A Portrait of Neglect in Pakistan

Asem Mustafa Awan 

Islamabad: The image of young boys precariously perched on top of an overloaded vehicle in Pakistan speaks volumes about the state of education, governance, and societal neglect in the country.

These children, all under the age of 15, risk their lives daily for the pursuit of education—an education that, heartbreakingly, often leads them into a future of unemployment and despair.

This photo is a stark reminder of the multiple failures that plague the nation’s institutions.

From the moment these children board these dangerously overcrowded vehicles, several questions arise: 

• Why do they risk their lives in this way? 
• Where are the traffic laws that should prevent such reckless behavior by drivers? 
• Why are there no law enforcement officials to stop this madness?

The reality is grim. The law enforcement agencies appear to turn a blind eye to these daily transgressions, as corruption runs rampant from the very top to the grassroots levels of administration.

The laxity of governance means that rules and regulations are mere suggestions rather than binding obligations. Drivers allow children to climb onto the roofs of their vehicles, fully aware of the potential for fatal accidents. This disregard for human life is a reflection of a deeper, systemic rot. Furthermore, this picture reflects a profound failure in the education system itself. 

What is being taught to these children if they willingly endanger their lives in such a way? 

It points to a lack of moral and civic education—a failure to instill a sense of personal responsibility, societal norms, and respect for the law. 

Instead, the education system often promotes a cutthroat mentality where shortcuts are glorified, and ethical considerations are pushed aside.

The children scrambling to secure a spot on these dangerous rides are a metaphor for the educational chaos that reigns in the country. 

Many others, unable to secure even these perilous seats, are left behind—much like the millions of youth left stranded by a broken education system and job market. The curriculum, debated endlessly and inconsistently reformed, fails to prepare students for real-life challenges or instill critical thinking skills.

Then, there is the issue of profiteering within the education sector. Educational institutions, driven by monetary gains, often charge exorbitant fees while offering little in terms of quality education.

Textbooks are not made readily available, leaving students and teachers to scramble for overpriced, digital versions online. This practice is not just unethical but illegal, revealing another layer of the corrupt nexus that operates unchecked.

Photographer Khurram Butt’s image, captured on a Monday morning, is just the tip of the iceberg. It reveals a myriad of systemic issues plaguing multiple sectors of the state, from administration to law enforcement, education, and overall governance.

In a country where education has become a luxury, accessible only to those with “deep pockets,” the fundamental rights of its youth are being sold off to the highest bidder.

In this single image, harsh reality  is depicted of a nation that has failed its children, where corruption, inefficiency, and neglect have taken precedence over the well-being and future of the next generation.

Indeed, a picture is worth a thousand words, and this one cries out for justice, reform, and an urgent call to action.

Photo Credit: Khurram Butt

Asem Mustafa Awan has extensive reporting experience with leading national and international media organizations. He has also contributed to reference books such as the Alpine Journal and the American Alpine Journal, among other international publications.