Daily Times

Sir: Indeed, morality is a quality that is highly valued by all traditional cultures. In the past, it was also highly valued in our Pakistani society but nowadays the case is somewhat otherwise. Indeed, moral values formed the bedrock of education, given to children as they grew up. Moral values were also impressed upon people who were about to wed or who were going through one rite of passage to another. Leaders were also expected to be people of upright character but look at the deplorable situation nowadays in Pakistani politics.

I vividly remember that children, both in rural and urban society, were traditionally socialised to respect other people’s property. Through rewards and punishments, the children grew up distinguishing between legitimately acquired goods and stolen ones. Each family endeavoured to ensure that their children respected their neighbour’s properties. The idea was to inculcate in the minds of the young the virtues of honesty and morality. Every family, every community, every society used to produce moral human beings. It is therefore not surprising that in adulthood, people were heavily punished if found stealing or indulging in corrupt practices. Habitual thieves were not welcome in the community but now habitual thieves and amoral people thrive in Pakistani society, in all walks of life. Look at the tax evaders and corrupt bureaucrats and technocrats in Pakistan. A society where morality is not valued, I strongly believe that its future cannot be different as we face the situation nowadays in Pakistan. Still it is not too late to mend and save this society from total doom and destruction by producing moral human beings. Our educational institutions, media, civil society and above all Pakistani mothers must pay attention to this before it is too late.

HASHIM ABRO

Islamabad