Procrastination is the thief of time

The quote by Edward Young has carved itself a place on both literal and metaphorical grounds. Procrastination simply means putting off today’s task to a future date. The notion is further strengthened that the time, not valued today, is lost forever and if something is not done at the right time; it might never be done again. It prevails in all social, moral and political areas as time and tide wait for none.

Take care of today’s urgency, unless it may turn to tomorrow’s emergency.

 A little hole in a boat, if not looked into, grows so big to save it. Likewise a little fire, if not controlled immediately develops into a huge conflagration in a few hour’s time. Such are the consequences of procrastination. On the political front, the current socio-economic situation of Pakistan is the glaring example in this regard. Country is wrought with a chronic energy and water crisis, rampant inflation, deteriorating law and order situation, a debt crisis-all a consequence of not addressing problems on time and procrastination on part of successive governments. French Revolution is a case where people miseries were not addressed and mass protests grow so big that changed the entire scenario of French politics and the society gave a new turn and twist to the future events. The great Mughals were also the victim of procrastination. The same Mughal dynasty noted for her triumphs and awe, was no more owing to neglect to their routine affairs and deep slumber.

Procrastinators themselves put obstacles in the path that sabotage their performance; it is not an untamable beast but a habit that one can overcome through personal mastery and will power. Procrastination, indeed, is the thief of the time, energy, self esteem and justice. There are many means to be a loser in life but the surest is procrastination.

The march of civilization has largely depended on the timely action of man. How much does the world owe to its great explorers, navigators and mountain climbers? Who face the wrath of nature and fury of the elements in order to satisfy their inner urge of timely action. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Louis Pasteur, John Brown and Florence Nightingale are noted figures in this regard.

Poverty (English Passage for CSS/PMS)

by Khurram Pervaiz

Poverty, the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions, is a social malice; an evil that erodes into the very foundations of a country, slowly but incessantly. As described the mother of all evils, poverty breeds corruption, terrorism, social intolerance and a never ending spate of many other social vices that cause the socio-economic fabric of the society to be frayed. It is an untamed beast, a sphinx riddle and a maze that leads to a blind alley. Since the dawn of time, man has been employing different means to make a dent into the scourge of poverty. From Plato to Machiavelli and from Adam Smith to Karl Marx, all the prominent economic maestros have presented various means and methods to settle the issue of poverty for once and for all, but unfortunately all these attempts were in vain. Neither laissez faire nor socialist economy has found the solution of the ever increasing poverty. Poverty is a worldwide phenomenon. It is an octopus that has made inroads in even the most industrialised nations of the world. Pakistan was founded with an altruistic aim of providing social, religious, economic and political justice to the masses. Though religion is considered to be the main driving force behind the formation of Pakistan, the factor of economy can never be ignored (glossed over). Our Quaid once said to the his party leader before the formation of Pakistan,

“I have seen the villages of India. There is extreme poverty over there. If Pakistan is going to be like this then i don’t need Pakistan.”

This quotation of our quaid underscores the importance of economy in his conception of Pakistan. But unfortunately with the untimely death of our beloved quaid, opportunist landlords have saddled into the seat of power and authority. These big foots, started gobbling the assets of our beloved country in connivance of junta rules. On other hand, India after its independence followed the path of mixed economy under the patriarchal rule of Nehru and now it is reaping the benefits of thriving economy. Whereas, in Pakistan, the difference between the haves and the have-nots is increasing day by day. So called leaders have adopted different quixotic policies to curb the menace of poverty. Starting from the infamous “Trickle-Down” theory of Mehboob-ul-Haq to the mass privatization of the Musharaff’s era, all the economic policies have failed to trickle down the flavour of monetary benefits to the lower strata of the economy. Instead all these policies further screwed down the importunate Jobs of the society. Islam forbids one to accumulate more money than one’s need and commands to spend the money on the poor and needy of the society. The mammoth of poverty can be easily tamed if the rich and the affluent of the society strictly adhere to the commandments of Allah Almighty. We should always remember that Allah says that there is a severe chastisement for those who store up gold and silver without spending it in the way of Allah, on the needy ones of the society.