
Let us do what we humans do best and learn from our mistakes.
KARACHI: The concept of change always creates ripples in our pursuit to a meaningful life. That is why it is difficult for most people to accept change. But when a change on a massive scale is coupled with inevitability, there is nothing much to do except for accepting it. A virus, not considered a pandemic by the WHO during the first month of its outbreak, has now affected the lives of over five million people around the world.
It seems that our worst fears have come to life, and the world has taken a huge hit. For the first time in modern history, the world seems to have stopped completely with all activities coming to a sudden halt. Even though lockdowns around the world are now slowly easing, we are yet to witness the aftermath of this terrible virus. The virus has drastically affected the economy with the International Air Transport Association claiming that around $29 billion is expected to be wiped off by airlines’ global revenues this year.
However, with the world riddled with chaos and uncertainty, one must never lose hope. In the past, multi-million-dollar companies such as WhatsApp, Airbnb, Uber, and Pinterest emerged as a result of the famous financial crunch of 2008-2009. The great recession enabled the world to take a break, process the situation, and come out with ideas that reshaped the next decade. We need not look for more. This pandemic has not just shut down existing platforms, but has also created opportunities in its place. Fortunately for us, 64% of Pakistan’s population falls under the age of 30, which means that they can make the most of the current economic situation. They must work on startups as these small businesses will form the basis of a new era to reclaim all that has been lost during these tough times.
The mantra is clear now: incorporate the work-from-home category to the business plans, make fast, secure and easy-to-use apps, and, most importantly, have a contingency plan for unforeseen circumstances. Let us do what we humans do best and learn from our mistakes. The silver lining in this crisis is that we can be better prepared for anything similar in the future.
Maheen Ahmed
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2020.
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