Social cohesion remains a distant dream in the face of widening inequality. People are forced to take sides with one group, strengthening their group identity. After all, they think, it is because of who  they are that they are ignored. But this can be turned around: To overcome such thinking, the state should take serious steps in dispensing social justice across the board.

These thoughts were expressed at the launch of “Who Am I?”, a study on what it means to have identity crisis in Pakistan and how to overcome. Experts joined as panelists on the subject.

PIPS Director, Muhammad Amir Rana, moderated the panel discussion. Laying the rationale, he said the report is meant to discuss what identity or identity crisis is. The report is based on discussions across the country, where varying responses were noted.

He shared there are local-level issues too, which get in any discussion on identity. People often fear “local mafias”, and the solutions they propose related to service delivery on ground.  He called upon readers to critically review the report and productively engage in the debates on identity in Pakistan.

The report notes that when people in Pakistan are asked who they are, they mostly refer a particular group, based on their beliefs, ethnicity, home towns. In smaller provinces, ethnicities are focused on, whereas in Punjab, religion too comes under discussion.