POWER BLACKOUTS: People in many areas of Pakistan are facing power blackouts. They cannot use fans, coolers and air conditioners to survive this unbearable heat. The elderly and children feel agitated, the students cannot study properly, the patients face difficulties, and the businesses are disturbed. As such, in rural and urban areas, people live without electricity for long hours. The government must resolve the issue and invest in solar and wind resources. More electricity should be produced by utilising alternative resources. Summer blackouts should be stopped immediately.

Asma Yaseen Abbasi
Karachi

ISLAMABAD’S UPKEEP: Following the recent hailstorm in Islamabad, many trees across various sectors, including the relatively well-off areas like F-8, were uprooted. Fallen trees, broken branches and debris still remain scattered on the ground. Unfortunately, even after several days, a proper clean-up has yet to take place. This is not just limited to one sector. Parks throughout the city are poorly maintained. These places are meant to offer peace and serenity, but they now reflect mismanagement and indifference. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) must realise the necessity of maintenance and initiate a cleanliness drive. A capital city like Islamabad deserves better.

Isha Batool
Islamabad

MURDER IN HOSTEL: The recent murder in Islamabad’s Sector G-10/1 has come as a shock. According to media and police reports, a boy entered a girls’ hostel, and shot a girl dead. The area is known as a hub where students from various parts of the city and country come to prepare for competitive examinations. Unfortunately, hostel owners often prioritise profits over security measures, which can lead to horrific incidents like the recent one. It is the responsibility of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) as well as the district administration to regulate hostels, ensuring they meet certain conditions, and conducting regular inspection to avoid such tragedies.

Khateeb Khan
Kotli, AJK

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2025