In search of peace
Pakistan’s interior minister Rahman Malik’s recent visit to India got media coverage in both countries. Both countries have now agreed to ease visa restrictions, increase trade and resolve all disputes through dialogues. But the reality is that despite the frequent visits of several key personalities between the two nations there has been no solution to the long lasting issues between the two. No genuine issues have been solved. Such cosmetics steps and media speeches cannot bring any change in the region. The hostility still continues. Unfortunately the utmost important issues such as poverty, unemployment and price rise are still growing in both countries, because they spend a fortune on their defence forces to guard their borders. The old tensions are still very intense on the borders of the two nuclear rivals. Both countries still continue to blame each other for terror activities in their lands. Issues such as Kashmir, the Siachen glacier, construction of dams and terrorism are becoming worse. A proxy war is also going on in Afghanistan between both countries. Until and unless both countries do not solve the genuine issues and old disputes, their dream of peace cannot come true in the region.
From Mr Khawaja Umer Farooq
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The Metro rush
The compartment for women and children is a great facility for the Metro users. However, recently there has been a drastic increase in the number of daily commuters. People find it difficult to enter or exit the train during rush hours. The situation is worse in the women’s compartment as there is only one of those. Metro users, especially women usually have to wait for a couple of trains to pass by until they can get on one. I think there need to be two compartments allotted to women. This will help a lot of women who are uncomfortable using the regular compartments. It will also help divide the rush evenly. The Roads and Transport Authority must give this suggestion serious thought.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
Keep it clean and safe
I want to share my concern on various advertisements stickers such as ‘need a housemaid’, pasted on the walls of building and the poles of traffic lights in Sharjah. Dubai and Sharjah municipality are putting in their best efforts to beautify the Emirates, but people are making it difficult for them to succeed. The dirty traffic poles and building walls are unpleasant to the eye. But more importantly the adverts distract drivers while crossing such traffic poles.
From Ms Arushi Madan
Sharjah
Stop flashing lights!
I often come across Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) drivers using powerful full boom lights and flashing at other drivers. I have also noticed that they drive with their headlights switched off and use only the park lights. Whenever they want to change lanes or want the car ahead to move to the next lane they use their powerful lights. These harsh lights actually make you go blind for a few seconds. These drivers should be educated not to use such strong lights as they can cause accidents. If required they should be fined and the police should ban use of such lights.
From Mr Sajid Abu Baker
UAE
An evolving world
In its twentieth year, the short message service (SMS) is a phenomenon that has surely changed the way we communicate. It is an idea that spawned greater connectivity between people. Smart phones then went one step ahead with their internet-based messaging services, which somewhat supplanted the SMS. This form of instant communication has also shortened distances, merely through a few clicks. With more innovations like Facebook chats, Twitter and Skype, which has an added feature that allows video conferencing, the techno-age will not stop here. There’s always more in the pipeline!
From Mr A. R. Modak
Johannesburg, South Africa
Finding a solution
It is interesting to see how people are paddling to stay afloat financially. What I find difficult to understand is that some banks in the UAE who were eager to extend loans when the economy was booming – especially in the building and construction fields – have suddenly become so brutal and hostile towards clients who lost jobs and businesses. What is the sense of phoning a client ten to twenty times a day, threatening them and victimising them emotionally? If they cannot produce the full amount at that moment, how will they be able to do it one or two hours later? Putting them in jail without offering them an alternative plan to settle their debts does not leave them with any option to try to earn a living to pay off their debts. It does not seem to be a solution for the problem.
From Ms Gloria Gold
UAE
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