TAX BREAKS: This is with reference to the report ‘Car sales plunge by 36pc in July’ (Aug 13), which talked of the crippling effect of taxes on the automobile industry. Interestingly, just days earlier, an automobile company had placed advertisements boasting of exporting cars, indicating progress. However, the report seems to be nothing but a lobbying attempt. Every year in May, the auto sector launches a campaign to somehow get more tax breaks in the budget. But this geriatric infant never really grows up. If the export claim is true, why do the manufacturers not focus on exports, and let the consumers have imported cars? Just think about it.

Irfan Ahmad
Karachi

MPOX AWARENESS: The disruption of WhatsApp and social media in Pakistan has affected healthcare awareness. Those in power need to realise the impact of these disruptions and should do better pilot-testing for whatever project they are working on. The World Health Organ- isation recently declared mpox outbreak as a public health emergency of intern- ational concern. In these times when we are facing threats from different epidemics and potential pandemics, any communication disruption should be evaluated seriously. Where digital media acts as a vehicle of disinformation, it also remains an essential tool of communication to give life-saving information to the masses.

Mariam Khan
Lahore

POOR SERVICE: My home internet and phone (021-35291010) have been down for the last several days. I have filed several complaints, but the internet connection has remained non-functional, causing a lot of trouble in managing my official work. The Pakistan Telecomm- unication Company Limited (PTCL) has recently installed fibre optics in Karachi’s Zamzama area, but has failed to provide trained technicians for timely repair as well as maintenance. The PTCL authorities should redress my complaint, and waive all the charges related to the period till the service is available again.

Tufail Ali Zubedi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2024