Public Awareness

The Privilege Wall: How Pakistan’s Elite Schools Are Failing the Spirit of Education In the heart of a country struggling with literacy, inequality, and economic challenges, a silent but deeply concerning crisis is unfolding within the walls of Pakistan’s most elite private schools—institutions that claim to offer world-class education but in reality are building walls between classes, not bridges to a brighter future. This issue has become more apparent through personal experience—one that reflects a much bigger, systemic flaw.  Recently a friend shared his experience with International School of Lahore, "I went through the admission process of a well-known private school in Lahore for my child. The assessment was cleared with ease. Being an involved and informed parent, I had spent months preparing my child academically and socially, knowing she had the skills and personality to thrive. But as it turned out, the real assessment was not of the child—but of the parents." The ...

In a world where systems are designed to keep the rich richer and the poor poorer, it’s easy to feel lost and frustrated. What we call “development” often disguises itself as progress for all, but in reality, it benefits the elite while pushing the underprivileged deeper into hardship. Take solar energy—an innovation meant to cut electricity bills and offer clean, renewable power. But can the average person afford a solar system worth hundreds of thousands of rupees? Not unless the government steps in with subsidies, easy loans, or installment plans for low-income households. In contrast, most subsidies benefit commercial users and the wealthy. A better policy would be to provide interest-free loans or tax rebates for middle and low-income families to install solar panels—empowering them with self-reliance and savings. Then there’s the shift to electric vehicles (EVs)—meant to reduce pollution and cut fuel costs. But with EVs priced beyond the reach of a common citizen, who are they re...