INFORMAL ECONOMY: According to the World Economic Forum, the informal sector contributes 15 per cent to 35pc to developing economies across the world. In the case of Pakistan, about one-third of the national workforce operates outside the umbrella of formal structures. Indeed, the parallel economy is clearly the invisible engine of the national economy. It may, in fact, be far more potent than industrial parks and big business. To fully tap the potential of Pakistan’s informal sector, the government must plan measures to harness the power of the informal sector so that it may contribute to the national cause.

Shahzil Niazi
Mianwali

COSTLY FARE: The fare from Turbat to Quetta has been increased from Rs2,000 to Rs3,000 without any justifi- cation. According to the newly released official fare list for the Makran route, the fare from Turbat to Quetta is Rs2,500. However, transporters have simply ignored the official order. The majority of travellers on this route happen to be students, and most of them are in no position to afford such high and unfair fares. Moreover, the passengers are not provided basic facilities during the journey. The government should take immediate notice of this injustice.

Hanif Baloch
Turbat

TEST DATE: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) has declared Oct 5 as the date for the next Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT). A large number of students will appear in the test after paying huge sums of fee. This situation paints a dismal picture of our education system. Each year, thousands of students appear in the medical entrance exam, but, unfortunately, there is negligible improvement in the quality and transparency of testing services. As witnessed last year, a paper was leaked, exposing PMDC’s inefficiency. Moreover, the fee structure remains unjustified, and there is lack of systematic reforms. Meaningful structural reforms, including fee reduction, are necessary.

Shah Khalid Baloch
Quetta

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2025