OUTDOOR SPORTS: In many urban areas, public playgrounds and parks are dominated by boys and young men. Young women, especially teenagers, are rarely seen participating in outdoor sports. From an early age, girls are often guided towards indoor activities, while physical activity is seen as something more suitable for boys. Such attitudes ignore the physical and mental health benefits that regular activity provides. Encouraging girls to engage in sports should not be treated as a cultural threat, but as a public health priority. Schools, communities and local authorities must arrange safe and accessible facilities, including designated hours or spaces where needed, so that young women may participate comfortably.

Isha Hafeez
Karachi

DIGITAL LITERACY: With more than 66.9 million social media users, the lack of digital literacy is one of the concerning topics in Pakistan. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) reports that low digital literacy is a major factor behind the 35 per cent increase in cybercrime incidents in 2025, including financial fraud and WhatsApp hacking. The Global Anti-Scam Alliance as well as Feedzai’s Global State of Scams Report 2025 state that digital scams overall cost Pakistanis over $9.3 billion a year, or almost 2.5pc of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The government should promote nationwide digital literacy campaigns to educate citizens about online safety, digital rights and common cyber-scams that continue to deprive many a citizen of their hard-earned money.

Arpna Rassani
Mithi

WOMEN TEACHERS: Hundreds of girls in Umar Bhayo village in Larkana district want to go to school, but their parents show reluctance because of the lack of women teachers. There are more than a dozen highly educated girls and women belonging to the same village who teach in private schools in major cities. They want to teach in their native village schools if given an opportunity with an age relaxation of up to 45 years.

Tasleem Naz Abro
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2026