ACADEMIC STRESS: For many students, exams no longer test knowledge alone; they test emotional endurance. Endless syllabi, sleepless nights and unrealistic expectations have turned academic life into a cycle of fear and self-doubt. Most students suffer in silence. Educational institutions proudly display results, but remain indifferent to the mental strain behind this so-called ‘success’. Counselling services are scarce, and students are rarely taught how to cope with pressure in a healthy way. This neglect damages confidence, motivation and long-term wellbeing of the students. If education aims at building capable individuals, mental health support must become as essential as exams. Educational institutions and leaders must act before academic pressure leaves lasting scars.

Ehtisham Ijaz
Islamabad

OUTDATED LIBRARIES: Many of Pakistan’s major libraries operate as if the digital age has not arrived yet. From Islamabad to Lahore, it is the same story. Even at the British Council library, reliable internet access is either absent or rendered unusable through signal jammers. In several libraries, mobile signals do not work at all. Where Wi-Fi exists, it is often so slow that a basic Google search takes several minutes. Equally troubling are restrictive operating hours. Most public libraries close by 8pm, precisely when students and working researchers are free to study. In a country where quiet study spaces are a luxury, libraries should be expanding access to facilitate students, not curtailing it.

Danish Bhutto
Islamabad

ROAD FOR KULI GOTH: The area of Kuli Goth is located at a distance of less than 10km from Pasni city, but there is no basic road facility in the area, which, unfortunately, makes travelling extremely difficult. On the other hand, every day, hundreds of people travel to Pasni for work and studies. They travel for more than an hour on foot. The authorities concerned should take immediate steps to resolve the issue by building a road.

Ameer Lal Baloch
Pasni

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2026