Now, here’s a thing that’s universally non-existent in this country unless enforced through ticketing systems or other ways. From a bus stop to a general store, you will never see people follow a queue.

Turns out, the formation of a waiting queue is a highly sophisticated social scheme, only possible in very intelligent groups of individual. Hence, is absent in most species of the animal Kingdom and homo-sapiens of Pakistan. And if one poses the philosophical inquire “Why?” It’s simply because we don’t function as a group but individuals only. We don’t trust others to do the same.

After this episode’s bank experience, I decided to follow the queue in my next experience and was, as predictable, passed over, until I posed a question to the passer bys. It was hard gulping down the anger and tidying up the face frustration with a smile, but you know what? It worked.

Most folks did stand there in a queue; as long as I was there, at least. We really ought to try this, if enough of us do, maybe, we will start a cycle to function as an intelligent group. Who knows, but we ought to try, no? So help me out here a bit, spread the word.

-Jimmy


Dawn.com brings you a series of thought provoking messages by Jimmy, an everyday Joe of Pakistan who thinks about things and stuff. Watch this space for the next weekly episode.

Connect with Jimmy on facebook here.

Opinion

Editorial

Water vision
01 May, 2026

Water vision

WATER insecurity in Pakistan has been building up for decades as per capita water availability has declined from...
Vaccine policy
01 May, 2026

Vaccine policy

PAKISTAN has finally approved its first National Vaccine Policy; a step the health ministry has rightly described as...
Labour rights
Updated 01 May, 2026

Labour rights

THE annual observance of May Day should move beyond statements about the state’s commitment to the rights of...
UAE’s Opec exit
Updated 30 Apr, 2026

UAE’s Opec exit

THE UAE’s exit from Opec is another sign of the major geopolitical shifts that are reshaping the global order. One...
Uncertain recovery
30 Apr, 2026

Uncertain recovery

PAKISTAN’S growth projections for the current fiscal present a cautiously hopeful picture, though geopolitical...
Police ‘encounters’
30 Apr, 2026

Police ‘encounters’

THE killing of nine suspects by Punjab’s Crime Control Department across Lahore, Sahiwal and Toba Tek Singh ...