Our Social Challenges: Do we have solutions

August 22, 2008

Shamas-ur-Rehman Toor

Pakistan is a young country but we are an old nation, living in sub-continent for centuries. Our social values, norms, and culture are heavily influenced by our history, religion, politics, economy, and leadership, and many other factors. We can not deny the role that religion has played in our society. As most other societies, we stand at cross-roads of traditionalism and novelty; globalism and localism; nationalism and provincialism; individualism and collectivism; fundamentlism and radicalism; etc etc.

As society, we need to have a collective goal so that we can move in one single direction in the future. One may argue that our goal is clear as a nation and that is the 'resolution of Pakistan'. I can not agree more. But we need reminders as to where as a nation we are heading to. We need to be clear of what future we want to create and how we are going to get there. Considering the very fact that socio-political and cultural forces in the global arena are inevitably going to change the way we live. We are bound to respond to the global change with responsibility. And we must match our pace with that of globalization. Do we want to respond or just cope? Do we want to bring a change or just follow it? Shall we contribute or remain on the receiving end?

We can not let the society evolve just organically such that we end up with a hotchpotch of ideologies and conflicting ideas. Instead, we need to grow together, with a well defined goal in front of us. We have to define the values and principles which can lead to a social system we want for Pakistan. As of now, we are neither clear nor sure of our collective destiny. Put it simply, we can not aim to cook pasta when the ingredients are meant to prepare pizza. It is time that educated people once again carefuly deliberate on how to respond to the local and global challenges we have in our plates as Pakistani nationals.

To begin with, I invite you to highlight one social challenge you think we face as a nation. But that's not all. It would be great if you can come up with your own version of a solution. Now that has not to be THE SOLUTION. You can propose a topic on the social challenge you think needs more attention. For example, you can start with topics like: participation of women in the nation building; what values define the Pakistani society; what sort of society do we want in 30 years, and so on.

Let's start this journey of national soul discovery with some social issues and see how it goes. Let's be part of the change we want to see in our country and let's contribute a bit of our time to think (really think) what we find as a challenge and how it can be overcome.

Happy thinking about how you aspire to see Pakistan in the future!