People are talking about —

— the beautification of Murree and how the development plan was presented and approved in a day without the proper involvement of civic or regulatory bodies or considering the cost. People say this is ridiculous in a country where hundreds of children have stunted growth due to malnutrition; millions of children are out of school; a big percentage of families are unsure where their next meal will come from and the government is forced to beg for loans for the country to survive.

— the menace of the sale of ‘sadqa gosht, made out of meat scraps packaged for sale by unscrupulous vendors who set up selling points on busy roads where traffic is heavy. This disrupts the flow of vehicles, while customers, often motorcyclists, suddenly pull over to purchase these packets of meat, tossing them into the air as an offering to birds of prey which dive down to grab the meat, leading to accidents as they collide with passing vehicles or crash into windshields.

— how the health of the underprivileged, which is already in a poor condition, may be compromised further because fake doctors or quacks are practicing medicine without being qualified, especially in rural and underserved areas. These individuals lack the necessary training, knowledge and expertise to provide safe and effective medical care, so the least the health authorities can do is take action against them and make it mandatory for properly qualified doctors to serve in remote areas for a year or two.

— the danger of urban flooding and how we should be taking preventive measures such as investing in urban governance; storm water drainage; storage and management systems, as well as solid waste disposal management. People say it is a sad fact that such a climate resilient urban development initiative is not possible under the existing political and administrative system as it requires a strong and efficient, as well as financially empowered, local government set up which we are totally lacking.

— permaculture, the much needed change in agricultural practices and how it has become the need of the hour to switch from the traditional monoculture, where vast areas are dedicated to a single crop, leading to soil exhaustion and increased pest vulnerability. Experts say permaculture fosters biodiversity, decreasing the risk of crop failure and pest issues with techniques like companion planting creating a thriving ecosystem that improves resilience; reduces dependence on any single crop and opens up various market opportunities.

— how, due to the rise in electricity prices, many middle-class families are switching to solar power and along with this demand, fake companies have also begun operating to swindle customers. People say anyone planning to install a solar system should first survey the market for rates; check the prices of inverters; check whether the companies they are dealing with are properly certified and do not give any advance payment as such precautions would save many citizens from financial loss.

— the menace of child labour which has remained a pressing issue, with the primary causes being exploitation of the poor; lack of access to quality education; cultural norms and inadequate enforcement of labour laws, all of which adversely affect children’s physical and mental health. People say by creating an environment that truly prioritizes the welfare and development of children, we can resolve the conditions that lead to this menace and give these children the happy and healthy life they deserve. — I.H.