By Farwa Imtiaz
Growing up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), I learned early that politics was more than just a headline, it was a reality that shaped everyday life. In 2025, public opinion surveys confirmed what many of us have felt for years, 60 percent of KP residents believe the provincial government spends more time on political protests than on governance. Even among Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters, 49 percent reported no improvement in jobs or development. These numbers do more than reflect dissatisfaction, they capture the lived experiences of ordinary citizens whose hopes for a better life remain unfulfilled.
I have seen this firsthand. Local university graduates are not able to get meaningful employment, and small businesses are battling increasing expenses and unreliable policies. Roads are not up to standard, medical facilities are unevenly spread and basic facilities are either late or missing. In the meantime, political leadership is involved in high profile protests and symbolic gestures, which are intended to achieve visibility and points against opponents. To most, the performances have no connection with actual life as there is a government that is more concerned with appearances than results.
This is not a local aggravation. The experience of KP is a world-wide trend, whereby citizens all over are becoming more and more demanding of governments to deliver tangible outcomes, as opposed to ideological allegiance. Political loyalty is no longer unconditional, although it remains important. This is evident in survey data. Almost half of the supporters of PTI testify that they have not seen any job or development improvement, which is an indicator that even a loyal base will not support them unless such promises are turned into actual changes. It is a lesson to all leaders that when the fundamental needs of citizens are not met, political messaging can only take them so far.
The financial aspect is especially harsh. In KP, the high rate of unemployment and unavailability of development projects make many of the youth feel neglected. In my case with the university I am in, most of the graduates have not been employed despite good degrees. It is not a one-off case, it reflects the overall pattern in KP, where development and underemployment are stagnant and a source of frustration. People are wondering why politics is more important than policies that can enhance their lives.
The effects of this disconnection are extensive. Those governments who focus on protest and political spectacle at the expense of service delivery run the risk of losing trust, not only with one party but with the whole political system. In KP, the distance between leadership and citizens makes them feel helpless and that their voices and needs are not taken into consideration. This trend is echoed internationally because in most countries, both in Latin America and in some regions of South Asia, the legitimacy of their governments is becoming more and more reliant on their capacity to deliver. The inability to do so creates the pathway to social unrest, political instability, and disengagement in the long run.
Yet there is hope. The strength of citizen awareness and public accountability is also shown in the story of KP. The fact that these frustrations are being captured through surveys is an indication that people are listening, monitoring government performance and they want more. Governments that are attentive, those that focus on visible results and those that invest in meaningful development can earn back the trust.
For me, this is personal. I have observed the effects of the lack of integration between governance and the need of the people in leaving families desperate, young people disillusioned and communities fragmented. I have experienced the disappointment of waiting to have roads repaired, schools improved and employment opportunities. I have also witnessed the strength of individuals who never give up, work, and vote despite such obstacles. KP, as well as most parts of the world, is in a crossroad. The future actions of the government will be a measure of whether the trust of the citizens will be regained, or frustration will be the new aspect of life in this country.
Being a member of KP, I can tell this with a great degree of confidence that loyalty is not sufficient. It is the governance that addresses the needs of the people it serves. In the event that governments do not do so, it is not politics that is hurt, it is the people.
