COUNTRIES around the world focus on quality education, healthcare, infrastructure and essential services, but the government has different priorities in Pakistan where such things are nowhere to be found.

Our country is blessed with abundant resources, but those at the helm of affairs do not utilise them efficiently for the benefit of people. The people continue to suffer in one way or the other. For instance, the recent rains in Hyderabad laid bare the incompetence of the authorities and the dilapidated drainage system of the city.

Hethalo Maal Piri is one such locality suffering from foul smell of accumulated water, mosquitoes, sewerage sludge on the street, and just about everything that goes with such a polluted environment.

Due to the poor state of affairs, the residents are unable to even visit mosques for prayers. One can hardly find any district government officer in this time of need. The government should change its priorities for the better so that the locals may heave a sigh of relief and carry on with their activities of daily life.

Furqan Hyder Shaikh
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2022