An exercise in futility,still?

Since the Shell Eco Marathon is supposed to be directly addressing the fuel efficiency of vehicles, it is pertinent to look at how this actually affects us...Pakistanis.

Now, here is a country with 34 percent of its people below the poverty line (officially). Pakistan just has so many other problems to be concerned with than energy efficiency and environmental protection. Sanitation. Drinking water. Health. Terrorism. Poverty. Child Labor. Human Rights. Political Instability. On and on. Where exactly do the problems of environment and fuel efficiency come in isn't clear, but what is clear is that these aren't priority problems.

Moreover, Pakistan merely has, on average, just 8 vehicles per 1000 people! Pretty Impressive, right? How would, say, a 20-30% increase in fuel efficiency of all the vehicles in Pakistan contribute to the country and its people? Clearly, any effect would be minimal.

Then, what are 30 teams from Pakistan (out of a total of around 110) doing trying to make energy efficient vehicles vehicles?

And when you know that this energy efficiency would be in its loosest sense, you have to think that all of Pakistan is nuts. Well, not all of it though, as the companies have so far been reluctant to sponsor these insane kids.

An exercise in futility, no? An exercise in insanity, to be more apt.

But it is perhaps this insanity, or blatant fanaticism, that might propel this nation forwards. Whereas rife corruption and so many other factors (in which I won't delve) are real contributions to our technical and economic stagnation, the spark, or the lack thereof is also a real reason. Ingenuity and curiosity do not evolve without an effort or critical thinking. Progress will not come without a search for progress. With this in mind, the effort of all those who are putting in an effort seems worthwhile.

To be noted, however, is that the nation's sons and daughters must also concentrate on other areas and fields as well, as the room for improvement and potential in this regard are all there. As the Chinese (or some other anonymous guy) said, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a simple step. We believe that the aim and effort to take part in the Shell Eco Marathon is that simple but solid step.