People are talking about —

— the report that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has suspended its provincial election commissioner following the intrusion into its strong room in Karachi and the destruction of election records and material from several polling stations before leaving the scene without resistance. People wonder why this important place was left without security, since the SHO concerned claimed he had withdrawn the police team for half an hour to oversee Eid Milad ritual activities, which appears rather fishy.

— unruly traffic, with the most worrying trend being driving in the opposite direction on one-way roads as instead of using the U-turn, drivers often take the wrong way to save on petrol. Sadly, the drivers of school vans full of young children and parents with small children in their cars are also seen driving against one way and crossing the red light. What message are they giving to the young ones - that it’s okay to break the law?

— the athlete from Gilgit-Baltistan, who made history recently by winning an award at an Asian taekwondo competition held in Russia, the achievement a testament to his dedication and hard work despite the limited resources; facilities and opportunities available in the region for youngsters to foster their talents. People say his success has gone largely unnoticed by the government and private sector and it is high time he got the recognition he deserves, considering how another award winning athlete was honoured.

— the curious case of the disappeared paintings, which narrated the story of art theft of a fine arts student at the University of Sindh, who had produced artistic work that was showcased at Karachi’s Frere Hall. However, his labour of love vanished into thin air as the artist was told that the paintings had gone ‘missing’. Strangely, the paintings resurfaced on a private television channel’s drama serial recently, exposing the culprits and forcing the authorities to take up the matter officially.

— how our natural environment is paying the steepest price because the growing demand for food, energy and land is leading to a cycle of destruction; water sources are drying up, forests are being stripped bare and our skies are choked with pollution because families struggle to find the resources they need to make ends meet. This cycle is unsustainable – for us and the land we depend on, so investing in accessible family planning services and reproductive healthcare should be a national priority.

— how, once again, like previous years, there are reports and allegations about the question paper for the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) getting leaked -- a shameful breach that undermines the integrity of the examination process and raises serious questions about the accountability of the systems in place. People say if such a minor thing is not controllable by the authorities, how can they control the major ‘leaks’ and danger that the country faces?

— the horrifying practice of making children stand like a statue at traffic signals and intersections, dressed up as mascots with cheap chemical paint smeared on their faces while their handlers watch them from a distance as these children stand still for hours without moving a muscle. It is a clear violation of children’s rights, and can have a negative effect on their health. This kind of exploitation goes on under the eyes of those who are supposed to look after the safety and well-being of all citizens.