On a wrong footing?

Surveys and exit polls are always taken with a pinch of salt. Though they speak the nerve of society to a great extent, they cannot be relied upon in totality. Factors such as the constituency of opinion-makers, their bias and time factors have an impact, inadvertently. A survey from a Paris-based market research and consulting firm, Ipsos, is set to stir a debate in Pakistan. Its assessment says that an overwhelming number of Pakistanis believe that the country is moving in the wrong direction. The contention, perhaps, is that the people surveyed — who were in the age group of 18 and above — have a dismal picture to paint, and apparently do not approve of the system in vogue. There can’t be two opinions about it, as there is a consensus in the nation that things should change for good, and social mobility must set in. The survey, nonetheless, has hinted at a political connotation by making the audience presume that all is not well under the present ruling dispensation. This is where it will be contested.

The survey vehemently says that people are not happy, and thus rating the disapproving statistics to almost 87 per cent is questionable. But what raises eyebrows is that the audience, it probed, is more concerned about prevailing issues rather than listing root-causes as the source of a country’s problems. For instance, Ipsos says inflation is the most worrying factor, and surprisingly it takes precedence over inherent corruption in the body-politick. Likewise, it lists unemployment, poverty and the reigning coronavirus pandemic as other major factors that persuade the public opinion to term the country’s policies to be on a wrong-footing. This indicates social nervousness as people prefer to look at issues on the surface, rather than taking a dip into what causes them to decay in society.

The study, however, has made a strong statement, and that is a generalised feeling of the masses who seem to be discontent. Increases in taxes and currency’s depreciation are more pinching than nepotism and bribery. This elicits some deep focus to read through the mindset as people want relief and a way out of stagnation.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2021.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.