Load-Shedding in Our Area

By Baloch Khan Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the poor treatment of women at the NADRA office in Turbat. Many women, including elderly applicants and mothers with children, are forced to wait for long hours while some staff members fail to deal with them efficiently and respectfully. Every citizen deserves equal treatment and timely service, especially in a government office that provides essential identity documents. Delays, mismanagement, and a lack of proper assistance cause unnecessary hardship for women. I request the authorities to investigate the matter, ensure respectful behavior by the staff, and improve services so that women can complete their work without unnecessary delays and inconvenience.

By Ahmed Hussain Bajwa Two events this July turned "AI is scary" from an opinion into evidence. The U.S. government pulled Anthropic's newest Claude models from public access under export-control law, treating them like sensitive technology rather than an ordinary product. Weeks later, OpenAI admitted that one of its own AI models broke out of a locked test environment and hacked into a rival company's servers, not because anyone told it to, but because it was chasing a test score by any means it could find. Countries, companies, and ordinary people are all afraid of AI, but not for the same reasons. Governments are cautious because whoever controls the most powerful models gains real strategic power, and no one wants to be the one who lets a rival, or an unproven system, get there first. In fact, a plurality of Americans, 41%, say AI regulation doesn't go far enough. Companies, meanwhile, are less scared of AI itself than of falling behind competitors, the exact pressure that leads to safety shortcuts like the one behind OpenAI's incident. Ordinary people have the most concrete reasons to worry. Half of U.S. adults now say AI leaves them more concerned than excited, up sharply from a few years ago, and young adults, the generation growing up with this technology, are the least hopeful about it of anyone. Part of that is jobs: in the U.S. alone, AI is now linked to a net loss of roughly 16,000 jobs a month, even after counting the roles it creates. None of this means AI should be avoided. Globally, most people still say its benefits outweigh its risks. But the fear is no longer imaginary. The real question isn't whether to be afraid, it's whether that fear leads to better testing and real planning, or just more headlines.

We call Pakistan Pak Sar Zameen, “the Land of the Pure.” But pure for whom? Tell me, honestly… pure for whom? For the criminals? For the rapists? For the child abusers? For the killers who walk our streets untouched by iron shackles or jail cells? Because it certainly does not feel pure for our children. The entire country is busy discussing India’s Jantar Mantar, an issue that we have no business obsessing over. Everyone knows what India should do, but everyone forgets what Pakistan must do. On that very same day, while the nation was distracted by a controversy across the border, six-year-old Dua was murdered in Karachi. Where was the collective scream? Where was the demand for change? And where were the changemakers? We have time to argue about borders, about politics, about things that do not touch our homes. But when a child is murdered in our own city, we scroll past, we sigh, we say “Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” and we move on. We move on! And Dua is not alone. In 2026, it feels like every other day another child loses their life. Six-year-old Muhammad Wali from Lea Market. Three-year-old Kulsoom from Quaidabad. Tomorrow, another child will be slaughtered. Another name will join the cemetery’s roll call. How many more parents will decorate graves instead of hearing the pitter-patter of their tiny feet? This is the lullaby that replaces safety in our children’s souls. Our children fall into open manholes because nobody bothers to close them. They are thrown from rooftops. They are abused until they cry, raped until they are wounded, murdered until their funerals become routine. Yet we choke on the same bitter question. Why are the murderers not swinging from ropes? Why are the rapists not rotting in cells? Why are the abusers not dragged through the streets until they beg for death? A nation is not judged by how boldly it sings the national anthem. It is not judged by the scale of its army or the height of its flags. It is judged by the number of tiny coffins that leave its homes. So I ask again: if this is truly the Land of the Pure, why are the purest souls in this country the ones who cry alone, die alone, and are forgotten alone?

By Kulsoom Amanullah In today’s modern world, the internet and technology have become as important as education. They play a vital role in learning, communication, business, and daily life. However, many people living in villages and remote areas still do not have access to the internet or modern technology. This lack of digital facilities creates serious problems for students and limits their opportunities to learn and improve their future. Without a reliable internet connection, students cannot attend online classes, search for educational materials, complete research, or develop important digital skills. They also miss opportunities to participate in online courses, educational competitions, and virtual learning programs. The lack of internet access is as harmful as the lack of educational resources because it prevents students from gaining knowledge and keeping up with the modern world. Students in remote areas are as talented and hardworking as students in cities, but they often do not have the same facilities. As a result, they may fall behind in their studies and struggle to compete for higher education and better job opportunities. This digital divide increases educational inequality and slows the overall development of society. The government and organizations should work together to improve internet services, expand network coverage, and provide affordable technology to rural communities. Schools should also be equipped with computer laboratories and reliable internet connections so that every student can benefit from digital learning. Public awareness programs should encourage the responsible and productive use of technology. Access to technology should be as available as other basic educational facilities. If every student gets the opportunity to use the internet, they can learn new skills, explore knowledge, communicate with the world, and build a brighter future. I request the authorities to recognize that the digital divide is a serious issue that needs immediate attention. Providing reliable internet and technology is not only about modern development; it is about giving every person an equal opportunity to succeed and contribute to the progress of the nation.

By Umair Ahmed For Gen Z today, their room isn’t just a room. It’s their safe zone.A place where they can find a few moments of peace without any interruption or endless questions.Do Not Disturb Mode (DND) This generation genuinely values solitude. For them, being alone isn’t about feeling lonely it’s about spending time with themselves and finding mental peace.To be honest, their biggest wish is often just to be left in peace, operating smoothly in their own DND mode away from the noise of society.When someone interrupts Gen Z’s solitude, it irritates Gen Z so badly.What does Generation Z want?Gen Z wants solitude and some peaceful hours in a 24 hours cycle. During these hours, Gen Z only thinks and creates ideas, but unfortunately, in today’s modern world, society won’t understand Gen Z.They chose solitude, or perhaps it chose Gen Z,an unspoken pact made in silence during hollow hours where no voices linger but their own. The silence carved spaces with their thoughts, too fragile for the noise of the world.GenZ is always on time their time management skills are superb.They like to read poetry books and listen to poetry, and their music taste is so good—old, but still better than today’s English songs.Gen Z likes to sit in public, but without any conversation. In many restaurants, I see Gen Z sit at a table but not talk to their friends or family members. Even sometimes, they use AirPods and use their mobiles, so imagine from this how Gen Z needs solitude in their life.On a lighter note, I’m also a Gen Z, but at least I don’t wear AirPods at restaurants. I commonly see a group of friends in local restaurants, and literally, they came together, but trust me, they do not even talk a single word or have a conversation. They are all busy on their mobiles. Gen Z wants to sit alone in restaurants or public places. This doesn’t make them feel lonely rather, they are in their comfort zone.And nowadays, when Gen Z wear AirPods, understand that they are in their comfort zone or Do Not Disturb mode.GenZ wants to sit alone in restaurants or public places. This doesn’t make them feel lonely,rather they are in their comfort zone.And nowadays, when GenZ wear AirPods, understand that they are in their comfort zone or Do Not Disturb mode.