A HIDDEN GEM: Kulbar, a river in southern Balochistan close to Apsikan, is a great picnic spot that many people do not know about. The people of Apsikan are active, genius and hospitable. However, many of them have migrated to other cities due to the absence of basic facilities. The place does attract visitors, mostly couples on their honeymoon. The place has everything that nature could give, but nothing of what humans were expected to provide. It has a river and a mountain range, but no infrastructure that may facilitate the visitors.

Nagina Rind Baloch
Turbat

SALES TAX: I recently purchased a blood pressure monitor from a local outlet. The bill showed the cost of instrument to be Rs4,100, and Rs725 were added as sales tax. My understanding is that sales tax should be paid by the seller, not by the buyer. However, it is recovered from the buyer. Why? This tax should either be paid by the sellers out of their sales profit, or it should be renamed as ‘purchase tax’. Only then its recovery from the buyer would make some sense.

M. Maruf Athar
Karachi

GILGIT-CHITRAL EXPRESSWAY: The multi-billion-rupee Gilgit-Chitral Expressway has been under construction for more than two years now. Area people have been raising their voice against the change in the original design of the road at the behest of some influential people having a stake in the project. The expressway is considered a tourist corridor and a game-changer. It is high time the relevant authorities made some necessary intervention.

Asghar Ali Shamoon
Jutial, Gilgit

SIGNAL OUTAGE: People in Kohlu district have been facing a number of challenges related to communication and business activities due to fluctuating cellphone signals. Over the last six months, things have gone from bad to worse. The relevant authorities should take immediate action in this regard.

Muhammad Shoaib
Kohlu

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2024