ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: The worsening climate change phenomenon seems to have blurred the line between environmental and climate change issues in Pakistan. The climate change discourse has overpowered the environmental issues in a broader perspective. Measured on a scale, environmental issues are day-to-day affairs, including worsening air quality, while climate change is a conglomerate of such affairs. A broader shift from environment to climate change may distract our focus from environmental issues.

Zia Ul Islam
Islamabad

FLOUTING RULES: It seems the residents of Banigala have been living under the law of the jungle. The chalked-out rules, for any purpose, are openly flouted by builders. The construction work on a plaza along the Zafeer Abbasi Road has been causing severe inconvenience to the commuters. The rubble is left on the road unattended, exacerbating the issues. The authorities concerned should take notice of it.

Safdar Hayat
Islamabad

MUGGING: Either muggers and snatchers in Karachi are amazingly swift and agile in snatching cellphones with unbelievable ease, or the whole activity takes place in connivance with those responsible for maintaining law and order in the mega city. Instead of controlling the rising incidents of snatching, the police department seems to have some agenda of its own. The government should intervene urgently.

Syed Oun Abbas
Karachi

DRUG PRICES: Though there have been crackdowns against black marketers and hoarders, the issue of medicine shortage has only gained momentum in recent months. The perfect combo of shortage of medicines and their soaring prices has hit the patients hard. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) needs to initiate some urgent and effective plan to control the mafia.

Zainab Sania
Lakki Marwat

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2023