People are talking about —

— the report that the Federal Investigation Agency has retrieved property – commercial and residential - of the Evacuee Trust, illegally occupied by the land grabbing mafia to the tune of Rs6 billion during the last three months, after the Apex Court ordered, in a suo moto notice, that it should get back the prized property occupied by influential persons. People wonder how this underhand business goes on under the noses of relevant authorities and can only conclude it’s through ‘mutual’ agreement!

— the recent fire at a mall that claimed the lives of a dozen people and caused massive financial losses - not the first tragedy of this kind as similar incidents take place frequently and people are afraid that it will not be the last. Despite having relevant laws that are framed to make citizens’ life safer, these tragedies take place because of the apathy of the relevant authorities to take strict measures to see these are followed by builders.

— the report that a local jirga in North Waziristan ordered the home of a local young journalist to be set on fire if he did not pay Rs500,000 fine for a social media post against a jirga, in which he said there should be no state within the state but after the government took notice, declared the house be sealed and anyone giving shelter to the journalists family would be fined, forcing them to shift elsewhere leaving behind valuable property.

— how we need to identify areas where we can store surplus rainwater to become self-reliant in this precious life-giver, as there are many places where lakes can be made to collect rain water and once the lakes are there, we can use this water productively or lease out smaller ones to landless farmers and train them in fish farming, along with using the water for traditional rice and wheat cultivation, as well as other needs of the rural communities.

— the sad fact that the natural charm and simplicity and the lush green pastures and fragrant plants that once defined the region of Gilgit have become a distant memory because of the towering houses, grand hotels and huge billboards that have ruined its natural beauty. The rapid development had turned a hamlet into a sprawling city, but at what cost? In our rush towards being ‘progressive,’ we have forgotten what progress means - to enhance, not erase, what makes a beautiful city.

— the shocking report that over twelve million girls of school going age are not enrolled although education is a constitutional right in Pakistan, which proves that our policymakers have consistently failed to prioritize education, leaving the nation lagging behind in economic development. People say addressing this problem necessitates the establishment of additional schools, particularly in rural regions, and the provision of scholarships for female students, enabling them to pursue higher education, as socio-economic progress and gender parity are intricately linked.

— the news that the provincial government announced plans to clean over 11,000 canals in Punjab, including repairing edges and embankments and addressing structural cracks, while taking stringent measures against theft to ensure water availability in the network. People say to ensure success, it is crucial to involve the entire community with a campaign to encourage people to stop discarding garbage into the canals, as this comprehensive approach can revive and maintain the canal system and secure a sustainable future for Pakistan’s agricultural backbone. – I.H.