CONSULTANCY SCAMS: The recent suicide committed by a young girl in Islamabad has highlighted the vulnerability of Pakistani students at the hands of fraudulent education consultancies. Many families sell property and borrow money to fulfil their children’s dreams of studying abroad. Unfortunately, unscrupulous agents exploit their aspirations through false promises, fabricated documents and misleading scholarship claims. Pakistan urgently needs stronger regulation of education consultancies. The authorities concerned should establish transparent registration mechanisms, provide accessible complaint and verification systems, and take strict action against offenders. Universities should also facilitate direct verification of admission letters and scholarship offers.

Dr Farooq Ahmad
Islamabad

ANARKALI FOOD STREET: The poor hygiene conditions at Lahore’s famous Anarkali food street require immediate attention of the authorities concerned. There are open drains at several points, causing foul smell and becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes during the rainy season. Food at the stalls is often left uncovered, while some food handlers prepare and serve it without gloves, proper head covering and without following basic hygiene measures. The relevant authorities need to carry out regular inspections, cover the open drains and ensure that food is properly covered.

Muhammad Hanzla
Lahore

FREQUENT POWER CUTS: For some people, a power cut means waiting a few minutes till the power supply gets restored. For others, it means losing a day’s earnings or spending another sleepless night. Frequent electricity outages are more than an inconvenience; they are a problem that affects people’s ability to work, study and carry on with their daily lives. What makes the situation more frustrating is the uncertainty. K-Electric (KE) should provide timely updates about scheduled loadshedding so that area residents may plan their everyday tasks accordingly.

Yamna Uzair
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2026