Why Not a
24/7 Schedule in Pakistan
By Dr. Ghulam M. Haniff
St. Cloud, MN
Just over a year ago when I
was about to leave Pakistan I wanted to do some
last minute shopping before my midnight departure.
That day turned out to be a Sunday and much to
my chagrin all the shops were closed. As I looked
around even the peddlers on the sidewalks were
nowhere to be seen. Since then I have often wondered
why should everything come to a standstill in
Pakistan on Sundays since it is not a country
that follows Biblical teachings. In Islam there
is no such thing as a day of rest in the sense
that “God rested on the seventh day”
after creating the universe.
In the community in which I live retail trade
goes on, outside of the downtown area, seven days
a week. That is the norm everywhere in America,
with few exceptions, even though this country
was founded on Biblical principles. Essential
commodities such as groceries, gas, food and some
types of medication are available twenty-four
hours a day. Most needed items could be purchased
late into the night every day of the week. The
famous Wal-Mart, where almost everything is available,
never closes and neither do some of its competitors.
In the business civilization in which we live
commerce is conducted round the clock. That is
how jobs are created and made available to countless
millions who need them. The wheels of the economy
turn even during the nightfall and generate income
for the individual workers and revenue for the
nation. The gross national product of the country
increases by the hour, indeed, by the minute.
The process of consumption, production and providing
of services goes on continuously.
In Pakistan the economy virtually grinds to a
halt on Sundays, holidays and, of course, every
night. This interruption in commerce represents
loss of millions of dollars. It also deprives
employment to many people who need them.
If people were gainfully employed and not just
hanging around there would be less social turmoil
and civil strife that we witness on a daily basis.
When a person is looking forward to bringing home
a paycheck there is no incentive for him to become
involved in mischief regardless of ideological
appeal.
There is of course no rational basis for the restrictions
on commerce on Sundays and holidays except that
it is another legacy of British colonialism. The
colonizer foisted its culture in subtle ways on
the subject peoples and since their departure
no one has bothered to abolish them. It is also
quite likely that the political leaders running
the country for the past half a century did not
understand the reason for the introduction of
the practice of Sunday closing.
In places like Singapore and Hong Kong, both former
British colonies, commerce is conducted around
the clock. They have gradually eliminated restrictions
of the colonial days and businesses operate on
Sundays, holidays and at night in scaled down
manner. One of the reasons for prosperity in these
countries is that they follow a 24/7 schedule.
Passing legislation to keep stores open on Sundays
(and holidays and some at night) would not bankrupt
the nation. On the contrary it would stimulate
economic activities making additional jobs possible
as well as revenues for the members of the community.
This is how the private sector could be strengthened
and invigorated.
Unfortunately, in Pakistan the government is expected
to create jobs simply by hiring people. That only
inflates the bureaucracy and makes it more inefficient.
Jobs are not seen as related to productivity that
in turn contributes to economic growth. The members
of the parliament hardly ever offer legislation
designed to create jobs for the millions unemployed.
If changes were made in the laws and incentives
provided employment would increase but the concept
inherent in this proposition is not understood.
Most members of legislative bodies in Pakistan
are medieval characters, at home with simple forms
of farming, and remote from the ideas of modern
economic thinking. That is why Pervez Musharraf,
even with his military background, is such a breath
of fresh air in the country.
Amazingly, the talk of strikes to cripple the
nation and cause a complete shutdown of the economy
(and thereby suffer millions of dollars of loss
in revenue) is a constant refrain heard in the
halls of the National Assembly. Crippling the
economy even for a moment does not help anyone.
Every time there is a riot in Pakistan it is accompanied
by enormous destruction of property. Cars, buses
and businesses are burned depriving people of
their livelihood and losses in the millions. A
poor country like Pakistan can ill-afford such
pernicious behavior. In the end the cause can
be traced to some political demagogue.
Another area crying out for an extended and revised
schedule of activities is the school system. Everyone
knows that school facilities are inadequate in
Pakistan for the number of children to be educated.
Schooling can be offered in two shifts and therefore
twice as many children can be educated. Many countries
have adopted this practice. By employing this
strategy Singapore was able to raise its literacy
rate to almost 100 percent in just two decades.
At another level the institutions of higher education
can also offer late afternoon and evening classes.
By making the university accessible many more
students can be serviced leading to the building
of needed skills. In the US as well as in many
other countries evening classes are regularly
offered. It is quite possible to obtain a degree
just by taking evening classes, in some places
weekend classes and at others by taking classes
at the workplace.
Modern economy thrives on flexibility and continuous
work schedule. There is no limit to services that
can be offered around the clock or to productivity
generated. In the age of globalization Pakistan
ought to adopt the 24/7 schedule that brings the
country closer to international norms.
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