Dichotomies of Pakistan

Raheel Khan/ILO photo

By

Nasir Soomro

Constitutionally, Pakistan is an Islamic republic, occupied by a Muslim majority, it being the world’s sixth largest populous country. Muslims go to mosques for daily prayers and perform all the rituals and rites, but on the surface, there is sinfulness and ungodliness, there is no sympathy, no mercy, no fellow feeling, no friendliness, no earnestness, no warmth, no selflessness, no equality, no impartiality.

But there is enough ignorance, cruelty, injustice, prejudice, greediness, deceit, arrogance, mistreatment, on top of all the corruption which has eaten away the very fabric of society.

After 70 years of its existence, this country is evidently a rudderless ship where dreams and hopes are sold and bought everyday by politicians and clergymen, the line between saint and sinner blurring.

According to reports nearly 39 percent of Pakistanis live in multidimensional poverty, which means four out of ten people live impoverished lives. Everyday is a struggle; there is no possible way for this labyrinth anytime soon, the wait for a messiah is ceaseless.

Nasir Soomro

Nasir Soomro is from Pakistan, he is working with the Energy Department, at the Government of Sindh, Pakistan. He is author of the book, ‘Peaks and Perils of Life’ (English Poetry) and is currently working on his semi-autobiographical novel in English.