People are talking about —

-- the fact that while the world is focusing on protecting the planet from the harmful effects of climate change, decision-makers here in tend to behave whimsically even though the country happens to be among the worst affected by the crisis. People say when he was questioned, the vice-chancellor of a university who recently ordered the removal of trees on a large area of the campus, he said he had received directives from the security institutions because they were considered a ‘security threat’.

-- the fact that though clean and fresh air is a basic human right, breathing fresh air has become a dream, with every passing day the country’s air quality getting worse, causing devastating impacts on people's health, so the government needs to formulate policies to reduce air pollution on an urgent basis. People say one good option is to impose carbon taxes on polluting firms and industries, encouraging them to opt for alternative sources of energy, such as solar energy, and so on.

-- the Punjab government’s decisive action in sacking officials and invigilators involved in facilitating cheating during exams is a step in the right direction but it should be part of a larger, sustained effort to put an end to the cheating epidemic in the county. People say a concerted effort is needed to foster an ethical academic culture that values integrity and hard work over ‘good’ results and an urgent need to overhaul the examination system to make it secure and transparent.

-- the anomaly of appointing a seven-member committee to come up with a practical plan for reduction in government expenditure while approving a bill that allows elected members of parliament perks and privileges of huge amounts. People say instead of appointing a committee, since no one bothers to follow its recommendations, our rulers should move beyond empty gestures and start forming and implementing concrete policies that cut their benefits and offer real relief to the people who need it the most.

-- the fact that the biggest hurdle to a smooth flow of traffic on main roads in the twin cities - and maybe elsewhere - are the private schools established in busy public areas that cause perennial traffic jams when students are dropped and picked up. Since this facility is not available inside the premises, people park their vehicles on the road, or those with drivers are parked three or four abreast blocking other traffic and traffic controllers are helpless to solve the issue.

-- the dates of Eid holidays and how, since the Met Office has predicted that the first day of Eidul Fitr will likely fall on April 10th, there will be little or no attendance in offices on the 9th as those employees who are from out of town want to spend ‘chaand raat’ and the first day of Eid with their families rather than on travel. People say the government should have taken this into account but no one bothered.

-- how the recorded messages promoting a particular product or making a public service announcement that are heard before one’s call is connected on mobile phones are a nuisance, as there are emergency situations where one needs to get in touch with someone immediately but precious time is wasted listening to these messages. People say what is even more irritating is that these messages are actually subsidised by the customer, who is paying for something he/she does not want.

— I.H.