WHEN it comes to global yardsticks measuring progress and development in a variety of fields, Pakistan, among the 193 member states of the United Nations, is like the backbencher who did not listen to the teacher when it mattered, and thus failed in every exam. The problem is that we tend to rely on others for our successes, but love to blame others for our failures.

We, the people, continue to blame our governments. More precisely, we blame the person heading the government for our failures because in Pakistan we practise personality-oriented politics.

The fact is that it is not the government`s responsibility at all to make us better individuals. It is up to us, the individuals, to be better versions of ourselves, and then to pick a better government. It works the other way round, folks.

Why do we love to rely on one man the messiah to fix everything for us? Countries do not change because of one person; they change when the people decide to change, and that is when leaders are born. Japan`s post-war turnaround, China`s 30-year economic development, and South Korea`s Miracle on the Han River are prime examples of what nations can do when they apply themselves to the task.

Our New Year resolutions for 2024 should revolve around changing ourselves. Let us stop blaming others and learn to be accountable for our actions.

No magician with a magic wand can fix the problems and save the country. Only we can address our issues by changing ourselves and doing something about it.

Affan Khattak Islamabad