Creating togetherness

The fact that as a society we live in segmented groups with few links to each other is a well-established fact. This problem was taken up at a conference recently organised in Karachi by the Pakistan Institute for Labour Education and Research. It was noted, for example, that people everywhere need to grow closer to those around them, rather than looking towards places in other countries, far away from home, for their inspiration and ideas. Specific examples of this phenomenon were given in terms of the food available in key cities and other matters. The lack of open discussion and thought, with the closure of libraries, was also brought up and it was noted that people everywhere need to work closer.
This of course is something we all accept as fact. The question is how we go about creating the change necessary to generate such harmony. Over the years, political parties and dictators have deliberately created a sense of divide on the basis of ethnicity, religion and language in order to expand their own hold over people. This has had an impact. The process will need to be reversed step by step. As was brought up at the conference, a way of moving towards this is by ensuring that all people are treated as equals under the law and in social matters. This is not what is happening now. In fact, quite the reverse is true and we see examples of this every day.
Maryam Hayat
Lahore