PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES: The pedestrian bridges of Islamabad Express Highway near Kuri Road, Rawalpindi, are in a dire need of repairs and maintenance. The bridges are in a dilapidated condition with holes all over them that are a threat to those who use them. The ramps constructed at the bridges for differently-abled persons are used by motorbike riders for whom they are U-turn facilities. I have personally experienced the poor condition of overhead bridge in Iqbal Town. It can take anyone’s life in case the repairs get delayed any further.

Michael Samuel
Rawalpindi

MOBILE PHONE HAZARDS: Mobile phones have brought a revolution in various spheres of life, but they are not without side effects; nothing is. Majority of children as young as seven years now possess phones. It is true that mobile phones have become an essential part of education, but its misuse or overuse can harm the mental and physical health of children. Parents should delay handing over cellphones to their children for as long as they possibly can.

Abdul Khalique Jalbani
Larkana

ILLEGAL ESTABLISHMENTS: In recent times, a lot of garages and motor workshops have cropped up across the city, especially on narrow streets and small roads, causing pedestrians as well as motorists a lot of difficulties. Also, the land mafia is active in various areas, indulging in illegal occupations and unauthorised constructions. All this is happening as the authorities continue to turn a blind eye.

M. Mumtaz Hussain
Karachi

EXISTENTIAL THREAT: The colourful Kalasha community living for thousands of years in the mountainous region of Hindukush is on the verge of extinction due to the devastating impact of climate change. The United Nation’s Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommends seeking expertise and knowledge of the natives to counter the adverse effects of climate change, but unfortunately no such effort has been undertaken by the government.

Farid Ul Haq
Chitral

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2021