I saw an interesting concept at an outdoor restaurant while visiting Nice, France. A thin rubber sheet, folded in two, was attached to the outside door base, with a flap, about two inches long, hanging below the door. The flap covers the gap between the ground and the door. I hope someone in Pakistan comes up with a similar solution to save houses from water during the monsoon season.

Mrs Anjum Rashid
Nice, France

CON-TEA-VERSY: There is no denying that tea has been an important part of our lives. It is the star of our gatherings at roadside tea shops, truck stands, and households across the country. Due to the rising import bill, the government has urged the masses to minimise their tea consumption. The issue, though stated naively, has quantitative validity. Pakistan’s tea imports topped the chart in 2020 with $590 million. Is tea an essential commodity like flour and pulses? Certainly not. It is high time we changed our habits for the larger national cause.

Hashim Ali Dogar
Lahore

SLAUGHTER CAMPAIGNS: The current practice of executing the ritualistic sacrifice at homes and streets must be done away with. Alternatively, roadside bazaars and few other places should be designated for slaughter. Butcher services should be restricted to designated areas. Also, parading animals in the streets should be prohibited as it litters the whole area. All relevant authorities should take necessary measures and hold awareness campaigns on such issues.

M.M. Amin
Islamabad

ACCUSATIONS GALORE: The opposition is continuing to drag respectable national institutions into politics. While the government was removed through a perfectly democratic and constitutional process, the ousted party, the current opposition, has been accusing everybody right, left and centre of having hatched a conspiracy. This is a seriously irresponsible attitude, and must not be allowed to continue in the name of democracy.

Daman Ali
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2022