Modernization Without Roots: How Pakistan is Erasing Its Culture for a False Future

by Irshad Ahmad Mughal and Dr. Qurat al-ain Rana

Pakistan stands at a critical juncture where the pursuit of modernization must not overshadow genuine development. The prevailing approach—prioritizing modernization over development—has turned society into a dependent entity, subservient to metropolitan centers and foreign influences. This lopsided progression follows the ruthless logic of “big fish eat small fish,” where resources are siphoned from smaller cities and villages to feed the insatiable appetite of urban hubs. The result is a hollow, consumerist society built on artificial economies, debt, and the exploitation of the poor. Governments often parade modernization as a sign of progress—glittering malls, expansive highways, and flashy infrastructure—while masking the reality of underdevelopment. True development addresses economic, cultural, and political challenges at their roots, whereas modernization exacerbates them, creating a society of “double men”—individuals torn between tradition and imposed modernity.

The rapid, unthinking adoption of new technologies breeds confusion, widening generational and societal rifts. The ruling elite, well-versed in globalized modernity, manipulate these tools to impose foreign cultural values, further marginalizing those unable to keep pace. Visit Lahore or Islamabad from a remote village, and the contrast is staggering: towering shopping centers, high-speed trains, and sprawling expressways. Yet, this façade of modernity is built on the backs of neglected rural populations. Farmers are pushed into poverty, villages remain deprived, and local industries crumble under the onslaught of foreign products. Fast-food chains, for instance, have not only displaced traditional eateries but also fostered unhealthy consumption patterns among the youth, draining foreign reserves in the process.

Blindly chasing modernization turns future generations into slaves of consumerism, eroding self-sufficiency and sustainability. Pakistan must recalibrate its approach—development should lead, modernization should follow. Strengthening local economies, preserving cultural identity, and ensuring equitable resource distribution are essential. Otherwise, the nation risks becoming a permanent dependency, forever feeding the machine of metropolitan dominance while its people struggle to find their footing in an artificially constructed world. The choice is clear: Develop to modernize, not modernize to underdevelopment.

Elite schools and universities have become another driving force behind Pakistan’s unbalanced modernization, accelerating the erosion of indigenous culture and language. The mother tongue, Punjabi, is now treated as obsolete—reduced to a mere relic, confined to folk songs and casual abuse. The new generation no longer speaks it fluently; instead, they navigate a fractured linguistic identity, switching between Urdu and English in daily life. This linguistic disconnection distorts expression, creating a society where communication is fragmented and emotional articulation is reduced to crude outbursts in Punjabi during conflicts. The confusion that arises from this linguistic hybridity serves the status quo, as a people unable to articulate their thoughts clearly are less likely to challenge systemic injustices.

The obsession with Western education, particularly the Cambridge system, has deepened this crisis. Thousands of students each year pay exorbitant fees in US dollars to secure foreign-certified degrees, further draining Pakistan’s dwindling foreign reserves. Yet, this education does little to foster critical thinking or self-sufficiency—instead, it produces a class of individuals detached from their roots, mimicking foreign cultures while remaining economically dependent on global systems. The elite, fluent in the language of globalization, continue to benefit, while the masses struggle in a system that prioritizes imported prestige over local relevance.

Pakistan’s modernization, as it stands, is not a path to development but a slow surrender to dependency. From language to economics, every aspect of society is being reshaped to serve external influences rather than local needs. The country races toward economic collapse, yet few seem alarmed—too mesmerized by the illusion of progress to notice the foundations crumbling beneath them. If this continues, Pakistan risks becoming a nation that speaks in borrowed tongues, thinks in foreign frameworks, and survives on the mercy of global powers—all while its own people are left searching for an identity they were taught to abandon.

About the authors:

Irshad Ahmad Mughal and Dr. Qurat-ul-Ain Rana form a formidable intellectual partnership in contemporary Pakistani scholarship. Prof. Mughal, renowned for his Urdu translations of Paulo Freire’s revolutionary works and decades of teaching political philosophy at Punjab University, joins forces with Dr. Rana, an accomplished sociologist and social commentator whose razor-sharp analyses regularly grace Pakistan’s premier journals. Together, their collaborative writings for Pressenza weave rigorous academic insight with urgent social critique—bridging Western critical theory with South Asian realities to illuminate pathways for transformative change.”