The crisis of civic culture in Pakistan

Democracy can only function if people participate

Once Marian Wright Edelman said, “Democracy is not a spectator sport’’. A nation cannot thrive when its citizens remain silent spectators of their own democracy. The quote defines the situation of increasing crisis of civic culture in Pakistan where democratic institutions have been established, but citizens have not yet participated in the process. Democracy hinges on civic responsibility which means involvement in the governing, respect of law, upholding of tax and engagement in the community. However, in Pakistan, the governance and social cohesion is being compromised by poor civic culture, low turnout and decreasing trust in institutions.

Electoral disengagement is one of the most evident indicators of this crisis. Voting turnout scale compared to 55 percent in 2013 it dropped to 52 percent in 2018 and 50 percent in 2024 in some constituencies it dropped to 16 percent. This poses a challenge considering that 55 million registered voters in Pakistan are aged between 18 to 35 years and more than 60 percent of Pakistanis are less than 30 years old. Although youth turnout may reach nearly 48 percent in 2024 the majority of young people are not engaged in local government or community activities.

The crisis is not limited to elections. Another big problem is low tax compliance: less than six million of the population of 240 million Pakistanis filed income tax returns in 2025. This poor involvement in fiscal affairs restricts the state in offering basic services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructures, which contributes to the suspicion of the general population.

The civic norms are further eroded by everyday habits such as neglecting traffic regulations, being careless with the environment and abusing the state property. The failure of citizens to assume these roles makes governance more challenging.

One of the biggest reasons for this fall is the deficit of civic education. Research indicates that approximately 75 percent of Pakistanis never attended civic education classes, and 90 percent never participated in civic or human rights groups. Without understanding their rights and responsibilities, citizens often consider governance as the domain only of politicians.  As noted by George Jean Nathan, "Good citizens who do not vote elect bad officials,’’ which resonates with troubling accuracy in the case of Pakistan.

Various groups are trying to encourage civic engagement in Pakistan. PILDAT studies governance and election, whereas FAFEN monitors elections and trains observers. Transparency International Pakistan fights corruption and enhances accountability. Pakistan Youth Commission Association is an organization in Pakistan established in 2013 that works on youth empowerment in the country through initiatives in their education, social cohesion, and citizen journalism to inspire youth involvement and Aurat Foundation works on mobilizing the communities and empowering the women in their local politics. These campaigns focus on the importance of civil society in strengthening democracy.

It is necessary to restore civic responsibility in Pakistan. Democracy is not only in institutions but in knowledgeable and engaged citizens. It is important to enhance civic education programs, empower the local governments, motivate the youth and women to engage in civic education, and the development of the civil society. As Thomas Jefferson said ‘’Liberty comes with the price of eternal vigilance’’. The future of Pakistan lies in changing its people into active citizens who will practice democratic values and make Pakistan a strong participatory state.

The legal system in Pakistan also encourages civic participation. Articles 17, 19, and 32 of the 1973 Constitution assure the freedom of association, expression, and role in local governance. The Elections Act of 2017 fosters transparency, and the Right of Access to Information Act of 2017 allows the citizens to hold the officials accountable. Provincial Local Government Acts are also meant to institutionalize the participation at the grassroots level, but in practice, inconsistent implementation has been a challenge.

Civic responsibility is further enhanced by religious and philosophical traditions. Individual accountability is emphasized by the Prophet Muhammad, “Each of you is a shepherd and responsible for his flock” a principle that resonates with democratic participation. Allama Iqbal also highlighted citizen responsibility, stating, “Nations are born in the hearts of poets; they prosper and die in the hands of politicians.” Islamic Scholars such as Ibn Khaldun and Shah Waliullah emphasized justice, social responsibility and civic participation as the foundation of good societies.

Civic responsibility is also important during the time of war. The conflicts with India, Afghanistan and recent events of Iran-vs-Israel/USA reveal that Pakistan has managed to strengthen its national resilience not only through military power but primarily through civic unity. In the Afghanistan war, there were millions of refugees in Pakistan which is an indicator of societal resilience and historically proven that the rivalry with India has contributed to national unity. The geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have provoked popular protests and civic expression. In the light of these illustrations, it is clear that civic participation is crucial in times of crisis to national strength.

Global case studies have definite solutions. Participatory budgeting in Brazil gives people power to determine how the government will spend the public funds, which enhances services. Online services and voting made possible by E-governance in Estonia increase transparency. South Korea has also adopted online measures to track projects and report corruption; these examples show that being actively involved in civic life enhances democracy and governance.

It is necessary to restore civic responsibility in Pakistan. Democracy is not only in institutions but in knowledgeable and engaged citizens. It is important to enhance civic education programs, empower the local governments, motivate the youth and women to engage in civic education, and the development of the civil society. As Thomas Jefferson said ‘’Liberty comes with the price of eternal vigilance’’. The future of Pakistan lies in changing its people into active citizens who will practice democratic values and make Pakistan a strong participatory state.