EMPATHY FIRST: Illustrious fiction writer Bano Qudsia in her book Raja Gidh mentions that when someone commits suicide, the whole society is at fault; it tightens its grip around their neck so they may kill themselves. Truly, we think more and feel less. People who feel suicidal need empathy. But we use our cerebral cortex more than we use our limbic system.

Our mirror neurons in brain, responsible for empathy, have been degenerated and we have become cattle or machines.

Prof Shams Raza Brohi
Tando Adam

A LEGEND NO MORE: Renowned poet, playwright, screenwriter and a man of intellect, Amjad Islam Amjad, passed away recently due to cardiac arrest. His services to art and culture in the country will be cherished forever. Certainly, it is a great loss for all of us and the void left after him can never be filled. I do not have much to write about him as his name and works speak volumes. Rest in peace, Sir.

Touqeer W. Chishty
Lahore

UNLICENSED APPS: The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has rightly warned the public to avoid any transaction with unapproved loan provider applications. A list of licensed non-banking finance companies and digital lending apps can be obtained from the SECP website. People would do well to verify their regulatory status before making any transaction.

Ahsan Ul Haq Shaikh
Chunian

LIMITED IMAGINATION: The article “You’re a disgrace, PTA” (Feb 12) rightly pointed out the ‘limitless stupidity’ behind the decision to ban Wikipedia in Pakistan. Apart from all the other challenges that the country has to contend with, we also have to suffer the consequences of decisions made by men with limited imagination. While people elsewhere in the world explore the ever-expanding boundaries of the cosmos, we in Pakistan languish in an obscurantist environment.

Hasan Pervez
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2023