Climate of responsibility

This refers to the article, ‘The burden of responsibility’ by Taj M Khattak and the editorial, ‘Karachi and climate change’ (July 1). It is really a matter of shame to see so many deaths due to heat or sunstroke, and that too within a week or so.
Both the federal and provincial governments are responsible for apathy towards those who could have been saved had preventive measures been taken. The writer is right when he says: “Taking ownership of our mistakes and shortcomings requires both humility and courage...” This is because half of the solution lies in owning one’s mistakes and accepting responsibility. Moreover, we as a nation have also grown so insensitive that we hardly bother about helping or saving heat victims. Instead of looking towards our rulers for help, it is time we stood on our feet and started doing something on our behalf.
Muneer Domki
Larkana
*****
This refers to the article, ‘The burden of responsibility’ (July 1) by Taj M Khattak. The writer has presented an excellent analysis of the character of our leaders and their reluctance to take responsibility, citing the latest deaths in Karachi where more than 1,200 lives were lost due to a heatwave and acute shortage of electricity and water. Even then the provincial and federel governments are blaming each other and no one has the moral courage to take responsibility for the tragedy. The writer has also given instances of other such happenings like the Model Town killings in Punjab, local government election fiasco in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Reko Diq affair in Balochistan.
We lack national character. This is precisely why we are still struggling to survive as a respectable, dignified nation while the US is a superpower and South Korea is among the most developed countries of Asia and a model of outstanding and fast economic development. The irony is that South Korea had originally adopted our economic development model of the 1960s. Till the time our politicians acquire the traits of leaders of advanced nations and we develop a national character we will keep shifting from one mediocre and ego-centric leader to another. There is no use asking the Sindh CM or minister for water and power or CMS of Punjab or KP to resign because such forced resignations will not change our psyche.
Zaheer Ahmed
Islamabad