"The mask of the glittery world has slipped. Behind the pomp and grandeur of the booming lifestyles is the stark reality of a world that can no longer pretend that 'all was, and is well'. The pursuit of unlimited wants and desires had on one hand led to unimaginable advancement in technology and economic development but had also created stark inequalities in these countries. Even without the two World Wars this was world without peace. Wars and destruction were visible in nearly every region of the world. The word globalization had become so common that nobody really understood the implication of this philosophy. The world was cut into first, second and third worlds." How profound. Business Recorder op-ed writer and PTI leader Andaleeb Abbas has summed it up in a highly fascinating manner in her latest contribution to the newspaper.

Having said that, I must point out the fact that a wave of gloom and confusion pervades the entire country. The political leadership, unfortunately, has been of little or no help; they are in fact busy in point-scoring against each other. Little do they know that the coronavirus requires unity and greater cooperation between the Centre and provinces. They must stop squabbling without any further loss of time. The Sindh government, for example, has accused the federal government for misleading people over the coronavirus issue. This blame-game must stop.