CARTOON-MAKING is an art and an engaging medium of communication. It has been an essential part of politics and media since a long time. Political cartoonists present satire, humour and political scenarios through their cartoons.

Benjamin Franklin`s `Join, or Die` cartoon (image above: Wikipedia) in 1754displayed how an artist can sanitise a difficult political issue into a single, potent image. In the cartoon, a severed snake represented the original colonies, which, unless joined together, were certain to perish.

Undoubtedly, Franklin`s cartoon helped him create a sense of American nationhood, and ultimately fuelled the fight for independence. Today, American newspapers use cartoons to highlight current affairs.

Political cartoonists gained traction during the Civil War when artist Thomas Nast created some of the most instantly recognisable images in American politics, including Uncle Sam, the Republican elephant, and the Democratic donkey.

Today, political cartoons are considered to be an essential part of newspapers` editorial pages.

Newspapers across the world, including Pakistan, should also utilise this effective medium of communication more effectively to educate people regarding pandemic, education, health, water, development entrepreneurship, and development communication subjects while determining their target audiences, including children, women and differently-abled persons. This may help people and institutions to channelise their actions toward more sustainability.

Furgan Hyder Shaikh Jamshoro