People are talking about —

—- the rising number of polio cases because parents are refusing to let their children be safeguarded against this crippling disease. People say increasing public awareness about the importance of polio vaccination and dispelling the myths surrounding it can encourage more parents to vaccinate their children and engaging local communities and leaders to support vaccination efforts can help overcome resistance and misinformation. Also, providing better and stronger security for health workers to protect them from militant attacks is essential.

—- the report that the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government is planning to restore student unions, ostensibly with the aim of empowering young people and promoting student leadership. People say it is an encouraging move that can provide a better platform for students to address their problems and grievances and promote and foster democratic values and critical thinking but it may politicise the entire academic system, as in the past, student unions have interfered in academic and administrative affairs of universities with damaging consequences.

—- medical labs that hire untrained staff who don’t know how to perform proper tests, which leads to a wrong diagnosis, resulting in patients receiving incorrect treatments, making their health problems worse. People say quacks and unqualified laboratories are often connected as unlicensed doctors deliberately send their patients to these unreliable labs, harming the patients and wasting their hard-earned money on ineffective treatments, so strict regulations are needed not only for medical practitioners but also for medical laboratories.

—- the privatisation of the national carrier and how senseless decisions were taken owing to external influences, both political and otherwise, that resulted in nothing but bringing down one of the best airlines in its heyday and a matter of pride for the nation. People, full of hope, say political will, sincerity and professionalism can still turn things around if an honest and dedicated person is appointed to head PIA so it can take off to attain its past glory.

—- the Sindh government’s admission that its 28,549 officials continue to receive BISP (through their spouses) is neither a discovery nor a mistake - it is a case of organised robbery at the taxpayers’ expense. People say modern databases held by Nadra should have eliminated this fraudulent indulgence with one stroke when 821,000 employees were found involved in this malpractice some years back. Sadly, the misconduct was allowed to continue and perhaps regularised as a new perk, called ‘misuse of spouse’ allowance.

—- the lack of accessible and functional public toilets in and how it is a matter of serious concern as this scarcity not only impacts the comfort and hygiene of citizens but also contributes to a growing sanitation crisis, affecting public health and quality of life. People say it is essential for the authorities to prioritise the construction and maintenance of public toilets, especially near markets, bus stops, hospitals, schools and other high-traffic areas, ensuring these facilities are available for all individuals and maintained regularly.

—- the challenges Pakistani freelancers face due to frequent internet disruptions, which severely impact the ability to maintain consistency and meet deadlines. Accounts are being disabled citing unreliable connectivity as a risk to clients’ needs and while this action prevents potential damage to freelancers, it underscores a larger issue, the urgent need for Pakistan to improve its digital infrastructure to support its growing freelance economy. There is a pressing need for a digital policy that supports freelancers, helping them fulfil their commitments without facing penalties. —- I.H.