CLOSING LIBRARIES: All educational institutions and libraries remained closed from Feb 6 to 12 in connection with the general elections. The closure of libraries left many students, especially those preparing for competitive examinations, without access to essential resources. I was diligently preparing for my annual exams, but the closure of libraries disrupted the study routine. The environment at home or elsewhere was not conducive to focussed studying, making it nearly impossible to proceed with my preparations. The relevant authorities should think twice before taking such decisions as they impact the academic pursuits of students.

Asim Baloch
Hub

LENGTHY QUEUES: My recent visit to an office of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) left me taken aback by an unbelievably lengthy queue. Fatigue set in long before I could even reach the counter. Interestingly, this Nadra office is situated in Islamabad, the federal capital. Despite the abundance of managerial staff, only 2-3 of the counters were operational. The lack of efficiency and the utter absence of a streamlined process were conspicuous, making the entire experience way more cumbersome than necessary. It raises questions about the organisation’s commitment to service quality and delivery. The Nadra management needs to rethink its approach and make things more straightforward and less daunting for the people in order to save their time.

Shah Hassan
Islamabad

A STAR LOST: The sudden death of young Pakistani tennis player Zainab Ali Naqvi is heart-breaking. I wonder why we do not have proper emergency services for our athletes in the country. Was an autopsy done to determine the real cause of the death? No. In case of a shocking tragedy like this, things need to be properly investigated. Our youth, especially the sportsmen, are a national asset. They deserve a better deal, and should be treated as a valuable asset.

Durre Fatima
Lahore

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2024