STUDENT UNIONS: It has been years since the Sindh Assembly passed legislation to restore student unions, but no pragmatic steps have been taken to operationalise them. Student unions are crucial for developing future political cadres, enabling students to engage in the democratic process. With youth constituting a hefty percentage of Pakistan’s population, excluding this vast segment from political participation undermines democracy.
The authorities should actively restore studentunions and ensurefree andfair elections across all educational institutions in Pakistan without any further delay.
Sahab Khan Larkana SELF-DIAGNOSIS: I recently came across an article on self-diagnosisin the digital age which I found interesting because I lived a version of it myself. A persistent headache that I dismissed, after some online reading as ‘just screen fatigue’, in fact, needed proper medical evaluation.
In hindsight, every symptom checker I consulted online told me what I wanted to hear rather than what I needed to know.
Recurring symptoms, such as headaches or fatigue, deserve a doctor’s evaluation, not anotherround ofonline reassuranceseeking. Inowusetheinternet differently: to prepare better questions for my doctor, not to replace the appointment altogether.
Mahnoor Zahid Karachi VULNERABLE CITIES: The recent downpour in Islamabad and Rawalpindi has once again highlighted the twin cities’ vulnerability to urban flooding. Such incidents should not be dismissed as unavoidable consequences of extreme weather. Although the immediate response of rescue and municipal authorities is essential, effective preparedness must begin well before the rain. Drainage systems should be inspected, maintained and upgraded regularly. Natural waterways must be protected from encroachment, while flood-prone areas should be supported by reliable early-warning systems and clearly defined evacuation plans. The two cities require a comprehensive urban flood-management strategy.
Shumaisa Khan Islamabad