Civic sense, or rather the lack of it, is a topic that has been widely discussed and argued in Pakistan. And yet, from the beautiful mountains of Murree and Swat to the beaches of Karachi, one comes across many examples of us, as a Nation, lacking civic sense. This attitude is prevalent across all sections of society. People today are so obsesses with their personal goals that civic sense has become a low priority, almost a nuisance. 

When civic sense is absent in a society, it leads to a lot of problems. Disregard for the law is a primary cause for lacking civic sense. A person who has high civic values does not resort to shortcuts and unethical tactics to get his work done. And being unethical in daily activities does not benefit anyone, as the behavior only gets emulated by other members of society. Ultimately, the situation will reach a point where hardly anything could be done to restore it. 

But unfortunately, over the decades, civic sense amongst masses in Pakistan has dropped to an all-time low, as is rather obvious from the current state of the society.

For example, whenever I travel in Lahore or around, I get welcomed by unnecessary horns in traffic especially around hospitals. There are spit/paan marks, urine, vulgar graffiti and random garbage on the roadsides. It is easy to pin everything on the government, but people must first question themselves and their own civic sense. Roads are not dirty because nobody cleaned it, but because somebody dirtied it in the first place. 

It even gets uglier when people waiting for public transport at bus stop don’t queue up at all. Men are seen scratching their private parts (and of course the unsaid rule for women is that they can’t do the same) while smoking, regardless of the fact that anyone is getting disturbed around. Of course the harassment of women makes the situation even more vulnerable. And we have no one to blame but ourselves for this. 

Over-speeding on roads and wrong parking is another scourge. What makes me even more upset is masses destroying historical places through wall chalking and damaging public properties during violent protests and riots.

Similarly, masses at zoological gardens or in streets tease animals by throwing stones or paper etc. at them as well. I was utterly horrified when once I saw a man trying to give a cigarette to a monkey at Lahore Zoo.

It really upsets me when I see my maid including hundreds of my acquaintances or family around who don’t even care to preserve resources like electricity, water or gas.

I get disturbed when I see people not respecting fellow citizens. This is why brotherhood, freedom, equality and social justice are becoming extinct. I feel bad when I see that masses don’t intend to plant trees, recycle or reuse things.

This year I want to promise my homeland that I would try to be more civilized. I would genuinely try my best to revive its culture of hospitality and brotherhood. I would respect all religions and promote intersect harmony. I would make sure I pay my taxes. I would be more honest, responsible, generous, kind, cooperative and filled with sense of ownership and patriotism. I believe if every individual tries to play his role, the masses can really turn into real nation.