The writer is Editor of The Express Tribune
Let us start with how we perceive ourselves. It is a comment that is heard many times: “Pakistan mai koi talent ki kammi nahi hai.” We seem to make ourselves out to be such geniuses, only waiting to be discovered or given an opportunity. In this we assume that no other nation is as talented and given half a chance, we are world-beaters. And here we are not just talking cricket.
Nothing could be further from the truth. While nations around us have invested in social development – education, health and other sectors, we haven’t. We are by and large an illiterate nation. Poorly trained, barely educated. The state has abdicated its responsibility. To make matters worse, we have put into place syllabi that only confuse our youth.
In many ways, the educated are worse off than those who have not received formal education. Cheating is common in most public exams. This has evolved into our psyche. We live in a world of short-cuts because we see that those who push their way through or use unfair means usually end up getting what they want. And no one questions them.
We are ill mannered and boorish. On the roads, the more powerful you are, the worse you drive. We break lines as a matter of routine. We are quarrelsome and superstitious. Also, our moral values are on the decline. Honesty is not a virtue that we are known by. We lie even to ourselves. Look at our TV shows. We gift babies and meet djinns.
We ape other cultures but have neglected our own. We reject wisdom that has been handed down to us by our forefathers in favour of alien ideologies. Many idolize America. Others, Saudi Arabia. And some turn to Iran.
We consider ourselves to be champions of Islam. Jumping into every fight, whether it suits us or not. It is not without reason that Egyptian president Nasser once remarked sardonically that perhaps Islam started in August 1947. Look at our relations with our neighbours. Leave aside India. Iran, Afghanistan and even Bangladesh accuse us of misdeeds.
We have let extremists take over our madrassas and expect them to interpret religion. Similarly our national interest is determined by a handful whose vision is so limited that they believe the best way to suppress the anger of the Baloch is to kill them. The same decision-makers support talks with the TTP and look the other way when minority communities are targeted. Is there no one left with any common sense at the top?
Over the years, we have developed very thick skins. There is no sense of shame or national conscience. We are yet to apologize for our actions of the past. There is no debate over what our government did and how we should make amends.
The question of course that one needs to ask is where do we go from here. Perhaps we need to look inwards and have a frank discussion with ourselves. Let us start by understanding that the world is not after us. Many of the things we are accused or suspected of doing have some basis or foundation.
We also need to have some answers. For example, who is in charge of running the country? Why then are different organs of the state conspiring against one another. What is being done to check them? Also, why can’t the government impose a fair and equitable tax system and make sure that we spend money on our country’s development.
People talk about Pakistan as a failed state. Pakistan is not a failed state but its people are failing it. And these are not the poor, illiterate masses but the powerful and educated elite that are to blame. We try to pull each other down at any given moment. There is no sense of pride in who we are or what we do. And more important, we live in a bubble we have created ourselves. One day that bubble will burst. Then what?
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2014.
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COMMENTS (45)
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I do not agree to all aspects of the authors views as his opinions are based upon the day to day lives that the people in Pakistan go through but has overlooked the circumstances that have contributed plus of course our own mistakes. One has to understand historical, cultural, geographical and geopolitical factors that have hampered our progress. I am not talking of conspiracy theories nor taking the blame away from our own wrong doings. True,there are problems within our society but these have been compounded by the fact that since creation of Pakistan elements from within and outside have added to our problems. Although people of Pakistan enjoy better standards of life than most of our neighbours including India but the irony is that we have not had proper leadership nor a genuine leadership allowed to flourish to lead the country in the right direction. We have practically been without a leader except for a short period when Mr. Bhutto was in power, and we all know his fate for being a people's leader. The multidimensional Issues of the society pointed by Mr. Siddiqui are not inherent but are the by-products of so many factors like lack of education, indiscipline and most of all denial of chance to develop real leadership which could guide the nation. And then thanks to our "friendly" neighbours who have not reconciled with the creation of Pakistan and more so the only Muslim nuclear power. I am confident that sooner or later Pakistan will come out of its problems and turmoils & instability created by our own deeds and by our adversaries.
Tani,
You must finish up your education before you tackle difficult issues. Indian climate experts are fully aware of the forthcoming melt down of the Himalaya glaciers and of the industrial activity of the Chinese across the Himalays on the other side and are able to even provide the estimated time line of the desaster in Bangla Desh coast line which because of the security barrier by India will prevent their escape from the flood waters.
Rex Minor
@Lalit:
Knowledge is not only virtue but power in itself. You have not thorougly understood the article or the impliations of what the author is suggesting. If I was to advise the Prime Minister of Pakistan, I would suggest that in Pakistan a commission of wise few is set up independent of the political leadership who compile an annual report on the country's performance, and set out their recommendations for the Government. I would suggest that the author of the article Mr Kamal Siddiqi is part of this group. This is what the Federal Republic of Germny has and there is no reason why Pakistan cannot follow it.
Rex Minor
@indian reader:
Next time you talk about India versus Pakistan, take a pause and read the unicef report on undernourished children, almost 50 percent, which in absolute numbers are the biggest on this planet.
@Tani:
Every twenty minutes rape in a billion plus population(official statistics), no country in the world can match this performance.
Rex Minor
@Rex Minor, "This was planned and orchestrated by the American administration with the soul purpose of creating a crisis which can not be tackled or managed by local Governments thereby requiring the foreign help for crisis management.This will end as soon as occupation forces leave Afghanistan and Pakistan.."
I have a beach front property in Lahore, do you want to buy?
@Lalit: What we are witnessing in Bangla Desh is going to bring the end of Bengali Nation, if remains unchecked and brought under control. Life expectancy will continue to decline because of the malpractices with human species in textile industry; whereas, what is occurring in Pakistan can be summed up in one word namely destabilisation. This was planned and orchestrated by the American administration with the soul purpose of creating a crisis which can not be tackled or managed by local Governments thereby requiring the foreign help for crisis management.This will end as soon as occupation forces leave Afghanistan and Pakistan..
Rex Minor
@water bottle: As per UNICEF, 42% of Indian kids are malnourished. So, WB, when you get tired of lecturing us on how to live, do something about it.
Acceptance is the first step to progress. Until and unless our leaders - both civilian and especially military ones - accept openly to the public that the state/establishment's past policies have led us into the quagmire that we're in and that this narrative needs to be overhauled, there's no way out of it.
While I largely agree with the points the author made, I have to disagree that Pakistanis lack technical talent, at least those who work abroad as professionals (and work hard and honestly abroad, surprising isn't it?). Pakistanis constitute the third largest group of international medical graduates practicing as doctors in the United States (behind only Indians and Filipinos) - it's a wonder considering the kind of international profile our country has, the world is much kinder to us than we think (or deserve).
@Rex Minor instead of focusing on the life threatening problems in Pakistan which include sectarian violence,target killings,abductions,suicide bombings, disappearance of people and sports alike,gross human right violation of Pakistani minorities,Pakistan's almost bankrupt economy,an endemic polio(a rare feat indeed),very poor relations with most of the world's nations,literacy rate which is far from being impressive.. phew,i lost count,you are pondering over what problems Bangladeshi textiles workers face....at least they are not blowing up each other.as far as Global warming causing Glacial melting causing floods wrecking havoc to Bengalis is concerned,they can pretty well deal with it.Kal kisne dekha...the path Pakistan is following,i am not sure they can live to see that happen.
India has a truck-load of it's own problems. But thankfully we mostly don't have monopoly on ALL power by a few 'elite' rich families like in Pakistan.
I am filled with hope when I see ordinary people (without rich/famous dads) like Kejriwal, Modi, Manmohan, Chidambaram, Pranab, even not-too-impressive characters like Mayawati and Mamata reach the top!!
Resistant to change are to be blamed. Start improving at individual level and you will find the change, at least in oneself.
@Rahul: Those mentioned by you do what they do simply because the politician, the bureaucrat, the so called leaders are inept and do not do what they under oath swear to do for the people.
Tani,
How wrong you are! There is no other country in the world where people are living the most degraded and dehumanised lives as workers in the textile factories which supply the cheapest products in the world. The entire coastal divide with the next door Indian neighbour has now a security barrier preventing their escape from flood waters. According to the Indian climate experts , in case of floods coming down the Himalayas because of the glacier meltdown will wipe out millions of Bengalis. In India every twenty minutes a Rape culture has not ceased despite public outcry and demonstrations and the constitution and the laws, the Indian traditions and culture lives on. Pakistan has had a bad start but has a great potential if it is allowed to march on the route of democracy.
PS I am not a Pakistani. Rex Minor
This is the best article i have read about Pak
Brilliant sentences, clear paras, great words you use while arguing or explaining. That's why you always make me agreed to what you say. But I scare one day you'll be given the same punishment for your truth as they did to Raza Rumi. I wish you remain peaceful and secure. I love reading your pieces. Because we are having very few journalists who can dare to write reality.
@Rahul:
Do not concentrate on the negatives nor question the bad formance of few. There is a lot of talent in Pakistan and the country has a vast potential to exploit its human resources. Raza Rumi will live on and his attackers will one day meet the justice for thei act. There is a plenty of human reservoir in the country; people who seek peace and reconciliation should be encouraged and like the author has described there is so much to be done to reform different avenues of institutions and different he firsnumber of tasks, knowing fully well the absence and/or the reluctance of the leadership to lead. Pakistan needs a federal system of Government, leaving aside the out of date centralised colonial administration of the country. This is not the first article by the author, he has written other articles which emphasise the need of stronger local Governments and local police etc etc.
Rex Minor
@Parvez: dont people like salman qadri, attackers of raza rumi, malala, conspiracy theorists like ziad hamid, hamid gul, killers of polio workers, attackers on minorities..etc etc...fail your country..politicians are to be blamed for sure..but dont regard the common man as so holy.
The question of course that one needs to ask is where do we go from here. Perhaps we need to look inwards and have a frank discussion with ourselves. Let us start by understanding that the world is not after us. Many of the things we are accused or suspected of doing have some basis or foundation...WELL said Kamal sb.
An excellent written article with many points which the community leaders in a country could take up with the relevant departments to follow through in the interest of bringing improvements in the country. It was the cardinal Mayor of Milan(Italy) who named the arabian folks as the barbarians and when shortly afterwards became aware of the Arabian flottila laying siege at the port of Milan, he was compelled to receive the commander of the Flotilla with honour, pomp and show and explaining that by calling them Barbarians he meant foreigners. The total history of Islam is avilable to every Pakistani to read and witness the influence of Islam on the European civilisation and on its people. From constantinple to Andaluz to Budapest to Balkans and beyond one witnesses the influence of the muslim monarchs and military commanders ho ruled there for centuries. The people of Pakistan are multilingual and multicultural, the majority being the muslims, it is therefore quite natural for them to recall their history not only in the subcontinent but that in other parts of the world. The extremists have not taken over the Madrassas, nor Islam is meant to be interpretted. It is important for the citizens of Pakistn to learn the arabic language, to be able to understnd the divine Quraanic suras, and for the students of Madrassas to learn the science subjencts so that the children know what makes the ball come down when thrown upward.n There is a lot to learn and to catch up with due to the lost time on account of successive years of military rule. Good luck. You have not the shortage in intellectual assets.
Rex Minor
agreed to ur words and symtoms you illustrated. BUT dear Kamal Sabh,where does the fault lie? why we have turned into such nation? Education is supposed to enlighten our hearts and souls. Why are we turning into savages when read some books and get some authority?? Is it in our genes? Is this lack of ethical education? Or is this the fragile economy that has turned us into the masses of beggers!!
Its easier to illustrate the symptoms but it is a too difficult to get to the root cause!
Good and realistic analysis which can be summed up in an Urdu couplet by Sauda.
"SOUDA JO BAYKHABAR HAY KOI WOH KARAY HAY AISH-MUSHKIL BOHOUT HAY UNKO JO RAKHTAY HAIN AAGAHI."
@Anonymouse and @Husnain Ahmad : I disagree.........our leaders are NOT from among the people they never have been, they are a coterie of families and professions that from day one have either usurped power or come into it through a sham system ( called a democratic vote ) in order to serve themselves and only themselves. Simply consider WHICH ( please don't say Imran Khan ) of our leaders ACTUALLY lives in Pakistan and has his wealth here ?
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Are you the media, truly the 4th Pillar of the state? Hard hitting rhetoric, is just talk.
@Parvez : Forget the theory, the leaders are from among and reflect US the people. They are corrupt, because we are corrupt. They steal what they can, we steal what we can. We break laws (if the police isnt looking), sell impure goods, lie and cheat. The leaders are part of our society, they aren't aliens put here by "foriegn forces".
This is a hard hitting and very frank assessment of the situation prevailing in Pakistan. The citizens will have to decide whether they want to change the trajectory or let the dangerous drift continue. What is most perplexing is that the more educated and powerful the person, the more questionable their behavior.
@parvez,
The leaders are from the masses they represent. They didn't come out of thin air. You cant lay it all on them. Everyone has to work together. I agree with the author the citizens of the state are failing the nation.
It took 67 years to hit rock bottom. How many years, will it take to claw out of the maw? Say another 67 years? Be optimistic...say 20 years? [Take lessons from Singapore. It was a dirty filthy place. Now a premier country of the world.]
Wow! One of the most candid pieces I have ever read about Pakistan.
If I say the truth, I will be called a Muslim basher. Some have even said that I malign Islam.
So, here's another attempt at truth, those who can't digest it, don't call me a Muslim basher.
This problem is not just a problem of Pakistan but is a problem of pretty much the entire Muslim community from Indonesia to Morocco.
Muslims, who mire themselves in conspiracy theories (that the world is against them) wait for a leader to come and rescue them from the quagmire.
No leader will come for you. You need to take responsibility. You need to look in the mirror and understand who you are (You are a group of 1.6 billion failures in this world).
If India is today doing reasonably well (I wouldn't say very well, because we are a country of clerks), it is because Individuals took responsibility and not because we have had a miraculous leader.
Stop blaming on the leaders. Stop waiting for the leaders. Indian Muslims are backward today, because they await a leader. They don't want to take responsibility at the individual level.
When you feel despondent and things look hopeless, just remember that you are the 5th largest denim maker in Asia.
Pakistan is a confused nation.
Every word, every sentence strike home. You say the people are failing this country.....here I disagree. It is our leaders who have failed the people and thus the country. In theory the people appoint the leaders who are entrusted to work for the people and the country but in practice it is anything but that.