CELLPHONE ADDICTION: Cellphones have become an indispensable part of our lives, but its excessive use might be hazardous to our health. Tendonits is a common disease, with pain in the tendons and difficulty in moving the joints owing to lack of change in posture. In severe cases, impaired vision also creeps in. It is alarming to see teenagers being glued to their cellphones, which means they are unable to get proper rest. The parents must keep a close check on their children.

Muhammad Faheem
Larkana

SMOKING HAZARDS: The normal blood pressure of a healthy person should be 120/80, but the blood pressure of a smoker often remains at least five degrees higher on both counts. It means that the heart has to work harder to pump the required amount of blood to the rest of the body. Over time, the arteries narrow down as nicotine sticks to the walls of blood vessels, making it even harder for the heart. The smokers need to realise that their habit can be lethal and may lead to early death.

Shahzad Lodhi
Rawalpindi

RUDE STAFF: The International Islamic University in Islamabad has more than 30,000 students who routinely have to put up with the rude and offensive behaviour of the university administration. The provost office has all but become a no-go area for the students even when they have a genuinely serious and urgent issue; so pathetic is the attitude of that office. The university management must take notice of the issue and direct the officials concerned to stop abusing their authority.

Javaid Dashti
Islamabad

UNPAID PARAMEDICS: It is rather surprising that in this era of inflation, 450 of the 1,200 paramedics who had been recruited in Qasimabad, Hyderabad, for the Covid-related vaccination drive have not been paid their salaries. It is nothing but open exploitation of daily-wagers. The government must ensure immediate disbursal of salaries.

Fawad Hussain
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2021