By Mustansar Klasra
Let me admit the fact that Pakistan is a blessed country when it comes to the resources. Right from the mighty Himalayas in the north till the Arabian sea in the South, Pakistan is blessed with such a huge landscaping.
Approximately 8 to 10 hrs Sunlight, Deserts, Mountains, Rivers, Canals, enough energy and mineral resources, Nuclear energy resources and last but not the least highly vibrant and full of potential more than 60% youth. Whatelse this country need on way to progress and prosperity? Yes, this country need a fearless, trustworthy and passionate leadership. Let me take you to the recent floods fellow citizens faced in a miserable condition.
The dilemma of this nation is that it took at least a month to our leadership in order to understand the lethality and drastic effects of floods. The moment when flood was engulfing lives and properties of fellow citizens, right at that moment our political elite was busy on maligning each other in Jalsas across the country. Is this a way to behave in a situation where common public needed them the most?
Our Beaurocratic structure is another hurdle that needs to be accountable for wrong decisions and corruption. During the British rule, AC’s and DC’s were appointed to rule the general public and facilitate the Britishers to find out and capture the wealth and resources of Subcontinent. At that time the general public had no powers to over throw and disobey the officers. It looks like we are still living in a colonial mindset. Currently, newly appointed AC’s & DC’s are busy in projecting themselves on a Social Media pretending that they are the Baboos of the society. There must be some kind of accountability at least.
With due respect it looks like Young boys and girls appointed at powerful seats are attention seekers. Did anyone ask where is the utility of the courses that our officers do on a state money? They have nothing to do with the general public. Leaving behind very few honest beaurocrates, majority of them is mere enjoying powers along with perks and privileges provided to them by tax payers money of the state. These attention seekers must be held accountable at least. This nation will only rise when few of the corrupt elite will be made example of accountability. This nation has enormous potential, rather than utilizing this potential, majority of our intellectual youth and manpower wants to go abroad and leave this country.
Failure of Health and Education sector is another dilemma of this country. Our Government Hospitals are in miserable conditions. Doctors serving in these Government Hospitals litterly advise their patients to visit their own private hospitals where they practice in the evening. Free medicines always remain in shortage. Here nobody cares about the poor patients. Here I would again say exceptional cases always exist everywhere.
Fewer of them are doing excellent jobs as well. Now come to the education sector. This is unfortunate that Pakistan’s education sector has never remained on a top priority of our all Governments we have witnessed so far. Universities are facing acute shortage of fundings. Here, Education has become a business commodity. In developed countries Students Teachers ratio is highly taken care of in order to achieve desired objectives of Higher education.
In our country majority of our universities are running their departments via hiring of visiting faculties. Why is it so? Although its somehow understandable because mid carreer professional especially unemployed Ph.D’s and M.Phil’s atleast earn their daily expenditures. This is unfortunate our Universities even do not have money to pay them on time. Nepotism in hiring the permanent faculty members is another story. Our higher education policy makers need to revisit all such kind of issues as well.
Political instability and Lack of industry / Academia linkage is putting our youth in an uncertain situation. The world is changing so fast. Population of Pakistan is increasing day by day. Around 2050, this country’s population will become double. Did anyone think how we will cater this population? These people will need job, shelter, food, education etc. How we will survive? Resources that we currently have are depleting day by day. It seems that either nobody is willing to fix these issues or it is intentionally being done to this country.
I put this question to all of you and find out the solution. We have a very short time to fix all these issues otherwise we all fellow citizens will have to face terrible consequences in near future. Personally I am optimistic about the future of this country but the thing that increase a fear inside me is that so far as a nation we did not have the realization that what are we doing with this great nation. First as a nation we will have to admit our mistakes and blunders we did to this country collectively and then after accepting them, we collectively will have to behave as a sensible and honorable citizen. Doing so, I personally believe things can be on right track although it will take some time.
Writer is Ph.D Scholar at Quaid-I-Azam University Islamabad
