Muhammad Ali Rana

  The Paradox of Plenty Pakistan is a land of paradoxes. It has mountains of copper and gold, fertile valleys, and one of the youngest workforces in the world. More than 64% of its citizens are under 30—a demographic blessing that could power an economic miracle ( UNDP Report ). And yet, Pakistan continues to stumble. Poverty deepens, instability lingers, and its institutions remain fragile. The tragedy is not a lack of resources or talent—it is the betrayal of public service. Here, politics is not a duty. It’s an investment portfolio. The Foundation of Flawed Intentions The rot begins at the entry gates of the state. The Central Superior Services ( CSS ), Provincial Civil Services ( PCS ), and judicial recruitment exams were meant to select the nation’s best minds. But these exams measure memory, not morality. They reward rote brilliance, not honesty. For many, passing them is less about serving the people and more about entering a lucrative marketplace of power. A government job ...

Recently, I accompanied someone to an Anti-Corruption Department office in Pakistan, where he had filed a complaint in a property fraud case. I wasn’t directly involved — just there to help clarify the matter, as I had some background understanding of how the system works. What I saw was deeply troubling. Applicants were being mistreated, asked irrelevant questions, and in some cases even threatened into withdrawing their complaints. The behavior was so discouraging that many walked away without hope. There was no proper guidance, no dignity in the process — just confusion and fear. The specific case I witnessed was simple — and should never have taken long to resolve. A man had purchased land and paid all official dues, including the FBR fee, through a government employee. The registry was processed and approved — and everyone assumed the fee had been paid. But here lies the failure: At the time of registry, no one in the office checked the actual status of the FBR payment. The system...