By: Sarmad Shahbaz
Have you ever noticed that you, an individual of median age between your twenties and thirties, cannot breathe without dreadful suffocation, let alone fear to walk, talk, play, commute, work, discourse, debate, enjoy, eat, and sleep? This is an end to all the means which we have deployed as a nation, to build an environment that is deplorable and wretched.
The concept of nation-state, in the modern era, was developed after the Treaty of Westphalia. It gave the ideas of sovereignty, government/constitution, nation, and demographic territory. Though taken its roots in ancient Greece, the Treaty’s outcome shaped modern-day Europe and the Americas. Similarly, this change gradually molded the Pacific and Asian continents, eventually exerting its influence in Africa. The irony befell when this concept was ruptured while ignoring its certain advantages. Countries that have partially accepted the nation-state theory and partially molded it for their own benefit, are having a hard time in the present-day world.
Similarly, before going any further, let us clear one thing definitively about countries and states. Countries, as one of ours, are the product of nations. Out of the four tenets of a sovereign nation-state (mentioned in the previous para), ‘nation’ serves as the most crucial one. Nations demonstrate the demand of a territory, a few select of the nation serve in the government, and the overall nation remains a bedrock of sovereignty. Thus, when ridicules a nation, it means it is ridiculing a country. When a nation is hungry, wicked, greedy, corrupt, malicious, and corrupted, it means that the country ranks rock bottom in all developmental indexes. So, if a nation is completely messed up, it means the country is in chaos.
Our country was given birth by a much larger piece of land in South Asia. Ever since its inception, the Pakistani nation has longed for a future of freedom, justice, equality, respect, dignity, and harmony. At the same time, there has been an attitude of hopeless romantic for education, grooming, awareness, practical religious teachings, honesty, proper political structure, and many other bases. To date, the former longing has never met any practicality because the latter bases were never made stable. In this contrast of expectation and actions, the country has been pushed to the verge of collapse in all aspects; politics, society, economy, infrastructure, culture, religion, and overall in man’s sense.
Pakistanis are the major stakeholders
in damaging Pakistan
Thus, all this takes us to the question of that are we even eligible for our demands?. Pakistanis claim abruptly for a well-managed, developed, organized, just, and equal republic, without fulfilling any part of their respective citizenry duties. How naïve of us that we want infrastructures, quality education, honest leaders, latest technologies, best medicines, and safe & secure cities, all while being miserable free riders.
To substantiate the points mentioned in the above para, let us take one example from each major aspect of our society. First, in political scenarios; we tend to choose political leaders based on populism. As ultimate sycophancy is ingrained in each person in this nation, we are influenced by demagoguery and braggarts. The eldest in any house sits in front of the TV screens at 8:00 pm for a heated current affairs analysis (only if no one is watching the alternative history of unacquainted empires). A recent survey shows that 97% of Pakistanis do not know basic political terminologies. What are these viewers, sticking with TV screens, getting out of political talk shows, Carrots? Our political sense is zero or even negative. It is based on gossips and nothing. Our political will only revolve around our family politics. We confuse democracy with theology. While aspiring for a theological state, we want democratic norms. In recent times, our politically flawed views have made tragic episodes of state versus the rioters.
In economic terms, we say that we are heavily taxed. But what are we taxed when we do not even declare our assets? As per the SBP’s State of Economy Report, around 3% are expected to officially file their tax returns. Our majority slogan is “Representation with No Taxation”. Our tax-to-GDP ratio lingers at 8.8% in FY22-23. Other countries with similar demographics have ratios from 18% to 25%. It is only a tiny circle of people who file their taxes, showcase their assets, and strive for a responsible society. Similarly, on the same side, there have been a lot of other economic issues which have occurred because of our lifestyles. Anyways, thanks to our authorities, for their red-tapism, bureaucratic hurdles, and pointless paperwork, these reasonably better people are also joining the brain drain.
In the social sphere, the nation is extremely corrupt, senseless, cruel, and absurd. We are part of a herd mentality, as given by Gustav. A bandwagon inspired by hybrid culture. We genuinely do not have our thinking process. We borrow everything from the far west and consider ourselves the intellectuals of the 21st century. Even though we do have some of these in real terms but they are also in very minute quantity. Similarly, we have the least social innovation. Though Pakistanis are masters of way-around (juggars/juggadh), they have the least reliability for their hacks working properly. This hacks-aspiring nation tends not to fulfill its duties but only makes others suffer for their negligence. Our social conditions are miserable due to fanaticism, extremism, lack of entrepreneurship, poverty, drug addiction, show-off culture, mob philosophy, non-critical thinking, and blind following. Some of the social disasters in recent times include extremist ideological displays, the killing of non-natives, corruption, diplomatic blunders, and harassment of men, women, kids, transgender, and religious minorities.
Compellingly, there is a straightforward question that everyone poses about who the white elephant in this country is. What is the biggest problem in this country? What has led this country to the edge of collapse? Why we are imploding, unlike our contemporaries? This requires a straightforward answer. The problem of this country is you and I. Pakistanis are the major stakeholders in damaging Pakistan (with Special Thanks to Generations before ours). Our current situation serves us right as Pakistanis are becoming a liability on this piece of land.
While we have identified the root cause of the Pakistani question, the only solution is you and I. Let this sink in. Until then, we can do retrospection.
The writer is a Pakistan-based journalist, politico-economic commentator and social critic. He can be reached out at @SarmadShahbaz01