What's the point?

How many times must we ask the same question? Why bother, what's the point?

Who doesn't know Pakistan grapples with many intricate and interconnected obstacles that hinder its development and stability? These obstacles include, but are not limited to, political unrest, economic turbulence, terrorism, natural disasters, and skyrocketing inflation. What's the point? You invariably get the same answers and solutions. Everyone knows what to do but chooses to do something else.

Take its battered economy, for instance, which has always struggled. In recent years, the country has teetered on the brink of default several times while its debt levels have soared to unsustainable heights. Although the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has extended several bailout packages to Pakistan, these measures have come with stringent conditions and failed to put the country on a sustainable path to growth. We are still waiting for the conclusion of recent talks with the fund. You will be surprised to know how many former Pakistani office bearers are currently lobbying against it. One of them should know he is being watched.

We are also told some glimmers of hope remain. For one, the country boasts a youthful and burgeoning populace that can serve as a fountainhead of innovation and labour in the coming years. Moreover, Pakistan is endowed with a wealth of natural resources, including minerals and arable land, which can be harnessed to propel growth and development. We say that and punish the arable land by converting it into mud brick ghettos.

Another significant challenge facing Pakistan is political instability. The nation has a history of military coups and political unrest, and its government has struggled to maintain continuity and stability. This instability has made it difficult for Pakistan to implement effective policies and make long-term plans to address its numerous challenges. In addition, Pakistan's relations with other countries in the region, particularly neighbouring India, have sometimes been fraught with tension. People have proposed the idea of a grand national dialogue. Sure. But where would you hold these talks? In Zaman Park, barracks or ante-rooms of courts?

Terrorism poses another serious challenge for Pakistan. The nation has long been a target of terrorist groups, including the Taliban and al-Qaeda, with numerous deadly attacks on its soil over the years. While Pakistan has made strides in combating terrorism, recently, some...