Is there a reason for apathy?

"The government has done everything possible but it is beyond our capacity", Prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani remarked earlier this week while expressing his frustration over the unmanageability of the floods that havocked lives and livelihood across the country.
Rephrase that statement and it could mean that the people of this country - as represented by the democratic government at present - have the will to act, but that they lack the way.
But doesn it defeat the age old logic that where there is a will, there is a way - as proven by Pakistanis, rich or poor, rural or urban, in the face of the earthquake that rocked northern Pakistan in October 2005.
Those guilty of apathy today, would be quick to provide justifications on why their lot is excusing itself from relief efforts this time around.
Some might argue that earthquakes, due to their inherent nature, tend to have more shock impact on public sentiments than floods.
Others remind that earthquake 2005 had left nearly 80,000 dead, whereas the flood today has killed much less; and since death is more appalling than being displaced, its understandable why people are complacent right now.
On a similar tangent, some argue that the masses have become desensitized due to increasing violence, bomb blasts, spray bullets and other forms of bloodshed and sadism.
Then there are explanations that back then in 2005, Pakistans economy was quite literally at its boom, whereas today it is caught in the mires of low output, weak purchasing power, production inefficiencies, inflation, poor governance and what not. And so, people are naturally inclined to protect their self interest first, and save for themselves and for their kith and kin, before they reach out for others.
A not-so-surprising rationale provided by quarters is that of trust deficit between the people and the government.
"Last time (in earthquake 2005), we had given our relief collections to the government, but seeing their performance amid reports of corruption, this time we just can trust the government" one interviewee, who was also skeptical of the many dubious unregistered NGOs, told BR Research.
The most convincing of all the arguments, however, is that flood, unlike an earthquake, is a dynamic disaster by nature - one that is still on the move in Pakistan. And because of this element, relief efforts haven gathered pace as yet.
But then again, the inability to be a part of relief efforts at the site of devastation doesn prevent anybody to start collecting cash and kind at the many unaffected urban centres.
Karachiites can blame it on riots and the looming fear in their city, while some unlearned religious folks can excuse themselves on the premise that they are waiting for Ramazan to start before they dole out their charity - but the bottomline perhaps is that public conscience is dead.
After all, where there is a will, there is a way. And if somebody can find the way, then tough luck trying dealing with the paradox of self interest.