SELF-MEDICATION: People in rural areas are not aware of most diseases, their causes and effects of the various medicines on the body. Yet, they believe in self-treatment. Despite an active dengue outbreak these days, people are still following traditional norms. Instead of seeing a doctor, they continue to give their patients papaya leaf nectar, which can be dangerous as it causes diarrhoea and vomiting to an extremely dehydrated dengue patient. Apart from the lack of awareness, there is a dearth of doctors who may advise people not to treat themselves. The government should hold awareness campaigns and ensure the availability of doctors in rural areas.

Aiza Rafaqat
Lahore

WELCOME DECISION: The decision by the Sindh High Court (SHC) to prohibit Karachi Electric (KE) from collecting municipal charges is the right move as electricity consumers have already been swamped with many a tax charge they have to pay along with their monthly bills. The SHC should also take suo motu notice of the extra charges in electricity bills imposed in the name of one or the other tax.

Mumraiz Khan
Karachi

WRONG TIMING: The decision of the Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC) to conduct the exams of section officer and assistant commissioner in November has left many students, especially those belonging to flood-hit areas, in a shock. The students of Sibi, Naseerabad, Kacchi, Jaffarabad and Lasbela are either still coping with the post-flood situation or are stuck with floodwaters all around them. One wonders how these students can sit the exam. The BPSC should revisit its decision.

Inzamam Qasim Silachi
Sibi

SEXUAL HARASSMENT: The controversy around the allegation of sexual harassment of female students by a professor of a medical college was distressing. As things stand today, students’ anger would one day go out of hand if corrective measures are not taken immediately. If that happens, the students should not be blamed.

Zarmeen Muhammad Abdullah
Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2022