The Recipe for Pakistan to Rebound - III
By Mohammad Ashraf Chaudhry
Pittsburg, CA
The examples of Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Colombia, Malaysia and India are just a few examples of the success of countries that once were in political, social and economic situations worse than Pakistan is confronting today.
In June, 1991, Dr. Manmohan Singh was appointed as India’s finance minister. Soon he discovered that India was left with only $3 billion in foreign reserves. He walked to Mr. Narsimha Rao, the prime minister, and put before him two choices. “India is going to default on its payments in any way. Do you want to default by doing nothing? or, Do you want to default by giving yourself a chance? By following the second choice, at least you will have the satisfaction that you tried”, he briefed the PM. The advice given to the PM was extremely risky, but the man giving him this advice was the best in the world.
The PM took the risk. Isher Judge Ahluwalia in “India’s Economic Reforms and Development”, Oxford University Press, 1998, on pp 422, acknowledges Manmohan Singh introduced a series of measures designed - and destined- to change the Indian economy in a fundamental way. His ideas on the importance of macroeconomic stabilization, and opening up the trade and payment systems were completely consistent with the economic thinking and philosophy sweeping the world at the time”.
Breaking away from Nehru’s close-fisted economic policy, he liberalized Indian economy, put a human face on it, reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks, introduced tax reforms etc. India rose like a rocket and the world saw it rising.
One big common factor behind the success stories of these countries had been the presence of a highly educated, exceedingly honest and enlightened leadership. Bangladesh’s Mohammad Yunus Khan and Jeffrey D. Sachs (who practically helped countries like Poland, Bolivia, Russia, India, China and Africa, and whose book “The End of Poverty… economic possibilities for our time” is an eye-opener, and who is hailed by Time as one of the world’s 100 most influential people) are two more names by consulting whom, Pakistan can easily rebound, along with taking the following steps without any further loss of time.
1. Recognize that what most Pakistanis call a mere body-ache, is actually a case of cancer. Religious, ethnic or sectarian extremism is another name for it. It needs to be cured first. An immediate consensus must be built, and on the short list of priorities, handling of extremism must be priority number one. During the Dark Ages, when much of Europe turned inward and was mired in ignorance, poverty and religious fanaticism; Cordoba in Spain was known for its religious tolerance, artistic expression, and dedication to philosophy and the sciences. The downfall of Muslims started there when religious intolerance and extremism became an accepted norm during the time of the Berbers who came from North Africa. A similar story took place in India as well. Pakistan is in the middle of that storm now.
2. The second highest priority should be to cajole, request, allure, and even kidnap (in case they do not agree to lend their services), some two dozen brightest individuals of Pakistani origin who enjoy world reputation; who hold at least a doctorate degree from a world reputed university. They should be requested to form a cabinet of ministers, with the task to run the country for a period of at least four years. Taiwan in 1988 appointed a fourteen-member cabinet, twelve of whom possessed doctorate degrees from prestigious American and Japanese universities. “Our society is a living example that nothing is more important than investing in education”, was asserted by the Taiwanese Foreign Minister. They will deliver 100%. Remember, importing people from the Citibank or IMF is not what is being discussed here.
3. Accountability and justice for all should be pursued ruthlessly and without exceptions. It should start from the top on the Singaporean model. Judges there bankrupt the corrupt and wealthy who often have been in the habit of using their wealth to wield political power.
4. Meritocracy rather than nepotism and favoritism should be declared as the supreme rule in the selection of people for all assignments. Violation should clearly mean loss of job and prison. Those who come from the under-developed areas must be given an allowance but through a transparent system. Singapore and Taiwan both made sky-high progress in the world due to this principle.
5. Launching of schemes such as the Food Stamp Scheme from August 14, 2008, costing the government Rs. 20 billion, designed to benefit 1.8 to 2 million families or announcing the Benazir Income Program under which cards named after the assassinated chief of PPP are to be given to those living below the poverty line, costing Rs.340 billion are sheer wastage of public money, given into the hands of the vested interests who will definitely use it to expand their voting bank. In a country where poor people’s share called Zakat money gets abused in political bargains, such schemes as these in common terminology are called “political bribe”. To curb inflation running at 31% and above is just beyond the competence of the present day leadership. Somebody will have to come forward and tell them that enough is enough. Concrete measures need to be taken to provide, short term and long term relief to the poor people of Pakistan, and only visionary people who understand the complexity of the job should be assigned the task to do so.
6. It is a basic human right that all people living in Pakistan should have access to fresh drinking water, to have good education, good health care and good, hygienic living conditions. It is their right and not a favor done to them. This can happen only if the priorities are set right. The defense budget must be curtailed and substantial investments must be made in the social sector.
7. Political stability will follow suit once people see the corrupt leaders getting leashed in a fair, just and transparent manner. Targeting selected political leadership, and rewarding the equally corrupt politicians who align themselves with the man in the driving seat, is the most dangerous phenomenon. President Musharraf lost all his merits, if he had any, on this count. Much can be learnt from Singapore and Taiwan and Malaysia in this regard.
These are the same principles that are enshrined in the teachings of Islam. Democracy in Islam becomes unacceptable if it does not carry transparent means of accountability, or if it remains devoid of its true consultative character. Any political system, Islamic or secular, that fails to ensure justice for all without any discrimination or parity, will remain defective. Without taking these measures, democracy will never take roots in Pakistan, and will never be able to deliver its intended dividends. At best, it will remain an effort in futility, and at worst, a means to chaos and anarchy. The fourth military take-over, or the use of 58/2-B is just around the corner. I will be very happy if I am proven wrong in this prediction.
For the above mentioned measures, the people of Pakistan do not need to be reminded by the United States of America that corruption, nepotism and greed are bad for us; that adulteration and cheating in daily conduct of life is poisonous; that keeping ourselves clean; living in a just and truthful manner, and caring for others are good virtues; that following the law of the land; standing in a queue; paying bills on time; walking on the footpath; giving way to others; paying taxes and living within our means are good steps for us; that accepting graft, employing bureaucratic tactics to delay matters; violating human rights; degrading and humiliating the poor and the weak; that living in palatial homes while a good number remain shelter-less, hungry and sick is wrong, religiously, ethically, socially and politically; that selective application of law; that punishing the helpless and the resources, and letting go the rich and influential is wrong.
If in 61 years of independence, the people of Pakistan could not keep their homes clean; their streets neat, their bodies healthy; their thinking positive; their hearts free of malice and vendetta; their living simple and honest; their lives orderly and disciplined; their knowledge insightful; their attitudes healthy and positive; their religious views tolerant and inclusive; then I am sorry to say, we haven’t started the journey of living in an independent country as yet.
I like millions personally took a dip in the blood-bath of Pakistan’s creation in 1947. Basically, Pakistan and I started our life journey almost simultaneously. The chronicle of my personal struggle in life runs parallel to that of Pakistan’s tale for survival. I aged with a sense of accomplishment, notwithstanding the odds; Pakistan aged prematurely, and with lots of regrets, and for no fault of its own, or its people. Its leaders flaunted about in the world which the country never possessed, namely democracy or good governance. “True leaders control their ego when they win; they do not sulk when they lose; they empower those who are talented, and shun those who are time-servers and corrupt; they initiate changes when they become necessary, and above all, they remain objectively retrospective, self-critical and honest about themselves and others in a just manner”, says Roger Fritz, in his book, ”Little Things - Big Results”, 2002. There is 80% stuff that the people of Pakistan should have taken care of themselves, and they did not. For the remaining 20%, they can keep accusing others.
New York Times, August 8, 2008 sounds a clarion call for President Musharraf and for Pakistan leadership. In its concluding paragraph it says, “…Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, has distinguished himself by promising repeatedly that the army would stay out of politics. Keeping that promise is vital. Similarly, President Bush, who for too long enabled Mr. Musharraf and undercut democracy in Pakistan, must resist any temptation to intervene on the former general’s behalf. That would further alienate Pakistanis and fuel instability.
There are no quick and easy fixes for Pakistan, but it will have no chance if its civilian leaders, its army and the United States do not work together to build more effective democratic governance, an economic future and a coordinated plan for routing the Taliban and al Qaeda”.
Above all this, Pakistanis must do what they should have done long ago, which is, make orderliness, honesty, fair-play, empathy, and value for merit an integral part of their day-to-day life and conduct. For this, they do not need any lecturing. (Concluded)
