One afternoon I visited a friend of mine, Irfan Zaman. He had a few people already present in his office. Introductions were made. One thing led to another and a couple of us got engaged in conversation on a serious subject. The subject was we and the Goras – their pros and cons as a people, and ours too. There joined in another gentleman and this is what he related. While he had been abroad to visit his relatives he and his family from Pakistan found it very attractive to roam the streets of the European countries. Now in one country, while having a great time and enjoying the parks and fountains a child from the gentleman’s family crumpled and threw a confectionary wrapper randomly. Who cares? To the Pakistani gentleman’s astonishment, a very old – senior citizen – rose from a nearby bench and gingerly walked where the crumpled wrapper was, picked it up and went to the waste disposal basket and deposited the object in it. The Pakistani gentleman felt embarrassed and went to the senior citizen. Before he could say anything, the local, senior citizen, glanced his way
Before he could say anything, the local, senior citizen, glanced his way and understandingly said to the Pakistani gentleman, “don’t say anything please, it isn’t your fault, this is how you were brought up”. |
and understandingly said to the Pakistani gentleman, “don’t say anything please, it isn’t your fault, this is how you were brought up”. The poor Pakistani gentleman walked away mortified by the image he had left of himself and his country. But the senior European citizen was right; this is indeed how we are brought up.
Although, in writing this column and criticising my fellow countrymen, I must admit I am of the same stock, the same roots, the same habits, the same nation and the same people. I belong to Pakistan and Pakistan belongs to me. End of story. No. I do the same. I throw a wrapper around subconsciously whenever I am preoccupied. I flick the smoke butt in the park… and, ironically, no one cares enough to stop or teach me. Sadly, not even myself at times. This is the level of environment education of our nation. We are all environmentally illiterate. And we happily agree to remain so. Because it suits us fine.
It is not just us, Pakistanis that are the worst of the lot. Every nation had its share of learning, adversity, teaching, valuing and caring for the set of learned values. But this caring attitude comes out of a little concern. We may be teaching our children in the best of schools, providing the best grooming to them and ascertaining the best of education for the adults and citizens of tomorrow. What our children and adults both require is education in environment or let’s just say we need to be educated 
environmentally. “Starting, from school level our children should be taught the value of environment and how it affects us directly and indirectly” says the director of an NGO which works towards conservation of water. Qudsia gives examples of China’s depleting underground resources and the importance of this issue. It is true that this issue is part of environment and it needs attention but water is not the only issue, although, this year, it was the hottest topic of concern. There are other issues like wildlife, forests, trees, rural development, environmental control, urban development and wastage… it’s a long boring list and that is precisely why we do not get into it. “There are NGOs and NGOs but we do not see any substantial work being done. They hold some conventions, have excursions and all, but I don’t know if children are really being educated in environment,” says Nazia a mother of two. Nazia may be very right in her observation because after all is said and done we are left with the public who doesn’t care about how much they damage the environment.
This also becomes a strong responsibility of the government and its relevant ministries and their mechanisms. A few years back a ministry related to environment and its various branches set out on a project where they were funded to achieve a certain goal towards conservation. The funds came in and boats and needed equipment were bought and imported and still, donations were made. Whatever happened to the project is anybody’s guess. The equipment stayed exactly where it had been deposited at the time of delivery. Where did it end? This is an enigmatic question. Rather, a trick question. It appeared to be a never ending story. Maybe, it was not meant to be.
This is just one of the many incidents that occur ever so often in the government ministries of environment and related corridors. Is this the right environment for the environmentally unsound ministries? Is this the right attitude? These questions are better left unanswered. However, the best action plan a person can take is to make a conscious effort and know what environment is and when they realise it individually it will ultimately become a collective psyche. That unique and educated collective psyche is what will save the perils we are facing in all forms of environment. And the first step is to start picking our own litter and cleaning our own porch. Let this be learnt by our children. Let this habit be inculcated in the children of today by letting them help you tidy up your environment. This will become their second nature by the time they become adults with conscious minds and serious concerns.
It is never too late to mend. Not even ways. There is still time. We can still learn and begin the environment-saving journey. At least our generations-to-come would not be embarrassed by someone saying “Don’t say anything please, it isn’t your fault, this is how you were brought up.”
