ABRAHAM Maslow, an American psycho- logist presented a theory, popularly known as the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which suggests that every person behaves in a tier-based model of human needs, generally depicted as levels within a pyramid.

These tiers, or levels are, in ascending order, physiological (food and clothing), safety (job security), love and belonging (friendship), esteem and self-actualisation. As is the case with a typical pyramid, it is not possible for a person to attain esteem and self-actualisation which, in a societal context, is depicted by, inter alia, morality, justice, freedom — a higher level in the pyramid — until his/her physiological and safety needs — bottom levels in the pyramid — are taken care of.

When scores of people are unemployed, unsheltered, unfed and uneducated, issues relating to morality, rule of law, freedom, fundamental rights, equity, justice and empowerment will never be important for a vast majority.

One wonders if the state of affairs prevailing in Pakistan for the last more than seven decades has been a much preferred position for a select few.

Shabbir Harianawala
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2023