Women Left Waiting at NADRA Office, Turbat

By Shayhaq Siraj Balochistan, despite being the largest province of Pakistan, continues to suffer from a deeply neglected education system. Thousands of children are still out of school, while those enrolled often face a lack of basic facilities. Many schools exist only on paper, and in several areas, buildings are either in ruins or completely absent. One of the most pressing issues is the shortage of qualified teachers. In rural districts such as Kech and Turbat, students are deprived of quality instruction, leading to poor academic performance and high dropout rates. Additionally, the absence of proper monitoring allows ghost teachers and mismanagement to persist unchecked. The situation is further worsened by a lack of infrastructure. Schools without electricity, clean drinking water, and furniture are a common sight. In extreme weather conditions, students are forced to study in unbearable environments, which discourages attendance and learning. Education is the backbone of any society, yet it remains a low priority in Balochistan. Immediate steps must be taken by the government to improve school facilities, recruit trained teachers, and ensure strict accountability. Without urgent reforms, the future of an entire generation remains at risk.

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 Saba Bakhtiyar I am writing this letter to share important information with you that today is the age of technology. Mobile phones and the internet have made our lives easier. But one big drawback of this technology is social media addiction. Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have connected people together, and many people have become addicted to them. What is social media addiction? When someone spends too much time on social media and feels restless without it, that is called social media addiction. In this condition, people think that if they do not check their phones, they will be left behind by the world. People also use social media to overcome their loneliness. However, many people are unaware that this habit can turn out to be dangerous for them. It can affect mental health, cause depression, lead to a lack of sleep, create distance in families and relationships, and reduce students’ attention towards education, which is another big problem. Social media is a tool. If we use it wisely, it helps us. If we misuse it, it harms us. Seeing perfect lives online makes people feel insecure about their own lives, and it has also increased online harassment and hate comments. Moreover, notifications and reels distract people from their work and studies. They are so busy on social media that they are not interested in their personal work. Due to social media, it is affecting people a lot. People share too much personal information, which can be misused. As well as this, many people are addicted to checking their phones every few minutes. The most dangerous thing is that nowadays small children are using mobile phones, and it is affecting them a lot. Their eyes are affected due to excessive phone use. Children can also easily access inappropriate content online, and they spend less time playing outdoor games. Parents should set screen time limits for their children and give them outdoor games and books instead of mobile phones. A mobile phone is a tool, not a toy for small children. Parents must guide them. People should also stay away from their mobile phones as much as possible. It is a very huge problem for people. They should use mobile phones, but within limits. Set a daily time limit for social media use, and follow pages that teach you, not just entertain you. Do not use your mobile phone all the time because it is very harmful.

By Baloch Khan The education gap is one of the biggest challenges facing Pakistan. Students in cities often have better schools, qualified teachers, and modern facilities, while many students in rural and remote areas study without basic classrooms, libraries, laboratories, or even enough teachers. This unequal system denies many children the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Every child deserves access to quality education regardless of where they live or how much their family earns. The government should improve public schools, appoint qualified teachers on merit, provide learning materials, and ensure equal educational opportunities for all students. Investing in education is investing in the country’s future. Unless this gap is reduced, social and economic inequality will continue to grow. It is time for the authorities to take practical steps to ensure that every child receives the education they deserve

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.