In recent reviews of the stellar performance as well as dismal failures over the last 75 years of Pakistan’s independent existence one can discern a notable, evolving, long-lasting trend: an increasing awareness among citizens about how their lives and livelihoods are affected by the developments in the country’s current state of affairs.

And more importantly, the economic, social and technological progress so far made is stated to have empowered individuals (youth, the middle class and society) with the potential to make a difference in shaping the future.

A youth survey conducted by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) in April 2022 shows their future and the country’s economic progress are among the foremost concerns of young people, says the organisation’s joint director Assiya Riaz. In the opinion of young people, key challenges facing Pakistan are ranked in the order of inflation, followed by unemployment, poor quality of education, population growth, religious extremism, climate change, questionable quality of political leadership and threat from India.

A whopping majority of 84.9 per cent of the young respondents believe that, despite weaknesses, democracy is the best system for Pakistan. And 95.9pc are of the view that strong and empowered local governments are the key to managing public problems.

The citizen’s role will widen over time in shaping the nation’s democratic and prosperous future

In the views of United Nations experts, it would very difficult to develop ‘sustainable cities and communities’ in the absence of vibrant local bodies. In Pakistan, this has become abundantly clear from the failure to provide civic facilities and other infrastructure in major cities and towns. The damage from the monsoon rains has further exposed how things are being mismanaged sans empowered representative local bodies system being in place.

The popular imagination is hooked on politics, says an analyst. With unbounded political polarisation, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Central Depository Company cautions: ‘’We (the public) need to use logic over emotions and start questioning the leaders we support.”

When asked in Pildat’s Youth Opinion Survey “what is the most important factor that influences you to support a political party?” the respondents’ choices were as follows: 37.9pc of them said it was the party’s past performance, 36.5pc looked at election manifestos, 17.5pc followed charismatic leaders and 3.8pc voted under influence of local leadership.

To spur economic progress, social scientists in Europe had identified a cardinal principle in the pioneering stage of industrialisation that every individual had the right to mould the quality of life as he deems fit but he did not have the right to usurp the rights of others. In other words, it meant the harmonisation of individual and collective interests.

Military rule has ceased to be an option owing to industrial development and the resultant social consciousness

And now through an evolutionary process in both semi-industrialised and industrialised countries, one can witness a surge of individual self-assertion and persistent efforts to exercise the right to self-determination.

Here an illustrative quote from eminent analyst F.S.Aijazuddin is pertinent: “Come to think of it, every achievement that Pakistanis can be proud of — whether it is mountain climbing, javelin throwing, weightlifting, or winning Oscars — is the reward of individual effort. Pakistanis achieve whatever they do, not because of state patronage, but despite it.”

The country’s rapid industrialisation of the 1960s created an environment for the various segments of the population to demand individual, regional and provincial autonomy and the need for institutional autonomy for different sectors of the economy, free from centralised regulations and patronage that stifled the growth of a competitive modern economy. The problem then highlighted included the concentration of wealth in 22 families. This was followed by the 1973 Constitution, the delayed 18th Constitutional Amendment and the 7th National Finance Commission award, which together laid the roadmap for a federal, democratic and egalitarian system.

Though constitutional and democratic norms are not being strictly observed, direct centralised military rule has ceased to be an option owing to the industrial development and social progress made since then and the social consciousness it has generated.

And a growing number of the professional middle class is projecting emerging trends with the potential to resolve the current crisis and put it on the path of inclusive and sustainable development.

The global digital revolution is also serving as a catalyst for transformational change in this country. It is now well recognised that IT interventions are adding to internal distribution, efficiency and exports at the fastest pace. Notwithstanding the official policies, this phase of industrialisation, with its multi-facet dimensions and impacts, is widening the space for building a strong middle-class economy.

Pakistan’s youth will be at the forefront of economic and social transformation, says analyst Mosharraf Zaidi and adds: “This is guaranteed not because there is any sign of creative life in the Pakistani state, but because there isn’t. Starved of fairness, equal opportunity and capable governance, young Pakistanis are going to build the ecosystem they need from scratch.”

Our individuals are more empowered today than they were a few decades ago, says Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri. The internet, smartphones, and social media have made information (and disinformation) much more accessible than we had ever imagined. People are more aware of their rights and are empowered enough to challenge the status quo.

Now various power centres and a vibrant civil society is contesting for their space in decision-making. These trends are reminders that one cannot ignore individual ownership while taking any initiative about Pakistan’s future. The analyst believes that citizens can certainly influence the game changers to at least do better than business-as-usual.

By the time we celebrate one hundred years of Pakistani freedom, mr Zaidi says, the most talked about story will be of the economic independence of Pakistani women, men and children that will define the next quarter of a century. And to quote Aqdas Afzal, raising the living standards of Pakistanis requires a democratic turn, and we have to make democracy the starting point for all social change.

What’s appears to be certain, one may point out, is that the citizen’s role will widen over time in shaping the nation’s democratic and prosperous future.

Published in Dawn, The Business and Finance Weekly, August 29th, 2022