UNNECESSARY CONFUSION: This is with reference to the report “New ‘more virulent’ Covid variant detected in Pakistan” (May 10). The heading claims the new variant is more virulent, but in the third paragraph, it states that “the variant, although more transmissible, is less virulent”. Transmissibility and virulence are two different terms, and appear to have been erroneously mixed up in this case. The readers are confused as to which of the two statements is factually correct. The confusion will only serve to cause unnecessary panic.

Zain-ul-Abideen Shah
Islamabad

FOOD ASSISTANCE: This refers to the news “Bilawal’s New York visit ‘a balancing act’” (May 15). The timing of foreign minister’s visit could be no less critical for Pakistan, where a serious wheat shortage is in the offing. The United States can take the lead in assisting countries like Pakistan. Many decades ago, the US used to provide a food assistance programme to Pakistan that permitted the president to authorise shipment of surplus commodities to friendly nations either on concessional rates or grants. Now is the time to go about it.

Ghulam Idris Khan
Islamabad

POLITICAL MADNESS: I often wonder where we are headed. Political parties are at loggerheads with each other and the economy is down in the pits. Japan survived the destruction of an atom bomb and rose to be a great economic power. But many nations, like Venezuela and Sri Lanka have struggled. One hopes that better sense will prevail sooner rather than later.

Malik ul Quddoos
Karachi

SANITY SHOULD PREVAIL: It seems that politicians can see corruption only when they are not in power. If we let the institutions play their role honestly, everything will be proved in due time. There should not be anarchy and complaints. Politicians should work hard and improve themselves so that they may not repeat the same mistakes again. We must remember that nobody is above the law.

Anwar Hussain
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2022