UNSAFE VACCINATION: Hundreds of mothers and infants were present at a government hospital in Islamabad during an open vaccination day recently, but there appeared to be only one nurse who was managing the crowd, handling records, and administering vaccinations. I was particularly concerned by the apparent lack of adequate infection-control measures, questions regarding proper vaccine temperature maintenance, and an open container in which used syringes were being stored. Such conditions can undermine public confidence in essential immunisation programmes. Health authorities must urgently investigate such practices, conduct regular inspections, ensure adequate staffing, maintain the vaccine cold chain, enforce hand hygiene, and provide proper sharps-disposal facilities. Moreover, staff should also receive regular infection-control training.

Samantha Angelo
Islamabad

STADIUM NOT NEEDED: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is all set to spend millions of rupees on constructing a new cricket stadium in Islamabad while half of the federal capital is struggling to somehow manage drinking water. We live in a capital where public schools barely have any resources, streets in middle-class societies are without lighting for months, and buses take ages to arrive at a bus stop. The first priority of the city administration should be to ensure that taxpayers have better living conditions. Unless they fix the water supply system in all sectors, it will be sheer madness to start excavation for a new stadium.

Awais Wazir
Islamabad

SELLING SCRAP: While travelling from Lahore to Karachi recently, I witnessed mountains of railway scrap material — gathering layers of rust and dust — lying unattended along the route. The government should auction the railway scrap material before these mountains vanish from the face of Earth. Keeping in view the fragile economy of the country, the government would surely get some relief from such an auction.

Najeeb ur Rehman Jafferi
Sanghar

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2026