40420630 Problems of Pakistan 18 Sep 2010

8/6/2019 40420630 Problems of Pakistan 18 Sep 2010

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SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF

PAKISTANDANEYAL MIRZA - L1F09BBAM0240

SUBMITTED TO

SIR . ASHRAF YOUSAFI


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What is a problem?

A problem is an obstacle, impediment, difficulty or challenge, or any situation that invitesresolution; the resolution of which is recognized as a solution or contribution toward a knownpurpose or goal. A problem implies a desired outcome coupled with an apparent deficiency,doubt or inconsistency that prevents the outcome from taking place.

What is a social problem?

There is no universal, constant, or absolute definition of what constitutes a social problem.Rather, social problems are defined by a combination of objective and subjective criteria thatvary across societies, among individuals and groups within a society, and across historicaltime periods.S

Objective and subjective elements of social problems

Although social problems take many forms, they all share two important elements: an

objective social condition and a subjective interpretation of that social condition.

The objective element of a social problem refers to the existence of a social condition.We become aware of social conditions through our own life experiences, through the media,and through education. We see the homeless, hear gunfire in the streets, and see batteredwomen in hospital emergency rooms. We read about employees losing their jobs asbusiness downsize and factories close. In television news reports we see the anguishedfaces of parents whose children have been killed by violent youth.

The subjective element of a social problem refers to the belief that a particular socialcondition is harmful to society, or to a segment of society, and that it should and can bechanged. We know that crime, drug addiction, poverty, racism, violence, and pollution exist.These social conditions are not considered social problems, however, unless at least asegment of society believes these conditions diminish the quality of human life.

By combining these objective and subjective elements, we arrive at the following definition:

a social problem is a social condition that a segment of society views as

harmful to members of society and in need of remedy.

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SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN

Introduction

Pakistan suffers from a number of social, political, and economic problems. With apopulation roughly half that of the United States in an area slightly less than the size of two

California's, Pakistan is experiencing unwanted growth. While projections indicate that thepopulation growth rate of Pakistan may actually be decreasing, those same projections alsopredict that by the year 2050 Pakistan will have assumed its place as the third mostpopulated nation in the world. A rapidly growing population, along with political tensions,both internal and external, and an economy trapped in a cycle of debt, all serve to preventPakistan from attaining the progress it needs to advance, and perhaps to survive.

INTERNAL PROBLEMS

War against terror

The tragedy now unfolding in Pakistan is occurring due the pursuit of shortsighted policiesby the United States as well as the Pakistan government and military. The US haspressured Pakistan into engaging in brutal military operations in Bajaur and Swat, with noregard for how this would affect its own vital interests in the region. The Pakistani rulers(bedazzled by the glitter of all those promised billions) have meekly complied in waging waron parts of their own people, again with no thought to the likely outcome for them and theircountry. The main impact of this has been to the civilian population, some million and a halfof whom have been displaced (with many killed and maimed, although no figures for theseare yet available).

Taliban are the real threat that the United States faces in this theatre, and recommended

what might be a rational policy for it to pursue. This was to first shore up Pakistan instead ofwaging a war in Afghanistan (with Pakistan forced to act in a supporting role). A failure todo this risked losing Pakistan to the Islamists, which would render pointless whatever theUS could achieve in Afghanistan. The likelihood of such a policy being adopted is nil,unfortunately, since the present administration has continued the Bush practice of lettinggenerals set national policy in this theatre. The generals are fixated on their war inAfghanistan, and Pakistan figures only as an often-reluctant subordinate player in theiroperations.

Whatever the actual chain of events that transpires, the great (and avoidable) tragedy isthat the policies the US is pursuing in the region greatly increase the likelihood of the loss

of Pakistan to the Islamists. The frightening consequences of this, for both Pakistan and theUS, are easy to imagine. Any successes the generals can achieve in their war inAfghanistan would be meaningless; military campaigns divorced from the real needs ofnational policy usually end up as expensive failures. The pages of history are littered withthem.

Solutions:

1) Try to reconcile with our strayed brothers2) Try to employ forces into the danger areas

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3) Try to figure out the root of the terrorism4) Stop the nurturing of extreme islam

Monstrous Debt

Pakistan's chief problem is a monstrous debt. Without monetary resources with which tofight the numerous problems of the nation, Pakistan remains overpopulated and poor. The

debt accrued by Pakistan has come from several sources. Primarily this debt hasaccumulated due to the continuing conflict with India over the Kashmir region. Kashmir is apredominantly Muslim state within India. As such, the possession of this region has been asource of contention between mostly Hindu India and mostly Muslim Pakistan. This borderconflict has been raging on and off for the last half of the twentieth century. Due to thesehostilities, the Pakistani government spends roughly one fifth of its budget on its military,further limiting potential spending on social improvements and programs.

Due to all of these sources of debt, half of government expenditures are dedicated tofulfilling debt repayment obligations. In order to finance these payments, additional grantsand loans are required each year totaling approximately 25% of revenues. This prevents

Pakistan from devoting significant resources to economic development and/or socialimprovements

Solutions:

1) Dig out your natural resources to fullest2) Make you country safe for foreign investment3) Utilize your own resources4) Dont sell out your raw materials instead make industry and utilize it5) Be the debt giver not the taker

Education

Perhaps the greatest loss comes in the area of education. Whether or not this is a directresult of Pakistan's economic problems, it is undoubtedly connected. With so manyresources directed towards the aforementioned debt payment, educational improvementsare given and inordinately low priority. In addition, Musharraf's military dictatorship hasunderstandably not placed great emphasis on education in Pakistan. This is evident uponexamination of Pakistan's overall literacy rate of 37.8% (50% for men and 24.4% forwomen). Literacy being defined as those over 15 who can read and write.

In terms of population, low literacy rates are often observed with high population growth. A

poorly educated population is unlikely to participate in family planning or any other form ofpopulation control. Secondarily, a poorly educated populace makes Pakistan a poor choicefor the foreign investors that it so desperately needs. Furthermore, the extremely low literacyrate among Pakistani women (24.4%) lends itself to a society where most women neverenter the labor force, creating less incentives for them to limit the size of their families. Thisis best illustrated by the fact that only 38 million of Pakistan's 141 million people make up theentire labor force.

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Solution:

1) Build more schools2) Make education cheap3) Higher the standard4) Apply single education system5) Make sure the population is going to schools by awareness

Poverty

Deeply linked to the massive debt and poorly educated people, is the large portion ofPakistan's population that lives in poverty. With an average of 2,000 dollars of GDP perperson (adjusted for purchasing power parity), the average citizen is forced to live off verylimited resources. This is reflected in the fact that 34% of the population lives below thepoverty line, despite a mere 7% unemployment. Pakistan's lack of fiscal resources is yetanother barrier against foreign investment. Without foreign investment, Pakistan lacks theresources to bring about positive economic development. Without positive economicdevelopment, Pakistan is unable to attract foreign investors. Without foreign investors... you

get the point.

Solution:

Make sure the poor gets equitable jobs

Make sure loans are given so that the poor can utilize them

Make sure the minimum wage is enough for the poor

Help the poor start new ventures to earn their living

Government

Formerly a federal republic, Pakistan's now military controlled dictatorship is a large part ofthe problem. With Pakistan's constitution suspended, and its parliament disbanded, anypotential aid given is not guaranteed to reach its intended recipient. General Musharraf'sregime has yet to win the support of the international lending community, as the World Bankhas refrained from issuing an endorsement of Pakistan. Until democracy is restored inPakistan it will be very difficult to affect any kind of positive change in other areas that so

desperately need it.

Solutions:

1) Make steps towards real democracy2) Force the government to be fair towards election3) Make sure the right person is selected by the people

Excessive Population

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Simply put, the world can only support so many people with the resources that wehave available to us. These scarce resources include fresh water, fossil fuels, andfood that the earth provides. No one knows exactly what the carrying capacity of theearth is, however we do know that there is a finite number of people who can live onthis planet. It is not desirable to reach this point, where our resources limit us to apoint where growth is impossible. To avoid this situation we need to begin workingtowards lower population growth rates in every country around the world. It is

especially important, though, to limit those growth rates in countries where they arehighest and have the greatest potential to reach these undesirable limits.

This graph displays both the actual and projected growth rates for Pakistan over the next 50years. It is easy to see that the growth rate is expected to decline, however, since thepopulation will be nearly triple what it is now, even a small growth rate produces a largeincrease in population.

Solution:

1) Make sure the awareness of less children is effectively spread2) Make sure the poor rural people produce less off springs3) Put bans on more children

Energy Problems in Pakistan & solutions

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Pakistan is in big trouble due to less energy in the state so here are some new solutions toit:

Most of the new reactor designs are third-generation pressurized-water reactors(PWR), although companies in China, France, and South Africa are looking to build afourth-generation design called a gas-pebble-bed reactor (PBMR).

The new reactors are supposed to be inexpensive to build, more powerful, and safer;and they can be operated for up to 60 years, according to nuclear - power tradegroups. Most of the new reactor designs are third-generation pressurized-waterreactors (PWR), although companies in China, France, and South Africa are lookingto build a fourth-generation design called a gas-pebble-bed reactor (PBMR).

The new reactors are supposed to be inexpensive to build, more powerful, and safer;and they can be operated for up to 60 years, according to nuclear - power tradegroups. Nuclear-industry officials have long said that the majority of growth wouldcome in Asia

. Japan is building five new power plants by 2010, and China plans to build 30 nuclearreactors, based on domestic designs, by 2020. China also sees nuclear technology

as a major export opportunity, say industry analysts, and is building its second of fourpower plants for Pakistan, which may lead to a larger order. India has nine powerplants under construction, including a fast-breeder reactor that generates its own fuel.

Socio Economic Problems

The most beautiful moment in the life of humans is when someone of their own blood callsthem mama or papa. Parents want to provide the newborn with the best of everything. Heis pampered, protected and taken care of. The blissful period of childhood soon gets over,and the little human infant grows up to be an adult ready to face the challenges of the worldhe was born in. He sees around him with a hope of finding the same perfection in everything

which his parents had provided him with. In no time, he realizes that the Utopian concept ofa perfect world should be confined to the fictional Island created by Thomas More in hiswidely renowned novel only. That Utopia was far from reality and had nothing to do with theworld around us. Its a world abound with countless problems- social, economic, legal,political, spiritual and the list goes on.

Certain social and economic conditions become a menace for the society when they startasserting negative influence on the society. Usually those social needs which persist in asociety for long period of time without being fulfilled owing to restrained budgetary scenarios,they turn into socio-economic problems. The major problems of a society are linked with the

providence of basic necessities of life to the people making up the society.

If the basic needs of man- shelter, food and clothing are not fulfilled, the deprivationof these needs gradually transform into different forms of social menaces. In thecontext of Pakistan, owing to the fact that it is a developing nation, there is no wonderthat it is engulfed with a number of social and economical problems. The real issue isnot the presence of these problems in society because, as stated earlier, there is noconcept of an ideal society in the world. Every country in the world has its own set ofsocio-economic problems. The main issue is the extent and intensity of the socio-economic problems of Pakistan which have soared to alarming levels. I will discuss

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some major social and economic problems that are of serious concern for socialscientists and political economists.

SocialProblems

Pakistan has been facing a lot of social problems since its inception in 1947. In the startthere were the problems of lack of funds, rehabilitation of refugees, poor infrastructure andwidespread poverty of masses. Quaid-e-Azam tried his best to solve these problems and getthe state machinery working but due to his sudden death, he could not eradicate theseproblems completely. Subsequent governments didnt pay considerable attention towardssolution of various social problems and thus they grew with the passage of time and becamesocial evils.

At present the gravest problem that Pakistan is facing is its precarious law and ordercondition. Terrorism has become a headache for federation and a nightmare for public.Government has been helpless in eradicating terrorism despite beefing up security in

metropolitan cities. Public seeks answer to the question that what is their fault for which theyare being punished by the terrorists? People have become numerical figures, blown up innumbers every now and then. Terrorists have not spared any place. Bazars, mosques,educational institutes, offices, hotels- you name it and the place is not safe any more.

Besides terrorism there are other social problems which are older and more widespread.The biggest of these problems is poverty. 70% population of Pakistan lives in villages. Mostof them dont have access to adequate basic needs of life. They are struggling for bread andbutter. A large chunk of population lives below poverty line. They live in miserableconditions. Lack of proper food, clothing and shelter, poor sanitation, unsafe and sometimescontaminated drinking water are just some of their many problems. Poverty itself gives riseto various other social problems. It deprives children of poor people to access education andhealthcare. A sense of deprivation manifests itself in form of various crimes. That is whyevery now and then we read crime stories in newspapers that are characterized by lowerorders of society who adopt illegal channels to get the financial prosperity which they can notachieve otherwise.

Illiteracy

The literacy rate lingers on 56% and ironically it also includes those people who can readand write their name in Urdu. Over the decades, despite decreasing, illiteracy rate inPakistan has shown an upward trend. Not only that but enrollment ratio of students atprimary level has shown a decreasing trend. The fact that 50 percent of children do not

complete their primary education testifies this fact. Uneducated adults contribute negligiblyto the national exchequer. Despite spending millions on it, government has failed to achieveliteracy rates comparable to other countries in South Asia. Private sector is doingcommendable job for the promotion of educational culture in Pakistan, but its main objectiveis money-making. Schools and colleges are opened as a business prospect and thus manyof them lack quality.

Solution:

1) More schools

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2) Cheap education

3) Education awareness

Corruption

Corruption is another huge social problem. According to latest report of Transparency

International, Pakistan has been ranked at 42nd number among the most corrupt nations ofthe world. From clerical staff to higher offices and bureaucrats, all are involved in corruptionof one kind or the other. Corruption in government departments is so much deep-rooted thata common concept prevails that the system doesnt let honest people to work peacefully.There is a lack of accountability due to which wealthy people and those in power are surethat they cant be held responsible for their deeds. So they keep on looting the nationaltreasures and find ways to legalize their black-money. Many corrupt people dont evenbother to do that.

Solutions:

1) Good and effective accountability bureau

2) Check and balance should be kept

3) Salaries and compensations should be increased

Unemployment

Unemployment is also regarded as a major social problem. Major portion of Pakistanspopulation consists of youth and a large number of young people who have the ability andare willing to work are unemployed. Currently rate of unemployment as per official resourcesis 7.4% but according to some private estimates the arte of unemployment is 12%. There

are many reasons of unemployment like influx of machinery that has replaced manpower,lack of new industries and defective education system. But the impacts of unemployment aremore serious and dangerous. People who dont find work here migrate to other countrieswith better prospects. Also, people tired of making both ends meet due to unemploymentindulge in nefarious activities and ratio of crimes increases.

Solutions:

1) Easy jobs should be given

2) Equitable distrubtion

3) Unemployment aids

Child labour

Child labour is widespread in Pakistan. Whether in bigger cities or in small villages, we findinnocent malnourished children employed in various forms of labour. They are working aswelders, mechanics, plumbers, electricians and in industries like carpet-weaving, glass andfootball making. Meager wages are paid to these children and no facilities for education areprovided. Media and NGOs have always condemned child labour. In past, some countries

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refused to import those goods from Pakistan in whose making children were employed. Butdespite all these factors, due to growing inflation and poverty, parents are bound to sendtheir children to work to light their stoves.

Solutions:

1) It should be banned

2) Its should be penalized

3) Centres should be made to treat the child labour with effectivness

Population expansion has been a real issue of concern for all governments. With limitedresources it is very difficult to cater to the needs of growing population. There is a greateconomic disparity among the people. Poor are committing suicides out of hunger while richare busy amassing more and more wealth. These social problems directly affect themasses. Apart from these there are several economic problems which have broken the

backbone of national treasury.

Economic Problems1) Economic prosperity serves as a backbone for the overall progress of a nation. One thingis common in all developed nations- they are economically sound. When citizens of acountry are freed from the worries of earning a livelihood to sustain their lives, they diverttheir attention to more useful things. They focus on education, improvise healthcare, developtechnologies that make life easy and much more. Poor economic condition is the root causeof so many problems that exist in a society. Unfortunately, Pakistans economic conditionsare pathetic. As if power crises, lack of foreign investment for the development of industrialzones, backward and out-dated technology were not enough, Pakistans indulgence in war

on terrorism served as a fatal blow to the already crumbling economic state.

2) Result is that all our important industries that once served as an important contributor tothe national GDP have been closed down. Sugar, cement and shoe industry is on itsdownfall while textile industry is breathing its last. Foreign investors are not ready to setuptheir businesses in Pakistan. They have their own set of problems which include painful andlengthy procedure of getting licenses and work permits in Pakistan, power crises, terrorismand declining exports. Multinational Companies are reluctant to open their offices andfranchises in Pakistan. More than 70 MNCs have already packed up their business fromPakistan.

3) Stock Exchanges also depict a true picture of economic meltdown. Instable politicalsystem, dictatorship in its worse form and non-effective democracy badly affect the rates ofstocks listed on the three stock exchanges of Pakistan. During this year, many times KarachiStockRate of inflation was never a two-digit figure in Pakistan, but in recent years it has seen anunprecedented increase

4) Northern areas of Pakistan have been a place of great tourist attraction. The beautifulhills, the lush green valleys, shimmering lakes and flowing waterfalls brought many a tourist

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form all over the world to Pakistan. This contributed to foreign exchange. Tourism Industrywas one of the booming industries of Pakistan.5) Due to war on terror, local people of war-ridden areas are migrating to other areas ofPakistan. Country has seen the largest migration since independence in 1947. These peoplehave left their homes, businesses, possessions and property back home

Environmental Issues

A number of serious environmental problems are present in Pakistan, which are of great

ecological concern in terms of its sustainable economic future. These include:

Soil erosion, pesticide misuse, deforestation, desertification, urban pollution, water logging &salinity, freshwater pollution and marine water pollution just to name a few.

The major constraint to overcoming these problems, infact perhaps the main contributor to

their intensity is the explosive rate of population growth, which is very high in contrast to the

natural resources that are available to the people. Also included in the constraints is the

unsustainable use and management of these resources. Around 150 million people live in

this country, making it the seventh most populous country in the world. The rate ofpopulation growth is one of the fastest and according to estimates it would double in just 25

years (UNDP 1997). What is obvious from this is, if the population continues to grow at this

rate, it would take a severe toll on the environment. The main reason is poor management

and sustainability of natural resources owing to it being a developing country. Water, already

a scarce commodity in most parts of the country, is now facing further shortages. This is also

due in part to inadequate distribution and the coercion of the water-tanker mafia. This

shortage is hindering the country's potential to develop agriculture.

Water

The main water sources in Pakistan are rivers, glaciers, rainfall and groundwater. Therainfall pattern is extreme due to the varied topography of the country. Average rainfall isbetween 50 to 1000 mm but in the isolated northern mountains it may exceed 2000 mm. Onthe other hand the dry areas receive less than 125 mm on an average. Almost 75% of thecountry receives less than 250 mm annually. The rainfall is dependent on the two monsoonseasons, the most important being the Southwestern monsoon between June to September.The high temperatures mean that there is high evaporation, which leads to loss of watereverywhere.

Pakistan occupies the basin of three major rivers, which is of considerable importance

to the country. Indus (70% of total land area), Kharan closed basin (15% of the totalland area) and the Makran coastal basin (15% of the total land area) are the threebasins, with the Indus basin representing the largest potential. It mainly draws itswater from snow melting and precipitation. The surface waters of the rivers have notbeen used effectively, as they are seasonal and irregular.

Around 90% of the food and fibre production depend on irrigation. Irrigated land is

82.3% of the total arable land and surface water is mainly relied upon for irrigation.

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Considering Pakistan's environmental scenario, it becomes increasingly obvious that

water issues are the most pressing. Human health, agriculture, rangelands, forests,

water bodies, and aquatic life, in fact the whole ecosystem is affected by problems

associated with water. Pollution of water bodies by effluents from industries and the

sewerage system have compounded the problem.

Freshwater Pollution - Chemical waste:

Almost all chemical waste is dumped untreated into the river system from where it is taken

out to sea. A large number of industries discharge deadly and toxic waste into storm-drains,

open nullahs or in the Lyari and Malir rivers. These include leather tanning units,

pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, refineries, chemical, textile, paper and pulp, engineering

works and thermal power plants

Sewage:

The discharge of sewage and contaminated water in rivers and water bodies not only affects

marine production, but its use for agriculture results in the contamination of the food chain.In Pakistan, sewage water is re-channelled to irrigate crops, which contaminates them with

pathogens. As a result 50% of the crops are contaminated. Groundwater may also be

contaminated by untreated sewage. Water borne diseases are the largest killers in the

country and health problems resulting from polluted water cost a large amount of money.

Agricultural run-off / pesticides:

Indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilisers ensure that agricultural run-off from fields also

contributes to water pollution. Extensive use of agricultural chemicals has already started

affecting aquifers.

Marine Pollution

The seas have been used as dumps for ages, mainly due to the misconception that

whatever is put into them gets diluted. However, the truth of the matter is that most of the

contaminated water entering the sea has a density different to that of the natural seawater.

This means that it does not mix and in fact settles down at the bottom of the ocean as

Remedies and solutions as a whole

Successive governments have taken steps to solve various socio-economic problems. Butthese problems are so deep-rooted that they have not been successful in putting an end tothese problems. The problem lies in the fact that government focuses on one factor andignores the others related to it.

For example, much emphasis is laid on beefing up security in big cities in wake ofterrorism. But nothing serious has been done to seal the unlawful entrance of armsfrom across the border. Acids and explosive materials used for destruction by atomic

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bombs are easily available in market at cheap prices. Ministers and other governmentofficials enjoy the facilities of squads of armed body guards while public places likemarkets, roads, shopping centers, bus stands etc are not adequately protected. Tocontrol terrorism, government needs to stop fighting the proxy war on behalf of USA.

Secondly, there is a sheer need to curb corruption at all levels. The institutions ofNAB and FIA should be made more powerful to curb corruption. Culprits should not

be allowed to escape out of country. Rather strict punishments should be imposed onthem. Not only they should be strictly dealt with, but the wealth looted by them shouldbe recovered and employed for the welfare of people. Judiciary should be anindependent institution. Currently Pakistan has experienced a new era in the historyof its judicial set-up. Judiciary is powerful but we have yet to wait and see the resultsof independence of judiciary in Pakistan.

Thirdly, poverty reduction should be top priority of government. Cottage industry andself-business should be promoted. Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistanseconomy. It should be strengthened by providing loans to farmers. Free of costeducations should be provided to children in villages. Overall standard of living needs

to be improved and inflation should be controlled.

Lastly, for economic development, energy crises should be controlled. New damsshould be built and new methods of producing electricity should be utilized.

Conclusion:As stated in the start of essay, no country is free from socio-economic problems.These problems are present in every country but the winners are those whoovercome most if not all of them. Though Pakistan is currently facing a lot of socio-political and socio-economic problems but it doesnt mean that it is going towards itsend. Nations face multifarious problems but together they work for towards the

solution. The same is the need of hour. Government as well as every single citizen ofPakistan has to play its own specific role to bring about a positive change.

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40420630 Problems of Pakistan 18 Sep 2010