Social Economic And Politic Problems Of Pakistan Part 2

it needs very strong and committed government to foster economic development in an aggressive way. However, the pre-requisite for this, inter alia, is to restructure our society that gives a new purpose and vision to Pakistan politics.The experience of our nationalized and autonomous industries, utilities and bodies has been most disappointing. For want of professionalism and accountability and commitment of the management, whatever we had built in last fifty years has been ruined and no improvement is visible in spite of government claim. As regards foreign and domestic investment except in the share market and power generation, no substantial investment is forthcoming because of prevailing law and order situation and lack of consensus between the government and the opposition.

A country’s place and clot in the power game is now going to be determined by its economic strength. The countries with week economic base would not be able to effectively promote their national interests and are likely to fall under the hegemony of stronger powers .

We have to shop looking towards Breton wood institution in creating our social and economic institutions. We will remain dependent on these institutions for our earning through trade and commerce and our labour force will continue to be lowest paid, unless we strengthen our education system, develop our agriculture (on modern lines), indigenous technology and small industry. We also have to mentally change our attitudes and develop self-confidence in our intellectual and natural resources to overcome our weakness Above all, the ruling and political elite have to free themselves from their colonial and feudal mindset and give up the archaic policy of divide and rule, strengthen domestic peace and democratic culture and adopt egalitarian politics to embrace all communities inhibiting Pakistan. The compassion, accommodation and cooperation would be the glue to sustain and flourish the Pakistan society for a glorious future. The peace and progress through economic and social development is the only option available to us and it can be attained only through the combined efforts of the people at large.

The political mandate in the context of present day Pakistan and ground realities was not a substitute of capabilities. What we need in to have professionals and qualifies persons in all sectors of the government, particularly on our economic and foreign policy areas. The mandate should be used for positive and healthy change and not for scoring points. It have never realised in the past nor our politicians have accepted the reality that there is an urgent need to increase the role of urban population in national politics by picking politicians from education middle class. Our social, economic and political system not in harmony with demand to meet the challenges of 21st century. The society has failed to develop consensus on political ground rules. Political in Pakistan has become a Zero sum game. Karachi has cut off from mainstream politics since long and now needs a new political and economic direction to overcome terrorism technology invented for Karachi which has now spread throughout the country.

Government’s policy of open economy is a positive step. The economic reform program of the government were in the right direction, but without structural reforms in the governing system, the economic development of the country will remain a dream. We need laws for mismanaging the economy by the ruling elite and the bureaucracy. Without a check in this area, corruption cannot be stopped. The ruling junta should, therefore, take to important steps-one in the area of economic and the other in political. Towards economic, the dire need today is control foreign loans. The previous regimes as well as the present one have been obtaining foreign loans unhindered with the result the loaning agencies have become the country’s economic policy. In order, therefore, to have the required checks and balances, a la should be passed by matter of foreign loan before the parliament and obtain its clearness its before obtaining any foreign loans. The second and most important of all, in so far as the structural reforms are concerned is the promulgation of a law by means of which metropolitan Governments should be created in all big cities of Pakistan, headed by a mayor, which system is vogue in all the civilized countries of the world. This will bring the participatory democracy at the doorstep of the people.

A Zero factor in development dynamics has taken root in Pakistan, it nullifies, neutralizes and reduces to near Zero all the development inputs ostensibly invested for national development. Unless the Zero factor or factors in development dynamics are indemnified and neutralized the country’s economy will keep on stagnating or even deteriorating.There is an urgent need for bringing about important changes which have hitherto been neglected in our defence establishment.

Hence a task force of both civilian scholars and defence personnel be commissioned who should devise methodology by which we are able to curtail the defence expenditure in manner that it does not effect the security of the country. This body should also draw out a plan by which our defence forces could be effectively employed for nation-building activities also.

The emergence of nationalities, sub-nationalities, in the country is he outcome of socio-political and economic injustices being perpetrated in the society especially through the present colonial and centralised system of government administration. Once the present system is changed, Pakistan shall emerge as a united and strong federation. While adopting rue participatory democracy as our creed, we should consider whether or not presidential from of government based on American pattern is more suited to our requirement. A pragmatic solution lies in upgrading our existing administrative divisions to the status of self-governing units to promote speedy and equitable economic development of the country as a hole in the shortest possible time.

The present centralized parliamentary system has failed in nation-building and ensured economic development of the country. There can be no change if the present day power structure of the State remains the same. It will take all the skills of structure of the intellectuals and opinion-makers to make a headway for the solution of our problems, crisis and challenges that confront us today. The culture of cooperation among the various pressure groups and the Establishment will create a conducive atmosphere to settle the political and economic issues through negotiations. As such, we have to educate the people at large in his connection electronic media and the press was expected to play a very vital and prominent role. But the reality that is that press and media is ignoring its obligations. To be more precise, we as a nation, have abdicated our responsibility and the consequence of our abdication is the spectacle of feudal-cum bureaucratic pseudo few dedicated people who could bring about socio-economic changes as envisaged by Quaid-e-Azam, as we have entered the 21ST century.

One of the most distressing situation which has crept in he society is its degradation and complete breakdown of our value system. Avarice, violence, corruption, lawlessness, sectarian killings, crimes of all sorts, heroin and Kalashnikov culture have become a part of our daily life and education system , the basis of nurturing is the civil society is at its lowest abb. The image of Pakistan abroad has also been completely distorted and Pakistani Passport has become a red rag. The unity faith and discipline, which is the hallmark of any civilized society have been totally debased. The situation, therefore, demands extraordinary steps on the part of the Government and the thinking people of the country to take urgent remedial measures to restore a civil society in the country.

To sum up, the late fifty four years have seen great promise, significant achievements and monumental failure in nation and state building. We find hat our failures far out number our achievement and that socio-economic and political situation has never been as dismal as it is at present. Quantifying a balance sheet of our achievements and failure we have to evolve an agenda which should have a national consensus in the manner in which the present governing system is changed to sustain nature and strengthen true democratic governing system so as to speed up the society. Consequently to ensure this, a presidential from of government has been advocated. The kind of governance Pakistan has seen during fifty three years could only have resulted in the kind of crisis that engulfs the whole country today. It will be futile o seek remedies through the policies that are more or less the same. An effort at re-construction of the economy and polity along the lines being suggested is more likely to put the country on the path of progress and peace. However, through the traditional policies we might yet be able to go on buying time for some time, but we won’t be out of the crisis.