Youth Empowerment in Pakistan

By Zubaida Khan I am writing to highlight the pressing issue of road safety in our area and to emphasize the urgent need for strict adherence to traffic regulations. Navigating our streets safely has become a major challenge for both pedestrians and drivers. In busy commercial and residential areas, pedestrians face severe risks while attempting to cross the road due to reckless driving and high vehicle speeds. Simple safety measures such as wearing helmets on two-wheelers and fastening seatbelts in cars are frequently ignored. This widespread disregard for basic traffic rules has led to a alarming surge in avoidable road accidents. These mishaps result not only in life-threatening injuries and tragic loss of life, but also place immense emotional and financial strains on families who must cope with sudden hospitalizations and long-term recovery. Prioritizing road safety is vital to protecting precious human lives and ensuring smooth, secure commutes for everyone. To achieve a safer environment, I respectfully suggest the following steps: Traffic Enforcement & Infrastructure: Install clear traffic signals, designated zebra crossings, and speed humps in high-density areas. Road Maintenance: Ensure regular upkeep by cleaning debris, repairing potholes, and maintaining clear visibility along key routes. Awareness Campaigns: Conduct public safety campaigns in local schools and community centers to promote responsible driving habits. I urge the local authorities to take swift action by improving road maintenance and strictly enforcing traffic rules. Together, we can make our roads safer for every citizen.

By Baloch khan Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to highlight the growing problem of plastic pollution in Kosh Malikabad, Turbat. Plastic bags and bottles are scattered on roads, empty plots, and drainage channels, making the area dirty and unhealthy. This pollution harms the environment, blocks drains, and poses a serious risk to animals and public health. The local authorities should install more dustbins, improve waste collection, and launch awareness campaigns to encourage people to reduce the use of single-use plastics. Citizens should also take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean. I hope the concerned authorities will take immediate action to address this issue and protect the environment of Koshk Malikabad.

By Waseem Hasil Every family eventually faces the quiet, overwhelming pain of losing someone they love. In those raw moments of grief, the last thing anyone should have to worry about is whether they can afford the paperwork required to officially honor their loss and settle their loved one’s affairs. I am writing to you today not just as a citizen raising a policy issue, but as someone deeply concerned about how our current administrative system treats grieving families during their most vulnerable hours. While government policies often announce free registration, the human reality at the ground level tells a very different story. Citizens arriving at local union council offices or municipal counters are frequently met with unexpected charges, costly attestation fees, and confusing legal hurdles. For a family that has just lost its primary earner, coming up with extra money for delayed registration fines, stamp papers, or succession documentation is an agonizing extra weight to carry. It feels deeply unfair that obtaining a basic legal paper, something essential for pension claims and family inheritance, becomes a financial negotiation. Official procedures should reflect compassion and empathy, serving as a support system rather than an added obstacle. When we allow indirect fees and procedural delays to mount, we make an already heartbreaking situation needlessly harder for ordinary people who are simply trying to do what is right. I sincerely appeal to your office to step into the shoes of those waiting at municipal desks across the country. Please establish strict oversight to clear away hidden fees, simplify the paperwork, and ensure that every family, regardless of their financial status, can obtain a death certificate with dignity and ease.

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.

Jamia Masjid Lakhi Dar is one of the few surviving ancient buildings in Shikarpur and a masterpiece of historical architecture. Located in the city’s famous Lakhi Dar area, it is popularly known by that very name. This noble mosque stands as an unparalleled testament to the architectural, artistic, and cultural heritage of Sindh, and of Shikarpur in particular. Today, though, it awaits the attention needed to ensure its very survival. The mosque has two entrances. The main one faces east, towards the Clock Tower (Ghanta Ghar), while the second lies on the north side. Passing through the eastern door leads into a spacious courtyard, followed by a veranda with a wooden ceiling. From this veranda, three doorways open into the mosque’s inner sanctum. In earlier times, the mosque’s interior was adorned with beautiful fresco work. Over the years, however, haphazard and amateur renovation and repainting have nearly erased this original ornamentation. Fortunately, traces of the exquisite artwork survive on the ceiling of the central dome, rendered in soft, pastel tones. The mosque comprises three domes, the central one larger than the other two. Handsome turrets rise from its corners, while two smaller minarets stand on the front parapet wall facing the central dome — a further showcase of its architectural mastery. Its most distinctive feature is the ornamental lantern crowning the central dome, a fine example of Sindh’s Islamic architectural artistry. It was arguably the first mosque in Shikarpur to feature such a decorative lantern atop its dome. But alas — today, this history is breathing its last. To look upon Jamia Masjid Lakhi Dar now is to feel the eyes fill with tears and the heart sink with sorrow. Centuries of history, this rare architectural specimen, its exquisite frescoes, the beauty of its domes, and its ornamental lantern are all slowly decaying under the weight of time, weathering, and sheer neglect. If this monument is not preserved on scientific principles today, future generations may know it only through the pages of history books. We strongly appeal to the Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives Department of the Government of Sindh, archaeology experts, the district administration of Shikarpur, elected representatives, and all responsible authorities to take these measures without fail. First, immediately conduct a technical survey of Jamia Masjid Lakhi Dar. Second, carry out scientific restoration that preserves its original architectural beauty. Third, conserve the remaining fresco work and intricate motifs. Four, take emergency measures to protect the ornamental lantern, domes, and minarets. And last but not least, manage the mosque more effectively as a protected cultural heritage site of Sindh. Jamia Masjid Lakhi Dar is not merely a structure of brick, mortar, and lime — it is a living document of Shikarpur’s civilization, history, religious legacy, and the artistic grandeur of Sindh. If we fail to save it today, history will never forgive us.

By Aamina Asghar The Baloch are an ancient people with a rich culture that is distinct from many other cultures around the world. Whether it is their weddings or their way of life, everything about their culture is unique. Most particularly, Balochi weddings have their own beautiful traditions but many modern trends influenced by social media and other cultures are gradually replacing them. It is good to enjoy modern trends, but we should not forget our own traditions that identifies us in the world. The below I mention some of the keen factors affecting the culture: Our Culture Is Our Identity Baloch wedding traditions have been passed down by our ancestors. They tell the story of who we are and remind us of our rich cultural heritage. Culture is what identify us from any part of the world and make us look different from the native of that particular area. Traditional Balochi Dress Balochi brides and grooms wear beautiful traditional dresses with fine embroidery done by Baloch women’s hand. They are hand-made cloths. Nowadays, many people prefer modern designer clothes instead of traditional Balochi attire. The trend has been influenced from social media and is adopted by the living persons in their daily life. Wedding Customs Many families now arrange Mehndi ceremonies, Dholki events, dance performances, bridal shows, and other celebrations that were not traditionally part of Baloch weddings. As a result, our original customs are becoming less common. As a result, few young people know the traditional practices of Balochi Culture. Decoration Traditional Baloch weddings had simple decorations that focused on family, culture, and tradition. Today, expensive stage decorations, flower walls, and modern themes are becoming very popular, making the marriage more expensive. Upon seeing such things, everyone around the society expects such marriages to take place in future, badly affecting the poor people who cannot afford them and thus ends up insulting them in others’ eyes. Social Media Influence Many people copy what they see on social media without thinking about their own culture. It is good to know about other’s culture, but killing your own culture for others is never beneficial for the generation to come. Our culture should be preserved. Music and Celebration Traditional Balochi music and cultural celebrations should be encouraged because they keep our heritage alive. Sadly, very few people are well aware of Balochi singers. We respect other singers when it comes to our own Balochi singers who are preserving the language are never valued or recognized by majority of us. Thus, modern trends are not bad, but we should not allow them to replace our beautiful traditions. Baloch wedding traditions are an important part of our culture. Our dresses, music, customs, and celebrations reflect our identity, and we should respect and preserve them. This will help future generations understand the value of Balochi culture. Let us take pride in being Baloch, promote our traditions and show the world the beauty of our culture.