THIS is apropos of Asghar Mahmood’s letter ‘Corruption: a deep-rooted disease’ (Jan 18). I agree with the writer that Pakistan, much to the dismay of all of us, has become a country perpetually plagued by the polymorphous and apparently unconquerable monster of corruption.

However, I want to emphasise the dire need for bringing into play ‘ideological state apparatuses’ (family, educational institutions, places of religious congregations, etc) to put a halt to the march of this unbridled monster. It is an inescapable fact that the very root cause of any individual’s actions or malpractices is his very psychological makeup, the social indoctrinations internalised by him in the course of his being brought up and trained in the various aforementioned ideological state apparatuses.

Those who are at the helm of affairs need to comprehend that mere enactment of anti-corruption laws, and reorientation of coercive, investigating agencies such as NAB and FIA (repressive state apparatuses) are not enough.

Unless the government comes up with a sincerely devised and comprehensive strategy engaging all tiers of our society, the scourge of corruption would continue to threaten the very survival of the country.

The first step to design any effective measure to curb corruption is to probe the very conditions under which corruption thrives. Poverty, inadequate salaries, soaring inflation, malpractices among the very guardians of law and order, etc., are some of the most important factors that give the first spur to corrupt practices.

What can truly serve as a panacea to an otherwise dilapidated state of affairs in Pakistan is an effective implementation of the existing laws, a sincere effort by the government to bridge the ever-widening gulf between different strata of society.

There is also a need to rewrite the social script that otherwise tends to legitimise and hence reinvigorate the existing bane of corruption.

MEHREEN BALOCH      Islamabad