RECENTLY, the government announced a TikTok competition seeking a solution to the prevalent issues affecting Pakistan. It boggles one’s mind to think that even the government wants solutions to such critical issues within seconds. As such, this leaves a big question mark on the seriousness of the government to actually resolve these issues.

Moreover, it is really concerning to see the government endorsing such platforms at a time when the nation is already suffering from a dangerously low attention span. Such acts can only deteriorate the already bad level of national discourse. It is rather sad that the government is ignoring the input from policy experts and thinkers, and wants solution from TikTokers who are known to be suffering from a serious lack of rationality.

If the government wanted to take such initiatives, it should have gone for a public debate at the right forums, like, say, the one involving academia and intelligentsia. There are a lot of thinkers and young researchers in universities who keep looking for an opportunity to communicate with the government, but are left to put up with rejection and frustration. Why did it have to be the TikTokers?

The level of national discourse is already pathetic. What is the point of adding to the pace of intellectual slide in the country?

Ali Sher Gurginari
Hub

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2024