Poverty in Pakistan stems from issues that are deeply rooted in our society, and if we want real change, we must start from the roots as well. It’s difficult to pinpoint where the problem truly begins, but it’s worth giving a try.

In my view, the starting point is political instability, which itself stems from a desire to rule rather than a desire to serve. A mindset built on service would not be so eager to seize power or cling to authority.

Sadly, the urge to rule has become ingrained in our society over centuries. This attitude can be traced all the way back to a long history of subjugation under foreign rulers, and it still shapes our thinking today.

If you look at our country, it makes no sense to see so many vehicles in ministers’ entourages while the numbers tell an entirely different story. With Pakistan now in its 24th structural adjustment programme under the IMF, and almost half the population living below the poverty line, the crisis is clear.

One in three children is out of school. The GDP per capita sits at just $1,643. Floods keep washing away towns, and parts of some provinces are officially marked as severely food insecure. In a land where authority holds more appeal than policy, the queues outside CSS exam centers grow longer than any reform agenda.

Political turmoil hurts business, too. When politicians clash, it creates uncertainty, disrupts transport, shuts down........

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