UNFAIR PRACTICES: Many of those in Punjab preparing for the Central Superior Services (CSS) exams go to Lahore for the purpose. During their stay, they are exploited in many ways. Several local households offer overpriced rooms and poor-quality food. The rent is unjus-tifiably raised after every couple of months. The aspirants are further bur-dened by inflated electricity bills with falsified units, and local vendors charge exorbitant prices for items of everyday use. Most of the aspirants belong to middle-class backgrounds and cannot afford these expenses. It is crucial for the authorities to regulate the actions of land-lords and vendors to create a supportive environment for the aspirants.

Ghulam Murtaza Charo
Tharparkar

ENGLISH TEACHERS: The University College of Dera Murad Jamali functions as a campus of the Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences (LUAWMS), which was established in 2018 after approval from the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Many hardworking teachers are serving in its five departments. However, the students of English department are frustrated and worried about their future as fresh teachers are not being hired for teaching in the deparment. The students are lagging behind their peers due to the prevailing shortage of subject specialists.

Aftab Ahmed
Jaffarbad

TOXIC WORK CULTURE: We have an abhorring work culture which deprives one of one’s basic rights. For instance, teachers are often denied the right to pursue higher education by their institutions simply because of lack of faculty. Employees, espe-cially in the corporate sector, are restrained from taking a day off despite having a dozen casual leaves, as well as even annual earned leaves. Such practices foster toxic environment. No matter what is the nature of an organisation, serious attention should be paid to these issues. Organisations should change work culture so that humans work like humans, not machines, and contribute to the organisation to their best.

Kamran Akhtar Siddiqui
Sukkur

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2024