People are talking about —

— the rising number of illegal vendors which is creating multiple challenges for the citizens as they occupy sidewalks, roadsides and public areas. While providing affordable goods to the citizens and earning a living to feed their families, their unchecked activities lead to significant challenges such as traffic congestion, sanitation issues and noise pollution. People say this issue cannot be ignored and requires collaborative efforts between the government authorities and the urban planners, while also protecting the rights of vendors.

— the latest news about the PIA privatisation process, which is that the airline will apparently be sold without any liabilities or debts and this may mean that these have been transferred to the taxpayer. People say this whole situation could have been avoided if the government and/or the PIA itself had taken the necessary steps to make the organisation more efficient to begin with, such as trimming the excess workforce and making the national carrier the great airline it used to be.

— the unsuccessful ban on plastic bags, etc., and how Pakistan should learn from countries that have successfully reduced plastic waste by integrating innovative policies, such as plastic taxes and community based recycling initiatives. People say encouraging a shift to reusable materials and fostering partnerships with private industries can further enhance the efforts, as addressing plastic pollution requires a united front and time is running out. Let us act collectively to safeguard the environment and ensure a sustainable future for future generations.

— the report that like every year, a jeep race was held in Jhal Magsi district of Balochistan on which millions were spent and the high and mighty of the district participated, while security arrangements were the government’s responsibility. The sad fact is Jhal Magsi is an under-privileged district - people are deprived of their basic rights, such as education, healthcare and food, so the government must pay attention to the real issues of Balochistan instead of organising such unnecessary events.

— the report that Pakistan leads the world in terms of financial losses suffered as a result of outages and shutdowns of internet and social media apps last year. The data only estimated the cost of deliberate internet shutdowns - total blackouts and social media shutdowns which took place. This kind of deliberate outage is internet censorship in its most extreme form as it not only infringes on citizens’ digital rights but is also a catastrophic act of national economic self-sabotage.

— the robbery of a touring foreign couple has highlighted the need for improved security measures and it is imperative that law enforcement agencies apprehend the perpetrators and make an example of them to send a strong message. Returning the stolen belongings to the affected couple would be a step towards restoring faith in the system and closing the book on this unfortunate incident which highlights the urgency of addressing security concerns and ensuring that both residents and visitors feel safe and protected.

— the alarming fact that during recruitment tests, many candidates are unable to attempt simple questions as many students after 12 to 14 years of education, still suffer from ‘Learning poverty,’ a term coined by the World Bank to gauge the quality of education being imparted at the foundation level in a country. According to a World Bank report, in low income countries 53% children cannot read and understand simple stories, while in Pakistan this ratio is 75%, much higher than the regional average. — I.H.