Plague (def): A source of great trouble or hardship, used in ancient texts to denote a curse.

This definition is so true for the current times we live in. Have you ever wondered how the year 2020 will change the world forever; and especially Pakistan? I am sure most of you have. And for those of you who haven’t, well, let me tell you.

So far, 2020 has unfolded so many catastrophic events that have or will affect the world. These events have happened within a very short span of time which has made it a challenge for us to effectively tackle them. There has been one tragedy after another. But tackling these problems will be a bigger challenge for Pakistan because being a developing country, we lack money, resources and literacy, hence making things chaotic. So today, I want to focus on how 2020 and the years to come will be a challenge for Pakistan in particular.

The year started with the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been the greatest calamity so far. The highly contagious virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, spread rapidly and within months became a global pandemic. The whole world came to a standstill, there was strict lockdown all over the world, while hundreds of thousands of people became extremely sick and many died.

All institutions and economic activities shut down globally. For Pakistan, the problem is far worse. Due to the vast number of the population being illiterate, getting people to understand the importance of staying home, wearing a mask and taking proper precautions has been very challenging. People need to understand that this is not a conspiracy by other countries against Pakistan, but it is a natural pandemic, like The Black Plague of 1918 which happened a century ago and killed millions. Many Pakistanis have a very casual attitude and are being highly impractical, either saying that God will protect us all or it’s nothing to worry about and just media hype.

Because of these factors, the virus is spreading like wildfire in our country. This is causing the healthcare services to become overwhelmed and they can ultimately collapse. Furthermore, as more people fall ill, the earning capacity of households will decrease, leading to more economic hardship and even starvation.

Earning money during the pandemic is a challenge, especially for daily wagers. This will soon lead to people not having enough money to pay bills, rent and buy food. Some will even be forced to live or beg on the streets, which will expose them to the virus even more, and hence there will be a further rise in the number of cases. Increased instances of crime are also likely due to economic hardship because some choose the unlawful way to earn money and feed themselves.

Speaking of food, the other major event so far that has affected Pakistan negatively is the locust attack in our country. Despite the effects of Covid-19, the agriculture sector still registered positive growth in Pakistan. The agricultural sector is extremely important for a country like Pakistan, and brings in a lot of revenue for the country and provides livelihood for thousands of farmers. This is the worst locust attack in decades and Pakistan is in desperate trouble.

These insects travel 150km a day and can destroy crops enough to feed 35000 people a day. Adult swarms can consume crops as much as their own weight in a day. According to authorities, the locust infestation across the country is worsening in the recent weeks. Apart from the old route through Iran, the locusts have now found a new way via Afghanistan to enter Pakistan. The result of this is devastating for crops.

From flying drones and sending fire trucks to banging utensils and playing loud music, farmers are leaving no stone unturned to try and control this attack which has left them desperate. If the government does not get this attack under control soon, tens of thousands of farmers especially from Baluchistan and Punjab will lose all their crops and their means of earning. This will not only push them into poverty, but there is a very high risk of the country developing a food shortage.

These two important events will shape Pakistan’s social and economic future for many years to come. We, as the youth of the country, need to be aware of the economic challenges facing us so that we too can help our household in keeping the expenses under control. Let’s cross our fingers and also pray that God helps us in these difficult times, and our troubles end soon. Until then, we all need to stand strong and stay safe, and hope for the best!

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 25th, 2020