Turning the country around.

Several articles on Pakistan's current problems have recently appeared in newspapers and magazines and the subject has been dealt with extensively on television and social media. All of these highlight that the country is set on a dangerous course burdening its masses with unbearable misery with no hope of the situation getting any better. The most significant challenge is the anemic economy with only enough foreign exchange to support one month's import bill and that too is dwindling fast.

More worrying that the political leadership is not giving the attention to address this weakness. More time is being spent in petty squabbling with party leadership blaming the other for the present state of affairs. PTI and PML-N leaders with PPP in a supporting role remain engaged in verbal duels as though they are part of two hostile clans than a part of political parties with different political and economic views but working for a common goal. This further complicates the situation. With major political parties against Imran Khan and army leadership on their side and only temporary relief from courts, Khan despite his huge following feels desperate as he has nowhere to go. He seeks support from the US and the West, thereby setting aside his own declared principle of not involving foreign powers in internal matters. The US response understandably has been fairly guarded and would prefer to play a more discreet role. The statement by a senior US official advising all parties in Pakistan to engage and resolve their internal differences was in essence a reflection of this guarded approach.

Pakistan's other institutions, the judiciary, bureaucracy and media are also internally divided and promoting different agendas and weakening the very foundation of the state.

This sharp decline has not occurred overnight but was in the making for years. The more disturbing aspect is that there is little realisation as to why the country finds itself in this precarious position. In essence it is the total disregard of democratic principles and culture that has brought the country to the current precipice. And even now the same attitudes and culture prevails.

Consequently, less attention is being given to the challenges being faced by the masses. More so, the multiple factors that have contributed towards the steep downturn of the national economy and need corrective measures are yet to be undertaken. Mired with these weaknesses, the credibility and reputation of the...