Elite Greed vs Mass Despair

Asem Mustafa Awan

Islamabad: Pakistan, often termed the “Land of the Pure,” is a nation steeped in paradoxes that seem straight out of an anthropological study. Here, unparalleled resilience clashes daily with profound despair, creating a society where survival is a daily struggle. 

The nation is currently gripped by a crisis of monumental proportions—soaring electricity bills that are claiming lives with chilling frequency.

The horrors are staggering: children are killed by their own parents, people are driven to leap in front of trains, and familial bonds are shattered by violence. These tragedies are reported daily in newspapers and on television, painting a grim picture of the nation’s reality.

The relentless economic strain, combined with an unyielding lack of respite, has driven people to the brink of mental collapse.

 The public’s patience is exhausted, and their anger is a volatile force ready to explode against those they perceive as responsible for their misery. The signs of impending unrest are clear, and the time for action is slipping away.

What fuels this growing rage is the glaring disparity between the lives of the elite and the suffering of the common people.

The powerful enjoy a lavish lifestyle, complete with free fuel, food, and other perks, all funded by the impoverished masses who are taxed both directly and indirectly.

The contrast is stark: while a mere 3 percent of the population controls Pakistan’s vast resources, over 9,000 state-owned vehicles serve a privileged few in Islamabad alone, in sharp contrast to London’s fewer than 100 vehicles for state functions.

The average Pakistani struggles to choose between food, education, and paying bills, often compromising on the first two to manage the third. United Nations reports highlight a distressing stunted growth rate in children, exceeding 40 percent, a clear indicator of systemic failure.

Pakistan, a nation traditionally known for its generosity, now finds itself in a dire state where cash is scarce and basic needs go unmet. The rising number of suicides due to unaffordable bills should be a wake-up call for policymakers, yet the cries of the common people are met with indifference.

Millions of children are out of school, their futures dimmed by the state’s inability to manage rising costs and broken promises of free education and meals, reserved only for a select few.

The state’s inability to recover billions stashed in offshore accounts only compounds the crisis. These funds, if recovered, could drastically alter Pakistan’s fortunes.

Instead, the nation’s resources are monopolized by a corrupt elite that perpetuates the cycle of misery. The Independent Power Providers, despite their inefficiency, receive payments regardless of their performance, a clear sign of entrenched corruption.

In essence, Pakistan is at a crossroads. The unchecked power of a few has created a landscape of misery for millions, highlighting a crisis that demands immediate and decisive action. The elite’s greed and the systemic corruption have pushed the nation to its breaking point.

If left unaddressed, the societal fractures will only deepen, and the cries for justice will grow louder. The time for reform is now, and the cost of inaction could be catastrophic.

Photo Credity: UNDP website

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.