SOME QUESTIONS: This is with reference to the report ‘DHA seeks 6,000 acres of seafront land in Karachi for expansion’ (June 9). A few basic questions come to mind. How many martyrs and armed forces personnel are from Sindh? Has an environmental study been done to determine the impact of such a project? Where will the water and electricity come from? Will electricty from the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant be given to this new community and leave the rest of Karachi in darkness? If the land is eventually used for luxury beachfront homes and apartments, is the Defence Housing Authority the right entity to be given the task of this development? About two-thirds of Karachi’s land is under cantonment control. Do we genuinely need more cantonments?

Irfan Ahmad
Karachi

FURTHER EXPANSION: This is with reference to the report ‘DHA seeks 6,000 acres of seafront land in Karachi for expansion’ (June 9). Recently, rural land spread over 70,000 acres in Sindh was taken over “for martyrs and defenders”, and now the fresh initiative is aimed at providing relief to the families of martyrs and armed forces personnel. Apparently, the martyrs’ families would rather have a luxury home on Karachi’s beachfront, instead of their hometowns across Punjab. Would they?

Syed Shams Naqvi
San Francisco, USA

SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE: Pakistan reached a significant milestone by launching PakSAT MM1 communication satellite into space with Chinese cooperation. The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has highlighted that PakSAT MM1 will be instrumental in advancing the Digital Pakistan initiative, aiming at improving the nation’s communication network, ensuring high-speed internet access even in the most remote areas of the country. As the world becomes more interconnected, enhancing digital infrastructure is vital for economic and social development, and PakSAT MM1 represents a significant step forward for Pakistan in this domain.

Gulab Umid
Turbat

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2024