Martin Luther King Jr.’s idea that when a society focuses all its resources and attention on wars, public issues like education and healthcare are pushed aside, strongly reflects the reality of Pakistan today. The continuous environment of violence, bomb blasts, and bloodshed has deeply affected our collective thinking. Human suffering has sadly become a routine part of daily life.

Pakistan has faced terrorism, internal instability, and political conflict for many decades. This constant uncertainty has mentally exhausted society. People are slowly losing the ability to feel the pain of others. News of martyrdom and tragedies often becomes just a temporary headline, and within moments people return to their daily activities.

This indifference is not only a social problem but also a psychological and cultural crisis. When violence becomes normal, people emotionally distance themselves as a way to survive mentally. As a result, society begins to lose its sense of shared grief and collective happiness.

One major reason behind this situation is the imbalance in national and social priorities. When resources are spent mostly on security and crisis management instead of education, healthcare, and human development, society falls behind intellectually and morally. In such an environment, progressive thinking weakens while extremism and rigid mindsets grow stronger.

Media and social media have also complicated the situation. The constant flood of negative news has mentally numbed the public. People react emotionally to tragedies for a short time, but soon those incidents lose importance as new news takes over. This weakens society’s ability to feel collective empathy.

Rising selfishness at the social level is also strengthening this indifference. Inflation, unemployment, and financial pressure have forced people to focus mainly on their own survival. Many people no longer have the time or emotional energy to share the pain of others. This is weakening social relationships and collective awareness.

Lack of meaningful education is another major reason behind this issue. An education system that does not promote humanity, tolerance, and social responsibility may produce degree holders but not responsible and sensitive citizens. This is why knowledge is increasing, but awareness and compassion are decreasing.

To overcome this growing indifference, both the state and society must reconsider their priorities. Without promoting education, mental health awareness, social justice, and human values, a balanced and caring society cannot be built. We need a national narrative that brings people closer and teaches them to see collective suffering as a shared responsibility.

If Pakistani society fails to recognize this rising indifference in time, it may lead to deeper social division and moral decline. As a nation, we must decide whether we want to live as people who become used to tragedies or as a society where every individual feels the pain of others and stands up to reduce it.