Issues of Pakistan

The province of Punjab has three distinct ethno-linguistic groups i.e. Punjabi, Potohari and Saraiki-speaking.

Ethnic crisis
The struggle for Pakistan was a unique historical experience having a few parallels in the annals of history. It transcended ethnic, linguistic, cultural and regional differences and coalesced into a powerful movement culminating in the creation of an independent homeland for the Muslims of the Subcontinent. It even defied the geographic compulsions. However, Pakistan after its creation was, indeed, an ethnically plural society. These days it is facing crucial multifarious ethnic problems.

The province of Punjab has three distinct ethno-linguistic groups i.e. Punjabi, Potohari and Saraiki-speaking. Previously, there has been a nascent rise of Saraiki consciousness with a demand for a separate Saraiki province comprising Saraiki-speaking areas. In Balochistan the Baloch, Brohi and Pakhtoon are dominated ethno-lingual groups. The widespread nationalist consciousness of Balochistan has cut across the tribal divisions. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, apart from Pushtu, Hindku and Saraiki are also spoken in some parts of this province.

The Pukhtoons as an ethnic group are integrating with the economic life of the rest of the country. The issue of Kalabagh Dam has arisen out of the same ethnic issue and provincial disharmony of Pakistan in the province. The proposed dam may play the role of a key factor in the prosperity of the country and may breathe a new life in the agricultural and industrial life of Pakistan. Similarly, the problem of ethnicity in Sindh is very complex. It is a web of discards, clash of interests and the resultant sense deprivation between different ethnic groups creates hysteria among the people which is damaging the peace and harmony of the country.

The main reason behind this extremism is the religious exploitation of the common man, uneducated majority of the country at the hands of so-called religious leaders who have always used religion as a tool to serve their interests.
Provincial disharmony has risen out of the neglect and deprivation of smaller provinces. The centralisation of power has encouraged internal dissension and disharmony. It has weakened the state and aggravated the multidimensional crises the people face in their daily lives. This has resulted in deteriorating political and social fabric of the country.Terrorism and religious extremism

The whole world looks at Pakistan as a land of terrorists. The image of Pakistan as a peace loving country has been badly tarnished. Initially war against terrorism (WAT) was imposed on us but with the passage of time it has become our war. Pakistan has suffered great loss both due to terrorism and the war against terrorism. Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives while millions have lost everything they had and are forced to migrate to relatively safer areas. This war has destroyed our economy and the collateral damage is beyond imagination. But this is still not enough for the world superpowers and every other day we are asked to do more.The main reason behind this extremism is the religious exploitation of the common man, uneducated majority of the country at the hands of so-called religious leaders who have always used religion as a tool to serve their interests. They are responsible for the stigma that Islam is a religion of fanatics and terrorists. But the military and successive governments are also to be blamed, for they failed to play their due role for safeguarding the integrity and sovereignty of the country.

Terrorism is very closely linked to the declining economic conditions and high rate of illiteracy prevailing in our country. The poor and illiterate become an easy prey to the masterminds who can train and use them in whatever way they want. Pakistan’s economy has suffered on two accounts: first a large amount of money is being used on WAT; and second because we have lost many foreign investors and potential investors and markets.

China is getting 13 billion dollars as foreign investment because of its stable and investor-friendly environment. Even smaller countries like Romania and the Philippines are getting a lot of foreign investments, whereas even tourists are afraid of visiting Pakistan due to security concerns.

Economic crisis

At present the sorry state of the economy, tops the problems facing the country. Seeing the horrible economic distress, some still suggest resorting to the begging bowl and further subjugation of donor agencies as the only solution to it. Such an approach cannot provide a way out; it aggravates the situation and amounts to committing suicide. Therefore, the present leadership has realised that there is no option but to reshape the economic strategy altogether. The economy of Pakistan has fallen up to this level that it requires serious attention and endeavour to revive it. The revival of economy means to bring the economy on track whereby the country becomes self-sufficient and economy self-sustained to meet its internal demands and fulfill foreign obligations. Sustained economy provides a balance in trade, potential of paying back foreign loans and gradual growth in gross domestic and national product.Developed economies are movers, developing economies are the followers and the underdeveloped economies have no say in the scheme of things. All economic conditions are the certain result of policies. No economy can itself produce positive results. It is the people and their actions which steer the effects.

The economy of Pakistan was not doomed for disaster. It has become the victim of eccentric policies of our past rulers. It has been mismanaged up to the level that the country has virtually become bankrupt and made to dance on the tunes of donor agencies as Pakistan has bartered its freedom with them. For the last 13 years there has been no noticeable addition to basic industries and the economic infrastructure of the country.

Instead the number of sick industrial units increases each year. The public sector is shrinking and suffering losses. Although agriculture has helped the nation to survive but the sector itself is faced with crises. With regard to oil, retrogression has set in after a good progress. After attaining one-third self sufficiency in the country’s oil requirements, advancing steps have been retracted and the annual import of oil has increased. Exports could not be enhanced despite repeated devaluation of rupee.

According to the genesis of the present situation, the deterioration in economic activity is mainly caused by weak performance of large scale industry, erratic behaviour of agriculture, decline in real investment, macro-economic instability that includes large fiscal deficit, large bank borrowing, using interest payments on domestic debts and personal aggrandisement.

The economic situation of Pakistan at the time of independence was also very bleak but it improved over the years. Its economic policies were exemplary and countries like Korea had learned the tricks of economics from Pakistan in 60s, while Pakistan revived meager financial resources at the time of independence, it was deprived of Kashmir. Ever since, the Kashmir issue has been haunting Pakistan for which it has fought several wars with India and each war had its price paid by Pakistan. It had to maintain large armed forces causing huge burden on its economy.

Agriculture has always been neglected. Feudalism is in vogue even today and about 6,000 families posses 40 per cent of the total cultivable land. There is no retrieval policy with regard to the agricultural inputs. The cost of seed is four times higher than its cost of production. Irrigation system is also upset. Per acre productivity of East Punjab and Haryana (India) is four times higher than that of West Punjab and Sindh (Pakistan). The level of land and human efforts are the same but the difference in policies, facilities and other factors account for the disparity. Pakistan may become self-sufficient in agriculture within two to three years but at present 20 per cent of its total imports comprise food cereals. On the one hand, there is the common cultivator, who finds it difficult to meet his expenses while on the other hand, there is a particular class that not only rolls in wealth but also upholds the oppressive and unjust system.

External debts are touching new heights and the irony is that new loans are obtained simply to pay back a portion of the earlier loans. As we are very heavily dependent on borrowing to meet the resource gap, our major donor, International Monetary Fund (IMF), insists on narrowing the revenue expenditure gap to under five per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP). Since other lenders follow the policies of the IMF, Pakistan has no choice but to enhance its taxes and revenues.These foreign lenders and donors also demand that we reduce taxes on international trade which means reduction in the custom duties which has always been the main source of our revenues. This puts further pressure on other taxes to make up for the loss caused by the reduction in the custom receipts. As majority of the people in Pakistan are poor and backward, they have always been preoccupied mainly in meeting the basic needs. They live in unhygienic conditions.

Electricity is a luxury for them. Health services have been thinly available in the country. Floods, drought or diseases affect people and the livestock. The combination of malnutrition, illiteracy, diseases, high birth rate, unemployment and low income has closed the avenues of escape from serious economic crises. The most unfortunate aspect of these serious economic crises and pathetic state of affairs is not because of the lack of natural resources but due to inefficient use of the key factors of production.

The socio-cultural attitude of the people is also an obstacle in the way of economic development of Pakistan. More than 50 per cent people are illiterate. They are ignorant of what is happening in their country and the world at large. The majority of the people are extravagant. Pakistan, in fact, has a consumption-oriented society. The caste system functioning mostly in terms of occupations like tailoring, carpentry, jewellery, etc, restrict occupational and geographical mobility.

International interference

India is typically termed as a conventional enemy of Pakistan. As mentioned before the people of Pakistan need to be trained to think positively about their surroundings. We should learn a lesson from US and Canada’s cross border collaboration to improve their affairs. Why can’t Pakistan and India enter into such strengthening relationship?Pakistan can never move forward with its proxy war politics with India and its involvement in the so-called US war on terrorism. It has to strike peace with India and other neighbouring countries soon so that it can use its resources for its people’s welfare and focus on its collective objectives.

Pakistan has more potential to be a developed country earlier than India. It has the resources and talent. Yet it seems to sink lower by the day. India with a billion plus population has a million problems to handle. Yet the focus of India has been right and it shows in its eight per cent economic growth. Its time Pakistan learns this lesson and corrects its focus.

By: Dr Najam us Sahar Butt (CSP)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.