VACCINE FOR THE YOUNG: Ever since the government announced that those aged 17 years were eligible for Covid vaccination, I have tried my luck three times at the district headquarters hospital, Charsadda, but all I have heard is the advice to visit some hospital in Peshawar. The matter needs to be sorted out urgently.

Mian Yalmaz
Charsadda

K.M.C. TAXES: The Sindh government is planning to collect fire and conservancy tax, on behalf of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), along with the monthly electricity bills. This is unacceptable. Local taxes are imposed in return for the provision of basic facilities which the KMC is not providing at all. It should first set its own house in order before imposing more taxes.

Asif Yousufali Sajwani
Karachi

UNIVERSITY CLOSURE: Education in Gilgit-Baltistan has been affected badly by the Covid pandemic as there is no fast enough internet connection and other facilities in the region. Unfortunately, as the on-campus classes were about to start, the Karakoram International University was closed because of the mismanagement of the university staff. The already depressed students are now fearing the worst in terms of their careers.

The government should reopen the university forthwith.

Syed Sadam Hussain
Gilgit

BRIBE RATES: I was recently travelling from Gujranwala to Islamabad with my father and uncle. When we arrived at Taraki toll plaza, we were stopped by some officials who asked for our vehicle documents and pointed out that some tax tokens had not been paid. They refused to allow us to proceed any further till the due amount was paid for which we had to go all the way back to the hometown. After a bit of haggling, the matter was settled with a transaction of Rs500. Previously, such a matter would have been solved against Rs200. Even the bribery rate has gone up!

Daniyal Cheema
Gujranwala

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2021