Complacency and lack of faith dragging us down
The nation needs to carry out an assessment of its values and faith.
KARACHI:
Regrettably one of the underlying flaws in our society is a culture which is visibly shifting towards lack of accountability, negligence and irresponsible behaviour.
We as a nation do not focus on long term sustainable progress and advancement but are constantly looking for shortcuts and the easy way out. When something goes wrong we love to blame someone else or even God for its occurrence. We do not take responsibility for the failure.
Merit and accountability need to be pursued and bred at every level. To me this is the greatest barrier for progress because if we as a nation do not start using our intelligence and ethical values to build our country we will perish.
Quaid-e-Azam had very aptly summarised the values most important for the survival and long-term sustenance of Pakistan 65 years ago in just three words: Unity Faith and Discipline. Looking at our dismal situation today it is clear that we have lost touch with all three. In fact these 3 values are totally missing from the characters of our leaders and general population.
Pakistan unfortunately is a victim of this convoluted mindset and attitude and it all stems from lack of faith in our religion. We are not the same Muslims as envisioned by the Holy Quran, and we merely act out the motions to justify our existence as Muslims. Like praying five times but not refraining from unethical acts like corruption, nepotism, etc. We fast the whole month of Ramazan but never do anything for the poor and destitute which is the very reason we are requested to fast. We use government resources for our benefit; even Hajj a required covenant of Islam which should be done only if you can afford it is done on government expense which clearly is not acceptable in the eyes of Allah, but no one cares.
The plight of our society stemming from this lack of faith will never be addressed if we do not go to the basics, basics of humanity, basics of our faith, basics of what role an inspirational and true leadership should be playing and role modeling.
We must move away from fanaticism and intolerance ruling our day to day life. We must start caring for each other especially our fellow Pakistani’s living below poverty level.
We desperately need to do an introspective evaluation of our values and faith, we must call a spade a spade, only then will we have any chance of coming out of the current quagmire and get on to the path of development and self sustenance.
The writer works in the corporate sector and is active on various business forums and trade bodies.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2012.
Regrettably one of the underlying flaws in our society is a culture which is visibly shifting towards lack of accountability, negligence and irresponsible behaviour.
We as a nation do not focus on long term sustainable progress and advancement but are constantly looking for shortcuts and the easy way out. When something goes wrong we love to blame someone else or even God for its occurrence. We do not take responsibility for the failure.
Merit and accountability need to be pursued and bred at every level. To me this is the greatest barrier for progress because if we as a nation do not start using our intelligence and ethical values to build our country we will perish.
Quaid-e-Azam had very aptly summarised the values most important for the survival and long-term sustenance of Pakistan 65 years ago in just three words: Unity Faith and Discipline. Looking at our dismal situation today it is clear that we have lost touch with all three. In fact these 3 values are totally missing from the characters of our leaders and general population.
Pakistan unfortunately is a victim of this convoluted mindset and attitude and it all stems from lack of faith in our religion. We are not the same Muslims as envisioned by the Holy Quran, and we merely act out the motions to justify our existence as Muslims. Like praying five times but not refraining from unethical acts like corruption, nepotism, etc. We fast the whole month of Ramazan but never do anything for the poor and destitute which is the very reason we are requested to fast. We use government resources for our benefit; even Hajj a required covenant of Islam which should be done only if you can afford it is done on government expense which clearly is not acceptable in the eyes of Allah, but no one cares.
The plight of our society stemming from this lack of faith will never be addressed if we do not go to the basics, basics of humanity, basics of our faith, basics of what role an inspirational and true leadership should be playing and role modeling.
We must move away from fanaticism and intolerance ruling our day to day life. We must start caring for each other especially our fellow Pakistani’s living below poverty level.
We desperately need to do an introspective evaluation of our values and faith, we must call a spade a spade, only then will we have any chance of coming out of the current quagmire and get on to the path of development and self sustenance.
The writer works in the corporate sector and is active on various business forums and trade bodies.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2012.