UNPAID TEACHERS: I have been appointed as an intern in the Sindh Teaching Interns Programme (STIP) and teaching Class XI and XII. As per our order, we should be paid Rs60,000 every month as stipend. Initially, we were paid our stipends collectively after nine months but afterwards we were to be paid monthly. However, we have not received any payment for the last four months. How can a middle-class person afford his family without a salary? We request the authorities to regularise the payment and appreciate our services, especially in remote areas of Sindh. This step will also prove beneficial for the province.

Ghulam Murtaza
Tando Adam

BROKEN ROADS: The second retired plane DC-9 has joined the Boeing 737 at the Civil Aviation Training Institute (CATI) that had earlier been moved from Karachi to Hyderabad, but the Airport Road, right from Autobahn to CATI, has yet remained in a pathetic condition. Hundreds of potholes make commute on the road seriously uncomfortable and hazardous. But, unfortunately, the fate of the road has only gone from bad to worse over the last decade. The district administration has been approached a number of times, but to no avail.

Lt-Col (retd) Samiullah Khan
Hyderabad

DIGITAL ECONOMY: Pakistan’s digital economy is booming, with over 3.75 million freelancers contributing to the global market. The rise of digital start-ups in various sectors, like fintech, e-commerce and ed-tech, is also notable as it creates jobs and drives innovation. However, the government must support this sector with targeted policies, such as improving the internet infrastructure. Over 60 per cent of the population lacks access to reliable high-speed internet. Offering tax incentives for start-ups and financial support for freelancers could significantly help. Moreover, facilitating access to international markets through better cross-border payment systems and trade agreements will help Pakistan’s digital economy reach its full potential.

Syeda Ramsha Abbas Rizvi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2024