BRAIN DRAIN: It is a common phenomenon to see skilled professionals opting to move abroad. Health professionals form one of the largest such community of professionals in Pakistan’s great ‘brain drain’ phenomenon. Annually, Pakistan produces 32,879 doctors, and 40 per cent of them settle abroad. Currently, Pakistan has 20,000 specialists. However, half of them have nationality of other countries. I wonder if this is why our political elite fly abroad for treatment.
Mehak Ali
Kashmore
RUINED AGRICULTURE: The recent monsoon rains have inflicted a huge blow to life in rural areas. The biggest impact is related to agricultural lands that lie inundated. Thousands of households depended on agriculture alone for their survival, which has been swept away by the floods. Besides, the impact in terms of food shortage, especially of vegetables and fruits, across the country is going to be massive. The government needs to have practical plans ready in this regard.
Javed Panhyar
Kandhkot
AWAITING AID: The losses caused by recent rains across Pakistan have crossed all imaginable limits. The situation in Wahi Pandhi area of Dadu district is no different. It has been in the grip of floods that have washed away the 28km link road between Wahi and Johi, affecting people at both ends. People are running out of commodities and potable water. Also, there is a sharp shortage of medicines in the area. The government should immediately mobilise resources to provide aid to the people of Wahi Pandhi.
Sadaqat Baloch
Dadu
DEPRECIATING DOLLAR: The fluctuation of local currency against the United States dollar is continuing. This said, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a tranche worth over $1 billion for Pakistan, which will ease the balance-of-payment position to some extent. The depreciation of the local currency is understandable, but that of the dollar against the rupee is not understandable as the present signs in the national economy do not encourage such an event.
Mumraiz Khan
Karachi
Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2022
