IN Pakistan today, the struggle for basic utilities epitomises a broader crisis of governance and societal inequality. The once taken-for-granted amenities have become luxuries for many, creating a chasm between the rich and the poor. Unreliable utilities, inadequate public services, and a pervasive sense of insecurity define daily life for millions of Pakistanis.

The unreliability of gas supply forces parents to keep a gas cylinder in hand to ensure their children get food on time. This uncertainty extends to water, with piped water rarely available in many areas. Households increasingly rely on tankers to meet their daily water needs, a costly solution that further strains already tight household budgets.

Supply of electricity and back-breaking bills are a regular highlight of mainstream and social media. Many prominent artists and other civil society icons feature in videos crying over high bills. In underprivileged areas, power cuts can last for hours, disrupting daily life and economic activities. Even in middle to upscale neighbourhoods, power outages remain a significant inconvenience. Residents in affluent areas often invest in generators or solar modules, with their choices heavily influenced by income and social status. This disparity highlights the inequality in coping mechanisms available to different segments of the population.

Public transport in Pakistan is inefficient, prompting affluent families to own one or more cars, contributing to the urban chaos and environmental degradation that plague the cities.

The same is the case of education. Children from middle to upper class families attend private schools. Though for lower and upper middle classes, this creates a significant financial burden for families, it is seen as a necessary investment keeping in view substandard education in government institutions.

Access to clean drinking water is another critical issue. Tap water is unsafe for drinking, so bottled water is a necessity. Prices range from Rs70 per litre for substandard options in areas like Shireen Jinnah Colony to over Rs400 for high-end brands in affluent neighbourhoods.

The pervasive sense of insecurity in Pakistan is perhaps most visible in the ubiquitous presence of private security guards in front of affluent homes and localities. This reliance on private security is a stark indicator of the state’s failure to ensure public safety. The fear of crime extends to everyday activities; walking down a residential street with a smartphone is fraught with danger due to snatching, because phone prices have skyrocketed, exacerbated by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s tax hike. Numerous incidents of citizens being killed during phone-snatching attempt have been reported.

The state’s failure to provide comfort, security, and justice has led to a profound erosion of faith in the government. Persis­tent fear of loss and insecurity defines the daily life of ordinary Pakistanis, eroding their trust in the state’s merit and national identity. This denial of justice and basic rights has split Pakistan into two distinct groups: the elite, with power, money, and often dual nationality, and millions of poor citizens who lack any hope of justice or the ability to obtain fair wages, respect, and basic amenities.

Despite billions spent on governance machinery, privatisation of basic needs has become a hallmark of everyday life in Pakistan. The state’s inability to meet the basic needs of its citizens is its betrayal of the trust of its subjects. It is not a sign of a thriving free market but rather a symptom of a failing state that cannot provide its cit­izens with the essentials for a dignified life.

The human cost is immense. The daily struggle for basic uti­lities, the fear of cri­me, the financial burden of private educa-

tion and security, and the lack of clean drin-king water take a toll on the mental and physical health of the population. Children grow up in an environment where uncertainty and insecurity are the norms, impacting their development and future prospects.

The widening gap between the rich and the poor, coupled with an ineffective state apparatus and denial of justice, has left ordinary citizens in a vicious circle of misery. American psychologist Abraham Maslow, in his ‘hierarchy of needs’ implies that unmet basic needs can lead to significant negative consequences for individuals and society. Maslow’s theory suggests that fulfilling basic needs is essential for people’s prosperity. The state is a mother; it cannot have any other role. British philosopher John Locke says when the people are made to feel that the state is their enemy, they will inevitably rise up against it.

The writer is an expert on climate change and sustainable development and founder of the Clifton Urban Forest in Karachi.

mlohar@gmail.com

X: [masoodlohar][1]

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2024