Amjad Mehmood
What is the charm of a peaceful life, perhaps Pakistani nation can hardly experience this charm compared to developed nations around the globe. The governments in the developed countries ensure the consistent provision of welfare services, including access to education, healthcare, justice, and fair earning opportunities. Even during global recessions, these governments rarely compromise on services provided to the public. USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden and many other countries, especially in Europe guarantee the protection of citizens’ fundamental rights. The chance to live a quality life in a peaceful atmosphere coupled with ample earning opportunities, allure millions to migrate to these countries every year.
The countries governed by monarchs like Saudi Arabia, UAE or those with non-democratic regimes like China, Russia also safeguard the public’s fundamental rights with the exception of offering full freedom of speech. When people have access to education, health, and justice along with opportunities of earning in these countries, many appear willing to compromise on free speech in exchange for these benefits. Without inclusion of India, comparison remains partial. Indian democracy with hundreds of objections is far better than Pakistan. Socially they have many fractures but as a nation they are united and their economic growth is remarkable. Indian health and education sectors have earned global recognition and overall infrastructure throughout the country presents a positive image of the country. As the world’s largest democracy, India’s presence in every sphere of global activity reinforces the notion of “Shining India.”
Comparatively the question remains, where does Pakistan stand today? Except for an elite class, the nation’s journey of descent is getting pace every passing year. Tireless struggle for access to education, health, justice and earning is the story of every common Pakistani. Society is highly polarized; we are not united as a nation rather we are happier to be identified as Sindhi, Punjabi, Pashtun and Balochi. Social values have almost vanished, tolerance gone to level zero, acceptance to opposite voices has become a rare phenomenon. Religion, once seen as a unifying force, has now become a dangerous tool in the modern age.
The story of devastation begins with our education system, which remains fractured and inequitable. Firstly, we have failed to introduce a standardized education system with an adequate structure for all. Government has miserably failed to establish a systematic framework on check and balance to ensure “quality” which apparently seems just a “word” in the existing system. The curriculum is outdated to deliver knowledge and best match with market and global needs. Pedagogy is an art while in government schools we deal with it as a job and in private schools, it’s a trick to earn money. Colleges and universities of public and private sectors have transformed into corporate entities to mint the money in the name of education. In the development of any nation, education is considered a key factor. Research and development in educational institutes enabling the advanced countries to shine on global horizons with their creational wonders in the fields of science and technologies. According to a recent report by the World Population Review, published in 2024 and covering the period from 1980 to 2022, Japan is leading the inventions global ranking followed by the United States, China, South Korea, Germany, Russia, France, UK, Switzerland and Netherland in the top ten. In the overall list of 193 countries, Pakistan is lower than war-hit Syria. According to Stanford University’s rankings, only 144 Pakistani scientists were recognized globally, compared to 5,352 Indian scientists. This disparity highlights the lack of government support for R&D, which is crucial for modern-day innovation. Contrarily, our governments have infantile behavior to understand the need and importance of modern day research. The pettiness did not end here as according to a World Bank report, over one-third of school-age children across Pakistan were found to be out of school. The Higher Education Commission (HEC), the regulatory body for higher education in Pakistan has also a very shabby role in the promulgation of tangible research culture in higher educational institutes in the country. The commission introduced research policy encircled with promotion and perks rather directing researchers for quality research to bring glory for Pakistan at international level. The felony with education is a continuous process with no ray of hope to change the landscape towards a positive direction. Government orders to shut the educational institute so comfortably in case of any political agitation without fearing of students’ loss. This growing tendency is becoming the new normal in Pakistan which obviously will have serious consequences in future.
Health sector in Pakistan is another nightmare for an average Pakistani. Government health infrastructure is either insufficient or non-existent, particularly in rural areas. The government facilities are inadequate in respect of population ratio. Also, there is no concept of free treatment except in very few major cities where in-door facilities are funded. Private health sector has no government’s control and operates in gross-freedom mode. With marginal, quality-less services and without fear of accountability, the private health sector in Pakistan functions as mafia and looters. Government has no policy and control to monitor their rates, quality and performance consequently, human life is the least priority for private sector health facilities in Pakistan. The World Health Organization’s recent ranking placed Pakistan at 124th out of 169 countries, emphasizing on an immediate revision of the national health system. The ever increasing trend of diabetes, hypertension, heart, liver and kidney diseases set an alarm for the government to treat the matter more seriously and improve health facilities up to required standards. According to a research paper published by Umar Bacha and Naveed Munir in 2022, Pakistan is facing a double burden of malnutrition with record high prevalence rates of chronic diseases. Pakistan spends only a marginal of its GDP (1.2%) versus the recommended 5% by the World Health Organization. On average, there are eight hospitals per district, with people load per hospital being 165,512. They also highlighted poor data management in the country, and lack of a consistent local registry on all-cause of mortality. With continuous international support, Pakistan has still failed to eradicate polio from the country as around 20 cases reported in 2024 alone. The Pakistani health system demands immediate and serious attention from the government to overcome the increasing threats of dread diseases across the country.
“Justice” has lost its literal meaning in Pakistan and the public is earnestly losing faith in the justice system. The most common definition of justice is to treat individuals in an equitable and fair manner. Contrary to this Pakistan offers two parallel justice systems which serve separately by gauging the social status of individuals in terms of richness, poverty, influence, authority or futility. “Might is right” is attributed as a common slogan for the Pakistani justice system. According to the World Justice Project report, Pakistan is ranked 130th across 142 countries in 2023 and stood at 5th rank out of total 06 in regional justice ranking leaving behind Afghanistan. From lower to supreme judiciary, justice itself seems to be lost in the search for justice. The irony reaches to peak, when judges are divided due to their affiliation with one or other political party instead of standing with justice. The government is all set to pass 26th constitutional amendment which has nothing to do with the common man but to serve the vested interests of ruling elites. Our justice system seems on death bed with a throbbing pulse.
The most important factor in transforming to a welfare state is a stable and powerful economy. Few weeks earlier, Pakistan secured a $7billion loan deal from the IMF. The government is beating drums on this triumph and cursing the previous government for their poor performance and deteriorating country’s economy. In all this giggling, the public is thrashed economically as they are hardly able to manage their livelihood. The economic catastrophe is reached to pinnacle where poor countrymen find peace in doing suicide. According to an IMF report, Pakistan’s real GDP growth is surfing at 2% with 24.8% inflation rate. Fuel, energy, commodities and edibles’ prices are out of reach for the public at large. On top of this, the IMF report shows about 8% unemployment in Pakistan which hints at more gloom in socio-economic life. The World Bank’s report on Pakistan’s economy notes that amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the catastrophic 2022 floods and macroeconomic volatility, poverty has significantly increased in Pakistan. The estimated lower-middle income poverty rate is 40.5 percent (US$3.65/day) for Financial Year 2024 with an additional 2.6 million Pakistanis falling below the poverty line from the year before. All these indicators depict the actual economic condition of Pakistan and diminished chances to emerge as a welfare state while the government is engaged head to toe to buy the votes in favor of 26th constitutional amendment.
These brief overviews of the education, health, justice, and economic sectors paint a grim picture of Pakistan’s present state while on the other hand lawlessness, corruption and eroding moral values are other segments to outcry. Pakistan has plenty of causes to take pride for including four seasons, fertile lands, rivers, sea, mines and minerals, younger generation, nuclear deterrence but incapable pro-establishment governments, curse of corruption, swindle democracy with all associated odds and lack of true visionary leadership have taken the country to current low at nose-diving speed. This tragedy should have an end by showing some mercy on “Pakistan” from power and ruling elites. We as a nation too, need to build our character and contribute for all good causes to uplift the country from the pit of desolations.
