account gap widens 16pc’ and ‘CAD to be resolved in two years’ (Aug 21). The question is who is stopping whom from not cutting down on imports?

Two years is too long a period to resolve the CAD issue. One is not aware what the situation turns out to be by then. What are needed are immediate, drastic and unpleasant measures to reduce the import of items we can do without.

To begin with, the import of luxury vehicles and reconditioned cars should be completely banned immediately. How long can we afford to waste precious forex on the luxury of driving top of the line imported cars that are more status symbols even in the first world?

Such measures will not only save foreign exchange, but will also cut down the fuel bill, which is presently 25 per cent of our total imports.

The government should on a war-footing come up with an affordable public transportation system for all large cities. This is the way to saving on unnecessary costs.

Ibna Ismail

Islamabad

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2018