TOURISM CONCERNS: On behalf of the people of Baltistan, I would like to express gratitude to all those who visit our region every year and add to the local economy, but it would be really nice if they could use the trash cans instead of throwing their litter all over the place. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the Deosai Plateau, which is truly a blessing for us all, but the popular tourist destination is gradually becoming polluted with each passing day. As a local who has grown up in the surroundings, I assure that the plateau was never as polluted as it stands today. Let us together show some respect to the magnificent surroundings. By doing so, we can collectively make a significant difference in maintaining the sanctity of Baltistan’s breathtaking landscape.

Sheheryar Aslam
Skardu

NEGLECTED VICTIMS: My family had bought a villa in 2018 in a gated community on the outskirts of Karachi, spending our life savings. We were supposed to get possession by March 2019, but we are still waiting. My mother, who loved gardening and hoped to have a kitchen garden there one day, died recently. With all the ‘greed unlimited’ stories around the housing scheme, what fails to get a mention in the national media is how the middle class has been deceived by the real estate tycoon.

With no relief in sight, families like mine can only vent their anguish and hope that one day the authorities concerned will grow a conscience. Will they?

Nabeel Sabir
Karachi

HERITAGE SITES: Tourists from throughout the world visit Takht-i-Bahi Buddhist monastery, Katas Raj temple, Ranikot Fort, Noor Mahal and Mohenjo Daro in Pakistan. They go back enriched with historical and cultural references. These heritage sites can boost tourism in Pakistan. The country’s diverse landscape, rich culture and hospitable people make it a potential tourist destination. Marketing and preserving these heritage sites can draw tourists to the country in droves.

Faizan Ali Soomro
Kotri

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2023