BUTTERFLIES IN KARACHI: There was a time when Karachi used to be a city of plants, flowers and trees. Lovely butterflies could be seen fluttering around. But now, the city has changed a lot and butterflies have almost disappeared. Trees have been cut down without care, and very little attention is given to greenery. Another major problem is pollution. A large number of vehicles produce smoke, which makes the air harmful. In addition, climate change is also adding to the gravity of the situation. If we want to see the beautiful butterflies again, it is our responsibility to plant more trees and plants to keep the environment clean and to try to reduce pollution.

Imran Rafi
Karachi

CORRECT IDENTITY: This is with reference to the report “Punjab govt has ‘no plan’ to take over Asif Jah Haveli” (April 25). I am not an authority on Mughal history or of Mughal architecture, but I would like to correct a glaring error in the report. The name of the Mughal celebrity is Asaf Khan and not Asif Jah. He was the father of Arjumand Bano Begum, who is better known as Mumtaz Mahal of Taj Mahal fame. Asif Jah Nizam-ul-Mulk I (1671-1748) was a former Nizam of Hyderabad and there were many among his successors who subsequently adopted the Asif Jah title.

Dr Shaukat Mahmood
Lahore

MARKETABLE SKILLS: While we take pride in being one of the youngest nations in the world, this demographic dividend may soon become a liability owing to unemployment and underemployment. The primary culprit is not a lack of degrees, but a lack of marketable skills. Our curriculum remains heavily theoretical, often ignoring the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics and digital literacy. The frustration among the youth is palpable, leading to increased brain drain. To counter this, the government and private sector must collaborate to integrate vocational training and digital soft skills into the mainstream curriculum.

Nosheen Abbas
Sargodha

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2026