FOREIGN POLICY: If Arab countries in the Gulf region can talk to Israel, if Iran and Saudi Arabia can improve bilateral relations, and if Egypt and Turkey can bury the hatchet, what is it that stops Pakistan from establishing a cordial relationship with Bangladesh? I cannot think of one sane reason other than emotional baggage of the past. Maybe it is too arduous a job to be taken up by some, but the current young and enthu- siastic foreign minister seems capable of taking an initiative in this regard

Syed Sardar Ahmad
Karachi

PHONES IN KARACHI: In the face of increasing incidents of theft, holding phones in hand openly is considered an invitation to thugs and muggers in Karachi, but things have touch such a low that it is now difficult to even hide a phone in one’s bag or pocket. Recently, I thought of myself as a wise person after deciding to keep my phone in my bag instead of carrying it in my hand while going out. This naturally was done to avoid a snatching incident. However, when I opened it at my destination, the phone was not there in the bag. Some pickpocket had done the job so masterly that I could not sense anything going wrong at any time. Lucky are those whose phone sets are neither snatched nor stolen.

Fiza Sikandar
Karachi

TWO-PARTY SYSTEM: This is with reference to the article “The alternative of ‘reimagining Pakistan’” which quoted Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, a former senator of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), as having told reporters that he had no plans to create a new political party. I think the ex-senator was trying to elaborate that a multiparty system might affect the functioning of the government since two parties are enough to make the system run smoothly. I believe that the current political logjam created by the third party in the country can be cited as an example in this regard.

Ali Raza Bhutto
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2023