PANDORA PAPERS: The Pandora Papers recently leaked financial documents disclosing the names of around 700 individuals from Pakistan, exposing the shortcomings of the overall system at work. All the relevant laws are available in Pakistan, and all they need is implementation in the absence of which money continues to fly off-shore. What is required in the ongoing investigation is the implementation of the relevant laws. To monitor and promote small transactions, technologies such as mobile banking should be initiated.

Abdul Musawir
Ghotki

LENDERS’ CONDITIONS: Out of a handful of global nuclear powers, Pakistan is the only state where the targets for economic indicators are set by external lenders. Almost five decades ago, we said we would develop the nuclear bomb ‘even if we had to eat grass’ to maintain our sovereignty. Today, after taking endless loans, we are literally eating grass because, like they say, ‘beggars can’t be choosers’. Is this the sovereignty that we had envisaged where we are blackmailed by the donors?

Fuad Enver
Islamabad

SHARE FOOD: This is with reference to the article ‘Child beggars’ (Oct 12). Many unfortunate accidents have occurred in which the handlers assaulted those who tried to extract the truth from child beggars. We should think before handing over money to a beggar. Instead of money, one can give some food item that the child might enjoy personally. This will discourage professional beggars, and will be a source of nourishment for the poor child.

Syed Farjad Ali
Mardan

FORCED CONVERSION: This refers to the editorial ‘Forced conversion’ (Oct 15). The main issue is how to decide if the faith conversion is ‘forced’ or ‘voluntary’. Most such issues surface at the time of interfaith marriages where disgruntled families show their disapproval and come up with charges of forced conversion. The presence of a magistrate to validate the proceedings as deliberate can sort out the issue.

Ali Ammar
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2021