BURDENING EMPLOYEES: Most private schools love to exploit their employees, imposing on them heavy burden of duties that are not even part of the job descriptions, like counselling the parents of their students. In addition, the employees do not receive any overtime pay, entitlements or incentives. Instead, they face humiliation, stress, disorders, frustration and misfortune as a routine outcome. If we truly want professional progress in any field of life, we must respect and encourage the employees.

Shafqat Ali Bhutto
Larkana

UNFAIR PRACTICE: As summer temperatures rise, so do the challenges faced by Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco) consumers due to excessive loadshedding and unfair billing practices. Over the last few months, numerous complaints have been filed regarding overbilling and unjustified deductions in electricity bills. The situation is further exacerbated by the lack of transparency in billing and load management. The consumers are burdened with inflated bills and prolonged outages that together affect their lives and livelihoods. The Sepco should immediately rectify billing irregularities, provide transparent and accurate billing, and implement fair load management practices.

Abdul Shakoor
Larkana

FOOD STALLS IN PARKS: While the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is taking action against illegal encroachments in different areas of the city, people have set up small hotels and food stalls in public parks. These parks are meant for families, children and people who come for peace and relaxation, but these commercial establishments make the environment noisy and messy. The garbage from these stalls also adds to pollution. If the relevant authorities are serious about removing encroachments, they should also look into this issue. Public parks should not be used for business purposes. The departments concerned should take action, and ensure that parks remain clean and peaceful.

Inam Jaffar
Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2025

Opinion

Editorial

Collective security
Updated 12 Mar, 2026

Collective security

ERASING previously defined ‘red lines’, the brutal US-Israeli war on Iran has brought regional states face to...
Spectrum leap
12 Mar, 2026

Spectrum leap

THE sale of 480 MHz of fifth-generation telecom spectrum for $507m is a major milestone in Pakistan’s digital...
Toxic fallout
12 Mar, 2026

Toxic fallout

WARS can leave environmental scars that remain long after the fighting is over. The strikes on Iran’s oil...
Token austerity
Updated 11 Mar, 2026

Token austerity

The ‘austerity’ measures are a ritualistic response to public anger rather than a sincere attempt to reform state spending.
Lebanon on fire
11 Mar, 2026

Lebanon on fire

WHILE the entire Gulf region has become an active warzone, repercussions of this conflict have spread to the...
Canine crisis
11 Mar, 2026

Canine crisis

KARACHI’S stray dog crisis requires urgent attention. Feral canines can cause serious and lasting physical and...