People are talking about ---

-- the case of the British QC who recently crossed the border at Wagah from Pakistan into India. The passenger’s luggage was found to contain a map of Lahore and a copy of a newspaper, both of which were confiscated by the Pakistani security personnel. People say proper training of security personnel is essential so that we are not a laughing stock in the international community since maps and newspapers are both freely available on borderless internet.

-- the claims made by the concerned provincial government that a lot of development has taken place in Thar and how this is an election ploy to fool the masses. People say media reports about health care and the fact that Thari children are dying of malnutrition surface daily and belie these tall claims because so called ‘development’ of bricks and mortar are no use unless the citizen’s health and well-being are taken care of.

-- the new Islamabad international Airport and how it has been inaugurated in a hurry without first testing out the facilities that an international airport offers passengers. People say while no one has addressed the problem of why the two runways cannot be used simultaneously because of being too close to one another, passengers are also complaining of parking confusion; lack of directions and even the personnel not trained and fully aware of how to deal with passenger’s queries.

-- the fact that any activity or achievement by women is highlighted as something unusual and how we should pray and hope that this will not be the norm as more and more women join the ranks of those who are successfully breaking barriers to succeed in male dominated areas. People say the appointment of the first female Sikh SSP is great news but it makes you laugh when this single case makes people pass remarks like “there is no discrimination in Pakistan!”

-- the news that the government has approved a 20 billion rupees loan guarantee for the overhauling of the national carrier and how this will be an exercise in futility unless the root cause of why the airline is not doing well is tackled. People say apart from over staffing by the governments in power, corruption, mismanagement and taking undue advantage of free tickets are the order by which the national carrier is run so how can it prosper under these circumstances.

-- the manner in which marble factories in Buner have polluted the clear streams and rivulets that used to provide water for drinking and irrigation purposes by throwing waste from their factories into these water sources. People say this has had an adverse affect on both human and marine life and spots that used to be popular for picnics and swimming are now neglected because of marble deposits so the government must take steps to stop their further degradation.

-- the fact that one of our popular actresses is representing Pakistan at the Cannes Film Festival and how it indicates that the country is now making its mark at international events of this category. People say while she has made us proud, it would have been gratifying if she also wears a stylish ethnic outfit during one of her appearances to showcase a facet of our cultural traditions since most of the outfits for females are unique and colourful. I.H.