GENERATIONAL CURSE: Hepatitis has become a generational curse in Chak 65 GD in Sahiwal. Almost every household has been affected by it. There are two main reasons behind the crisis. An uncovered drainage canal runs through the village and all the factories nearby discharge untreated toxic waste into the canal. The situation is exacerbated by the lack of water filtration plants in the area. People have no choice, but to inhale toxic air and consume polluted water. The government should at least install a water filtration plant in the area.

Ramsha Asif
Lahore

MERE RHETORIC: Governments in Pakistan keep making announcements from time to time regarding plans to curtail their expenditure. Some people get excited till they realise that what they heard were announcements, not decisions. Even when decisions are announced, they never get implemented. Reportedly, public servants re-employed after retirement are continuing to draw double salaries, and misuse of official vehicles remains rampant. Unfortunately, both the ‘decisions’ to save unnecessary expenses have not been implemented yet.

Dr Najeeb A. Khan
Islamabad

URBAN SPRAWL: Cities across Pakistan are expanding without proper planning, leading to significant challenges. A report by the Asian Development Bank has recommended that Pakistan should devise short-, medium- and long-term plans to manage this growth effectively, with each megacity requiring a master plan as well as proper zoning to make land use efficient. Local governments that succe-ssfully implement these plans should be rewarded, while penalties should also be imposed on those that fail. Further-more, new cities should be established nearby instead of expanding the existing ones. The relevant authorities must act on these recommendations, ensuring that laws and plans are implemented effectively, and allocations and benefits are distributed fairly and responsibly, ensuring transparency in the process.

Ahsan ul Haq Shaikh
Chunian

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2024