WORRIED STUDENTS: The Baloch-istan Education Endowment Fund (BEEF) is a scholarship programme managed by the government. Recently, many students reported delays in receiving scholarship funds. These delays have caused serious challenges to the students, such as difficulty in paying tuition fee or buying books. As a result, deserving students have been forced to drop out or face unnecessary academic pressure. Another related issue is the lack of follow-up. Once the scholarship is awarded, there is no way to monitor whether the funds are reaching the recipients on time, or if they are facing any problems. To truly fulfil the mission, it is essential to improve the process and ensure transparency and efficiency.

Noreen M. Saleem
Turbat

POLIO WORKERS: According to the Emergency Operations Centre in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), militants have carried out 23 attacks against polio teams and security escorts in Pakistan this year. The safety of polio workers is a major concern, as these attacks put their lives at risk and hinder efforts to immunise children against the crippling disease. The recent abduction of polio workers is a stark reminder of the security challenges faced by frontline workers in Pakistan’s polio eradication programme. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, and has underscored the need for increased security measures to protect all our polio workers active in high-risk areas.

Bakhtiyar Phullan
Turbat

FROM TABOO TO TALK: A few years ago, I lost my aunt to breast cancer. The family did not know she was suffering from the deadly disease because she chose to suffer in silence. By the time the family came to know of it, things had gone too far. In Pakistan, cases of breast cancer are rising at an alarming rate, but women do not feel confident about sharing their health problems. Close family members should play their role, and make communication stronger to have bonds of trust among them. More awareness and timely diagnoses can save precious lives.

Fizzah Kafeel
Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2025