Daily Times

Is doing the right thing(s) going to get the job done for Pakistan? Perhaps, the answer by a majority of the respondents would be in affirmation i.e. a yes. Barely would there be one who would state otherwise. Ironically, what we think, or the way we think does not change the greater rules, and principles laid down to be adhered to.

One such rule is that doing a right thing in a wrong way will ultimately make it wrong, irrespective of how noble the cause is, and will always keep the desired greater good at a good hands distance.Intents upon which actions are based, merely, are not sufficient to aide in achieving the desired outcomes, rather they need to be equally backed up by appropriate ways to act, and the right mediums that will lead us collectively to the sought after destination(s).

Intentions alone are more synonymous to missiles; less likely to hit their target(s), and more likely to cause collateral damage in the process.

There is, and can be no denying the bitter fact that Pakistan for over seven decades, at all levels perhaps,has not only remained home to many wrong doings, but that too under the shadowing umbrella of state institutions.With a new government sworn in now, promising change, all state institutions, finally, seem to be on the same page; at least with respect to driving the country forward in the right direction. A consensus that, through a greater part of our past, remained missing.However, better late than never; as they say.

With a new government sworn in now, promising change, all state institutions, finally, seem to be on the same page; at least with respect to driving the country forward in the right direction. A consensus that, through a greater part of our past, remained missing. However, better late than never; as they say

To sum the situation up, we have the good intent at the highest level of state institutions. An encouraging sign! What is disturbing though is that despite the pleasant aberration of state’s institutional consensus, the country still seems to be in a state of fix, as the results or progress of initiatives undertaken is somehow not that encouraging.That too, despite having a crystal clarity on our collectively shared ultimate objective; a prosperous, progressive, and welfare oriented Pakistan.Be it the country’s economic crisis, the accountability drive, the dam fund raising campaign, the dire desires to increase the tax base aimed at increasing the tax net, the institutional reforms, the austerity measures, and many more. All the good initiatives backed by good deeds apparently seem to be misguided missiles falling short of hitting their set targets, and simultaneously being effective in making their due impact to the greater picture of Pakistan.

This prevailing situation is precisely what takes us back to the bitter reality shared in the beginning.

Despite the good intentions to march forward towards prosperity, and betterment in everyday life of the common man, what is prevailing is ambiguity as state institutions lack clarity on how to go about the stated task. In short, it is the appropriate way to do things which has been the missing element thus far. Hence, the haphazard governance!

An ideal analogy can be drawn to the ongoing pan Pakistan anti-encroachment drive, particularly that in Karachi.

While the anti-encroachment drive was a need of time, and is in all its meanings and intentions, aimed at clearing the city from illegal encroachments, and to restore its infrastructure to what it once used to be, the operation still lacks credibility, and clarity on the way forward. With the issuance of orders from the Supreme Court Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, the mayor of the city Waseem Akhtar took to the roads with heavy KMC machinery taking down every illegal encroachment.The ancient Empress Market being the starting point.Not to say that what is being done is not right! The court’s orders are to be adhered to by all sections of the society. However, the court never stopped the city administration to at least come up with the plan of action, with more practically feasible, and workable timelines and share them with the apex court, and all stakeholders involved.

The entire operation, till date, is apparently going forward on mere words rather than any proper plan of action. The merchants who were/are doing business in these localities have been doing so for not just years, but decades, and in some way are a part of whatever economy, and economic activity we have today. Many of these merchants even have documentation from the KMC itself, legalizing their business activity. Despite this odd, if their shops cum businesses were to be removed, the ideal way for doing so would have been to provide them an alternate first. Unfortunately, something that has not been addressed appropriately at all! What we have till date are statements with no actions to back up.

Let us spare a minute to imagine a scenario where these merchants would have not been peaceful citizens! Chaos and lawlessness, perhaps, are the only words that can depict the presumed scenario.

All political stakeholders, other than Mayor Karachi, his party included, have raised concerns over the way this operation is being carried out. All in vain till date. Ironic to the core it is that like the past, no one is owning the city of lights, and all are mere spectators. The operation, although right in its very principle, is likely to be wronged courtesy the false route that has been taken.

Surprisingly, this is just one of many examples that we see, and hear today.

Whereas the initiatives paved with positive intent, and are in the greater interest of the people, the country at large, it is imperative for our governing bodies to understand that without resorting to appropriate way(s) even the good initiatives might very well result in the otherwise.

Wronging the right has been one of many orders of our day that have kept usas we are, and to change what we are, we need to change our day’s order(s).

The writer is an Islamabad based freelance opinion writer and columnist

Published in Daily Times, December 18^th2018.