Lack of social responsibility

Who do public assets belong to? A simple question but one which has widely differing answers depending on the situation. When it comes to the use of such an asset, it belongs to the public but when it comes to spending money, and ensuring maintenance and functionality, that asset belongs to the government. This is the mindset which drives many Pakistanis to use public services in a manner that can only be described as uncouth. The National Counter Terrorism Authority (Nacta) discovered this when its helpline received over 8,000 prank calls during the first three weeks of July 2016. While the government receives its fair share of flak for not doing enough to make Nacta effective, the public’s callous attitude after a decade of death and destruction is extremely disappointing. One would expect that after having witnessed the effects of carnage wrecked upon this nation, people would be sensitive to the importance of an anti-terrorism helpline, and use it appropriately.

Similarly, PIA also recently discovered the capacity people have for damaging public property when passengers trashed a plane on a London-bound flight of its recently inaugurated premier service. Such behaviour is usually blamed on a lack of education. But it is hard to believe that those who can afford to shell out money for an expensive international flight did not receive the kind of education that enables one to act in a civilised manner. The fact is that respect for public property and a sense of social responsibility is missing from all levels of our society regardless of social class. The government is often blamed for not initiating development work but whatever does exist is quickly damaged, covered with graffiti, rubbished or misused. Unless this apathetic attitude is fixed and a spirit of social responsibility engendered in society, such incidents will continue to be repeated. Perhaps next time, instead of just blaming politicians for poor behaviour, our attention should also turn towards ourselves.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd,  2016.

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