Half a Century of Nationhood
Marking the
56th anniversary of the independence of Pakistan,
a state born amidst chaos and violence, many
patriotic speakers noted with pride the accomplishments
of the nation. No doubt the country today
is much better off than it was in 1947. People
are better fed, better clothed and enjoy a
better quality of life.
Despite selective
memories on this occasion of celebration it
ought to be noted that the Pakistani people
have endured disproportionate amount of adversity.
While the country has muddled through the
benefits of nationhood have largely remained
undelivered. In comparison with some of the
Asian states, which acquired sovereignty at
the same time, the Pakistani nation cannot
be said to have achieved much in its half
century of national existence.
It is sobering
to realize that Pakistan became a sovereign
member of the international community at approximately
the same time as two other Asian nations,
namely, Japan and South Korea. But during
the five and a half decades the two countries
of East Asia made remarkable progress in science,
technology and economic advancement while
Pakistan lagged behind mired in a morass of
backwardness.
After its defeat
and occupation Japan literally arose from
the ashes, having survived two atomic bomb
blasts, to become an economic powerhouse challenging
the U.S. in productivity, and the dominance
of the global marketplace. While its former
colony, South Korea, overcame colonialism
and the brutal Korean War that ended in 1953,
to emerge thirty years later as a “newly
industrialized country” (NIC). Today,
it has become an important player in world
trade.
Meanwhile, Pakistan
with more natural resources than either, coal,
gas, oil and land area, vacillated from one
corrupt leader to another. Pakistan’s
310,403 square miles of territory is twice
that of Japan’s 145,730 and seven times
South Korea’s 38,175 square miles. Pakistan
has a larger workforce with a population of
145 million, compared to 126 million people
in Japan and 50 million in Korea.
When South Korea
was down and out in the fifties some Pakistani
economic advisors were sent to that country.
It is ironic that, decades later it was Pakistanis
who were taught the art of road building by
South Korea, as it constructed a modern highway
through the Punjab heartland. Today, the Daewoo
South Korean buses are, for many Pakistanis,
the preferred means of transportation in the
country.
Despite their
common Asian-ness Pakistan stands in stark
contrast to both Japan and South Korea on
virtually every score of accomplishment that
one may wish to consider. In productivity
and well-being Pakistan’s per capita
income of $480 is a paltry sum in comparison
with Japan’s $32,000 or South Korea’s
$18,000. In high tech electronics goods the
two East Asian nations are at the cutting
edge, whereas Pakistan has not even entered
the field.
Politically,
Japan is a functioning democracy, established
since the fifties and South Korea achieved
democratic order a little later. Both have
highly active citizens, educated and empowered,
with a sense of dedication to the welfare
of the nation. Their civil society, with voluntary
associations for every conceivable need, is
the envy of Asia.
Pakistan, on
the other hand, has failed in all of these
areas. Fifty years later its constitutional
order is still being debated. The rule of
law is easily and continuously circumvented
causing social chaos and civil strife. So,
one may ask: what went wrong? Basically, two
reasons stand out: one, the lack of visionary
leaders, and two, the failure to educate and
empower individual citizens.
Pakistan would
be well served if it selects Japan and South
Korea as its model for the next fifty years.
When human capabilities are developed to their
logical level the citizens’ choice will
be: a representative government and an open
economy, with freedom, justice and prosperity
for all.
