TAX ON PENSION: In view of the tricky financial condition of the motherland, we, the pensioners, should feel the problems being faced by the common man. The expenditure on pensions is also a great burden on the national exchequer. Therefore, we should lessen the burden by paying income tax on pension. The matter should be considered with the seriousness that it surely deserves.
Lt-Col (retd) Syed Iftikhar Ahmed
Karachi
CONTRADICTORY CLAIM: It was interesting to see Sindh Chief Minister utter the words ‘inclusivity’ and ‘equality’ in his speech at the inauguration of a learning centre for people with Down Syndrome. He referred to ‘inclusivity’ in terms of absorbing people with disabilities (PWDs) into the overall governance structure. The provincial education department has a strict policy in this regard which is against the spirit of teaching and non-teaching recruitment policy of 2021. The chief minister should end the existing contradictions in policies before even talking about ‘inclusivity’.
Muhammad Waseem Tunio
Islamabad
UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR: I recently installed a popular app to help my sister in her studies. But it was shocking to see some of the ‘students’ using foul language in the comments section. All app-makers, especially those targeting students, should keep some kind of check-and-balance mechanism to ensure a healthy environment for everyone while using the app. Spending money on advertisement alone will not help the app-makers retain their users.
Hajra Rauf
Karachi
HELP THE STUDENTS: Karachi University is a public-sector institution where most students belong to low and middle classes. As many of them lost their part-time jobs during and after the Covid phase, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) should increase the university’s budget in order to give some relief to the students in the shape of scholarships and reduced fees. This will stop the dropout trend that can be seen currently among students because of financial constraints.
Alvea Naeem
Karachi
Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2022