PRIVILEGED CLASS: Public servants in the country are hardly ever seen using public transport or public healthcare services. Their children go to schools in official government vehicles instead of routine transport used by millions. This official vehicle, which provides pick-and-drop facility to the children is paid for by the taxes we pay. It runs on the fuel that is paid for by the taxes we pay. We, the people, are paying for the lavish lifestyle of the public servants, and we, the people, are being discriminated against. How much more wrong can the system go? Why should we accept this injustice? Why should the public servants not be asked to behave like normal human beings? The current lifestyle is unquestionably unethical.

Rakhshanda Abbas
Gilgit

LOST GLORY: Shikarpur used to be one of the most significant cities across the subcontinent. It was popular for its literary luminaries, excellent education system, the opulence of its palaces, gardens, as well as its cuisine and friendly citizens. Today, the city lies in ruins, and the architectural wonders built centuries ago have all but vanished. Most of the educated families have migrated. While nobody expects the government to restore the lost splendour of Shikarpur, it is not too illogical to expect the government to make sincere efforts to preserve the architectural masterpieces and rehabilitate the city to the extent that it can.

Nasir Soomro
Karachi

FASTING EXEMPTIONS: There are categories of people who have been exempted from fasting during Ramazan, like children, sick people, travellers and non-Muslims. However, food is not available anywhere, including railway stations and bus stands, during fasting hours. Drinking water and eating food in public is also prohibited by law. Ramazan is still a few months away, but the Council of Islamic Ideology has to start considering the matter today so that we may have a decision before the fasting month begins.

M. Akram Niazi
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2023