WALKING THE TIGHTROPE: At present, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) seems to be in a fix due to the six canals project. On the one hand, the project is approved by their supreme leader who happens to be the president of Pakistan, while on the other hand, the provincial government of Sindh, headed by the party itself, has to oppose the project for the sake of its own political survival in the face of mounting pressure from nationalist forces. It is like walking the tightrope. Let us all wait and see how the party gets itself out of this pickle.

Malik ul Quddoos
Karachi

INSTABILITY: Most people have been following the ongoing instability in the United States. It is currently within manageable limits, but there is a possibility that it could escalate into something more dangerous, like, say, a civil war. If it does, then the magnitude of the damage would be incalculable.

It would, therefore, be prudent for the policymakers in Pakistan to start devising a plan on how to mitigate any risks that could arise. Two areas to begin with are international banking and maritime systems. Some people may hail the fall of the US dollar as the reserve currency, but what else are we going to pay for all the oil that we need?

Kaswer Hafeez
Islamabad

TRAGIC LOSSES: The tragic death of a young couple and their unborn child near Malir Halt due to a speeding watertanker is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by heavy vehicles in Karachi. There is hardly a day without a major road accident. A social welfare organisation recently reported that 68 people had been killed by heavy vehicles in the first 83 days of 2025 alone. Investigations into the recent tragedy point to factors like over-speeding, driver fatigue and inadequate road safety measures. The authorities should implement stricter regulations, ensure rigorous enforcement of laws for heavy vehicles, and improve road infrastructure to prevent further loss of innocent lives.

Muhammad Azram Butt
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2025