— the mind boggling and absolutely ridiculous news that the government, or those in charge of such decisions, has proposed a punishment for the theft of a manhole cover will be Rs50 lakh, which shows how persons sitting in offices are either far removed from reality or act without thinking. People say anyone who can afford to pay this hefty amount will certainly not be stealing manhole covers - it is only those who are desperate who do it.
— the debate on the change in the laws on solar metering and the fact that it has affected many solar panel users - those who installed the panels for comfort and those who wished to get some compensation for the amount of money they had spent for the benefit. Some people say the convenience of solar panels has been a boon after suffering load shedding, especially during summer and underprivileged have benefitted by getting some electricity which the government never provided, resulting in theft
— the statistical study showing that. over 34 per cent of Pakistan’s adult population is currently suffering from mental distress and with one of the world’s lowest psychiatrist-to-population ratios, we are failing a generation as young people are internalising fear and helplessness, yet their distress is often dismissed as fragility. People say relevant government bodies and educational institutions should integrate mental health support universities must become safe spaces for dialogue and youth-led initiatives require structured mentorship to transform fear into action
— the exorbitant general sales tax (GST) on consumer goods and withholding tax (WHT) on the profit on savings, while electricity and gas utilities have imposed ‘fixed charges’ on monthly bills which are added to actual energy consumption costs and other taxes. People say instead of providing relief to the people, the government is making every effort to extract the maximum possible revenue from them, leaving no segment untaxed.. Parliamentarians should show kindness to the people who elected them, not persecute them.
— the report, that 25.37 million children aged 5 to 16 are out of school and according to UNICEF, this is the world’s second highest number. Punjab tops the list with 9.6 million; Sindh follows with 7.82 million; Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 4.92 million; Balochistan 2.94 million and in Islamabad, 90,000 children. People say despite these alarming statistics, the education budget has declined from 13% to 11%, with 94% spent on salaries, leaving little room for development spending.
— the problem of examination paper leaks that unfairly disadvantage hard working students because when question papers are leaked, the principle of equal opportunity is compromised. Students who prepare honestly suffer anxiety and demotivation, while those exploiting leaked material gain an unethical advantage. Weak security protocols, poor digital safeguards and lack of accountability appear to be major factors. It is imperative that examination boards modernise their security systems, implement encrypted digital paper transmission and establish independent oversight mechanisms.
— the parallel, predatory, exploitative, unregulated industry - the Civil Superior Services (CSS) coaching mafia which has transformed a test of intellectual depth into a commercial circus, thriving on the anxieties of impressionable graduates.
These institutes market the dream of bureaucracy while delivering precious little other than recycled notes and outdated templates, selling a one-size-fits-all strategy that stifles the very originality and analytical reasoning the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) seeks while shortlisting candidates for final selection. — I.H.
