DEFORESTATION: Trees have many benefits for humans besides adding to the beauty of this planet. Unfortunately, thousands of trees are being cut down in Pakistan on a daily basis, causing an increase in air pollution and other environmental hazards. We have to be sensitive regarding this issue as it affects our lives, and the government, on its part, should discourage deforestation.

Abdul Rahman Shahbeer
Khairabad

YOUTH WOES: A recent United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) report estimated that 63 per cent of the country’s population happens to be young. Every year, a large number of students graduate from educational institutions here and abroad, and enter the job market, bolstering the economy and social apparatus of the state. The state must be mindful of this responsibility and facilitate the young who are the real assets of the country.

Manaim Safeer Hussain
Jhang

K.M.C. STIPEND: I have completed my MBBS from the Khairpur Medical College (KMC) and was allowed to do house job in Hyderabad. The letter issued by the Sindh Health Department says that I can draw my stipend from my parent institute. However, when I contacted the KMC administration in this regard, it made lame excuses and did not pay heed to the issue. In these difficult times of pandemic when doctors are getting extra allowances, I am working without any pay for three months. The relevant authorities should get the issue resolved urgently.

Dr Salahuddin
Hyderabad

APPOINTMENTS AND MERIT: This refers to the article ‘Appointing VCs’ (July 27). From experience, we have learnt that appointment of vice-chancellors is inevitably more of a trade-off of an extra-academic nature, notwithstanding the academic profile of the candidates. What we see in the universities, as a result of such practices, is a no-brainer. The overall existing system needs a professional shft.

Name withheld on request
Jamshoro

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2021