27th Constitutional Amendment
This is regarding the cover story featured in the October 2025 edition of SouthAsia Magazine. In the present circumstances, in my candid opinion, it has become necessary to freeze the current system under Article 232 of the Constitution through the 27th Constitutional Amendment and form an Emergency Council, comprising experts in their respective fields who have a reliable and good reputation. The current system of government has become ineffective due to its poor policies, and the writ of the government is only in name. Terrorism incidents have started increasing across the country once again, and there is a lack of coordination among the provinces. The Prime Minister has made several foreign trips to seek foreign investment, but has not been able to bring in investment. No big company or country seems willing to invest in the current scenario. The foreign properties of politicians should be confiscated, and a ruthless accountability of all concerned individuals and authorities should be initiated.
Syed Inam-ur-Rehman,
Lahore, Pakistan.
After the Ceasefire
We welcome the permanent ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, which was signed in Egypt on October 13 by US President Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, among others, were also present. We welcome the move to the extent that it has stopped the unjust killing, genocide, and loss of innocent human lives of Palestinians. May this peace be permanent. However, no one expects much from Israel to keep its promise. Be that as it may, this agreement is comprehensive and satisfactory as it does not prioritize the protection of Israeli interests while completely ignoring the right of the Palestinian people to a homeland. We hope that sanity prevails on both sides.
Ali Qasim,
Kabul, Afghanistan.
Writer and Society
There was also a time when playwrights would write plays, keeping the aspects of reform and training in mind. Whenever Pakistani drama is a topic of discussion, I always refer to the plays of the last century. Writers have a great responsibility. In my humble opinion, a strange kind of love is being promoted in the dramas made in the last few years. Everyone is involved in this unwarranted and unthinking behavior, from the writer to the producer and the actors. We also believe that people are shown what they want to see. Undoubtedly, this era of innovation has further strengthened this idea. However, a writer can change the way society thinks. As Martin Luther said, “If you want to change the world, take up your pen and write.” This made it clear that a good writer can bring about a change in people’s trends.
Lubna Sajid,
Ludhiana, India.
Floods and Food Inflation
The recent severe earthquake in Afghanistan has once again highlighted that this region is located on the Earth›s belt where the risk of earthquakes is always present. Dozens of human lives were lost, thousands of houses collapsed, and the affected areas became victims of a major humanitarian tragedhe devastating floods in Punjab have displaced millions of people and disrupted the food supply chain by destroying crops and vegetables. Its effects have directly reached major cities where the prices of vegetables and food items continuously increase. Economists are warning that the impact of the floods could soon push prices to new heights. This situation is worrisome for ordinary citizens, but the flood victims feel the worst impact. Those who have already lost their homes, farms, and jobs face inflation. The government must take strict measures to deal with this double crisis. First, immediate action is essential against hoarders and profiteers so that artificial shortages end and basic commodities are available at reasonable prices. The authorities should consider reducing the import duty on vegetables, fruits, and other food items to meet the local shortage.
Kulsoom Humayun,
Sialkot, Pakistan.
Pak-Bangladesh Trade Target
Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed his determination to increase trade between Pakistan and Bangladesh threefold. This determination can be a harbinger of a new era of economic cooperation between the two countries. At present, the volume of bilateral trade between the two countries is less than one billion dollars annually, although the economies of both countries have immense potential for each other. This volume can easily be doubled or tripled if serious steps are taken. Pakistan has a lot to export to Bangladesh. The partnership between the two countries can be expanded in sectors like cotton, yarn, textiles, agricultural commodities, and machinery. Pakistan also has a special attraction for Bangladesh in terms of defense equipment. On the other hand, Bangladesh has made its mark worldwide in the textile sector, which can open up more avenues for cooperation. For this purpose, it is necessary to make steady progress towards a free trade agreement between the two countries to reduce trade barriers and improve logistics. If the government and the business community work together to promote trade relations with Bangladesh, not only will the people of both countries benefit directly, but it could also open new doors for economic cooperation and stability in the region.
Asif Ali Ashraf,
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
An Editor Par Excellence
Javed Ansari, the former editor of SouthAsia Magazine, died three years ago in November 2022. On his third death anniversary, I want to inform the new generation of readers about the journalistic standards set by the late Javed Ansari, even though he remains a relatively lesser-known figure among Pakistan’s well-known journalists. Mr. Ansari was one of those principled newsmen who never tried to come to the limelight at the cost of professional integrity and ethical conduct. Though it takes merely a couple of words to describe every Tom, Dick, and Harry, a journalist par excellence, the case of Javed is different, as his professional credentials were fully demonstrated by the standalone work he kept doing till his last breath. A man of principles, he was one of those rare-to-find editors who never compromised on preserving the integrity of the written word, whether penned by a newbie writer or a well-known journalist. Javed Ansari was a ruthless editor who went the extra mile to maintain the linguistic standards and never accepted anything less than quality work that fully met the classic language rules and journalistic standards. Rest in peace, Javed Ansari. May your spirit rest in eternal tranquility. Amen!
F. Usmani,
Karachi, Pakistan.
‘No One Should Go to Bed Hungry’
The Global Report on Food Crises 2024 confirms the great challenge of achieving the goal of ending hunger by 2030. In 2023, an analysis was conducted on approximately 282 million people in 59 countries. As per the study, over 21.5% of the population faced severe food shortage problems. The question is, can this target be met? And when this target is met, what should be the next target? World Food Day is celebrated every year. However, has anyone ever thought that in the modern and developed era, we have stockpiled weapons, but we have not been able to feed all the hungry? What is the reason for this? In my opinion, there are three reasons for this. First, there is a rapid increase in population every year. Second, there is an inability to produce food in the fields to full capacity. And the third is that much of the food produced is wasted. If the pace of population growth cannot be stopped, then only by increasing food production under modern methods and saving wasted food can we raise the slogan that “no one should go to bed hungry.”
S. K. Abhimoda,
Kathmandu, Nepal.