TRAFFIC CHAOS: Over the last few months, the situation in Gulistan-i-Jauhar area of Karachi has worsened due to broken roads, unregulated encro-achments and ineffective traffic mana-gement. Long queues of vehicles have become a common sight. One particular incident remains etched in my memory. I recently saw a distressed father pleading for space to let an ambulance pass, but the sea of vehicles remained immovable. Nobody was at fault. They just could not move an inch in that bumper-to-bumper chaos. Such moments make one reflect the human cost of official neglect. It is time for the relevant authorities to step in.

Wajiha Wajihuddin
Karachi

FUSION MODEL: Pakistan has granted approval to the ‘fusion’ model under which India will not come to Pakistan for the next year’s Champions Trophy and have its games played in a third country. In return, Pakistan will not travel to India for two future tourn-aments over the next three years. That said, the Indian leadership, as we know, is a wily entity, and is expected to create conditions at the time of future tourna-ments that will smoothly allow it to back out of the arrangement. This will affect Pakistan’s image and pride. Steps need to be taken now to avoid such embarrassment, and avoid getting into such proposals with India in the future.

Aleem M. Ahmad
Lahore

A HESITANT COMMUTER: I usually use private transport to get to work and this has been my routine for long. However, one day I decided to try the People’s Bus from Malir to Baloch Colony bridge. The journey could be comfortable if you have a small bag and manage to find a corner to stand in. Otherwise, it could be quite exhausting. Baloch Colony bridge is an extremely busy stop. The pedestrian area is covered in sand and garbage, making it difficult to see the stairs, and there are beggars all around. Such an important area should not be in such a poor condition. I was considering using public transport regularly, but not anymore.

Madiha Sabih
Karachi

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2024