People are talking about —

— the naming of the new international airport and the unnecessary controversy surrounding it. While there are suggestion coming from different quarters that it should be named after one person or another, people say it is better that public places should not be named after personalities because unlike in other countries, in Pakistan it has been proved time and again that when the person is no longer relevant, names of these places are changed for political expediency, causing confusion all round.

— the #MeToo campaign against sexual abuse and the debate it has initiated all over the world including Pakistan. People say while it is a necessary to bring awareness about a subject that has been taboo and supposedly something to be embarrassed about, there also needs to be a more rational approach to accusations by those who take sides with one person or the other and they should not indulge in character assassination.

— the fact that the Chief Justice of Pakistan is actively looking into different affairs that directly affect people and how it has begun a debate on whether he should or should not interfere in the governments working. Most people say if governments do not deliver on the promises made during elections then they need to be reminded that it is their duty to look after those who voted them into power and this is the best way.

— the attitude most of the population has against the transgender community treating them as something to be ridiculed rather than as human beings with feeling hearts and thinking minds like all of us. While there is a growing awareness about their rights, more needs to be done to ensure that they are treated equally, incorporated into the mainstream of the country’s workforce and given opportunities on merit and generally be treated in a more humanitarian manner than hitherto.

— the fact that action has finally been taken the new chief of the ruling party against those who recently held an anti-judiciary protest by suspending them from their positions. People say while this is a step in the right direction, the chastised party members are small fry compared to the big ones who call the shots, so will equal punishment be awarded to them or will they get away with their behaviour just like all powerful persons do?

— the acid attack on three young girls just because they refused a marriage proposal and how it shows the twisted thinking of persons who cannot bear the idea that they can be rejected, whether they are those who bring the proposal or the ones who are the object of the proposal. People say this is male chauvinism at its worst and strict punishment should be given to the perpetrator for ruining the life of three innocent females.

— the on-going accusatory feud between two established power companies that has resulted in the electricity crisis in Karachi and how the general public is suffering, not only from electricity but because the lack of it causes a trickle down affect on other necessities. People say political bigwigs do not suffer because they have the means to combat the shortage and their ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude needs to change to lessen the suffering from the lack of basic amenities.