CITIZENS PORTAL: The Pakistan Citizens’ Portal was established to provide people with a simple and transparent way to report public grievances and seek timely assistance from government departments. Unfortunately, many complaints now remain pending for weeks or even months without any meaningful action. Delayed responses and unresolved issues have reduced public confidence in the platform. A grievance redressal system is only effective when complaints are addressed promptly, fairly and transparently. If the portal itself becomes unresponsive, citizens are left wondering where to seek justice from. To restore trust, the government must ensure timely complaint resolution and strict monitoring of departments.
Prof Mazhar Yousuf Ansari
Hyderabad
MINDFUL CONSUMERS: Mass-produced fashion items in Pakistan is a human crisis, an environmental wound, and a cultural loss sold to us as affordability. We see low prices, but we do not see human beings working 14-hour shifts in sub-human conditions. We do not see the rivers contaminated with the by-products of cheap fashion, or the dying traditions of our artisans who can no longer compete in this fast-paced world. This is not development; this is destruction with better public relations. We need to shift our focus and support slow, ethical fashion, demand fair wages, protect local craft, and regulate industries that pollute the environment.
Muhammad Shahjahan Memon
Islamabad
LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT: Recently, a 13-year-old boy from Kot Shahoo in Shikarpur was bitten by a dog. His family rushed him to the local civil hospital where they were told that the the required injection was no available. The family was advised to take the patient to the hospital in Daharki, some 150km away. If a government hospital is unable to provide even life-saving treatment, where are the billions of rupees that are allocated to the health sector? It appears that the elected legislators, district officials and other relevant authorities visit public hospitals only for fake inspections and publicity.
Zulfiqar Ali Junejo
Shikarpur
Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2026