Institutions Galore

In Pakistan, there is a fundamental flaw in the country’s administrative system. In more detail, we establish an institution for a specific purpose, then instead of increasing its capacity, we keep establishing a second and third institution for the same purpose. As a result, costs keep increasing, responsibility gets divided, and accountability becomes difficult due to the lack of centralization in the system. In my opinion, the solution to all these problems is to establish a comprehensive institution that works under one authority and has sub-departments under it. It should be interconnected, work under one strategy, and produce positive results. Sometimes, two different institutions use their scant resources and spend their energies addressing the same issue, which is illogical and must be stopped.

Afreen Siddiqui,
Lahore, Pakistan.

Searching for Ummah

The mutual relations of Muslim states are often under scrutiny these days. However, we seldom discuss the relations of Muslim societies. When we consider Islam as a political thought and the establishment of an Islamic state as a religious duty, this is an obvious result. This changes our perspective on society and socio-political institutions. Under the influence of this thought, the Muslim ummah becomes a political concept. When discussing unity among Muslims, we mean the unity of Muslim states. We blame Muslim rulers for our problems. Not only this, but we also see problems limited to the political sphere. We have never thought that many of our problems are non-political. We need a different system of thought to solve them. Pakistan’s problem is perhaps more serious. In other Muslim countries, there is a growing sense of community strength. In Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan, the community has been severely neglected. The economic and political instability in these countries is also greater than in other Muslim countries. If we are willing to benefit from the experiences of other Muslim countries, we too can increase our social strength.

Mehtab Raza,
Mardan, Pakistan.

Air India Crash

Serious questions have been raised about the granting of flight clearance to a pilot suffering from mental health issues in the Air India plane crash in India. The initial report of the accident, published on July 12, did not mention the pilot’s mental health. The Modi government and Air India prevented the report from being published, but the Telegraph and the New York Post brought the truth to the fore. According to reports, the pilots of Air India had depression and mental health issues. The pilot, who suffered from mental problems and was traumatized by the death of his mother, was given medical clearance by Air India in 2023. The pilot had also been considering retirement recently to take care of his aging father. The initial investigation report into the accident cited pressing the fuel shut-off button as the leading cause, with a company spokesperson only admitting that medical records had been handed over to investigators. Giving the pilot control of the plane despite his mental health condition is a clear indication of Air India’s incompetence. This accident proves that Air India has no value for human lives.

J. Lakshman Prasad,
Saharanpur, India.

Curbing Child Marriages

Underage marriage, as per its nature, is a social problem facing many Muslim countries. A minimum age limit for marriage has been set in fourteen Muslim countries. If we advance social unity, we should never be anxious about this issue. If Muslim countries benefit from each other’s experiences in the social sphere, it will create social closeness, and with it, the concept of unity of the ummah will also be strengthened. In the era of globalization, Muslim societies are not immune to the influences of other cultures. These influences have affected the cultural identity of Muslims. They are suffering from social anxiety and are looking for peace. We have never considered that we can benefit from each other’s experiences. In many Muslim societies, there has been a great deal of consensus at the social level, and they are implementing it. We can benefit from them and solve our social problems. It is as if we can take a big step towards social unity.

Naseem Chowdhury,
Chittagong, Bangladesh.

BRICS vs. American Hegemony

The BRICS summit, an organization of 11 countries from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, earlier in July, is a significant event in international relations. However, of even greater significance is the statement by US President Donald Trump, who strongly reacted to the declaration issued at the end of the summit. BRICS, which includes Russia, China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, is a group whose main goal is to advance economic development, promote trade, increase investment, and foster cooperation in political, security, and cultural matters. President Trump has threatened to impose tariffs 10 percent higher than usual on BRICS members and other countries that adopt their policies, citing they are against American interests. He also criticized Brazil, especially its President Lula da Silva. Can BRICS change the current global order and end the centuries-old hegemony of the United States and Western countries? Are BRICS policies truly against American interests, and what interests does Trump believe are most immediately threatened?

P.S.V. Atapattu,
Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Land of Mafia

While increasing electricity prices have put the common man in constant distress, they have also sunk the industries of this country. At the current price of electricity, no production unit has been able to sell its output competitively in the global market. The people, businesses, trade, and production have all been destroyed, but to date, no one has been identified as responsible for this destruction, nor has anyone been punished. This suggests the country has become a hell for small robbers and a paradise for big robbers. People are calling it the government’s performance. This is not performance, but the government’s failure and lack of confidence in its own justice system. The government should not be proud of this; it should be ashamed.

Beenish Aftab,
Karachi, Pakistan.