Rooma News editorial.The Journey of Thoughts: The Hidden Cost of Treaties and Our Priorities

 

The Journey of Thoughts: The Hidden Cost of Treaties and Our Priorities

It is a peculiar trait of human nature that we often get so dazzled by the brilliance of glittering things that we forget the very foundations upon which they stand. When our first glance falls upon a magnificent building, the mind is instantly captivated by its grandeur. Yet, no one notices those bricks buried deep in the abyss of the earth, silently bearing the weight of the entire structure. Looking at today's global and domestic affairs, the angles of our thoughts halt at this exact point: Is reality merely what is visible on the surface? Or is there an entirely different story unfolding behind the scenes?

Take a look at yesterday's headlines. On one hand, a high-level moot of US-Pakistan talks is taking place in the pleasant environment of Islamabad, while on the other, the Prime Minister warmly welcomes China's proposal to establish a Digital Economy Hub. At first glance, all of this appears to be the harbinger of a bright and prosperous future. Digital revolution, export-led growth, and global investment — these are the linguistic formulations that can ignite a ray of hope in even the most despondent nation. Whether it is the announcement of the Hilal-e-Imtiaz for Shahid Afridi, who once ruled the cricket fields, or awards for the ghazis of the armed forces, these moments make us feel like a living, vibrant society.

"As long as we do not liberate our economic foundations from the crutches of the IMF, this progress will remain a mere mirage."

However, there is another side to this picture, one that completely shatters the illusion of that first impression. For the common man, the real news is not the grand architecture of a digital hub, but the eleven new stringent conditions imposed by the IMF, standing quietly in the wings, ready to suffocate the nation's economy. Further hikes in gas and electricity tariffs, along with billions of rupees in new taxes — these are the bitter realities capable of decimating the kitchen budget of any ordinary Pakistani.

It begs the question: Have we become a society where temporary relief and outward projections are prioritised over actual, structural progress? When the government secures an arrangement to freeze fuel prices for Hajj operations and the armed forces, it may be a sound administrative step, but it lays bare a harsher truth — the common man has been left entirely alone to shoulder the remaining burden.

If we cast our gaze over the global horizon, the journey of thoughts there, too, revolves strictly around self-interest. Trump's visit to China and his heavy trade agreements with Xi Jinping prove that the world's true religion is nothing but economic leverage. China's counsel to the US — that there is no point in continuing the conflict with Iran — is rooted not in morality, but in the fear of the economic fallout that regional instability would trigger.

We must understand that first impressions are often incomplete. Glittering digital hubs, award ceremonies, and loud proclamations have their place, but as long as we do not liberate our economic foundations from the crutches of the IMF, this progress will remain a mere mirage. True ethics and wisdom demand that we break free from the spell of outward appearances and confront the bitter realities knocking at our doorstep. The journey of true progress only begins when the angles of our thoughts are aligned, and when our priorities are set without external coercion, focusing solely on the well-being of our people.

— Rooma Mehmood, Editor-in-Chief · Islamabad