STREET BEGGING: The newly pro-posed bill in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assembly to imprison street beggars is a commendable step. The mafia, operating across the country, has turned begging into a business, and it is time to deal with this nuisance through strict law enforcement. However, relevant institutions must be cautious in creating a distinction between needy people and culprits. To permanently address the issue, the provincial government should provide the genuine needy with some ethical means of livelihood. Moreover, other provinces should also establish a policy in this regard.

Misbah Akram Khan Karachi

TANKER ACCIDENTS: The recent death of a motorcyclist in Gulistan-i-Jauhar area of Karachi after he was run over by a water tanker is yet another tragic addition to the growing list of such incidents. While each incident is briefly mourned, little appears to change on the ground. For ordinary citizens, using the city’s roads has become a frightening prospect. The frequency of such accidents reflects not only negligence on the part of the drivers, but also a persistent failure of the authorities in terms of enforcing regulations. Inconsistent and selective implementation of traffic safety rules has rendered them largely ineffective. If these laws were enforced strictly and uniformly across the city, many such tragic incidents could well be prevented.

Darakshan Riaz
Karachi

AUSTERITY LESSON: This is with reference to the letter ‘True austerity’ (April 5), which highlighted the attributes of Angela Merkel, the former chancellor of Germany. She was undoubtedly unmatched in her conduct, having managed such a large country for 16 years with remarkable success. Therefore, a purely hypothetical idea comes to my mind: if nothing else, our government can muster the courage to invite Ms Merkel to Islamabad for a year to assist it in effectively running the country with simplicity, strength, lasting austerity and a vision of sustainable development.

Abbas R. Siddiqi
Lahore

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2026