People are talking about —

— the torrential rains that have created havoc in the country and how it is the same story repeated over and over, year after year. People say while few natural disasters take place, the most damage is caused by improper drainage; failure by the relevant authorities to keep the drains and waterways clear; turning a blind eye on those building over drains and blocking the flow etc.,: If those in charge did their job urban flooding could be stopped.

— the fact that the salaried classes are suffering due to merciless taxation while the elite enjoy the free amenities our taxes pay for. Utility bills are loaded with many different taxes over and above the actual consumption; the car token tax has two additional taxes added; when a transaction in foreign currency is conducted three additional fees/taxes are included and to make matters worse, the conversion rate applied to the foreign currency is abnormally higher than in the open market.

— the news report government officers had been directed to declare their assets by the end of July but have such directives ever been implemented? People say if most of our elected legislators as well as political parties do not bother to declare their assets in time or ever despite repeated requests to do so, as is often reported in the news, then why expect the government officers to follow the directives since the rulers have to set an example for the rest.

— the fact that the stray dogs population is growing and while some of the civic authorities are trying to solve the problem, the methods are not satisfactory. Killing the animals ruthlessly is not right; catching them and taking them to shelters strains the resources of these shelters because inflation and taxes have reduced funding and donations on which they rely. Animal lovers say the best solution is to neuter them, so the government should make efforts on that score.

— the report that in consideration of difficulties faced by electricity consumers, the Prime Minister has ordered the extension of the deadline for payment of electricity bills by ten days. People say this is a classic example of delaying the inevitable as where will the money to pay for the bills come from whether the bills are paid within the due date or later? Will those who cannot pay be able to beg, borrow or steal the amount during this grace period.

— the complaints that it is not uncommon for government employees to behave inappropriately and even use foul language while interacting with the general public. People say while this is particularly evident in hospitals where patients and their families are already stressed, it is also a widespread problem affecting all government offices and the officials should remember that their salaries are paid by the public through taxes, so they have a responsibility to serve them with due respect and professionalism.

— the detrimental belief of specific gender roles that are perpetuated through biased educational materials and cultural norms perpetuated in the home environment, which have grave negative consequences, especially in Pakistan with textbooks depicting women as the primary caretakers, reinforcing the stereotype that domestic work is the duty of women only. These harmful portrayals affect the ambitions of young girls and create a dependency in boys, with this mindset extending into adulthood, so women burdened with household chores struggle to pursue careers, while men lack basic self-sufficiency skills. — I.H.