Meanwhile, the betting industry has infiltrated Pakistan’s premier cricket league, with sponsors like 1XBAT and DafaNews masquerading as legitimate sports partners. The rise of betting, highlighted in my betting article, siphons youth attention and money away from productive pursuits, compounding the sense that policy priorities are misaligned.
From condolence to accountability
Condolences are easy – a few lines, a retweet, a hashtag. Accountability is hard – it demands budget allocations, transparent procurement, and policies that lift the poorest from the margins. The public’s anger, voiced in Urdu and English across X, asks a simple question: will the same resolve that brings a tweet of sympathy also bring a bill that lowers electricity tariffs, a plan that curbs price gouging, and a commitment to finish stalled dam projects?
In the end, the fire in Taiyuan will be recorded in history as a tragic accident, and Pakistan’s solidarity will be noted in diplomatic circles. The real test for Sharif and his government is whether that solidarity can be converted into concrete progress for the people who watch the tweet, count their rupees, and wonder when the next power cut will end. The answer will determine whether today’s condolence becomes a footnote or a catalyst for change.
