EMERGENCY WARD: The condition of Civil Hospital Turbat’s Emergency Ward is deeply alarming. Broken beds, unhygienic surroundings and a lack of basic cleanliness have turned this critical facility into a hazardous space. Patients who arrive seeking urgent care are instead exposed to infections and discomfort, worsening their condition rather than improving it. The situation is even more distressing for women. The absence of proper privacy in the ward is not just matter of neglect; it is a violation of one’s dignity. The relevant authorities must fix these conditions, ensure cleanliness and protect both patient privacy and dignity.

Zeebjan Akther
Turbat

PUNJAB PUBLIC LIBRARY: The Punjab Public Library serves as an important study space for learners. At present, it comprises only three halls. Two of these halls can accommodate around 25-30 students each. Students struggle to find seats, particularly during peak study hours. The third hall is comparatively larger and contains library books. However, students are not permitted to bring their own books, printed notes or digital study materials into that hall. This restriction, which was not always in place, has caused inconvenience to students. The authorities should review this policy.

Jandad Shah Mandokhail
Lahore

EXPENSIVE MEDICINES: Recent months have seen price hikes of 20-40 per cent on common antibiotics, insulin and cardiovascular drugs. Families are now forced to choose between buying groceries and completing a course of treatment. Some patients are dangerously rationing doses, while others sink into medical debt. The causes include supply chain disruptions, high cost of raw pharmaceutical ingredients, and excessive intermediary mark-ups. Policymakers must bring essential drugs under price control mechanisms, strengthen public-sector pharmacies that offer generics at affordable rates, and increase domestic production of active pharmaceutical ingredients to cut import dependence.

Fiza Abbas
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2026