FOUR-YEAR LAW DEGREE: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is considering reducing the duration of the LLB programme in Pakistan to four years, which is a good idea. The LLB programme currently spans five years. I am a graduate of the University of Hertfordshire, and I am personally interested in enrolling in a three-year United Kingdom external law programme to avoid spending two extra years in the longer local programme. Many students are opting for external law programmes that offer a three-year LLB, as they find the five-year duration in Pakistan lengthy as well as inefficient. The HEC and the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) should consider shortening the duration.

Nabeel Badr
Islamabad

HEPATITIS CASES: Over the last few months, hepatitis A and E cases have increased to an alarming extent in Lyari. Many of them need hospital admission. As a concerned citizen and a doctor, I feel it is imperative to address the issue. Hepatitis E can cause fulminant liver failure, and patients can lose their lives. Further, the water supplied to the area is polluted and contains small red worms. This polluted water is the biggest source of hepatitis. Government authorities and community leaders should work together to set things right. Clean water is a basic need. It is not a luxury. This should not be too difficult to understand.

Dr Hira Jalil
Karachi

FOODBORNE DISEASES: There have been several outbreaks of diarrhoea, cholera and typhoid in various parts of the country due to resistant pathogens and lack of hygiene practices. Moreover, improper usage of antibiotics has made the disease-causing bacteria resistant to various antibiotics. These practices have decreased the quality of life of both human and animal populations. For instance, an outbreak of an extensively drug-resistant typhoid was reported not too long ago. No doubt, the capacity to address these concerns has been expanded in Pakistan, but there is clearly an urgent need to do more; a lot more, actually.

Muhammad Abu Bakar
Multan

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2025