Goals for a kinder 2021

In the absence of a vaccine that we all wait for, something else has proved remarkably effective in helping the vulnerable with Covid-19. It has helped those who lost their jobs and those who needed support in times of extreme loneliness. That special something is kindness. It has worked everywhere, every single time. The places it has been most potent is where kindness and empathy has worked in synergy with sound public health advice and guidelines rooted in science. From day-labourers to the elderly, from patients in hospitals to frontline workers, kindness has remained our most powerful tool to deflect the short and long-term effects of the pandemic.

As we look forward to 2021 — both with hope and a sense of anxiety — it is time to scale up kindness to tackle a stubborn challenge affecting two of the most vulnerable communities in our midst: the Afghan refugees in the country and the Bihari community stranded in Bangladesh.

While many Afghan refugees went back to their country of origin, there are others, who have seen no other land than Pakistan. In September 2018, soon after coming to power, the Prime Minister had announced a bold and humane policy creating a path to citizenship for those who have called Pakistan their home for decades. Unfortunately, not much came of it. It is time to revisit it. Beyond the obvious humanitarian reason, there are several factors that are unique at this point in time.

First, the PM’s team has a strong track record in this area. Few people are aware of the incredible, and free-of-charge services that Shaukat Khanum has provided for years to the refugees for cancer care. Well before Mr Khan’s team took office, Shaukat Khanum’s policy of providing access to care was recognised, and praised as a model among refugee health organisations. The PM’s team has people who have worked with refugee agencies for years and are aware of what it takes to create permanent, sustainable and decent solutions for those who have been here for decades, and know no other place than Pakistan as a home.

The second factor is the year 2021 and what it may represent. The year comes 50 years after the creation of Bangladesh, and while there is no reason to wait for a milestone to do good, milestones can galvanise nascent efforts into something bigger. Fifty years is a long time for Biharis stranded in Bangladesh to live in slums. Fifty years is enough for people to hope for a better day. Fifty years is long enough to fix the historic wrong. While many may be oiling their propaganda machine to spin the facts of what happened in 1971, and to remind us who was actually at fault and who was not, the government needs to recognise this is a unique opportunity to change the lives and destiny of people who have always called Pakistan home.

The third factor is the change of administration in the United States. The incoming Biden administration has already indicated its strong support for refugee programmes in the US and is likely to support global efforts as well. This would be a clear and marked change from policies of the last four years. The incoming secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has on record stated his position favouring refugee well-being and solutions for those forcibly displaced. If Pakistan embarks on a mission to help refugees in country and those stranded in Bangladesh, it will most likely find a willing partner in Washington.

Rarely do we have the opportunity where personal mission, a record of accomplishment, international support and an unusual opportunity align. Those who recognise it make their permanent mark on history — 2021 can be that year for Mr Khan’s government.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2020.

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