"The people have to learn to live without subsidies" stated the Minster for Commerce on the floor of the National Assembly. "All subsidies to go this year" said he. Does the minister, himself one of the biggest capitalist of the country, know the implication of his statement? The minister should have better read the report about Pakistan being placed among dysfunctional states (The Nation 25 June). Pakistan is among the top ten most dysfunctional countries, seven of which are from sub-Saharan Africa. The top ten in order are Somalia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Chad, Iraq, Congo, Afghanistan, Ivory Coast, Pakistan and the Central African Republic. Under these circumstance removal of subsidies means that underprivileged poor and middle class which comprises of more than ninety percent of population, will be left with only one option but to commit hara-kiri. -RAFIQUE AHMED SIDDIQUE, Karachi, via e-mail, July 1.