IT has been almost five months since Imran Khan assumed the office of prime minister and many who voted for ‘change’ are fast becoming disillusioned.

Corruption is still prevalent, the economy shows no sign of reviving, forex reserves are dwindling while gas and electricity shortages are becoming more acute.

There is no doubt that our prime minister in his personal capacity is honest to the core: the problem is society.

The morals of a large section of people in Pakistani society have gone south for a long time. To prove my contention one need look no further than the street vendor. Given half a chance he will short-change his customer in a jiffy and without thinking twice.

More than anything else, this nation needs constant moral and ethical grooming from a mother’s lap which is reinforced repeatedly through the primary education system right upto university.

If this is not done, no matter how many laws are enacted and enforced, society is unlikely to mend its ways and the Kaptaan’s vision of a modern welfare state will remain just that — a pipedream.

M.Z. Javed

Lahore

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2019