Reading a letter in Dawn about the shopping frenzy termed as consumerist overkill which grips people around Eid despite the ludicrous price hikes serves as a grim reminder of the economic disparity that is widening day by day in this country. Does this mean a civil war is in the offing? How long will this stagflation continue?
The escalating cost of living in a country where the minimum wage is Rs. 35,000 and more than thirty percent of the population is below the poverty line, the economic divide is breeding discontentment and dissatisfaction amongst the masses. The population explosion is adding fuel to the fire as the rampant and unbridled increase is wreaking havoc on the economy and quadrupling the pressure on the available resources.
Is there an end in sight? The country is sinking into a political and economic quagmire and like the Titanic, the life boats will only save the elite while the rest will be left floundering. With the massive corruption in the country reaching unprecedented levels and the widespread crime and lawlessness, the road ahead is all uphill and our reserves of patience, courage and fortitude are rapidly depleting.
Education and health are the only two sectors that continue to mint money and have been turned into extremely lucrative businesses. As Government schools and hospitals are in an abysmal state, the majority prefers private educational institutions and hospitals which are all making hay while the sun shines. Despite the back-breaking taxes that have been implemented which only line the pockets of the bureaucrats and politicians, there is nothing much to show for it.
It is time to start working hard in this country rather than fighting tooth and nail to go overseas where the majority, even the most skilled and educated, struggle to procure white-collar jobs
With the mass exodus of people towards larger cities like Lahore and Karachi, employment opportunities for the indigenous population are shrinking at an alarming rate. The immigrants from smaller cities and villages are willing to work at a fraction of the cost and are thus disturbing the dynamics of the labour market. The skilled labour in this country is on the hunt for opportunities to flee to greener pastures while all that will remain behind will be the unskilled, untrained and inexperienced work force. Paints a very bleak picture, doesn’t it?
Well, it only becomes bleaker, unfortunately. Corruption, unemployment, crippling inflation, and the population tsunami are pressing issues that will take many generations to overcome and resolve but what is extremely disappointing is that there does not seem to be a light at the end of this long, dark abyss that we have allowed ourselves to descend into. The massive brain drain and the desperation for a second passport in the hope of a better life are forcing millions to risk all that they have (and do not have) to flee this country in the hope of a better future for their families. The desperation and hopelessness are evident from the millions who board these sea-bound vessels for a better future overseas only to land up at the bottom of the sea, signing the death warrant for their families left behind.
What does the future hold for us? More doom and gloom, judging by the looks of it. As the cost of living goes through the roof and the crippling taxation takes its toll eroding the purchasing power of the majority, the chasm between the haves and have-nots keeps widening. The economy hits rock bottom as more and more foreign investors pull out of the country.
However, very soon, there will be no greener (if ever there were) pastures to flee to as Pakistanis become social pariahs due to the type of unlawful and illegal activities they partake in while residing overseas. With Trump on the warpath, a large number is being deported or sent back as he imposes tariffs right, left, and centre; thus rendering our exports uncompetitive in the global market which will further exacerbate Pakistan’s financial and economic woes. Student visas are also being revoked or cancelled and those hoping for a brighter future in the US are in for a rude awakening, to put it very mildly.
Maybe it is time to look closer to home and not live in a fool’s paradise any longer. This country has everything going for it and we only have ourselves to blame for the mess we are in. Let’s face it; life abroad is not a bed of roses and the grass always appears to be greener on the other side. Maybe it is time to start working hard in this country rather than fighting tooth and nail to go overseas where the majority, even the most skilled and educated, struggle to procure white-collar jobs. Unfortunately, these are never spoken about as nothing succeeds like success and we would much rather hear about the Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates of this world than about those who are burning the candle at both ends to make two ends meet and beat off the cut-throat competition.