Sharif’s gesture will boost relations

A reader applauds Pakistan’s prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, for attending the swearing-in ceremony of India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, in Delhi. The gesture, he says, will boost bilateral relations. Raveendran / AFPShow less

Congratulations and thanks to Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, for accepting the invitation of Narendra Modi to attend his swearing-in ceremony in Delhi.

This gesture will help strengthen the relationship between India and Pakistan. The two countries would do well to make peace so that the money spent on defence can be reduced and invested on the welfare of the people.

I hope that the courtesy shown by Mr Sharif will open doors to prosperity for the two countries.

Rajendra K Aneja, Dubai

New car park in Musaffah has double benefit

I would like to thank Abu Dhabi Municipality for building a car park in Musaffah that has solved the parking problems for a large number of people.

In 2012, I was thinking of shifting residence far from the place where I lived, because the massive car park was being built nearby. It was a big problem. There was dust all over and the area looked messy. My son could not go out to play and I often had no place to park my car, as a result of which I had to park far from my home.

Despite so many problems, I had to stay in that flat because of some personal reasons. Today I feel happy that I did not shift. With the construction now complete, the area looks nice and a large number of people have benefited from it in different ways.

Even though it is only meant to ease parking problems, it has also become a place for people to exercise and for children to play.

The authorities should create more spaces like this in every area of Abu Dhabi, which will have immense health benefits.

Manish Sharma, Abu Dhabi

Sell UAE through merchandise

While visiting some of the UAE’s major destinations and malls with a group of tourists recently, I realised that in those places you can’t get small merchandise promoting the spirit of the UAE, which a visitor might want to buy.

The malls and tourist outlets are filled with items such as T-shirts and caps displaying images and flags of other countries. The only time I see the UAE-specific items on display is during National Day. I think they should be available everywhere, all round the year.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

Evicted families need justice

This refers to the news report Families told to leave Dubai community marked for demolition (May 24). The developer is being unfair to these families in so many ways. I hope the concerned authorities take decisions in favour of the families that are being forced to vacate their homes.

If nothing else, they should at least be compensated for moving out before the expiration of their tenancy contract.

Name withheld by request

Landlords may be exploiting tenants

This refers to the article Service charge should not be borne by tenant in Dubai (May 24). Service charges are the landlords' responsibility no matter where you are in the world.

It’s plain and simple, part of the deal when you buy or rent any property. Of course, by service I mean anything to do with the property that is faulty. The landlords don’t pay for power and water services.

Lachian James McLellan, Abu Dhabi

What if the landlord introduces “maintenance fees”? Is that the same as a service charge?

Sue Mazraany, Abu Dhabi

Don’t put more burden on cabbies

It is good to provide training to both existing taxi drivers and new recruits to help them drive safely on the roads, but it is unfair to expect them to pay Dh800 out of their pockets (Cabbies pay for their own training, May 22).

The RTA, as well as the franchise companies, should take into consideration the plight of these poor drivers who earn a meagre salary at the end of the month after spending up to 12 hours on the road each day to meet their daily targets. The burden of paying for the safety course should in no way be on the shoulders of these taxi drivers who as it is struggle to make ends meet.

Either the training should be provided free of charge by the RTA or their respective companies should bear the cost.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah