TALKS WITH TALIBAN: This is with reference to the article ‘Soft on the TTP’ (June 26). The media brought the issue of talks with the Taliban into the limelight. I wonder why a single institution decides the security choices and why the process of policy-making cannot be inclusive. We are living in a digital age where nothing can be kept hidden. It is in the interest of the nation to discuss choices openly. The stakeholders should be duly heard by the policymakers.

Zohaib Ali Bhagat
Ranipur

ISLAMIC BANKING: This is with reference to the article ‘The rise of Islamic banking’ (Eos; June 19) which consumed two pages, but didn’t tell us what is so different between Islamic and conventional banking. In fact, the term Islamic banking is something of a misnomer. The banks are commercial entities and are always chasing profits. Therefore, Islamic banking is just a buzzword in today’s financial world to widen the net in search of new customers.

Mohammad Ali Bhatti
Lahore

BUDGET FOR THE RICH: This refers to the editorials ‘Budget 2022-23’ (June 11) and ‘Budget blame’ (June 14). The wrangling on the economy, including crucial indicators, between the government and the opposition is not new, particularly at the budget time. The budget needs to be dissected from the common man’s perspective. Developing a workable and viable budget under challenging times is no rocket science. It is a test of the sanguinity of the leadership and the deftness and competence of its finance team. The people would willingly endure more pain if the austerity starts from the top and then filters down.

Arif Majeed
Karachi

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT: There is a talk going around about early elections in order to eliminate political uncertainty in the country. As things stand, having anything else except a national government for five years will be like flogging a dead horse, which we have been doing for several decades without any result, or should I say, having the same result.

Saeed Alizai
Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2022