Bilal Ishfaq
Every nation has certain features which differentiate it from citizens of other countries. These include both positive and negative features. Today we will discuss a distinctive deleterious feature of Pakistani nation which needed to be given up. Pakistanis are habitual of shortcuts in each and every field of life. Here, we will quote some examples regarding this culture of the countrymen.
Let start from a pedestrian. The relevant authorities have constructed overhead bridges on national highways and busy road to keep the pedestrians safe of road accidents and mishaps. But, we observe that citizens without caring for their lives and mishaps, instead of using the overhead bridges try to pass through these highways and busy road. This often results in loss of precious lives besides leading to disruption in traffic creating difficulties for other road users. Loss of lives was also reported on railway tracks across the country on the daily basis due to same reason of adopting shortcuts.
Meanwhile, the same practice was observed by those driving cars and bikes. They instead of using the allocated passage ways attempt to reach to the destinations through shortcuts. The drivers violate one-way, speed limit and try to overtake the vehicles moving ahead. This not only generate difficulties for other road user but for themselves also.
On the other hand, when we visit banks for depositing utility bills, submitting, withdrawal of cheques or other related work, everyone strives to nick off at earliest without waiting for his turn or caring that another person who arrived earlier has right to take turn first. If someone dodges us, we get furious and start delivering lecture on discipline and often quote Quran and Sunnah about taking caring of rights of others. But, if we get opportunity to dodge someone else forget that same rules and regulation are implemented on us and we also come under same religious obligations.
It is legal right of any Pakistani national to get CNIC, visa, driving license and such other facilities provided by the state to its people. Different government organizations are assigned responsibility to ensure these facilities to the countrymen. But, almost every countryman instead of going through legal procedure and by paying legal amount set by the government attempts to adopt a shortcut. He pays bribes to officials, middlemen and agents. This is aimed to acquire require facility in minimum time and by paying less than the set fee. The amount paid via illegal means goes to pockets of officials and mediators instead of national exchequer. They for personal gains, violating the rules, provide excessive favour to their illegal clients. Rights of those who adopt legal procedure were ravaged. They have to wait for long for their legal right and are asked to pay if they want to get the facility instantly.
Every Pakistan, whether he is a businessman, public servant, teacher, politician, property dealer, contractor, physician, agriculturist or even a religious scholar prefers shortcuts. A businessman wants to become billionaire within days without investing or struggling for development and public servant desires to have bank balance and resources higher than his/her income. Politicians are considered to be aspired most in this connection as a luxurious living style is mandatory to become a politician in Pakistan. Your honesty and faithfulness are useless in politics and without having big bank balance, lavished residence and latest model vehicle you can’t become a good politician.
This practice of shortcut is also witnessed when you visit ‘tanoor’ to get ‘roti’, when you are at grocery store to purchase daily use domestic items, when you are bus stop waiting for van of respective route or when you take your children to parks, picnic locations and food parks on weekends.
With sorry in advance, the Pakistani nation is habitual of shortcuts not only in sublunary matters but also in religious issues. Juma prayers is mandatory for every Muslim once a week when he has to visit Jamia Mosque instead of the local mosque at ‘Zohar’ time. However, it is seen that people like to visit the Jamia Mosque where Jumma prayers is offered earlier or when the Friday sermon of very short duration. Our believers avoid visiting the mosques where the prayers leader take more time in preaching the religious teachings and responsibilities.
We allege the authorities, legislators and officials of violating the laws. We blame them of making money through illegal means using shortcuts (illegal means) in their assigned responsibilities. But, when was honestly observe lifestyle of every common man, we see him habitual of breaking laws and adopting shortcuts. Only who did not get opportunities can claim of to be law-abider. Otherwise, none of us is follower of law in letter and spirit.
This tradition of ‘shortcuts’ is not only harming the image of Pakistani nation at global level but is also major hurdle in development and prosperity of the country. We have to excogitate on our behavior and our daily life in this context. Instead of holding others responsible for the issues faced by the society and situation through which country is passing, we all have to mend our ways. If everyone of us holds him/her accountable first, most the problems will be resolved themselves. This is the only mean which can be helpful in establishing rule of law, ensuring transparency and development in the country. Otherwise, the dreams of turning Pakistan into ‘Riasat-e-Madina’ can’t be materialized via verbal pledges and unfounded claims.
