AVERTING INCIDENTS: It is pathetic to see the authorities waking up only after the active phase of some disaster has passed. Instead of pre-disaster preparedness, we prefer to follow a post-incident recovery mechanism. For instance, in a heart-wrenching traffic accident near Salt Range on the M2 Motorway recently, many lost their lives and many others were left injured. Only after the incident, the authorities could make the buses travel in a queue, imposing a speed limit. Likewise, it was only after a loan shark devoured the life of an individual that the authorities moved and apprehended the culprits. Should we keep waiting for an incident to unfold before we could do something about it?

Adeel Ahmed Malik
Rawalpindi

FEARING INAPTITUDE: The rainy seasons, especially the monsoon, were once welcomed and celebrated wholeheartedly. However, with human-induced climate change effects, people have started to fear the rain.

Or is it the incompetence of governments that the people worry about? One must be aware of climate change and its devastating impact, but the lack of basic facilities, such as proper infrastructure and drainage systems, exacerbates the matter. Thus, the critical combo of climate change and government failure continues to take a heavy toll on our lives.

Syed Jamal Shah
Takht Bhai

DEVASTATED ROADS: The Bolan pass holds an important strategic importance, and is also known for its scenic views. However, the pass has been impacted badly by last year’s post-monsoon rains. The pass serves as a gateway to Sindh, but the roads that had been washed away have not been repaired to date, causing severe problems to the people. The higher authorities should start repair work on the roads so that people using them may have some relief.

Uzair Aftab
Sibi

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2023