In an observation during the hearing of a case on Friday, the Supreme Court has asked the rulers to abandon their opulent, monarch-like lifestyle, and instead focus all their energies and resources on elevating the condition of the underprivileged and downtrodden people by providing them basic necessities of life. The observation is laudable but what makes a sensible person sad is the lack of implementation of a remark that is nothing more than governance 101. Looking at the conditions in which the majority of Pakistanis exist, it is not an exaggeration to state that people in power do not seem to be interested to ameliorate the suffering of a common Pakistani whose quotidian existence consists of numerous ordeals to keep his body and soul together. There are merely discussions and debates about the problems of the poor but practically not much is done to resolve these issues. Since the independence of Pakistan, not a great deal has changed, and living conditions for a common citizen have gone from bad to worse during all these years. Successive governments have failed to ensure the provision of even the basic civic amenities to the poor: food, shelter, education, healthcare, clean water, electricity, gas. There are many areas in Punjab and other provinces where utilities like gas and electricity are unknown, while other citizens are provided these utilities in small doses. Unemployment is rampant not only among the illiterate but many educated persons are also without jobs. Low-income families live in conditions unfit for animals, and the unavailability of good schooling and health facilities adds to the bleak picture. The existing condition of government schools is very poor. In order to eradicate illiteracy and improve the standard of education, the first step is to have good teachers. Government should focus on formation of an education policy under which educated but unemployed young people are encouraged to join the teaching profession. The social fabric of society needs an overall improvement. Instead of indulging in mere discussions, something concrete needs to be done now. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Muttahida Qaumi Movement and other parties remain busy wrangling over petty politics while nobody truly pays heed to the problems of a common man. Is relief from poverty possible in the absence of social equality? Can our leaders put an end to poverty in Pakistan, where making ends meet and earning an honest living is no mean feat? Government provides no safety nets for the beat-up Pakistani citizenry, 30 percent of which lives below the poverty line. Measures that are currently taken for education, housing, sustenance, health care, pension, unemployment, insurance, public transportation, social amenities and protection of children are meager and insufficient to meet the demands of a growing population. The real stakeholders of Pakistan have no interest left in the political upheavals or the judgments of the superior courts. They are more concerned about the power crisis and ways and means to earn their bread and butter. All Pakistanis want is to earn basic sustenance, stay safe amid the existing law and order situation, and be able to conduct their day-to-day lives with hours of continuous power supply. The sad fact is that it is highly unlikely they would be able to get any of these things in the near future. And what is to be remembered is that all these things are nothing but basic necessities. That’s what makes the picture truly grim.Whose fault is that? *