OVERGROWN TREES: With monsoon in full swing, foliage in Islamabad is blooming. Unfortunately, most of the road signs are being obstructed by this random overgrowth, and looking for road directions is very difficult for the drivers. The National Highway Authority (NHA) needs to ensure that all traffic signboards are cleared of undergrowth and are visible to drivers from a reasonable distance. The trees in the older sectors also need trimming as they now have a ‘hippy’ look. The branches of the 50-year-old trees are drooping down on the road, and give the area a rather horror-movie appearance.
Khalid Hyder
Islamabad
TRAUMA CENTRE: I visited the Trauma Centre in Larkana recently to get an anti-tetanus serum (ATS) shot for my brother following a feline bite. Only a single counter was operational to register dozens of patients. The attending doctor barely examined my brother and simply redirected us to the minor procedure room. Once there, the nursing staff refused to administer the shot and bounced us back to another physician. It was only after an on-duty security guard intervened that the very same nurse agreed to administer the injection. The syringe was prepared out of sight, raising grave concerns about basic sterilisation and safety practices. Such negligence jeopardises patient safety.
Abdul Wajid Waggan
Larkana
HEAVY BILLS: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) recently approved a Re0.75 per-unit increase in electricity prices under the monthly fuel cost adjustment (FCA) mechanism for June 2026. Although this was lower than the Rs1.20 per unit requested by the Central Power Purchasing Agency, even relatively small tariff adjustments add to the financial burden on households that are already struggling with rising cost of living. There are also cases in which consumers receive unusually high bills despite limited electricity usage. The government should review electricity tariffs and billing mechanisms, and provide targeted relief to low-income consumers.
Ishfaque Mashooq Brohi
Qubo Saeed Khan
Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2026
