APROPOS the letter ‘Society’s morals (Jan 10).The writer asserted that the backwardness of our society and country is due to the fact that our society lacks morality and there is no way things can improve unless we as a society improve ourselves.

A look at Pakistan’s 71 years of chequered history makes it clear that our politicians must share blame for society’s moral depravity, but how can you expect someone to be moral when he is earning Rs400 a day and he has to pay Rs1,500 to Rs2,000 for his treatment? In such a desperate situation the vendor he refers to will not bother about morals and uprightness.

There is no doubt about Imran Khan’s honesty and sincerity, but unless and until he stabilises the country, makes democratic institutions strong and viable, stabilises the roller coaster economy, enforces a transparent accountability process and ensures the dispensation of justice and law enforcement, it is difficult to visualise how society can improve its morals. The Kaptaan’s vision of a modern welfare state shall remain just that — a pipedream.

Rafaqat Ali

Lahore

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2019