Dear readers,

In our 6th February’s issue, we praised our brilliant and sensitive writers for being aware of the problems the country is facing. This week, we are pleased to reiterate the accolade due to our contributors. Our young writers are aware of the problems we are bound to face in future if steps are not taken to right things now. In his maiden cover story, Awais Imran tackles the issue that is not only a threat for Pakistan, but for the entire planet – Global Warming.

People, are you covering your faces with the backs of your hands and stifling your huge yawns? Let Us tell you it is not just a run-of-the mill, text book styled write up! Awais Imran brings the problems to light in a simple, interesting and effective manner, and also offers practical solutions. Yes, we know that some of the smart alecs already know everything. Unfortunately, they don’t believe in adopting the remedial measures mentioned by Awais; that is for lesser mortals (read civilized people).

Farah Zafar’s 'Experience’ is funny. Don’t let it frighten you, though. Banks are not such dreadful places, and we feel that you all should have your own accounts and start accruing money to pay for your higher studies. You can, of course, earn some dough, at least enough for your extra curricular activities, by writing for Us:).

We also have a story 'Tanya’ by Sarah Ahmad. It is different, but very poignant. She has chosen a different theme for her story, and we hope that you like it.

Well readers, that’s about it for now. We will anxiously await your feed back.

Till next week,

Best Valentine Day’s issue!

Dear Ed,

Too good! This too seems like an understatement for Good-will-Huntings by Umer Qayyum Butt, Zeeshan Muzaffar and Ali Suleman. It was the best piece in today’s issue (February 13, 2009). It definitely was funny and actually that is exactly what happens on the 'Greetings’ page. The cover story was very well written and I enjoyed reading it. The story about 'banana peels’ was good, too. In short, this was the best Valentine’s issue of Us. From the first page till the end it was a treat for the eyes. Keep up the good work!

Ghizlan Javaid

Support for Talal Waheed

Salam Ed,

I am writing with regards to Talal Waheed’s letter (February 6, 2009). It is really shameful that instead of helping students to achieve their goals, some people try to create more hurdles in their way. We are all with you, Talal. Inshallah, you will get everything you want in your life.

Mehek Pervez Khan, Columbus, USA

Dear Ed,

I absolutely support Talal Waheed’s viewpoint. Bright blind students ought to be given every chance they deserve. They are extremely talented and can do wonders in almost every walk of life. I myself have taught a blind student for about seven months. Just like Talal, she was quite bright. Talal wants to pursue MBA, and I think it can be done without much hindrance, as primarily the students of business studies have to observe market trends, tendency of customers etc and for this a sharp mental approach is needed.

F. D. Sheikh, Lahore

Hi Eddy!

I was touched by Talal Waheed’s letter. Unfortunately, we have this trait of discouraging deserving people. We think that if a person has a certain disability, he cannot do anything in life. I just hope that our nation stops thinking and behaving like this and every person is given his due rights.

Kiani

A balanced issue but…

Dear Ed,

Though Us has become thinner, it has become more interesting, and I really appreciate the new pages you people have started. 'Art Mart’, for example, is awesome. I have a suggestion: can you people merge 'The Music’ and 'The Movie’ pages into one page? It will provide space for more interesting write ups. The issue of February 6, 2009 was balanced, but I missed the poster page. The cover story was nice. Hats off to all our future brilliant scientists. Maryam Shafique Khokhar, Muzaffarabad

In response to Faiza Hameed

Dear Ed,

This is in response to Faiza Hameed’s letter in which she asked about the revenues generated from KFCs and McDonalds. I am currently doing B.Sc. (Hons) in Economics and Management. It is true that today war is not fought just with guns. Countries are destroyed by economic decisions. But has any Pakistani economist suggested boycotting KFC, McDonald’s or any other multinational at this point of time, when we are highly dependent on them? Almost all the McDs and KFCs operating in Pakistan are franchises meaning that these are owned and run by Pakistanis. Just a fixed amount goes to the owner company of these franchises. So, there is no point in boycotting these franchises, for not even .005 percent of their revenue is from Pakistan. It would have made some sense if we had the lion’s share in these companies. Now let’s have a look on the major economical effects on us and on them in case we boycott their products. If we boycott KFC’s or McDonald’s products, the companies would face a loss and will be forced to cut down on their manpower. Therefore, unemployment would rise in the country whereas these multinationals would largely remain unaffected. Our government would lose money in terms of taxes, tariffs etc. Also, by doing so, we’d be telling the international investors not to invest their capital in our country; there would be no more future investments in Pakistan. In the long run, there would be no more employments because most of the big companies are owned by the Chinese, Americans, Germans, Japanese etc! If they wind up their business, it won’t affect them much, but it would badly affect Pakistan’s economy. Our entire economy would collapse in the long run. These kinds of unethical and destructive actions (boycotting foreign products) will be bad for our economy. Hope I’ve succeeded in putting across my point of view. Abbas Khattak, Peshawar

Hey Editor,

You are doing a fabulous job. This letter of mine is in response to Faiza Hameed’s letter. I am a student of ACCA. According to what I have been taught, if these multinationals stop working in our country, of course they would face some loss, but at the same time we would also incur losses as well. They pay us taxes and that is the main source of our country’s income, not to mention the joblessness that we’d suffer if these companies started downsizing due to our boycott of their products. Secondly, there would be no further foreign investment in our country and as a result our economy would weaken further. So we should think logically before taking such emotional but wrong decisions.

Hussaam Iftikhar Khan, Rawalpindi

Nice issue!

Hi Ed,

Thanks for printing my previous letter. I want to compliment you guys for doing a great job, even with fewer pages. The issue of February 6 was awesome! The piece about Sawat was thought provoking. The 'Graffiti’ section was good as usual and the cover story was quite motivating. Being Pakistanis, we should be proud of the fact that even during the tough times we are facing our youth is still striving to bring us glory. Hubrah Siddiqui, Rawalpindi 

AoA Ed,

This is my first ever letter to any mag. The issue of February 6, 2009 was quite touching due to Asif Nawaz’s article about the

situation in Sawat. I really adored the poem 'Hopes of Stones’ by Mehreen Elahi. In short, the issue was good.

Areej Humayun

AoA Ed,

I am a regular reader of your mag, but this is my first letter to you. The cover story of February 6 was excellent. The letter from Talal Waheed was very heart breaking. Ed, please welcome new writers, too. I also want to know the maximum word count of the cover story.

Zubariya 

1400-1500 words!

Can we use 'sifarish’?

Hi Edi,

I am so disappointed that though you are printing the letters under the heading of 'suggestions’ you are not paying any heed to those suggestions. I am also waiting to see my articles in the mag. Just let us know on which email address we have to send our articles, as you said you never received Misbah Khalid’s articles. At least let us know if they are rejected, or is it that we have to use some high SIFARISH? Tell us frankly. We don’t mind it as it is happening everywhere.

Afsheen Shahid

Daughter of the soil, eh?

Anorexic mag not acceptable

Hi Eddy,

I was really delighted to see my name in the mag and now you are going to receive many of my contributions, but I am not going to send them to you people till the anorexic mag recovers. It’s been a long time. Just bring the old pages back and you will get those precious works of mine.