Musharraf Bashing
By Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
Westridge, Rawalpindi
Musharraf bashing has suddenly acquired a renewed hype in the media - more in the electronic than the print – ever since he announced his intention to take part in politics. The interested parties and their cronies are busy day in and day out in slinging mud upon him and his ‘dictatorial’ rule of nine years. Unabashedly and unwarrantedly the retired General’s critics assail him with phrases like “not at all”, “nothing whatsoever”, “ruination of the entire economy,” etc. as they impart renewed vigor to the campaign of disparaging him. Ironically, some of the saner elements, intellectuals and knowledgeable commentators too have succumbed to this vicious campaign and appear oblivious to reality.
No doubt Musharraf made mistakes – some blunders - but to say that nothing positive was done during his tenure is totally unfair.
Here are just a few of his achievements:
Pak Economy in 1999 was: $ 63 billion
Pak Economy in 2007 was: $ 160 billion
GDP purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 1999: $ 270 billion
GDP Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 2007: $ 475.5 billion
GDP per capita in 1999: $ 200
GDP per capita in 2007: $ 1000
Pak revenue collection 1999: Rs. 305 billion
Pak revenue collection 2007/08: Rs. 1002 billion
Pak foreign reserves in 1999: $ 700 million
Pak foreign reserves in 2007: $ 17 billion
Pak exports in 1999: $ 7.5 billion
Pak exports in 2007: $ 18.5 billion
Poverty level in 1999: 34%
Poverty level in 2007: 24%
Literacy rate in 1999: 45%
Literacy rate in 2007: 53%
Textile Exports in 1999: $ 5.5 billion
Textile Exports in 2007: $ 11.2 billion
KHI stock exchange 1999: $ 5 billion at 700 points
KHI stock exchange 2007: $ 70 billion at 15,000 points
Foreign Direct Investment in 1999: $ 1 billion
Foreign Direct Investment in 2007: $ 8.5 billion
Debt servicing 1999: 65% of GDP
Debt servicing 2007: 26% of GDP
Pak Development programs 1999: Rs. 80 billion
Pak Development programs 2007: Rs. 520 billion
Besides the above, there were very, many other achievements. This letter should not be mistaken as an effort to promote Musharraf to help him stage a comeback. It is only an exercise in calling a spade a spade.
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