April 18, 2012
Anwar Parveen,
Exclusive Article

Majority of us are worried on how to overcome our problems and make ourselves credible and strong. There are slogans and statements from the leadership and increase in sufferings for the common people. The law and order situation, price hike, economic downfall and facing the ups and downs in relationships with other countries. Above all the negative propaganda being launched is also affecting our mindsets in one way or other. Good governance is not an easy task. But we have to take a start to overcome the difficulties. First of all we have to fight our laziness to ‘wait and see’ and then act. Time is never reversed. Opportunities once lost may be gone forever. There is a need that we have an action oriented thinking on what and how to take certain steps to address various issues one by one. It also needs a national policy on all the basic issues, to be implemented and followed. If we take an example of education which is the basic right of every child, then proper reforms are needed. Education should be free for all, and free does not mean that it loses its value. That is again a problem with us if something is free it is taken for granted not as a blessing or opportunity. In other countries it is taken as a responsibility of the state to be utilized as a responsible citizen.

When it comes to good governance why examples are given of the Western countries? They also have problems but they have taken care of the basic needs of the people. Why they spend their weekly pay freely and are not bothered about the future, because they know that the state is going to look after them. Basic education is free for all. Children are provided free transport and all other facilities at state expense. There is no discrimination and everyone has equal opportunities. Teachers are well paid. They also fulfill their responsibility as a national duty and as a good human being. They wear simple clothes and come with their bags full of teaching material and plans for their classroom. They spend their time in teaching and avoid any distractions. After retirement they get pension and other senior citizen benefits. This is where the difference lies.

In the same way medical facilities need to be free. Each person of the state if treated equally and provided help when needed, would be more comfortable to think and work effectively on his job. Most of us waste our time in socializing, watching TV or discussing issues which have no outcome. The same time can be utilized properly if we look around us and understand the problems faced by people. Nowadays, people living in the same house do not know the sufferings of each other because they do not listen and understand the feelings or problems of others.

Access to media and its openness instead of solving problems is also creating or least aggravate these. Simply giving news and awareness is not enough. Utilizing that awareness in a positive way is also important. Mostly the issues are portrayed in a negative way which develops negative feelings and adds to their disappointment. There should be a positive angle to issues related to everyday life and social system e.g. there are programmes on how crimes are committed, dramatizing the incidents and presented in a way that everyone including raw minds watch it with interest. But the consequences and punishment to the culprit is not shown. That leaves a vacuum. So in our overall life system negativity needs to be overcome with a positive focus on issues which have a direct or indirect affect on our lives.

We also face a dilemma when there is some change in our life. Instead of accepting it, we reject or resist it. Sudden changes are difficult to cope with. But it is again the responsibility of the leaders, media and the society to mentally prepare the nation to accept these and understand specially if some changes are for the betterment of the community.

Why in our everyday life we sometimes come across a chaos like situation. Instead of attacking or solving the problem we target the people, destroy our own national assets, and then regret that why has it happened? There is a requirement of an organized system at all levels so that proper evaluation and monitoring takes place and everyone knows what is happening.

A strong society is the one where everyone knows what is happening around. The problem we are facing today is thinking in isolation and forming perceptions based on the half-cooked stories of the media or other people around us. A good communication system in the family, community and society provides strength to overcome problems.

All of us today want to see Pakistan as a strong, credible and a prosperous country in future. We wish to have a leading role in the region. Our wish list includes an ideal environment and people living with honour and dignity. If we realize our strengths and weaknesses, understand and utilize our potential to overcome these, we can fulfill our responsibilities. Dreams of today may become realities of tomorrow.

The writer is a regular contributor to pkarticleshub.com