How safe are we?

A person’s home is supposed to be a safe place where s/he can walk around without fear, use the latest tech device s/he has, and have a general sense of security. Unfortunately, in a recent Gallup survey in which around 1,000 people participated, 41 per cent said that Pakistan is more unsafe today than it was a decade back; around 39 per cent thought that the country is safer today; and 15 per cent saw no difference in the country’s situation. That Pakistan is becoming an increasingly unsafe society is no shock. Years of political instability, lack of job opportunities, and a persistent air of uncertainty have pushed more people into the abyss of darkness. For most people, the lack of security in the country is quite troubling. In 2014, Pakistan witnessed a nerve-racking episode of terror; the APS massacre in December that year led to the deaths of over a hundred children. The government then vowed to eradicate terror groups from the country.

By 2015, law-enforcement agencies were able to successfully achieve their goals. The security situation largely remained under control till 2019. In 2020, sporadic terror events wreaked havoc across the country, but since 2021 (the year of the US withdrawal from Kabul), there has been a significant increase in terror activities. All of this has once again created chaos and unrest in society. Additionally, the gradual increase in crime in urban cities has fostered dissatisfaction and frustration among people. Different surveys have shown that young people in Pakistan want a way out. Incidents like the boat capsizing in the Mediterranean Sea also show the desperation of Pakistanis to leave the country. Professionals are moving their businesses outside the country and opting for liberal democracies to lead a normal life.

The government continues to ignore these sentiments, unaware of the fact that one day this could all blow up. A frustrated and disappointed nation cannot steer the country to the path of progress. Pakistanis are talented and hold a lot of potential, but they cannot fight the constant challenges the country keeps throwing at them. In small cities, the lack of basic facilities compels people to move to bigger cities in search of employment and other benefits. This adds more to the burden of urban cities which are not designed to absorb a high influx of population. The lack of employment opportunities in cities has now created a situation where people take extreme steps to end it all – for not only themselves but also their families. It’s time for the Pakistani government to wake up and turn the country into a prosperous place for its citizens. The air of disappointment cannot go on any longer.