GAS SHORTAGE: The supply of natural gas is essential for households, industries, transport and businesses, but low pressure and prolonged outages leave many to hold their head in frustration. Households struggle to prepare meals and keep water geysers functional, while industries face interruptions in production. Small businesses also suffer financial losses because they have to depend on alternative and often more expensive sources of energy. The government should take immediate measures to address the issue. Domestic gas exploration should be encouraged, the transmission and distri-bution network should be improved, and gas theft and wastage should be controlled.

Memoona
Sargodha

QUALITY OF RESEARCH: Pakistan’s research landscape presents a striking paradox. Over the last two decades, the volume of academic output has expanded dramatically. Universities have multiplied, postgraduate programmes have proli-ferated, and the number of research publications has grown from a few hundred annually in the early 2000s to tens of thousands in recent years. Yet, this numerical surge has not been matched by a corresponding rise in the quality, impact or societal relevance of the work produced. The result is an academic system that often prioritises quantity over actual substance.

Khushal Zaman
Peshawar

CORN CULTIVATION: This is with reference to the report ‘Pakistan approves genetically modified corn cultivation’ (Sep 1). In an era where people are reverting to organic food, realising the enormous damage done by chemically treated foods to human health, our government is opting for genetically modified corn cultivation. Bowing down to the pressure being exerted by the United States, policymakers have decided to compromise human health. They have ignored the fact that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not welcome in European Union countries, China and many others. One can only hope that some sanity might prevail before it is too late.

Rubina Jan
Karachi

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2026