WB Oikonomika

8/3/2019 WB Oikonomika

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Pakistan is experiencing a major existential crisis. But crises are mixed blessings which canlead to regression or progression. They can cause a breakdown or become a fertile ground for

a breakthrough. Some Pakistanis are worried that Pakistan, like Iraq, is heading towards acivil war where thousands of innocent men, women and children will be killed because of the

violent confrontation between different ethnic and religious groups. It is so sad that, even in

the 21st century, millions of innocent Pakistanis are caught between religious

fundamentalism and Western imperialism while the Pakistani military and government areunable to provide safety and security to their citizens. Since September 11, 2001, Pakistanis

have been pushed into international religious, economic and political wars. In the eyes of

many foreign powers Pakistan, a nuclear power, has become a ticking time bomb, ready to

explode at any time.

Pakistan has taken the centre stage in world politics not only because of its geographical

position but also its historical love/hate relationship with the four other nuclear powers in the

world - India, Israel, England and America. Pakistan is experiencing a major political crisis.

Many Pakistanis are concerned that over the next few years their mother land might again be

divided into religious and secular states similar to the events in 1971, when East Pakistan

became Bangladesh. Can Pakistan survive? has become once more, a million dollarquestion, as maintaining independence this time might be as difficult, if not more difficult,

than gaining it half a century ago. Abul Kalam Azad had predicted in 1947 that if Pakistanseparated from India on religious basis, it would further divide fifty years after its birth. It is

ironic that Pakistanis, as a nation, even today, have not been able to find satisfactory solutionsto the following problems.

1. SOCIOECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Even after decades of existence there is no equal distribution of wealth and resources.

Pakistan remains a feudal society where 90% of its wealth is owned by 10% of people.

Industrialization has suffered because of the unpredictable economy and politics. None of thegovernments, military or civil, had any effective plan of action to decrease the gap between

the rich and the poor. Military not only uses most of the national budget, but many armyofficers have been running many civilian organizations. Those Pakistanis who went to work

in the Middle East in 1970s and 80s, and brought back foreign currency, have also created aneconomic imbalance and uneven social growth in the country.

2. EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS

Rather than increasing, in the last sixty years, the literacy rate has decreased as the schools

have not kept up with the population explosion. Sadly, most people in the villages cannot

read or write. There is no national standardized educational system. Because of the large

number of children, many poor parents, who do not practice family planning, send theirchildren to madrassas, religious schools, as they get free food and shelter in those institutions.It is ironic that many of these madrassas are funded by Saudi Arabia to promote their

fundamentalist interpretation of Islam and literal interpretation of Quran. For children toaccept blind faith rather than learn critical and creative thinking can be a serious concern for

any nation.


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Pakistan is the only country I know where many children do not get their primary educationin their native language. Rather than studying in Punjabi, Pushto, Balochi and Sindhi, many

children are taught in Urdu, English and Arabic which are not their mother tongues.

3. HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS

While many Pakistanis suffer from physical and emotional problems, there is no adequatehealth care system in place. Many pregnant women remain anemic and there is a high infant

mortality rate. Children still suffer from malnutrition because of pervasive poverty. Many

patients with emotional problems only see a psychiatrist when they get violent and have a

nervous breakdown. Mental illness is still surrounded by visible stigma. Because of lack of

health education there is less emphasis on prevention. When I was working in Zanana

Hospital in Peshawar I met many infertile couples who went to holy shrines rather than

consulting infertility clinics.

4. RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS

Because of religious teachings in the families, schools and

communities, many Pakistanis have grown with a religious rather than a secular world view.This trend intensified when Pakistan transformed into Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Ironically in Zulfiqar Ali Bhuttos time Ahmedis were declared non-Muslims. The process of

Islamization of Pakistan accelerated during Zia-ul-Haq period when religion was introduced

to all aspects of life. The more religion entered politics and the separation of mosque and

state became blurred, the more Pakistan traveled on the path of becoming a theocratic state.

5. IDENTITY PROBLEMS

There was a time when some of my Pukhtoon friends used to

say that they have been Pathans for 5000 years, Muslims for 1500 years and Pakistanis for 50years, but the identity of Pakistanis has changed over the decades. There are many Pakistanis

who identify with Arab and Muslim culture far more than their own ethnic and native culture.Their names are Arabic and they greet now with Allah Hafiz rather than Khuda Hafiz.

They know more about Mohammad of Arabia than Buddha, Bullay Shaha and Guru Nanak of

India. Many Pakistanis do not realize that the land and culture of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa

existed far before 1947, when Pakistan was born. The issue of identity for many Pakistanis is

still a major unresolved issue.

6. POLITICAL PROBLEMS

It is unfortunate that after all these years an autocratic political system prevails in Pakistan.People are more familiar with army generals and dictators than democratic minded political

leaders. Democracy has not thrived in Pakistan since many religious leaders consider it aWestern and un-Islamic system. Social, political and religious intolerance has increased over

the decades. It is also sad that popular political leaders like Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir

Bhutto did not die natural deaths, one was hanged and the other assassinated. Many Muslims

still dream of a Khilafat where one religious leader will be the life long leader. In 1500 years

of history Muslims have not developed any unique political system that can be considered


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democratic. There are many Muslims who dream of converting others by preaching theirbrand of religion and there are others who support holy wars.

7. HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS

Pakistanis have suffered for decades because their human rights have not been protected in

the communities as well the courts. Whether they are women or children, Ahmedis orChristians, Shiites or atheists, the rights of minorities are always threatened. The Pakistani

Constitution does not ensure equal rights and privileges to all citizens. Pakistan still struggles

between the secular British and religious Arabic laws and traditions. Pakistan has not

resolved political conflicts between different provinces.

FUTURE OF PAKISTAN

In the next few years Pakistanis need to make many significant choices otherwise

international powers might dictate certain decisions as they see Pakistan as a failed state thatexports terrorists and having nuclear weapons, has become a threat to world peace. If the

British Empire can lose her colonies, the Berlin wall can come down and the Communist

World can disintegrate, Pakistan can also divide further and the map of the Middle East can

change in the next decade.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

While I am discussing the unresolved problems of Pakistan, I am also reflecting upon the

possible solutions. In this introductory article I can only enlist the solutions as each of them isdeserving of a detailed discussion. For Pakistanis to make sure that Pakistan not only survives

but also grows and thrives and joins the modern world by becoming a progressive anddemocratic state, they need to take following steps:

1. The gap between the rich and the poor has to decrease.

2. The curriculum of schools need to be reviewed so that children can receive scientific and

secular education in their mother tongue. In addition, they need to develop critical andcreative thinking.

3. Health care education and free health care needs to be provided to all citizens.

4. The Pakistani Constitution has to become secular and humanistic so that all citizens,especially women and minorities have equal rights and the blasphemy law is abolished.

5. Pakistanis need to become aware of their own cultural traditions and Asian identity rather

than primarily identifying with a Middle Eastern identity.

6. All political parties need to present their 5 to 10 year plan to deal with serious economic,

religious and social problems so that people know which party will serve them the best.

7. All political parties and citizens need to make sure that army officers stay in the army

barracks and not take over the parliament in the future.


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For some people it might seem like a dream but all nations have to dream before the dreamcomes true. If Pakistanis did not fulfill that dream, I am afraid their dream might turn into a

violent nightmare in the not so distant future.

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