SOCIETIES, it is said, are not responsible for ensuring the elevation of the less fortunate;1eaders are. They are supposed to generate a social safety net through equitable division of resources by providing all and sundry their basic rights, such as health and education, that are necessary for class mobility in society.

Our social structure, however, has many inadequacies. Having adopted an exploitative nature, our society is facing a class struggle. Feudalistic tendencies are adding to the issue of income inequality which only hurts social f abric. The National Human Development Report on Inequality published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan in 2021 pointed out that power, people and policy were the key drivers of rising inequality in Pakistan.

Influential groups use their unlimited power to grab more than their f air share of the pie; people discriminate against each other on the basis of gender and class; and policies are of ten unsuccessful at coping with the resulting inequalities. Loopholes in the education sector are escalating class differences, playing down chances of upward mobility for the poor segments of society.

The health sector presents a sorrowful state of affairs as healthfacilities are scarce for the less fortunate segments of the population. Our economic model is propping up the rich to amass wealth through unjustified exploitation of national resources.

Instead of introducing tax reforms to provide masses some relief, we are burdening the lower-middle class with more and more taxes. We are witnessing unprecedented inflation, delayed delivery of justice, weak rule of law, and a spike in joblessness, making it hard for the middle and lower classes to manage survival.

Adding to the misery of the people, political instability has compounded the economic crisis. Economic growth and political instability are interdependent; political instability and inconsistent policies erode people`s trust in their leadership.

To add insult to injury, our political leaders have ignored all ethical norms. Infact, disparaging remarks by political leaders against their rivals have become the norm, especially in political rallies.

This has produced ageneradon intoxicated with hatred for `others` owing to social intolerance.

Itis a pity thatourleaders have miserably failed to realise the dangers of societal fissures and challenges emerging within society. The lust for power has made our politicians oblivious to their responsibilities. Pakistani society now demands a complete overhaul to make it an inclusive entity. But who will try to turn things around? That is the big question we need to find an answer for as we move ever closer towards some kind of social catastrophe.

The hrststepinthisregardistoprovide a level playing field to everyone. A politically stable atmosphere is the need of the hour. We need to provide jobs to our young, to curb inflation, and to have a stable existence.

Also, there is a need to reform the education and health sectors. The disadvantaged sections of society can only be pulled out of poverty by making the two critical social sectors capable of serving the masses in the true spirit.

If history is anything to go by, and it definitely is, the fall of empires over the centuries is confirmation enough that societies that do not behave properly in a consistent manner tend to disintegrate from within. And, mind you, history has a tendency of repeating itself.

Waqar Hassan Lahore