NON-FUNCTIONAL SCHOOLS: According to the provincial Education Department, 3,500 schools in Balochistan are non-functional due to shortage of teachers. Additionally, 542 schools have been closed since the government assu-med charge last year. The most affected areas with a number of non-functional schools in Balochistan are Pishin (254), Khuzdar (251), Kalat (179), Qila Saifullah (179), Barkhan (174), Awaran (161) and Quetta (152). Unfortunately, the province of Balochistan has been grappling with multiple challenges due to shortage of 16,000 teachers. Education is essential for the country to prosper and develop. It must not be ignored by the authorities.

Farah Naz Saeed Ahmed
Turbat

DEFENDING MISOGYNY: This is with reference to the editorial ‘Deplorable remarks’ (Sep 11), which expressed concern over the incarcerated former prime minister’s defence of the contro-versial remarks against women professionals made by the sitting chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The former went on to say that those who had apologised for the latter’s remarks were actually cowards. Why should this surprise anyone? After all, the man in prison was the one who made the use of abusive language fashionable. As such, it is only natural that party members want to imitate him. I wonder if the party’s female voters would also be negatively affected by such blatant misogyny.

Shakir Lakhani
Karachi

LIBRARY TIMINGS: The public-sector library in Sehwan is failing to serve the purpose of education by following a strict 9am-5pm schedule. Most people visit the library after completing their acad-emic commitments, and do not get enough time to utilise the library’s resources. The administration has failed to extend work hours even though there is no official hitch in this regard. The autho-rities concerned should take immediate action and direct the library administration to extend the library hours up to 8pm. This should be done forthwith.

Ali Sher Abro
Sehwan

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2024