THE National Highway (N-25), better known as the RCD Highway, enjoys great significance as it connects Sindh, Balochistan, Iran and Turkey. However, the single-lane highway is becoming more and more perilous for the commuters due to high traffic flow and unskilled drivers, and it is sometimes even considered among the ‘killer highways’ of Pakistan.

In the Kalat division, which is one of the largest divisions of the country, the districts of Lasbela, Khuzdar, Surab, Kalat and Mastung are connected with Quetta through a single RCD track.

The increasing number of accidents on this important highway and other routes of Balochistan is alarming. The federal and provincial governments should immediately start work to make it a dual-lane highway.

However, until that happens, the drivers must follow the traffic rules and be extra careful while driving.

On its part, the provincial government needs to deploy motorway police in both rural and urban portions of the RCD Highway. Also, there must be a schedule for commercial transport buses in order to reduce the number of accidents.

Javed Ahmed
Khuzdar

PRESIDENTIAL UTILITY: It was back in 2017 that I had written in these columns about the rationale of having a president living in a palace, with a hefty salary, numerous perks/privileges and with a office run by hundreds of people. The only thing the person does not have is work or power. Today, the circumstances have convinced me even more that there is no need to have the office of the president. Why don’t we do away with it and save a drain on the national exchequer?

Khaled
Islamabad

EXCHANGE RATE: Due to the current economic crisis, the exchange rate of rupee against any other currency is terrible. One of the many reasons behind it is taking dollar reserves out of country. For example, when we travel abroad, we are not allowed to keep more than 10,000 rupees, but can take 9,000 US dollars or any other foreign currency. We should keep the foreign currency in the country and bring more through different sources. But we are doing the opposite. This is nothing but legal money laundering.

Salman Shah Zaidi
Karachi

CHILD MARRIAGE: Child marriage deprives children of their childhood. The girl-child suffers the most in such cases. Victims of child marriage also become victims of several additional issues. Worst of all, they lack the freedom and opportunity to have a happy, healthy, and prosperous life. While there is a Child Marriage Prohibition Act that penalises this cruel practice, the government needs to do more to offer a secure, safe and wonderful environment to our daughters.

Aalishba Asim
Karachi

INLAND REMITTANCE: I am a senior citizen. I need to send inland remittance to my relatives upcountry quite frequently. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had dropped bank charges on inland remittances, but the banks have resumed these charges. At least senior citizens should be exempted on this count.

Tahir Hassan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 30th, 2022