GAS LOADSHEDDING: Residents of Saadi Town are suffering from gas shortage for some time. I am a university student and have to spend the nights studying. I cannot make myself a cup of tea or coffee late in the night. What happens during the day, and what it takes for us to put food on the table is a separate story. How much money we have to spend on getting food delivered from outside, and the impact it has on our financial and physical health are independent stories. The authorities are really making life tough.

Izzat Jadoon
Karachi

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES: Archaeological sites in Balochistan are rich in history and culture, and need to be protected for future generations. It is nice to know the initiatives taken in this regard by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. Among other steps, it has been holding public talks to protect the sites, and encouraging individuals to report any suspicious activity. This is commendable.

Akhtar Bugti
Dera Bugti

EDUCATING PARENTS: Some students refuse to learn anything despite attending school regularly. Cultivating interest in studies takes time and patience on the part of the teachers which is a critical element. In rural areas, girls often show reluctance towards studies due to family restrictions. The government should initiate campaigns to educate parents about the benefits of educating their daughters and the changes it may bring to their future.

Saweeta Kumari
Umerkot

HEALTH LITERACY: Health literacy is about being able to use basic knowledge to keep an eye on one’s health. More than that, it is about having a health-conscious attitude towards life not just of one’s own, but of society at large. The high prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Pakistan is alarming, and deserves immediate attention. We need to improve health literacy in the country.

Alieeza Tariq
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2023