A LARGE number of Pakistani expatriates serve in various categories, from unskilled labour to highly qualified professionals in various fields, remitting about $2 billion a month, which is a great support for the national economy. A serious debate is going on about the admissibility of the right to vote in the parent country, Pakistan. This is a healthy debate wherein various aspects are being brought out both in favour of and against the expatriates’ right to vote. It is not difficult to reach a proper conclusion if we keep the national interest supreme over everything else.

There are two types of expatriates. The first category is of those who have not obtained the nationality of the host country and are there on work permits. The others have obtained the nationality of the host country.

All those who are working on work permits are Pakistanis and have only Pakistani passport, therefore, they should be given the right to vote.

Those who have acquired the citizenship of the host country but continue to keep the citizenship of Pakistan as well are dual nationals, and, obviously, their loyalty stands divided. As such, they should not have the right to vote in the parent country.

Lt-Col (retd) Syed Iftikhar Ahmed Karachi

CARDIAC FACILITIES: The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), in collaboration with the Sindh government, has set up a modern cardiac facility in Sehwan. Before the establishment of this facility, patients from remote areas had to visit the NICVD centre in Karachi for treatment. Approximately 80-100 patients from Dadu, Mehar, Johi, Bhan Saeedabad, Jhangara Bajara, Manchar, Kohistan and other areas of the province visit NICVD Sehwan every day for diagnosis and treatment. The centre also offers round-the-clock free facilities of angiography, angioplasty, echocardiography and other diagnostic testing.

Dr Suresh Kumar Karachi

STRAY DOGS: The population of stray dogs has increased in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Karachi. Unfortunately they are being cared for and fed by certain ‘dog-loving residents’ who resist culling drives by the Cantonment Board Clifton (CBC). This situation has restricted the outdoor movement of people, especially the children and the elderly. The DHA and CBC need to come up with an effective plan to help the citizens get rid of these stray dogs.

Arsalan Faruqi Karachi

JOBLESSNESS: By the end of 2021, the number of jobless people in Pakistan is expected to exceed 6.5 million. On the other hand, 22.8 million children are out of school, and the government is striving to bring these children into the academic fold. Why would parents be willing to send their children to school when a sizeable number of literate people in the same society are unemployed?

Zikria Maqsood Lahore

THANK YOU, PRIME MINISTER: The government, especially the prime minister, needs to be appreciated for declaring duty exemption on life-saving therapies for a group of rare diseases, collectively known as Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) that arise out of consanguineous marriages. The policy step would go a long way in providing relief to the patients and their families.

Atif Ejaz Qureshi Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2021