UNNECESSARY EMBASSIES: While the government is seemingly helpless in controlling smuggling, electricity and gas theft, and other illegal activities that are hampering the overall austerity drive, it can at least save a huge amount of money by rationalising the number of embassies and consulates it has in various parts of the world, and the number of staff at each such centre. Most of the embassies deal with visas which can be issued online from Islamabad.

To my knowledge, we have 86 embassies in total, and 20 of them are in Europe and 15 in Africa. Do we really need to have them all? What about the ones in Rwanda, Niger, Senegal and Sudan? A bit of unconventional and unemotional rationalisation will help us a great deal.

Shakir Lakhani
Karachi

HOPE IN THE DARK: The depreciation of the rupee may well be converted into an opportunity if the government may incentivise local industries and work hard to increase the yearly exports to the magical figure of $100 billion; roughly, three times the current level. Japan, China, India, Bangladesh and others did the same; why can’t we? Without giving incentives to export-oriented industries, the country cannot optimise its potential of earning foreign exchange.

Mumraiz Khan
Karachi

PARKING IN KARACHI: Parking has become a difficult, if not impossible, task in Karachi due to the ‘chowkidari nizam’. Sometimes, people claim to have been appointed by the city government, but in fact they are members of local mafias that collect money from motorists illegally. These people try to harass and intimidate the motorists if they refuse to pay the so-called parking fee which keeps increasing. Earlier, the money charged was Rs20, but recently I was asked to pay Rs50 as it was a Sunday. Nobody has the right to harass people like this. The authorities concerned should take action against all unauthorised persons.

Fardan Mehmood
Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2023