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An overwhelming number of Pakistanis may be illiterate and disempowered, but their acumen and wisdom is on the mark. They are a conscious nation, and resilient too. That is why they never lagged behind in making an honest appraisal, as and when desired, be it in the realms of politics, tribal or communal adjudication or standing fast in adversity. Talking to men on the streets is real learning, especially cab and auto-rickshaw drivers, as well as vendors. They know the pulse of the society, and at times vent out in all humility.
Recently, I had an interaction with a layman on the sidelines of a gathering. He narrated his ordeal suffered at a government office, and tongue-in-cheek remarked: “Allah bachaye thana, katcheri, aur hospital se.” That piercing utterance was a preamble in itself, and led me into introspection over the issues at hand in our jaundiced civic life. That disenfranchisement was a manifesto, as the edifice of governance has not been able to inspire the common man, and their grievances widely remain unattended.
With a soaring populace of over 250 million, Pakistan has serious socio-economic issues to tackle. Health, education, dispensation of justice and an equal opportunity for gainful employment are pivotal. Unfortunately, none of the few stated above are well looked after, as more than 120 million continue to live below the line of poverty earning less than Rs1,000 per day. For them social mobility is a dream, as they long for empowerment and are mostly unheard.
The governance strata that we have evolved is personified by elite capture, and is solely dynastic in essence. Of late, the aura of social media and Gen-Z have stirred a new culture of ‘questioning’ the order of the day. That is a silver lining as a majority relates to it, and are hopeful of finding some consolation. Nonetheless, the state-centric channels are unresponsive, pushing people over the brink into the alleys of parochialism. Terrorism, disgust and skepticism are an outcome of this syndrome.
The widespread, and almost unanimous, disillusionment with national institutions are tantamount to state and economic terrorism. It is a pity that more than 26 million children are out of school; half of the population has no health access; roughly 21 million are denied potable water; and 70 million people lack decent recourse to sanitation. Moreover, police stations are shunned by masses as they fear them as ‘detention centres’; lodging an FIR against the powerful is out of the question; and the judiciary is sitting over 2 million cases.
It is a given that corruption, misuse of authority, governmental departments infected with capacity issues leading to lack of public trust, belated or denied justice, and ad-hocism in policy formulation are the salient features of the system in vogue. Brain drain is emerging as an irresistible phenomenon as joblessness is hovering above 7%, coupled with rising repugnance in public and private sectors that value nepotism over talent.
It is horrifying to note that an average of 3 million professionals and unskilled workers have abandoned Pakistan. Ironically the age for eligibility in public sector jobs is restricted at 35 (now enhanced as concession), whereas retired personnel by virtue of their clout are random inductees in every walk of life. This is a negation of nation-building and has bred contempt.
What makes the situation pathetic is: electoral system stands tarnished; right to vote is taken away; rule of law is at its lowest ebb; the writ of the Constitution remains questionable; economy is stuck in a stunted phase with GDP growth rate below 2.5%; an exorbitant energy sector is making production and exports untenable; SOEs are running in losses with liabilities touching a staggering Rs10 trillion; and the debt payable exceeds Rs80 trillion. This is nothing but a recipe for disaster.
This jeremiad is not meant for point-scoring but for soul-searching. For way out in our national milieu, we need a new social contract, and one that is indigenous and civil society inspired. Enough of parachuted prescriptions and our craving for foreign subscriptions. Time to listen to Pakistanis, and stop suspecting them of being naïve and disloyal.
