HUNGER, COLD AND MISERY: The water level may have receded in the flood-affected areas, but the misery of victims refuses to come to an end. In the surrounding villages of Dokri city, thousands of people spend their nights and days under open skies. The plight of these wretched ones has failed to prick the conscience of the ruling class that continues to remain indifferent to their condition. It is shivering cold these days and the flood victims have no proper clothing on their bodies, or shelter over their heads or food in their tummies. All they have is a long list of promises made to them repeatedly by all shades of local and provincial governments. What a mess their life is in.

Muhammad Nalemitho Aalmani
Dokri

RESOLUTIONS: At the start of every year, people generally tend to have new hopes and make new resolutions setting new targets. I find nothing wrong in doing that. But can we have some resolutions setting targets at the national level? There is political instability, economic crisis, unemployment, brain drain, and a spike in street crimes and suicides. Instead of making resolution for 2023, we should be happy for 2022 which is now resting in peace … finally!

Waseem Raja
Gwadar

SERIOUS CRISIS: The current economic turmoil is making life difficult in the country. It is no wonder that last year close to 765,000 Pakistanis migrated to destinations abroad. The country is unable to feed its own people, which is a pity. The so-called ‘elected’ politicians are responsible for the crisis, and should think about the betterment of the country, which is practically staring at the possibility of a default.

Javed Hassan
Skardu

HOPE AGAINST HOPE: While just about everything is going wrong for the country — from political and economic crises to power failures and water shortages — Pakistanis will continue to do what they do best: hope against hope.

Nerjis Zahra
Gujrat

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2023