THIS refers to the article ‘Jhang’s victory of alternate crops’ (Business & Finance, Aug 30), according to which, there is an earning of Rs300,000 per acre for cumin (zeera) in Jhang. Similarly, olive plantation in the Potohar region will bring prosperity to the local farmers.

Floriculture is another area where we can help the farmers in increasing their earnings. Farmers around Galyats and Swat valley typically plant maize that gets them nothing. Tulip, rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, daisy and jasmine will bring them at least four times more profit.

The florists in Karachi sell flowers from Kenya, which exports $6 billion worth of flowers every year. The Indians have planted tulips in Srinagar as well. If that happens here, our farmers will earn more for themselves and for the country.

S. Nayyar Iqbal Raza
Karachi

INTRA-PARTY DEMOCRACY: I have followed politics and culture in Pakistan while I lived in the United Kingdom for a large part of my life. I strongly feel that the idea of a democratic dispensation

will remain a pipe dream if the political parties in the country are not made to have an annual intra-party elections to earn the trust of their respective members who may freely elect and express confidence in their leader … or reject the leadership if they so desire.

Dr Qasim Ijaz
Peshawar

ISLAMIC BANK: This is with reference to the letter ‘West’s exploitation’ (Aug 28). I would like to add that the Muslim world should switch to a single currency unit and make an international Islamic bank where the Muslim countries may deposit their funds. This would enable the Muslims to be able to face the non-Muslim collective in different spheres of life, especially in the economic arena.

Syed Talha Shahab
Karachi

THE QUOTE: This refers to the article ‘Burden of history’ (Aug 29). It included a quote, saying: “Morality is doing what is right regardless of what we are told. Religious dogma is doing what we are told, no matter what is right.” The quote was attributed to Elka Enola, who was a poet, feminist, social activist, traveller and a supporter of arts. The fact is that the quote should be credited to Henry Louis Mencken, an American journalist, essayist, satirist, cultural critic and scholar of American English.

Aazram Mehreen
Gujranwala

ONLINE PORTAL: Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Jamshoro, has no e-portal service for its students to access their mark sheets and academic record online. Instead, the students have to undergo prolonged processes and stand in long queues outside the university bank to get things done. The university administration must look into this matter and take remedial measures.

Muhammad Adnan Abbasi
Jamshoro

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2021