- the historic railway station at the Khewra Salt mines which has been allowed to fall into decay because of apathy and disinterest by the authorities. People say this station brought not only tourists to the mines but also took salt from the mines to its processing units and now it can serve as a great attraction and convenience as hundreds of tourists, both local and foreign, visit the mines. The tourist department and railway authorities should think seriously about renovating it and making it functional.
- how the Karachi Karbala ground trees, which were hundreds of years old, were ruthlessly uprooted by the land grab mafia, depriving the nearby residents - who use the ground for recreational sports and other activities - of their shade. People say thanks to an NGO a few trees have been saved and replanted but it is mind boggling how such blatant acts go unnoticed by the provincial authorities unless bribery and corruption have a hand in the land grab and destruction.
- the good news that the government has decided to add more places to the Unesco World Heritage List as it will improve Pakistan’s image globally and attract more tourism. Pakistan has a lot of rich cultural history but we are not taking care of this heritage as we should be. People say criminal gangs steal vintage artefacts to sell them and when the government restores old sites, it is often just for show. There is no transparency, no experts and no accountability.
- the fact that birds play a valuable role in our ecosystem by controlling insects, dispersing seeds and contributing to the natural balance of the environment but many local birds are becoming less common in our cities. People say the loss of trees and green spaces; pollution; excessive use of pesticides and the destruction of natural habitats affect bird populations so communities should protect existing green spaces, encourage the planting of native trees and prevent unnecessary destruction of bird habitats.
- the widespread use of illegal SIMs and rented bank accounts by scammers and the fact that the authorities admit that the system is outdated and needs to be updated to facial and iris recognition. People say till this new system is installed SIMS should only be available at dedicated outlets of telecom companies; if fingerprints are being stolen from data centers then the staff is obviously involved and rented bank accounts should be checked for unusual activity.
- the report that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has notified a Rs46bn additional burden to electricity consumers by allowing Rs2.06 per unit higher fuel costs in July and about 52 paisa per unit additional quarterly adjustment for other charges for next three months. People say this is shocking news for middle and lower income consumers who are struggling to make ends meet since the high cost of other essential items has already strained their budgets.
- the import of sugar and then its export to dispose of unsold stocks has raised serious questions about data maintenance relating to the commodity’s availability, stocks and domestic consumption and raised questions about the role of the Sugar Advisory Board and the food ministry which deal with sugar inventories in the country. People say it is shocking that all this goes on in a country that produces sugar and indicates the helplessness of the government against the sugar barons. —
