WHATSAPP USERNAME: As a privacy feature, WhatsApp is introducing usernames, allowing people to contact each other without exchanging phone numbers. Security researchers and regulators in several countries have flagged it as a new and fairly convenient tool for impersonation and fraud. Pakistan, with nearly 50 to 60 million WhatsApp users, already has a serious problem with online scams. If someone creates a username like, say, ‘FBR Helpdesk’, people will not be able to check whether or not the account is genuine. Regulators in other markets have asked questions before the feature went live. I wonder why nobody is bothered in Pakistan?

Maheen Zahra
Lahore

FAIR STIPEND: According to an official notification released by the Sindh Health Department, nursing graduates undergoing internship will now receive only Rs30,000 per month. It is sad that nurses who perform their duties from dawn to dusk with utmost dedication are being offered such a low stipend during their internship period. On the other hand, medical interns — doctors — receive at least Rs70,000 per month during their internship. Both doctors and nurses are the pillars of the national healthcare system. Therefore, treating them equally is important. The authorities in Sindh should ensure fair and equal treatment.

Abdul Samad Sahito
Larkana

DIGITAL ATTESTATION: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has recently digitalised the entire attestation process to make it more efficient and quick. The new system has come with a significant increase in attestation charges as well. However, as someone who has used the new system, I can assure one and all that it has not made anything quicker. It has now been over a month since I submitted an application and I am yet to receive my documents. The HEC administration should ensure that the system is actually efficient and fast to make life easier for those who are seeking to get their documents attested.

Urooj Imran
Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2026