THIS refers to the article ‘Silence won’t pay’ (July 27). The writer has talked about various atrocities being committed by Chinese against the Uighur community. However, she also mentions a good thing being done by Chinese – compulsory sterilisation of women.

The population explosion is the greatest threat to this planet. In old times, there used to be a jungle between two big towns — Lahore-Gujranwala,

Lahore-Sheikhupura and Lahore-Kasur. Now the cities are getting joined and we just cannot decide where one ends and the other starts.

Disciplined as the Chinese are, I am sure they will succeed in their policy of compulsory sterilisation. We are also over-populated and compulsory sterilisation of women is even more necessary for us. But owing to our national indiscipline it will be difficult for the government to enforce such a policy.

Ayub Khan had realised its need way back in the late 1950s and had launched a family planning programme which was not unfortunately enforced with vigour. The situation is more serious now in 2020.

The government needs to revitalise family planning programme, including the policy of compulsory sterilisation of women as well as of men. But I doubt the government has enough vision to realise the gravity of situation and enough courage to challenge the ‘tyrany of public opinion’.

Kamal Ahmad
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2020