Articles Regarding Pakistan

Happy 77th Birthday Pakistan

By: Imran Shauket | August 14, 2024

HAPPY 77th birthday Pakistan! As the saying goes “you have come a long way baby”. Admittedly, the journey may have taken a turn for the worst over the past decade or so, and maybe we are at one of the lowest points in our history. But, I am full of realistic hope and confidence that if we focus and act with deliberation and sincerity of purpose, Pakistan will be a powerhouse on the world stage in ten years. Let us make the winning of the Gold Medal by Arshad Nadeem a starting point. Not unlike current day Pakistan, he had very few financial resources, belonged to a very large yet poor family, had no substantial supporters and precious few sponsors. The similarities between the situation of Arshad and current day Pakistan are uncanny. However, despite the shortfalls, he worked with passion and faith, never looked back, and eventually rose to shatter world records to secure a Olympic Gold Medal- a Gold for Pakistan after 40 years. Is he a microcosm of the emerging Pakistan? Absolutely. So, I am certain that we can accomplish as a nation what Arshad achieved as an individual.

Another facet where Arshad has shown Pakistan a new direction is with his show of camaraderie and graciousness towards his main competitor, Neeraj Chopra of India. How they congratulated and hugged each other is without equal. Not just they, but their respective mothers have each said that their son’s competitor is like their own child. God bless you all, the players and their mothers! If Pakistan and India (and Bangladesh) can form a workable union and follow the example of these two athletes and their mothers, the subcontinent will become the largest trading block in the world by 2035 when Pakistan will be 300 million people, India 1.6 billion and Bangladesh nearing 200 million. Combined, the three will have a population of 2.1 billion from the collective 8.9 billion of the world. That would make the three nations almost a quarter of the world, with unfathomable economic potential.

Speaking of Bangladesh, I spent almost 12 years in Bangladesh and have a fairly good sense of the country. My work concentrated on the development of 16 business sectors which gave me an opportunity to mix with the poorest of people, the self earners, the small enterprises, the bureaucracy and the political elite. Our work contributed substantially to the economic growth of Bangladesh, so it is with mixed emotions I see the turmoil engulfing the country. Knowing my background, people have asked me to offer my thoughts on the latest developments in Bangladesh. I have refrained from talking about Bangladesh because I don’t want to comment lest I inadvertently hurt some while they are down, but here are my two cents vis-a-vis lessons for Pakistan. First, tyranny can never last for long. Sheikh Hasina ruled as an increasingly undemocratic force for 15 years and to me the surprise is not that the revolution happened, but why it took so long. Bangladeshis have a low tolerance for undemocratic rule and can be quick to political passion. Belated yes, but the revolution was foreseeable and bound to happen. Kudos to the students and people of Bangladesh. Given our youth bulge, we need to be mindful of ourselves. Further to this point, another lesson from the Bangladesh example is that aged leaderships of the world do not understand the mindset of Gen Z. They have shown in recent turmoil in Bangladesh and elections in Pakistan, Thailand, UK, France and other countries that they have a short fuse for dictatorial, nepotistic and dynastic rulers. Plus, they rightfully feel that older generations have failed them and they want to take control of their destinies.

Leaders need to be cognizant of the power behind this mindset and need to take action to provide them opportunities, lest they fall victim to similar revolutions. Finally, and perhaps critically for Pakistan, since 1971, Bangladesh has had a pro-India, anti-Pakistan bias. This revolution is the first time in Bangladesh’s history that Bangladeshis have realized that India is perhaps not in their best interest, and have turned on India. I don’t expect them to become pro-Pakistan necessarily, but an open eyed and neutral Bangladesh is good for the region and good for Pakistan. We should in turn reach out and support them, just as the mothers of Nadeem and Chopra have voiced support for each other’s sons. The current situation can lead to a bright partnership for the future for South Asia.

Pakistan has limitless potential. By 2035, we will be the 4th largest country in the world. We are and will be the top 6 military powers. Our economy will be the top 20 in GDP-PPP terms and yes, we are and will be one of the nine nuclear powers. The average of these rankings will place us at the top 5 percent of the nations of the world. However, we need to work toward economic self sufficiency and I see hope on that front. We have a military leadership that wants to let the political process continue with minimal interference. Concurrently, new political thought and parties (e.g. Awaam Pakistan) of educated and decent leaders are emerging who are focusing on drawing implementable strategies and roadmaps to fix the nations systems and structures. I am also full of hope that Pakistan can add USD 100 billion to its GDP by 2035 by establishing new sectors (grass root agro-processing, Gandhara based tourism, employment of youth in new initiatives, engagement of women in the workforce, etc) on which I have written a separate article. Let us not focus on where we are. Let us look ahead like Arshad Nadeem and toil, and work, and dedicate ourselves to a single cause; to make Pakistan a powerhouse of the world by 2035. Happy Birthday Pakistan. You will go a long way motherland!

14 Aug 1947: Re-emergence of Muslim rule in subcontinent

By:Brig Tariq Khalil | August 14, 2024

THIS August, Bangladesh is experiencing massive protests. Hasina Wajid labelled the protesters as Pakistani Razakars, an insult to the people of Bangladesh and Pakistan. She eventually resigned and fled to India. The lesson here is that tyranny does not last long and history tends to repeat itself. Had there been no Pakistan, there would not have been a Bangladesh. 14 August1947 is a shared heritage. This is the political reality. 14 August is not the day to be celebrated like Eid or other festival. It is a day of deliverance. It symbolises the rise of the Muslim power and the state in1947 in place of the Muslim Rule ended in 1857, after the defeat of the Bahadur Shah Zafar, his disgraceful arrest and deportation to Burma. It is not first time that an Empire had ended. History is full of such examples when mighty Empires crumbled due to their own rulers’ follies and intervention of outside powers. The demise of the Turkish (Mughal) Empire founded by Zaheeruddin Babar, fall had commenced with the rise of Shahjahan at the cost of Civil War among brothers.

The fighting among Muslim rulers, who became autonomous due to the weakness of Delhi and the later arrival of the British, also created space for the Marathas in Southern India. Following the 1857 uprising, the British East India Company took two major steps: first, they eliminated the Muslim ruling class by declaring English the official language, and second, they carried out the 1861 census, which categorized non-Hindus and Dalits as Hindus. This move overnight changed the status of Hindus in India, making them the majority. It was a shrewd political manoeuvre by the British to undermine the Muslims. The Hindu elite welcomed these steps, viewing the British as more liberal and educated rulers.

The Congress Party exploited this majority status and started claiming it being sole representatives of the all of the Indian population. Muslims were helpless due to their own mistakes. Merciless killing of the Muslim elite in the follow up of failed 1857 war which was dubbed as treason. Muslim Mullah forbade the learning of English and acceptance of any changes British introduced. The reading of English was declared a sin for Muslims. This situation caused great concern among educated Muslims. Sir Syed Ahmed established the first school in Aligarh, which was later converted into a university. The massacre of Muslim classes, especially the ruling elite, by the British dealt a severe blow to Muslims. Sir Syed pioneered efforts to counter the hegemony of Hindus.

In 1912, the Muslim League was founded in Dhaka and a political platform emerged. The writing of the Bande Matrem and Congress’s claim that only Hindu are the Indians and all others are outsiders, rung the danger bells for the Muslims.14 Points suggested by Mr. Jinnah and its rejection by the Congress opened new challenges for the Muslims. Muslim League made all out efforts to create a consensus for United India. It did not happen due to stubborn approach of the Congress. Jinnah returned from England on persistent requests from all leaders of Muslims. He set about to regenerate Muslim League to get their rights. The first and the second world wars weakened the British Empire and there were signs that one day they have to leave. They could perpetuate their rule with force which they did not possess at the end of Second World War. The power of Great Britain was shaken. British introduced constitutional reforms in India to prepare for democratic transfer of power starting from the local bodies and eventually terminating into 1936 elections.

Congress, being a better-organized party, secured the most seats, while the Muslim League attained a reasonable number of seats in Bengal. Unable to form a government alone in Bengal, the Muslim League opted for a coalition. In the centre, Congress formed ministries. With their newly gained power, Congress enacted laws that suppressed Muslims and made them a subservient community. This led to friction between Hindus and Muslims, resulting in massive clashes. Mr. Jinnah toured all of India to unite Muslims in opposition to Congress. Muslim leadership was either broken and compromised or bought, and many Muslim leaders unfortunately fell into this trap and joined the Congress Party. In the 1936 elections, Congress swept the central provinces, while Muslims won 80% of the reserved seats. Although a minority, the Muslim League emerged as a significant force in the 1946 assembly elections, with some key ministries allocated to Muslims in the Indian government.

Ugly clashes occurred between Hindus and Muslims in various cities of India. In a last-ditch effort Cabinet Mission was despatched to India. The Cabinet Mission proposed to divide India into three zones, A, B and C States were to frame own constitutions and have autonomy. The central government would have the portfolios of Defence, Finance and Foreign Affairs. Congress initially accepted the Cabinet plan, later on when Jinnah accepted, Congress resiled. This finally killed dream of United India. For the British it was becoming extremely untenable to continue holding onto India the government lacked resources, money and the forces. India partition bill was finally tabled, it was passed, new viceroy Lord Mountbatten was appointed. India’s partition plan was announced mostly confirming on the basis of Lahore resolution. Resolution had called for sovereign states in the east and the west of India where the Muslims are in majority. Muslim League elders tabled an amendment to the resolution, deciding to pursue a federal government after Partition. Similarly, Congress pressured the British to divide the provinces based on population.

In Punjab, Congress from the very beginning attempted to undo Pakistan. The partition of Punjab triggered one of the largest population shifts in history. Congress calculated that Pakistan would crumble within six months. The issue of Kashmir was created by the Indians through the Maharaja of Kashmir to back out of the Standstill Agreement with Pakistan. War erupted between India and Pakistan. In the Frontier region, Congress forced the British government to hold a referendum to determine whether the province would join India or Pakistan. The current situation in India against Muslims vindicates Jinnah and the Muslim League’s stance on the two-nation theory.

I will not go into details what happened between 1947 and 71. Internal follies apart, it was the culmination of the effort of India’s sabotage in Pakistan and failure of leadership of Pakistan. The tragedy of East Pakistan was avoidable had there been even an IOTA of flexibility in leadership. Under Indra Gandhi India found an opportunity to create subversion in East Pakistan leading to Civil war. The small contingent of Pakistan army (22000) was attacked in Nov 1971, with a force 40 times greater. There were small number of field Artillery pieces, no Air Force and a very small Naval Contingent. The opposing strength and battle order was totally unbalanced. Even Field Marshal Manak Shah praising Pakistan Army said, in an interview, the extreme courage displayed by men and officers was unparallel .Pakistan lost war at Strategic level.

Over the last 75 years, the people of Pakistan have demonstrated remarkable resilience and courage to ensure stability and integrity. Pakistan emerged stronger after the 1971 debacle and bravely faced the consequences of the Soviet-American war in Afghanistan and later the American Taliban. Pakistan’s issues stem from the national psyche, with its people struggling to integrate and move beyond provincialism.

This defiant nature distinguishes Pakistan from other countries. Many nations, including India with its over 200 identities and 1,260 dialects, have managed such diversity through democratic processes. The tragedy of East Pakistan was a result of judgmental errors by both the political and military establishments. In the current geostrategic context, Pakistan is again facing internal and external pressures. Its unique strategic location makes it an important player on the international stage. Pakistan is a strong, vibrant country with vast resources and nuclear power, but it is also mismanaged.

In the light of the evolving situation and the state of affairs in Bangladesh, the truth has prevailed: despite conflicts, nations can remain connected. Reports indicate that Jinnah’s photo is being displayed in offices in Bangladesh as a symbol of the 1947 founding of the country. There are now renewed calls for Pakistan-Bangladesh friendship. Pakistan should extend support while avoiding any imposition. Immediate communication should be established to extend full support.

Rise and renew: Pakistan’s growth blueprint

By: Dr Zafar Khan Safdar | August 14, 2024

PAKISTAN owes its creation to the leadership and vision of Quaid-i-Azam who by ‘Unity, Faith and Discipline’, converted Muslim nation into a dynamic force that swept the sub-continent and altered the destinies of a human race by laying the foundation of the second biggest Muslim state, an achievement without parallel in the annals of civilization. Whatever little time he had after independence, the Quaid tried hard to run the affairs of Pakistan, to pass on this commitment as his legacy to the leadership and citizens of the new nation. Mr. Jinnah was something more than Quaid-i-Azam, supreme head of the state, to the people who followed him. He commanded their imagination as well as their confidence. With his unusual powers of persuasion, luminous exposition, searching arguments and sound judgment, the Quaid was able to win the battle for Pakistan. Throughout his career as a politician and a legislator, his dedication to the rule of law and constitutionalism was unswerving. For over seven decades, his successors have yet to fully realize these values.

It is not as if there has been no progress and development. No country ever wholly stagnates. We have progressed in many fields. We have become a nuclear power. Our economy has expanded. The cities of the Quaid’s days have grown beyond belief, and glittering new palaces have come up everywhere. It would have been impossible to stand still for seven decades but the benefits of development have been unevenly spread, and mostly have accrued to the privileged classes. For years together we have functioned without the benefit of constitutional governance. Regrettably the legacy of Quaid and the expectations were betrayed time and again, leaving behind the bleakness of the life of the ordinary people and the monotony of the political landscape. Will there be a genuine shift in mindset and direction? To effect meaningful change, a commitment to universal accountability, austerity measures and effective governance is essential. Key reforms such as tax system overhauls, pro-poor policies and fostering amicable relations with neighbouring countries are crucial for progress. There has to be a future for Pakistan beyond all the skulduggery of the past and the present. We have weakened Quaid’s ideals to the extent that their relevance is questioned today. However, it would be a grave error to abandon his faith in democracy as the rightful path for Pakistan. Our frequent deviations from universal principles risk making us seem out of touch with global progress towards political and social development.

Today, we need a national consensus grounded in the principles of our founding fathers and informed by our 77 years of experience to determine our future direction. A new era is upon us, marking the beginning of a fresh chapter for Pakistan. The nation has embraced the vision of ‘Emerging Pakistan,’ which the Prime Minister describes as a revival of Jinnah’s original vision. Emerging Pakistan’s ambition is for the nation to become a welfare state, modelled after the successful examples of Scandinavian countries. In this future, citizens will have the power to shape their own destinies, with political and economic autonomy at their disposal. Policing will be non-partisan and justice will be swift and of high quality, facilitated by comprehensive judicial reforms. Emerging Pakistan envisions a revival of both industrial and agricultural sectors, with enhanced job opportunities, solutions to electricity and water shortages and a restoration of law and order. Economic stability will be achieved alongside educational reforms in schools, religious seminaries and vocational training centres. Additionally, a strengthened foreign policy will be pivotal. This vision reflects the aspirations of the people and aligns with the goals outlined in the PML-N manifesto.

Pakistan needs to ensure that all its constituent units have a significant stake in the country’s strength and vitality. This involves fostering economic development in underdeveloped regions and implementing a thorough devolution of powers from the central government to local authorities. To achieve greater stability and cohesion, Pakistan must define its political direction and identity, aligning with Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of a modern nation-state grounded in constitutionalism, the rule of law, ethical governance and social and economic justice. The journey requires active citizen participation, characterized by impartiality, tolerance, understanding, empathy and openness to diversity. Progress depends on a collective attitude upholding core principles such as ethics, integrity, responsibility, diligence and punctuality. A renewed commitment and proactive approach are needed to move forward.

On this 14 August, let us unite in our commitment to strengthen Pakistan. To enrich our nation’s standing and earn greater respect on the global stage, we must prioritize economic diversification, focusing on technology, services and manufacturing, while investing in infrastructure to support business and trade. It’s crucial to implement anti-corruption measures, enhance judicial processes and decentralize power to improve service delivery and institutional trust. We should invest in quality education, vocational training and research to develop skills and innovation. Healthcare must be improved, especially in underserved areas, with a focus on preventive measures and public health initiatives. Social inclusion and equality must be advanced through policies supporting women’s participation in the workforce and protecting minority rights. Addressing environmental sustainability through responsible practices and better resource management is essential. Additionally, fostering regional cooperation and trade agreements will enhance stability, while robust measures against terrorism and extremism will ensure a secure environment for economic and social progress. By embodying the principles of unity, faith, discipline and care for all communities, as envisioned by Quaid-i-Azam, Pakistan can become a stronger, more respected member of the international community.

Pakistan faces internal and external challenges

By: Sajjad Shaukat | August 14, 2024

It was due to the selfless unity among the Muslims under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that Pakistan became a tangible reality on 14 August 1947. But, that unity started declining after passing through various crises, and the result was separation of East Pakistan in 1971, as India manipulated differences between East Pakistan and West Pakistan.

Although the 14th August is celebrated every year as Independence Day, but, this year, it has come at a time when Pakistan is facing multiple threats of grave nature externally and internally, which are worrying all the citizens. In fact, Pakistan is facing a hybrid war.

During the partition of the sub-continent, the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which had a Muslim majority, decided to join Pakistan. But, Dogra Raja, Sir Hari Singh, a Hindu, who was ruling over the J&K in collusion with the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor General Lord Mountbatten, joined India. The Radcliffe Boundary Award gave the Gurdaspur District— a majority Muslim area— to India to provide a land route to the Indian forces to move into the state.

Indian forces invaded Srinagar on 27 October, 27 1947 and forcibly occupied the state in utter violation of the partition plan. When Pakistan responded militarily, on 31 December 1947, India made an appeal to the UN Security Council to intervene and a ceasefire ultimately came into effect on 1 January 1949, following UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir. On 5 February 1964, India backed out of its commitment of holding a plebiscite. Instead, the Indian Parliament declared Kashmir an integral part of the Indian Union.

Since 1989, various forms of state terrorism have been part of a deliberate campaign by the Indian Army and paramilitary forces against Muslim Kashmiris. It has been manifested in various ruthless tactics.

On August 5, 2019, Indian brutal actions against the Muslim Kashmiris reached a climax when the Indian government led by the fanatic Indian Premier Narendra Modi revoked Articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution, which gave a special status to the disputed territory. The Indian government bifurcated Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories— Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, to be ruled by the federal government.

New Delhi also issued an infamous map on 31 October 2019, which displayed this split and identifies the Pakistani side of Azad Kashmir as well as certain areas of Gilgit-Baltistan as Indian territory.

Besides Pakistan, China also rejected the Indian malicious acts as “unlawful and void”, saying that India’s decision to “include” some of China’s territory into its administrative jurisdiction “challenged” Beijing’s sovereignty. The border dispute between India and China, which remains unsettled, has increased tension between the two countries.

Due to Modi’s pressure, the verdict of the Indian Supreme Court on 11 December 2023 upheld the decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status in 2019.

While the deployment of more than 900,000 military troops in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, who have martyred tens of thousands of the Kashmiris, the Modi-led government has intensified measures, bringing ethno-demographic changes in the Indian-Occupied Kashmir to convert Muslim Kashmiris into a minority.

Western media, human rights groups and leaders of various countries, and UNO have repeatedly condemned Indian illegal measures and human rights abuses which keep on going in Indian-Occupied Kashmir. Despite this, Indian PM Modi was sworn in as India’s prime minister on June 9, this year for a rare third term. The BJP, together with its National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has won a majority.

Since Modi became Indian PM, he started implementing the ideology of Hindutva (Hindu Nationalism). Again, during the election campaign of 2024, the Hindu majority had been mobilized especially on ‘hate Muslim’ slogans.

Tension escalated rapidly between New Delhi and Islamabad in the aftermath of the false flag Pulwama terror attack in Indian-Occupied Kashmir, when on 27 February 2019, in response to the Indian so-called pre-emptive air strike near the town of Balakot, close to the border with Pakistan’s sector of Kashmir, which resulted in no casualties. Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian Air Force fighter jets and launched aerial strikes at six targets in Indian-Occupied Kashmir.

At this critical hour, the government, the opposition leaders, including all other segments of society must show selfless national unity which is very necessary to pull the country out of the ongoing serious crises.

Once again, Modi can arrange another false flag like Pulwama attack inside Pakistan’s sector of Kashmir to keep his coalition (NDA) united, and to divert attention from his weak government.

Pakistan’s civil and military leaders have repeatedly stated that Pakistan’s armed forces “are ready to respond any Indian aggression with full might”.

It is notable that US Congress passed a resolution on June 26, which called for a full and independent investigation into alleged irregularities in Pakistan’s general election 2024, which former Prime Minister Imran Khan of PTI party alleged was manipulated to deny it victory.

Pakistan has said that the USA attempted to “interfere” in its internal affairs.

As part of the double game, US Republican Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill on July 26, to bolster strategic, diplomatic, economic, and military ties with India—against China and Pakistan.

Analysts agree that in the post-election scenario, Pakistan’s multiple crises and challenges have increased and the stakes for the new coalition government would be enormously high. The most immediate task for the government would be to negotiate a new bailout agreement with the IMF, to seek a new loan to repay debt due this year to avoid a default and stabilize the economy.

In the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, the government was compelled to accept IMF’s key demands such as an increase in the tax revenue target, withdrawal of subsidies, taxes on the agriculture sector, increase in levy and taxes on power, gas and oil sectors, privatization of sick government organizations etc.

Earlier, with the support of other parties, especially the PPP, Mian Shehbaz Sharif of PML-leader, secured a comfortable win over Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and PTI leader Omar Ayub became opposition leader.

In his maiden speech in the National Assembly, Premier Sharif listed the frail economy and precarious security situation as challenges, and invited all the political entities to pull the country out of the crisis.

The PML(N), PPP and some other political parties also asked the PTI for cooperation so as to achieve political stability. But, the PTI leaders refused any such collaboration, alleging rigging in the elections.

JUI(F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman who had confirmed the contacts with the PTI, announced on March 3, this year that the party will sit on opposition benches and organize a nationwide movement against the alleged vote rigging.

PML(N) and some other parties opine that if elections were rigged or the establishment interfered against the PTI, PTI-backed independents would not have swept the polls in KP, winning 91 out of 113 seats.

And military’s media wing ISPR said that on various occasions, the Army clarified that it had provided a security environment for the conduct of the general election, and had nothing to do with the electoral process.

It is mentionable that on July 19, more than 10,000 people waving white flags gathered for the rally in Bannu against a planned operation by the Pakistan military to root out militants along the Afghan border, with at least one protester killed when gunfire broke out. The protest turned violent when crowds reached the walls of an army facility.

Government’s top officials said that the shooting was carried out by those including PTI supporters who wanted to destroy peace—the community is no longer willing to tolerate this.

Incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan and a six-party opposition alliance called for a judicial inquiry into the outbreak of violence at a peace rally in Bannu, even as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government announced the formation of a commission for a “transparent” investigation.

In this respect, in a press conference on July 22, DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif clarified about the terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment, which killed eight military personnel. He explained that locals had requested a peace march, which was agreed upon with the condition of no anti-state slogans. However, “negative elements” joined the march, chanting against the Army and state, pelting stones, leading to armed individuals opening fire and causing injuries.

Renowned foreign human rights groups manipulated the Banu incident against Pak Army to distort Pakistan’s image.

Nevertheless, Imran Khan is still taking a U-turn and is he sending messages to the establishment for negotiation,

Meanwhile, the sit-ins in various regions of Pakistan’s various regions, protest rallies by the Jamaat-e-Islami, PTI and some other opposition parties against taxes, soaring prices of commodities, load shedding, and allegations of rigging in the elections 2024 have started.

As regards the Independence Day, the 23rd of March 1940 was a watershed in the history of the Subcontinent, when All India Muslim League passed the Resolution in Lahore for the creation of an independent state. Earlier, in his address to the Muslim League at Allahabad in 1930, the idea of a homeland for Muslims in their majority areas had been envisioned by the poet Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal, and had become the aspiration of Indian Muslims.

Prior to the Lahore session of Muslim League, the Quaid-i-Azam had specified to this historical congregation of the Muslims, the watch-words of ‘Faith, Unity and Discipline’ which were not only necessary for waging the battle for an independent homeland, but also for present Pakistan. The essence of these watch-words is unity.

At this critical hour, the government, the opposition leaders, including all other segments of society must show selfless national unity which is very necessary to pull the country out of the ongoing serious crises.

Pakistan's 77th Independence Day and the path to redemption

By: Majid Burfat | August 14, 2024

The foundation of Pakistan is not a work of mere sentiment or logic, but the product of historical processes.

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Each August 14th, as Pakistan adorns itself in its emerald cloak, this profound sentiment resonates once again. Flags wave proudly, symbolising the dream that sparked the birth of a nation. Yet, beneath this festive surface, a disquiet stirs, casting a shadow over our celebrations. As Pakistan approaches its 77th Independence Day, the weight of unfulfilled promises and unrealised potential looms heavy. This day is not merely a commemoration; it stands at a critical crossroads, where the possibility of a brighter future teeters on the edge of uncertainty.

When Jinnah, in 1940, proclaimed that "the Muslims of India now need a homeland where they can live according to their own culture and laws", he articulated a profound yearning for a homeland - a sanctuary where Muslims could thrive and shape their destiny. The dream of Pakistan was born from this aspiration for a refuge that would not only honour Islamic principles but also embrace its diverse fabric. Jinnah's call for 'Unity, Faith and Discipline' ignited a collective passion for a just and equitable society.

Yet, the fledgling nation soon faced harsh and unyielding realities. Political instability emerged as a relentless adversary, marked by cycles of military rule and ethnic strife. These recurring upheavals fractured the social fabric, undermining the initial sense of national unity and eroding the dream of an inclusive Pakistan where prosperity would be accessible to all. With each passing decade, this dream seemed to recede further into the distance.

Corruption has become a pervasive malignancy, draining resources that should have been invested in education, healthcare and infrastructure. The glaring disparity between the elite's opulent lifestyles and the daily struggles of ordinary citizens serves as a stark indictment of a social contract that has failed miserably.

The latest data reveals a grim reality: 21% of Pakistanis live below the poverty line, a stark reflection of the deepening economic divide. Pakistan's most valuable asset - its youth - is fleeing in droves. A Unesco report highlights a catastrophic brain drain, with approximately 800,000 highly skilled professionals abandoning the country each year. This exodus signifies a collective loss of hope and a generation opting for opportunities in more welcoming environments.

The burden of national debt is another pressing crisis. Years of fiscal mismanagement have led to a ballooning deficit, making the government heavily reliant on foreign loans. Ordinary citizens bear the harsh consequences, with crushing taxes and rampant inflation eroding their already meager incomes. Essential commodities have become increasingly unaffordable, with malnutrition rates among children exceeding 40%, and access to quality healthcare remaining a distant dream.

As Pakistan celebrates its 77th Independence Day, it must confront the dual reality of past achievements and present failures. This day should serve as more than just a commemoration; it must be a resounding call to action, a clarion demand to transcend apathy and reclaim the vision that once sparked a nation. The path forward is fraught with challenges. Accountability must replace impunity, and the focus must shift from personal gain to collective progress. Investment in education, healthcare and infrastructure must become national imperatives. The narrative must evolve from 'us vs them' to 'we the people', fostering a spirit of unity and a shared vision for a prosperous future.

Pakistan's story is far from complete. It is a narrative awaiting a transformative rewrite, a future yearning to be sculpted. The responsibility for this transformation lies not solely with leaders but with every citizen. Our youth, the architects of tomorrow, must rise and demand change. The voices of the impoverished must be heard, not as faint whispers but as a thunderous demand for justice and reform.

We possess invaluable resources - a dynamic, youthful population and a geostrategic location that many covet. Yet, these assets lie dormant without leadership dedicated to a vision beyond personal gain. We must draw lessons from our past and move forward with determination, leveraging our strengths while addressing our weaknesses.

This Independence Day, let us pledge not just allegiance to a flag but to the ideals it embodies: justice, equality and opportunity for all. Let us honour the sacrifices of those who fought for our freedom, not with mere ceremonies, but with a renewed and unwavering commitment to build a Pakistan worthy of their dreams. The time for lament is over; the time for decisive action is now. Let the 77th Independence Day mark a turning point, a day when a united nation embarks on a journey to mend the wounds of the past and forge a future brimming with hope. Let the fervour of Independence Day translate into a collective will to construct a Pakistan that is not only free but also fair, prosperous and a beacon of progress for future generations.

This is not merely a call for top-down reform; it is a call to action for every Pakistani. The shopkeepers who resist inflating prices, the students who demand high-quality education, the voters who hold leaders accountable - each action, no matter how small, has the potential to effect meaningful change. We must break the cycle of apathy and cultivate a spirit of civic responsibility. Let us celebrate our diversity, not weaponise it. Let us channel the entrepreneurial spirit thriving in our markets towards innovation and progress.

Pakistan's story is far from over. The potential for a brighter future lies within each citizen. Let us rewrite the narrative, not with anger or despair, but with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. Let the 77th Independence Day stand as a declaration of our steadfast commitment to build a Pakistan that honours the dreams of its founders and meets the aspirations of its people.

This journey will be arduous. There will be challenges and setbacks. But as Ian Talbot, a British historian and author of Pakistan: A Modern History, noted: "Pakistan is a country of immense potential, blessed with a rich tapestry of cultures, a strategic location, and a young and vibrant population. Its future depends on its ability to harness this potential and overcome the challenges it faces."

Talbot's words are a powerful reminder. Let us embrace our strengths, learn from our past, and work together to build a Pakistan that truly reflects the vision of its founding fathers. United in purpose, Pakistan can rise to its full potential and become a beacon of hope in the region.

What 14th August means to us

By: Talat Masood| August 14, 2024

14th August is a day of celebration for all of us. It is the day when Pakistan as a separate entity of India was born as an expression of the free will of the Muslims of India. It is also a time to reflect as to how Pakistan has fared in these seventy-six years and what prospects hold for the future.

The politics has been mostly chaotic and unprincipled and democracy has not taken a firm footing. Lack of a democratic character within the parties has weakened democracy and there is no apparent effort to correct the weakness. Political parties are dominated by influential families, which is not an uncommon phenomenon even among mature and well- established democracies but their election to positions within the party are open and a recognition of their performance.

Ever since independence the military personnel have made huge sacrifices to uphold the integrity of the state. However, the significant role of the army leadership and influence of bureaucracy in formulation of national policy and its implementation has adversely affected Pakistan's democratic development. The adverse external and internal security situation of the country has been another major factor in increasing the influence of the army leadership. Due to lack of proper management of resources and relatively higher allocation of funds for maintaining credible defence, the country has been mired in debt that would take years to pay back the loans.

Relations with India, especially ever since PM Modi has been in power, have been extremely tense and volatile and the prospects of any improvement are very remote, although it was visualised that with the partition of the sub-continent, the two nations will be able to relate peacefully to each other to the benefit of their citizens. Only a peaceful relationship will provide an environment to unlock the full potential of the state and its people. In reality the opposite has happened, with the two countries having fought two wars and engaged in multiple high level serious skirmishes.

There was a time when most Pakistanis yearned for some version of the ideal Pakistan as they perceived or was articulated by the state. But that phase is over and now they realise the shortcomings and limitations of our system and those of our leadership. For them the provision of basics and security of theirs and of the family is paramount. The problem they see that elections alone are not delivering, especially when these are soiled by interference from outside and do not fully represent the will of the people. They consider being under threat from their leaders or institutions that reject pluralism and impose a one-party state that could be easily manipulated. But Pakistan was created by the will of the people to be a democratic state and there can be no compromise on that.

On the Western front Afghanistan will continue to remain a major security issue for Pakistan for the foreseeable future. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, comprising mainly Pashtuns, operate freely on both side of the border as safe havens. Pakistan Army has taken several effective measures to counter hostile activity by TTP and others but the problem remains. The primary reason being that the Taliban ruling power elite of Afghanistan is in league with the TTP leadership and considers allowing it to operate freely on the border, and keeping pressure on Pakistan serves their interest. It is unfortunate that there is hardly any appreciation among the Afghan Taliban leadership that Pakistan played a vital role in stabilising Afghanistan and facilitating the formation of the government. It is, however, in the interest of both countries to cooperate on security and border management.

Lifting Pakistan's economy and making the country self-reliant remains the biggest challenge. It is unfortunate that for the last seventy-six years, the country has relied on foreign assistance from IMF, World Bank and friendly countries for assistance. The troubling aspect is that there is no serious effort at developing a self-sustaining economy. This is despite the fact that Pakistan is endowed with abundance of natural resources and human capital. What is needed is a greater focus on education, health and infrastructure to maximise the potential of its people and harness the natural resources for the benefit of the people.

Administrative incompetence is another serious weakness that is imposing considerable hardship on the people and is dragging the country down. Lack of road discipline and absence of any serious checking of defaulters have added to the misery of the ordinary citizen. Such brazen indifference and neglect of city infrastructure is being tolerated at a heavy cost and adding to the inconveniences of the people. It is also a sad reflection on the leadership as it demonstrates their callous attitude toward the people.

It is questionable if the present model of governance wherein Shehbaz Sharif is the PM and managing the affairs of the government while Nawaz Sharif living in London occasionally giving broad policy guide lines. It certainly is not a normal way of functioning and does not reflect well on the country. However, this is not to acknowledge that Shehbaz Sharif is clearly an experienced and an efficient administrator who is result-oriented. He is also known to have good relations with the army leadership and works closely with them in matters of mutual interest.

Pakistan's future lies in state institutions functioning within their constitutional limits and seeking for higher standards of efficiency and the betterment of the people. This is not seeking for the ideal but a necessary precondition for bringing stability and moving forward. Pakistani people have suffered due to politicians, military and bureaucracy ignoring these basics that are the foundation of good governance and fair play.

For a nation to pretend that this is normal and could continue is a form of escapism. The true potential of a nation only can be realised if the leadership focuses on good governance and stays within accepted democratic norms. As yet we are not there, so let 14th August reminds us that we have to work sincerely toward that goal.

Region in Trouble

By: Reema Shaukat | August 14, 2024

Gaza conflict is going on with a scavenging assault by Israel on Palestinians. The death toll has risen over forty thousand and there is rubble all around.

World powers including the International Court of Justice have not been able to reign Israel from butchering Palestinians who have not played a part in hurting Israel.

The big wigs, besides providing moral, political and military support to Israel have also tried for the negotiations between the warring parties. Sometimes, these parleys seemed closer to positive conclusions also but Netanyahu’s adamance for Palestinians’ genocide has been a big hurdle. From Hamas’s side, their famous political wing leader Ismail Haniyeh has been the main negotiator who adroitly handled the talks to carve out an exit strategy for all the stakeholders. He was sadly killed in the most heinous attack in Tehran, where he was present for the sworn-in ceremony of the new Iranian President.

Mr Ismail Haniyeh was born in the al-Shati camp in the then Egyptian-controlled Gaza Strip in 1962 and filled with the cause of Palestinian liberation rose through the ranks of Hamas, a resistant movement.

If Iran is dragged into the conflict directly, the war will be next door to Pakistan.

He secured the position of its leader in the year 2007 and championed the cause of resisting Israeli occupation as well as atrocities against the Palestinians. Ismail Haniyeh sacrificed more than thirty family members for this cause and just three months back his ten family members including three sons were killed by Israel. He mostly lived in Qatar since the year 2017.

The killing of Ismail Haniyeh is of great significance. Not only his demise is a big loss to the Palestinian cause and a setback to the ongoing negotiations but also the timing and venue of his killing have spread a gruesome message, particularly to Iran and others in general. There have been attempts on Ismail Haniyeh before also which he could escape but killing him in Tehran at an official residence was beyond imagination.

Conflicting reports are there as to how was he killed which include a rocket attack, a missile attack and explosives planted in his room before his arrival. But the precision with which the attack was carried out is worth studying.

Throughout his reign, Netanyahu has endeavoured to eliminate the leadership of both Hamas and Hezbollah. However, due to the nature of both movements which is resistance, alternate leadership was always available to take over and continue with more vigour and zeal.

The difference between the killing of Ismail Haniyeh and others is that this time Israel has given a clear message that it does not wish for any negotiations and subsequently to bring the Gaza conflict to an end. It still wants to forge ahead with the genocide and perhaps eliminate Palestinians in the Gaza Strip once and for all under the garb of targeting Hamas and Hezbollah. The death of Ismail Haniyeh will certainly bring a halt to the ongoing efforts for negotiations which will gain Israel time.

Another apparent effect is that the perpetrators of this assault against Ismail Haniyeh are all those who deliberately want to create chaos in the region by widening the conflict.

There seems to be an effort to drag Iran into the turbulence already persisting in the region. Obviously, for Iran this is a matter of national and international prestige as a state guest has been killed under their protection. Iranians now need to re-establish their credibility for security matters amongst domestic and international audiences, until then foreign dignitaries will be reluctant to travel to the country even as state guests.

A big question on the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ capability to provide security to foreign dignitaries will certainly compel them to avenge it in a befitting manner and that’s what the Foreign Minister and Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces have been vociferously voicing. Also, there have been protests against the Iranian regime in the recent past for various issues and the current incident brings them under sharp public scrutiny.

It is yet not certain how the attack was carried out. Both Iranians and Israelis are quiet on the mode of conduct but there are other reports from some foreign media outlets.

It was initially mentioned that the attack was via a drone, then a rocket from a nearby building, which changed to a guided missile attack and now a new story has surfaced that stresses that the explosive was pre-planted in his room as far back as two months before his arrival. It appears that there is an attempt to divert the narrative.

A drone, rocket or missile attack could prompt Iranians for a stronger reaction as it is a direct breach of the territorial integrity of Iran. By mentioning that it was a planted explosive with the help of insiders it is endeavoured to embarrass IRGC and mandate them to look into their own house for the culprits.

The US has beefed up its security deployment in the region and has vowed to support Israel in its defence. How Iranians are going to respond to the situation is anyone’s guess. But one thing is for sure the region is going to become more turbulent and chaotic which will affect not only the warring parties but the countries around them also.

If Iran is dragged into the conflict directly, the war will be next door to Pakistan. With our already feeble economic condition, it is not at all in our interest to have turbulence in our neighbourhood, especially the Persian Gulf.

Then vs now: our 77-year journey

By: Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri | August 14, 2024

As Pakistan celebrates its 77th anniversary today, it is natural to reflect on its journey of development and growth since gaining independence in 1947.

Looking back at its accomplishments and the opportunities it may have missed, there are various ways to measure its progress. Let us start by taking a historical view and comparing its current situation to where it started.

At the time of independence, the population of what was then West Pakistan stood at 33 million, with a GDP of $3.8 billion and a per capita income of just $85. Agricultural production was modest, with wheat at 3.3 million metric tonnes (MT), rice at 0.7 million MT, and cotton at 1.1 million bales. The industrial base was virtually non-existent, with no steel or chemical production and a mere 292,000 tonnes of cement produced.

Infrastructure was rudimentary, with a total road length of 50,367km, only one road vehicle per 1,000 people, approximately 60MW of electricity generation capacity, and no natural gas supply. Social indicators were equally bleak, with literacy rate at 11 per cent, primary enrolment rate of 5.0 per cent, and only one medical doctor available for every 23,897 people.

Fast forward to the present day, and the transformation is evident. According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2023-24, Pakistan’s GDP has surged to approximately $381 billion, with a per capita income of $1,680. Wheat production has increased 9.5 times, rice yield has grown 14 times, and cotton production has expanded by 9.2 times. The literacy rate has improved significantly, increasing by 5.7 times, while health infrastructure has undergone substantial development. Currently, Pakistan has 44,000MW of installed electricity generation capacity, and the services sector has emerged as a major contributor to the nation’s GDP, highlighting the diversification of the economy.

Managing to cater to 241.3 million people while achieving economic growth is a commendable accomplishment. Pakistan’s ability to sustain such progress amid all sorts of challenges is a testament to its resilience and potential for future development.

Having said that, while cherishing accomplishments, it is also essential to assess the magnitude of missed opportunities over the last 77 years.

One way to assess this is to compare Pakistan’s development trajectory with some of the countries that gained their independence in the mid-20th century, and which were at a similar level of development, and faced their unique set of challenges and opportunities. For the sake of discussion, consider India, South Korea, and China.

India’s GDP has grown from $30 billion in 1947 to $3.7 trillion today. South Korea, starting from a war-torn economy in 1953 with a GDP of $1.5 billion, now boasts GDP of $1.8 trillion. Meanwhile, China has seen its GDP surge from $30 billion in 1949 to $19 trillion in 2023-24. Resultantly the per capita GDP of India, South Korea, and China has risen from $70, $67, and $50 to $2600, $34900, and $13720, respectively.

South Korea is an industrialized country that imports most of its food. Meanwhile, both India and China have seen substantial increases in agricultural production. India now produces 107 million MT of wheat, while China produces 134 million MT. The three countries have also made significant progress in electricity generation, not only in terms of quantity but also in the quality of the electricity, as there is increasing reliance on renewable energy sources especially in China and India.

Perhaps the most remarkable progress has been in literacy rates, with India’s growing from 12 per cent to 77 per cent and South Korea and China now boasting a 97 per cent literacy rate despite starting from 20 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively.

The comparison highlights areas where Pakistan could have done better. Despite initially similar levels of development in these four countries, their paths diverged due to different governance models, economic strategies, and external influences. Each of these countries offers valuable insights into diverse models of growth and development.

Pakistan’s tumultuous start in 1947, marked by a violent partition of British India, massive displacement, communal violence, and deprivation of its fair share of resources, hindered its ability to establish stable governance and economic policies. In contrast, India, despite facing its challenges, was comparatively resource-rich at the time of Partition, managed to maintain a unified state structure, and pursued a democratic framework that facilitated political stability and economic planning.

Following its civil war, China established a communist regime in 1949, which implemented extensive land reforms and state control over the economy. This centralized approach allowed for rapid industrialization and mobilization of resources, significantly boosting economic growth. China’s focus on education and infrastructure development laid a strong foundation for its later economic reforms.

After the Korean War, South Korea adopted a model of export-led growth, supported by significant American aid and investment. The government implemented strategic industrial policies, fostering sectors like electronics and automobiles, which propelled the country into the ranks of advanced economies. South Korea’s focus on education, innovation, and technology further enhanced its competitive edge in global markets.

While the other three countries maintained consistent economic development frameworks (India remained consistent with import substitution policy until it pursued liberalization policies in 1991 and has remained consistent with that), Pakistan’s economic policies have frequently shifted between a controlled economy, Islamic socialism, nationalization, Islamization, and privatization lacking a coherent long-term strategy. Currently, it is struggling to privatize loss-making state-owned enterprises.

Looking at the Human Development Index, where Pakistan’s performance is only better than militancy-torn Afghanistan in South Asia, one can infer that its peers invested heavily in human capital. This time, I am not referring to China and South Korea but to its South Asian peers. Reverting to three countries that started their journey with Pakistan, their investment in education and technology led to a comparatively skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and competing in a globalized economy.

Before you get swayed by my arguments for economic development, let us take a pause and remind ourselves that mere macroeconomic growth, devoid of equity, equality, and socio-economic justice for the people, cannot guarantee national stability or sustainable prosperity. To illustrate, despite impressive economic growth under her leadership, Bangladesh’s now-former prime minister Sheikh Hasina encountered large-scale protests demanding socio-economic justice, ultimately leading to her resignation.

Each event that has happened or is happening around us gives us lessons to be learned. As Pakistan looks to the future, it must focus on inclusive growth to ensure all segments of society benefit from economic progress and growth does not become a synonym for elite capture.

Learning from the experiences of its peers, Pakistan should adopt a three-pronged approach to foster inclusive growth and sustainable development.

First, the country should prioritize investments in education, healthcare, nutrition security, and technology. These investments will help build a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and increasing productivity. By focusing on these areas, Pakistan can lay a strong foundation for sustained economic growth and improve the overall quality of life for its citizens.

Second, investment in human capital must be accompanied by a consistent, long-term economic strategy. Ensuring policy stability and coherence is essential to building confidence (among investors, consumers, producers, and development partners) and addressing the widening trust deficit between the state and its citizens. A clear and consistent economic plan will provide a roadmap for development.

Finally, addressing socioeconomic disparities through policies that promote equity and social justice is crucial for creating a prosperous and inclusive society. Bridging the gap between different societal segments requires strengthening institutions, promoting transparency, and encouraging public participation in decision-making. By fostering an inclusive environment, Pakistan can ensure that growth benefits all its citizens.

On this Independence Day, let us resolve that by adopting these strategies, we will harness Pakistan’s potential for sustainable development, paving the way for a brighter and more equitable future for its people.

National Flag, Anthem & Its Heroes

By: Hamza Malick | August 14, 2024

When the subcontinent was partitioned in 1947, two independent states emerged on the world map: Pakistan and India. These nations were fundamentally, socially, rationally, religiously, culturally, and philosophically distinct from each other. Though they had coexisted in the same cities, villages, and regions for decades, they were based on dissimilar scriptures, beliefs, identities, and ideologies. Each followed its own leaders and trajectories until the event of partition occurred. They were, quite literally, poles apart and eventually led to the formation of two independent states. Pakistan celebrated its first Independence Day on August 14, 1947, while India marked its day a day later.

The National Flag of Pakistan was first presented in the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947, by Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, and was hoisted on August 14, 1947. Its vexillographer was Syed Amiruddin Kidwai, who studied the Muslim League’s flag, and it was first stitched by Master Afzal Hussain and his younger brother, Altaf Hussain, who were tailors by profession. The elder brother was later honoured with the title of Baba-e-Parcham. The name of our country was coined and suggested by Chaudhry Rahmat Ali in 1933, which remains our identity to this day.

Likewise, India officially unveiled and hoisted its National Flag for the first time on 22 July 1947. The Indian flag was designed and presented to Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 by Pingali Venkayya, a freedom fighter and university lecturer. In the early 20th century, the Indian flag featured two colours, red and yellow, with a white lotus in the middle. Over time, it underwent several design and colour changes. The final version of the flag was modified by Mahatma Gandhi when he incorporated a white horizontal stripe in the middle with a spinning wheel inspired by the emblem of Ashoka’s Sarnath pillar at its centre. However, after independence, the spinning wheel was replaced by the Ashoka Chakra (a blue wheel), which became the iconic identity of India.

There is a widespread perception that the green stripe in our national flag represents the ‘majority of Muslims’ and the white stripe represents ‘minorities’ (people of different religions). Let me dispel that misconception. The green colour in our national flag represents all Pakistani citizens, including minorities, while the white colour represents peace and prosperity. The crescent moon indicates progress, and the star is a symbol of light. Combined, these elements convey the idea of spreading the light of knowledge and growth.

Another hallmark for Pakistanis is their National Anthem, an integral part of their identity. Without it, their identity is incomplete. The anthem’s beautiful and inspiring lyrics were meticulously crafted by Mr Abu Al-Asar Hafeez Jalandhari in 1952 and originally composed by Mr Ahmed Ghulam Ali Chagla in 1949. The National Flag and Anthem are inextricably linked. I would like to inform readers about two interesting honours of our anthem. First, when our national cricket team plays abroad, their match doesn’t start until they sing their national anthem. Another honour is that when the anthem is played officially or publicly, it obliges us to stand and sing it with hearts swelled with pride—a significant and meaningful act.

When a state attains independence, the first thing it must do is unveil a national flag, anthem, and name, which will become its hallmark and allow it to be recognised as a separate entity among the countries of the world. A flag is a symbol of a free country, and without it, the identity of a nation is compromised. Those who choose to become part of this newly independent state or stand under its flag become a nation. Nations strive to keep their flag high in the world, devoting whatever resources they have to achieve this.

Additionally, the state must grant its citizens certain imprescriptible rights. These include the right to nationality, the right to choose and practise religion freely, free education up to a certain age, and the right to vote, which will enable them to be recognised distinctively in the world. These enshrined privileges become their true identity from the moment they are born into that newly attained state.

As an academic and head of an educational institution, I have been conducting a flag hoisting ceremony along with other activities at my institution and have not allowed a holiday for the students (as is usual in Pakistan on August 14) for the last three years. To make this day even more interesting, students, with the help and guidance of their teachers, illuminate the building facade with white and green lights and thoroughly enjoy this activity. Their classrooms are decorated with green and white balloons and bunting to make this day even more special and memorable for them. The sole purpose of these activities is to inject and renew patriotism among the students. Seeing them standing under a fluttering flag with their gleaming eyes riveted on it is a moment truly worth seeing and not to be missed.

The National Flag of Pakistan is an emblem of allegiance and steadfastness for the Pakistan Army, symbolising their commitment to raising the status of Pakistan in the world. The National Anthem is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for them to defend their beloved homeland against inimical forces. Furthermore, whenever the need arises to embrace martyrdom while defending their country, they do so with dignity and pride. They are the real heroes and custodians of our country and deserve to be admired, cherished, and adored.

Let the bodies of the martyrs be shrouded with the national flag and interred with pride.

Let the stories of their sacrifice and gallantry be inscribed on their epitaphs and preserved in golden words in the annals of history.

Let the stories of their heroism not fade into oblivion.

Let the photos of their busts be mounted and displayed on the walls of public galleries, museums, and educational institutions across the country.

Let us immortalise them by sharing their stories of bravery with our children.

Salute to the Pakistan Army! Salute to the martyrs and their mothers! Pakistan Zindabad!

and prosperous.

Celebrating 77th Independence Day

By: Muhammad Zahid Raffat | August 14, 2024

With the continued blessings of Almighty Allah, Pakistan has successfully overcome numerous internal and external challenges to reach its 77th Independence Day. The people and the government are fully committed to continuing their efforts to address all threats to national security, unity, and lasting peace, both within the country and along its borders, while maintaining cordial relations with nations across the globe.

The cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy, as articulated by the Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, is friendship with all and enmity with none. In particular, Pakistan maintains and promotes friendly and brotherly relations with Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, the UAE, Qatar, and others, being an important member of the Muslim Ummah and a founding member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

As the month of August, also known as the Month of Independence, begins, people, especially youngsters and children, enthusiastically prepare for the upcoming Independence Day on August 14, 2024, celebrating individually and collectively.

At the same time, civil and military leadership, along with the people, joined their struggling, suffering, and bleeding Kashmiri brethren in observing the second darkest day on August 5, 2024, known as Youm-e-Istehsal-i-Kashmir, to express their solidarity with the Kashmiris in their ongoing, unarmed struggle for freedom from Indian rule. It was on this date five years ago, in 2019, that the fascist BJP regime under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi cunningly abrogated Article 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution, which conferred special status on the occupied Jammu and Kashmir territory, merging the valley into the Indian Union.

The Pakistani government and people have consistently supported the Kashmiris in their struggle for freedom, and the observance of Youm-e-Istahsaal Kashmir was another demonstration of this commitment. Pakistan has persistently raised the unresolved Kashmir issue at international forums, urging the United Nations to implement its own Security Council resolutions. The ongoing Kashmir issue remains a black mark on the credibility of the world body.

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, and Army Chief General Asim Munir, in their messages on the occasion, reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering stance, stating that the country will continue to extend all possible political, legal, and moral support to the Kashmiris in their just struggle for freedom until they exercise their right of self-determination as per UN Security Council resolutions and secure freedom from India’s forced occupation. As preparations for celebrating Independence Day continue, with tributes being paid to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his comrades, green national flags flutter atop residences, buildings, vehicles, and motorcycles. Youngsters are set to wear specially made outfits featuring the national flag as Independence Day approaches.

To remind the younger generation, it is important to note that the concept of a separate motherland for the Muslims of the subcontinent was presented by the great philosopher and poet Dr Muhammad Iqbal, envisioning a nation free from British slavery and economic subjugation by the Hindus, where Muslims could live according to their religious tenets. This concept of a separate homeland for Muslims was realised in just seven years by Quaid-i-Azam through his principled statesmanship and leadership, leading to the emergence of Pakistan on the world map on August 14, 1947, to the amazement of global leaders.

Unfortunately, the failing health of the Father of the Nation did not allow him to live long enough to consolidate the newly established motherland, and he passed away in September 1948, just over a year after the creation of Pakistan. However, he left behind not only Pakistan but also his three golden principles of Unity, Faith, and Discipline, which seem to have faded into the background for many, from top to bottom, as we are mired in numerous problems and difficulties.

While celebrating the 77th Independence Day, we should pause and reflect on where we stand today, what we have done for our beloved motherland, and why we continue to falter in various ways, often moving in the wrong direction. In all honesty, there is little unity visible, faith in ourselves and the nation has almost faded, and discipline is a concept rarely adhered to. If this assessment is wrong, I welcome corrections.

As a nation, we have long outpaced our production capacities, producing little while consuming more. The ever-growing population is soon going to reach a critical point. Despite decades of population welfare programmes, population growth remains unmanageable, and efforts to address it seem futile.

Over the years, not only has the population grown alarmingly, but we have also become a nation of work shirkers. Merely being a nuclear power is not enough. We, as a nation, must return to the three principles of Quaid-i-Azam: Unity, Faith, and Discipline. The sooner we do this, the better it will be for Pakistan and its people, as we face numerous internal and external challenges, including mounting terrorist attacks across our borders.

Pakistan is just 77 years old, which is young for a living nation. With the continued blessings of Almighty Allah, Pakistan will remain on the world map as long as the world exists. While celebrating Independence Day on August 14, 2024, let us pledge to work dedicatedly, devoutly, and sincerely to build a strong, united, and disciplined Pakistan for ourselves and future generations.

and prosperous.

Pakistan at 77

By: Samuel Rizk | August 14, 2024

I JOINED UNDP Pakistan one year ago, and celebrating Aug 14 was one of my first activities. Dressed in green and white with flags all around, colleagues chanted “Pakistan Zindabad”, a message I heard all around the country as I made my way from Karachi and Lahore, to Quetta and Peshawar, to upper Chitral, Hunza and Gilgit. From glaciers to shorelines, and everything in-between, Pakistan is a proud nation, blessed with its beautiful geography, but mostly with its people.

Pakistan at 77 is also complicated. Still recovering from Covid 19 and a devastating 2022 flood, it is critically vulnerable to climate change, has survived a macroeconomic cliff-hanger in 2023 that is slowly showing signs of abatement, and is facing debt and security challenges that leave people and authorities alike on edge. Lingering in the background are persistent reform questions which, if resolved, will fix the fundamental governance architecture that steadies the country on an inclusive, sustainable development path.

Data reveals this complicated storyline with more nuance. With six years remaining to realise the Sustainable Development Goals, and $53 billion required to do so, alarm bells are ringing with 40 per cent poverty, gaping gender disparities, with Pakistan projected to achieve only 35 out of 169 development targets. Pakistan at 77 is a young country, literally and metaphorically, with 60pc of a rapidly growing population under the age of 30, but with nearly 22 million children out of school and a mere 46pc literacy rate among women and girls.

After decades in upward trajectory in the Human Development Index (measuring health, education and income), Pakistan has fallen from medium to low human development in the 2024 UNDP Human Development Report, with Afghanistan being the only other South Asian nation in this category.

Three areas stand out as particularly promising.

Admittedly, Pakistan is greater than the sum of its statistics, a country with substantial ambition and potential, appearing dormant at times, and masking underlying factors of resilience and connectivity. Among many critical development priorities, three areas stand out as particularly promising:

The first centres around people. Investing in Pakistan’s human capital is an investment in its present and future. At the dawn of the republic, Pakistan’s founding father, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, stated: “...if we want to make this great state of Pakistan happy and prosperous, we should wholly and solely concentrate on the well-being of the people, and especially of the masses and the poor”. Pakistan’s GDP could gain $251bn by 2025 if women are as equally connected to the economy as men. And, away from seeing a youth bulge as a security or poverty risk, domestic investment and productivity can be turbocharged with youth entrepreneurs at the centre, skilled not only for their individual benefit, but as future business leaders. Connecting formal, technical and vocational training to future-ready jobs guarantees a significant return on investment, especially when anticipating a more digitised future of work in Pakistan and globally.

The second area must be readying Pakistan for an economy that is as sustainable as it is resilient in the face of inevitable storms. While Pakistan’s climate adaptation is no longer a choice, identifying more ambitious mitigation targets is a global obligation that Pakistan must undertake. With 40m living without electricity, a just, equitable transition to a green(er) economy powered by cleaner, less carbon-dependant energy is possible in a country endowed with abundant natural resources, and a vibrant private sector committed to renewable, innovative solutions.

The third area foresees Pakistan’s voice in a global context, where multilateralism and interdependence have given way to gridlock, polarisation, protectionism, and uncertainty — concerns tabled for the United Nations Summit for the Future in September.

Prosperity for Pakistan will be strengthened by a country fully present and active on the global scene, committed to fundamental human rights and broad civic engagement, aligned with climate targets, fortified by strong trade — measures that start at home and resonate beyond borders. With critical socioeconomic and institutional reforms already underway, staying the course will project Pakistan as an attractive regional and global connectivity hub.

Pakistan at 77 is a complex development mosaic that I’ve come to learn and appreciate deeply over the past year. We will accompany our national partners and the broader development community along this journey, determined to leave no one behind, resolved to see a Pakistan that is as equitable and inclusive as it is peaceful and prosperous.

Bangladesh: reality of the second revolution

By: Dr Moonis Ahmar| August 13, 2024

Dramatic events unfolding in Bangladesh over the past week or so led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power and her escape to India. The students' agitation against the repressive policies of the Awami League regime, including the job quota system, resulted in around 400 deaths amid a massive upheaval across the country. However, dust is gradually settling in with the installation of a caretaker government headed by Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus.

The Sheikh Hasina regime that came into being after the questionable January 2024 elections looked invincible due to the government's authoritarian grip on state institutions and highhanded tactics against its political rivals including the arrests of the leaders of main opposition party BNP as well as the banning of Jamaat-e-Islami. However, the regime succumbed to the nationwide students' protest and fell like a house of cards?

The question persists whether Skeikh Hasina is a dead horse or she can still return to power through political manipulation at home and overt support from the Narendra Modi regime next door? Also, one wonders how far the so-called second revolution in Bangladesh will ensure free and fair elections and establish genuine democracy. These are the questions which are being raised by those who are perturbed by the fluid situation in Bangladesh.

The installation of Dr Muhammad Yunus as the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government in the wake of a successful uprising by students, which led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, reflects the people's power which prevailed over the arrogant and repressive Awami League regime. The manner in which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled her country on army's intervention proves the fragility of her popular support and her reliance on India and a bunch of corrupt mafia to keep her in power. When the power of students who had made up their mind to send her packing from power peaked into a civil war, the military forced Prime Minister Hasina to step down and leave the country or face the wrath of the people.

About 49 years ago, in August 1975 to be exact, Sheikh Hasin'a father, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, then President of Bangladesh, was killed by his own military along with his entire family, excluding his two daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana who were abroad at that time. Mujib, the Father of the Nation, had become extremely unpopular among the masses. And now this year, in August again, history has repeated itself - the only difference being that while Sheikh Hasina did lose power, she managed to escape to India instead of being killed by the agitating public.

One can analyse the political change in Bangladesh leading to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's regime from three sides, as follows:

First, the ambitions of the military generals to run the country after the unceremonial exit of Sheikh Hasina turned out to be a non-starter because the student leaders who spearheaded the agitation against the job quota system and other repressive government polices made it clear that they will not allow the military to take advantage of the situation and seize power. They were the ones who suggested the much-respected name of Dr Muhammad Yunus to head the government and arrange free and fair elections.

Second, given the Awami League's experience in political manipulation and Sheikh Hasina's close ties with India, there is always a possibility that she will try to return to Bangladesh to get back power. But, such is a remote possibility because of Sheikh Hasina's alleged corruption, nepotism and political repression against opposition leaders, particularly the BNP chief and former prime minister Khaleda Zia and those of Jamaat e-Islami. Knowing that her popularity has touched the pits and the majority of students will neither forget nor forgive her cruel and repressive measures to quell their movement, she will face a serious backlash if she tries to return to her home country.

And third, not only does the Awami League but some circles in India too see Pakistan and China behind the dismissal of Sheikh Hasina from power. So much so that Sheikh Hasina's son who lives abroad said that after the ouster of his mother from power, Bangladesh will become another Pakistan. But, such allegations, which were also refuted by Pakistan's Foreign Office, only reflect venom and paranoia of Sheikh Hasina and India against Pakistan. It is pertinent to mention here that both India and Awami League had also accused Pakistan of playing a role in the August 15, 1975 massacre of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman and his family.

As Bangladesh is to pass through yet another election process, the challenge will be whether to make the country continue as a secular state or turn it into an Islamist one. It seems a major beneficiary of the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's government is Jamaat-e-Islami which played a leading role in the successful agitation of the students. More than the BNP which is quite weak because of the years of repression it suffered under the Sheikh Hasina regime, it is the Jamaat which has remained intact despite the hanging of its leaders for collaborating with the Pakistani military in the War of 1971. Jamaat's resurgence will certainly galvanise its Islamic identity, but it will be opposed by the Awami League remnants who would want Bangladesh to continue treading the path of secularism.

While it is premature to predict which way Bangladesh will be heading, but one thing is quite certain that the era of political repression and Pakistan bashing which had deepened during the 15-year-long rule of Sheikh Hasina will at least ebb. It is true that under Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh excelled in economic, human and social development but the people of Bangladesh were not ready to surrender their freedom and their age-old struggle for democracy.

The lesson which one can learn from recent change in Bangladesh is the invincibility of the power of students and people at large who shattered the myth of Sheikh Hasina's hold over power.

A recipe for regional mayhem

By: Amanat Ali Chaudhry | August 13, 2024

The 34th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted to the UN Security Council, pursuant to the latter’s resolution 2734, makes for sombre reading.

The UN report, which was released in the last week of July, provides an overview of the daunting challenge of transnational terrorism, including the budding alliances between terrorist organizations such as the TTP and Al-Qaeda, the scale of their operations and the potential dangers for regional and global peace and security if the global collaborative efforts are not made to stem the tide of militancy.

The report identifies Afghanistan as the epicentre of terrorism where the presence of the ISIL (or ISKP), TTP, Al-Qaeda in the Subcontinent (AQIS), the East Turkmenistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) and the Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) has shaped complex security dynamics that not only threaten Pakistan but also have the potential to spill over to the wider region.

In what is a clear validation of Pakistan’s position, the report highlights the increased terrorism challenge posed by the TTP. It notes the Afghan Taliban’s active support, patronage and protection to the TTP inside Afghanistan, factors that have enhanced the latter’s operational capacity to the extent that the TTP even targeted Chinese nationals working on a dam project in March this year.

The report says, “There is increased support and collaboration between TTP and the Taliban, sharing manpower and training camps in Afghanistan and conducting more lethal attacks under the banner of Tehrik-e Jihad Pakistan.”

The more worrisome aspect of the UN report is an ongoing collaboration between Al-Qaeda and the TTP. Al-Qaeda, which remains dormant in Afghanistan, is actively involved in imparting training to local Afghan fighters and TTP operatives including suicide bomber training in the Kunar province.

Despite its inability to conduct large-scale external operations, Al-Qaeda is forming collaborations with regional terrorist organizations such as ETIM, TIP, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, and Jamaat Ansaarullah with a focus on expanding itself into Central Asia. It is also using its period of dormancy to reorganize itself and ramp up training activities in an enabling environment of Afghanistan.

It is in this context that the increasing cooperation between the TTP and Al-Qaeda can lead to the former becoming an umbrella organization for other terrorist groups. This development, the UN report notes, will escalate the threat against Pakistan. Complicating this scenario is the report’s ominous finding that ETIM/TIP and Jaish-al-Adl have jointly planned and executed attacks on Chinese interests.

With the TTP becoming a leading organization in a regional terrorist syndicate actively assisted and facilitated by the Afghan Taliban, the security risks for Pakistan will multiply manifold. The report notes the intensification of TTP-perpetrated terrorist attacks inside Pakistan (more than 800 attacks documented during the reporting period), which mainly targeted military installations. These attacks represent a marked increase from 573 and 203 incidents of terrorism in 2021 and 2023 respectively.

The report also highlighted the role of Al-Qaeda in promoting cooperation between the Majeed Brigade and the TTP. The Majeed Brigade has already claimed responsibility for two terrorist attacks, one on the Gwadar port complex on March 2 and another on the naval air base in Turbat. These attacks were perpetrated to send a warning to investors. The report also mentioned one of the member states’ concern at the possibility of a future nexus between the TTP, Majeed Brigade and ISK, which will pose a renewed threat to Balochistan and Sindh.

The report noted the TTP’s use of the modern weapons left by the Nato/US forces in Afghanistan including night vision capability, which they have used in attacking the border posts of the Pakistan military. The collaboration with Al-Qaeda will further help the TTP get access to weapons funded by Al-Qaeda.

Pakistan has consistently highlighted the threat posed by the TTP. Over the years, Islamabad has stayed engaged with the Taliban authorities in Kabul to convince them to rein in the TTP. It has also called for more international efforts to suck the financial and operational oxygen out of the TTP and other terrorist organizations that directly threaten Pakistan’s security.

While the Afghan Taliban have been fighting ISIL, which has challenged them ideologically, operationally and territorially, the interim authorities in Kabul have chosen to ignore Pakistan’s pleadings vis-a-vis the TTP. As noted by the UN report, they have rather given complete support and autonomy to the TTP to carry out the terrorist attacks inside Pakistan. Without the impunity granted to the TTP, Pakistan’s security challenges could not have acquired the kind of dangerous levels they have in the last two years.

Despite the non-accommodation of Pakistan’s very genuine security concerns by the Afghan interim government, the country has shown strategic patience. Pakistan’s approach to dealing with the TTP has been characterized by four planks.

First, the Pakistan Army has demonstrated proven capability in eradicating terrorism, destroying its vast network and securing peace in the country. The anti-terrorism campaigns include kinetic actions, intelligence-based operations, and developing a national consensus to purge Pakistan of terrorism of all huesand colours.

The fact that the TTP was pushed to Afghanistan from where it is carrying out terrorism inside Pakistan says a lot about the success and efficacy of the military operations. Pakistan will continue to deal with the TTP with an iron hand, going forward.

Second, in bilateral engagements with Afghanistan, the Pakistani authorities have reminded the Taliban that the TTP remains a major hurdle in the Afghan Taliban’s efforts to win international recognition and become part of the global community. The Taliban have been told that the impunity provided to the TTP will lead to the establishment of a wider, regionalized terrorism syndicate, whose terrorist actions will bring a heavy cost for Kabul.

Third, Pakistan is engaging in quadrilateral and six-member regional forums to build a consensus on addressing the issue of terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. These forums involve collaboration with neighbouring countries and regional stakeholders such as Russia, China, and Iran to develop a unified approach to counter the threat posed by terrorist activities originating from Afghan soil. The aim is to strengthen regional cooperation, enhance security measures, and work together to ensure stability and peace in the region.

Fourth, Pakistan has actively worked with the UN and the wider international community to promote a synergy of approaches to fight terrorism. It has asked the UN Security Council to demand a clear and identifiable set of actions from the Afghan authorities.

While a roadmap was presented by the UN envoy on Afghanistan, a coordinated policy is missing on how to ensure its implementation by leveraging all possible means. An approach where the countries work at cross-purposes will only embolden the terrorist groups to continue their actions unimpeded. Therefore, Pakistan has campaigned to build an international consensus against terrorism.

The UN report is essentially a reminder that the problem of terrorism is far from over. It is also a wake-up call for those who think the TTP is Pakistan’s problem only. Such a narrow-minded and self-serving approach ignores the lesson of history and plays down the potential of a terrorist organization growing into a regional behemoth.

Rebuild ties with Dhaka

By: Syed Anwer Mahmood | August 13, 2024

For someone who grew up in what was then East Pakistan and what is now Bangladesh, and who lived there through the tumultuous years between 1969 and 1971, it is difficult to remain detached from developments in that country. I have been following the happenings there with much interest and the recent ones with concern for the people of Bangladesh.

What eventually happened in Dhaka on August 5 was not unexpected, at least not for those who have lived there. But the sudden collapse or instant meltdown of such a deeply entrenched autocratic regime was rather unexpected. And by all accounts, the last rites were brought about in a matter of hours – or less – because the army chief refused to let the army be part of any mass killings which could have only delayed the end of the regime but not prevented it.

That such a decision was taken by an army chief who was reportedly handpicked by the prime minister and was reportedly very close to her underlines the difference between loyalty to the state and loyalty to the regime. To his everlasting credit, the army chief stood by the state which forced Sheikh Hasina to quit in a matter of less than an hour and take a helicopter ride to the nearest Indian town.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office rightly took time to react and did well to react with caution and restraint, putting its weight behind the people of Bangladesh who are a simple people but fiercely independent in thought and belief, and value their freedom of speech and expression more than most others around the region. And they do not like condescension by anyone.

We in Pakistan must be very careful and mindful of the sentiments there and not be euphoric that this is a defeat for India and the end of India in Bangladesh. It is not.

As I said earlier, I could see the movement gaining strength. The ruthless nature of the regime had forced people into a temporary silence. But there was simmering resentment developing.

Let us not forget that Bangladeshis value their freedom more than any other possession as reflected in their history. Let us not forget that the foundation of the independence for the Muslims of the Subcontinent was laid in Dhaka almost a century and a quarter ago. And let us not forget that the independence movement was nurtured and given momentum in what is now Bangladesh. Also, let us not forget that, but for the crucial role played by Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy and A K M Fazlul Haq on the directive of the Quaid-e-Azam, the birth of Pakistan could have taken longer for there was not much happening in that regard elsewhere.

What we did to those two stalwarts of the freedom movement does us no credit. And that is putting it mildly. Thankfully we have two roads in Islamabad named after them. To re-emphasize, we in Pakistan must surely take comfort from the fact that Bangladeshis are very resentful of the overbearing Indian presence and involvement in their affairs as was manifested in the ransacking of the Indian Cultural Centre in Dhaka.

However, geography creates its own compulsions. Five Indian states share a border with Bangladesh. And Indian investment in Bangladesh over the past fifty-plus years has been far, wide and deep – not just economically but politically and culturally as well.

India will not let all that go down the drain easily with the exit of Sheikh Hasina. It will do all it can to minimize its losses and regain lost ground. Pakistan should not enter into a race and instead should offer every support that is asked for by Bangladesh without appearing condescending.

This is the time to rebuild relations on equal terms as two brother nations and to share and stand up not against anyone but for each other. We must learn from the past as much as from the present.

Empowering Youth for a Digital Future

By: M. Murtaza Noor | August 13, 2024

As the world continues to advance technologically, the role of youth as agents of change in shaping the future cannot be overstated. The United Nations’ International Youth Day 2024, themed “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” acknowledges this crucial role, especially in the context of the digital revolution. This theme resonates profoundly in countries like Pakistan, where the youth population forms the backbone of society. With over 63% of its population under the age of 30, Pakistan’s youth are not only the country’s most valuable asset but also the driving force behind its digital future.
International Youth Day, observed annually on August 12, serves as an important platform to highlight the challenges, issues, and opportunities facing young people worldwide. The 2024 theme underscores the transition from mere digital engagement to tangible progress, emphasising the need for young people to leverage digital tools and platforms to contribute to sustainable development. It is a call to action for youth to use technology not only for personal growth but also for societal advancement, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Digitalisation is transforming the world rapidly. Digital technologies, including mobile devices, services, and artificial intelligence, are instrumental for sustainable development. According to United Nations reports, digital technologies and data contribute to at least 70% of the 169 SDG targets, potentially reducing the cost of achieving these goals to 55 trillion US dollars.
Pakistan, with its vast youth demographic, stands at a critical juncture. The country’s digital landscape has grown rapidly over the past decade, with increasing internet penetration, widespread smartphone usage, and a burgeoning tech industry. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that this digital growth translates into sustainable development outcomes.
The majority of Pakistani youth are digital natives, comfortable with navigating social media, online education platforms, and e-commerce sites. Yet, the question remains: How can these digital interactions be harnessed to drive progress, particularly in areas such as education, employment, and civic engagement?
One of the primary challenges in Pakistan is ensuring digital literacy across all segments of the youth population. While urban areas have seen significant strides in this regard, rural areas lag behind, creating a digital divide that threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities. For the theme “From Clicks to Progress” to be realised, it is essential that digital literacy is prioritised at the national level.
Digital literacy goes beyond the basic ability to use a smartphone or computer. It encompasses critical thinking, understanding the implications of digital actions, and the ability to create content rather than just consume it. Pakistani youth need to be equipped with these skills to transform their digital engagement into meaningful contributions to society.
Youth unemployment remains a significant challenge in Pakistan, with the job market unable to keep pace with the growing number of graduates. However, the digital economy offers a viable solution. E-commerce, freelancing, and digital marketing are just a few areas where young Pakistanis are already making their mark. Platforms like Daraz, Rozee.pk, and Upwork have provided opportunities for young entrepreneurs to tap into global markets, breaking down traditional barriers to entry.
The theme “From Clicks to Progress” encourages youth to move beyond passive consumption of digital content to actively participating in and shaping the digital economy. This involves not only utilising existing platforms but also creating new ones that address local needs and challenges. For instance, developing localized apps that cater to the unique needs of Pakistani consumers or using digital tools to solve community problems can drive both economic growth and social progress.
The digital age has also revolutionised civic engagement. Social media platforms have become powerful tools for advocacy, allowing young people to raise their voices on various social and economic issues. In Pakistan, digital activism has played a crucial role in movements such as #MeToo and climate strikes, demonstrating the potential of youth to influence public discourse and policy.
However, digital activism must be strategic and informed. The theme “From Clicks to Progress” highlights the need for young people to move beyond mere online presence to impactful action. This involves using digital tools to mobilise communities, engage with policymakers, and drive concrete changes. For example, youth-led organisations in Pakistan can leverage social media to promote sustainable practices, raise awareness about environmental issues, or advocate for educational reforms.
Education is a critical component of sustainable development, and digital technology has the potential to revolutionise the way young Pakistanis learn. Online education platforms, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), and digital libraries have made education more accessible, especially in remote areas. However, the challenge lies in aligning digital education with the skills needed for sustainable development.
Pakistani youth must be encouraged to pursue digital skills that are relevant to the future job market, such as coding, data analysis, and digital marketing. Additionally, integrating sustainability into the digital curriculum is essential. This means teaching young people not only how to use digital tools but also how to apply them in ways that contribute to sustainable development goals, such as reducing carbon footprints, promoting renewable energy, and fostering social inclusion.
While the potential of digital pathways for sustainable development is immense, several challenges need to be addressed to fully realise this potential in Pakistan. These include: bridging the gap between urban and rural areas in terms of digital access and literacy is crucial. The government, along with private sector partners, must invest in infrastructure and training programmes to ensure that all young Pakistanis have equal opportunities to benefit from the digital revolution. As more young people engage in the digital economy and online activism, the risk of cyber threats increases. It is essential to educate youth about cybersecurity and develop robust legal frameworks to protect their digital rights. Ensuring that young women have equal access to digital tools and opportunities is vital for achieving sustainable development. Initiatives that promote gender equality in the digital space, such as coding boot camps for girls or mentorship programmes for female entrepreneurs, are essential. Government policies should support youth in their digital endeavours, providing incentives for digital entrepreneurship, investing in tech education, and promoting digital inclusion.
Pakistan is ranked among the top 10 most affected countries by climate change, according to the Global Climate Risk Index by Germanwatch, cited in a UN report. With the youth comprising the largest proportion of its population, it is crucial to engage them in climate action. Chairman of the Capital Development Authority, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, has recently proposed allocating academic marks for students’ participation in plantation drives, a step that could significantly boost their involvement. Additionally, leveraging digital technologies like social media campaigns, online educational platforms, and virtual activism can further mobilise youth participation in climate change and environmental initiatives.
The theme “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development” is not just a call to action but a vision for the future. For Pakistani youth, this vision presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity lies in the ability to shape their future through digital means, contributing to sustainable development in ways that were previously unimaginable. The challenge is to ensure that this digital progress is inclusive, equitable, and aligned with the broader goals of social and economic development.
As Pakistan navigates the complexities of the digital age, its youth will play a pivotal role in driving progress. By embracing digital tools, fostering innovation, and advocating for sustainable practices, young Pakistanis can turn clicks into meaningful progress, building a future that is prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable.

Nation’s Pride Arshad Nadeem

By: Attiya Munawer | August 13, 2024

Pakistani sports hero Arshad Nadeem has made the entire nation proud by winning a gold medal in the Paris Olympics after forty years. This athlete has achieved what no one else could, despite not even owning a javelin a few months ago. He struggled to obtain one, yet convinced everyone that with their support, he would deliver his best performance, and he fulfilled that promise by winning a gold medal in the Olympics. Now, it remains to be seen whether the government will honour the promises made to him or forget them, as it has done with so many other pledges to the people.

The rulers have a history of neglecting their promises to both citizens and sportsmen, rarely including them in their priorities. Once again, we see a similar pattern. Arshad Nadeem, through his own determination and hard work, not only won the gold medal but also set a new Olympic record. All the credit goes to those who supported him during tough times and cheered him on. Without their support, Arshad Nadeem might never have been able to bring such glory to the nation or give the people such joy. After a long time, he has raised the country’s flag at the Olympics and brought home a gold medal in the name of Pakistan. The people have every right to celebrate, but the government has no right to take credit for his achievement, as it played no role in securing this medal.

In this context, Major General Akram Sahi, the former president of the Pakistan Athletics Federation, stated that despite serving in numerous regimes, sports and athletes have not been prioritised by any Pakistani government. Had the government been more serious, not just one but several Olympians, including Arshad Nadeem, might have emerged to win gold medals for the country. Major General Akram Sahi and some of his colleagues have played a crucial role in Arshad Nadeem’s career, providing support and encouragement at every opportunity, as evidenced by the Olympian’s hugs and tears of gratitude after his victory. Arshad Nadeem’s achievement is indelible, but the government’s rhetoric afterwards is equally surprising. This government did nothing for Arshad Nadeem before the event, but now, from the Prime Minister to the President and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, all leaders are promising facilities for sports and athletes, assuring that every sport and sportsperson will be provided with equal amenities.

However, these are not the first verbal claims of this kind, and it remains to be seen whether any will be fulfilled or simply forgotten over time. While some prizes may be given on Arshad Nadeem’s return and announcements may be made, these promises are unlikely to be implemented. Every sport and athlete in this country has suffered from neglect, and there is no indication that this will change in the future. Recently, Arshad Nadeem spoke about providing facilities for sports and athletes, dedicating his victory to the country and the nation. He urged the government to treat all sports equally, provide facilities and jobs for athletes to nurture their talent, and prevent it from going to waste. As much talent as there is in our country, there are also many self-interested individuals in institutions who waste this talent. Until the right people are put in the right positions, expecting medals from our sports and athletes is nothing but self-delusion.

There is no doubt that Arshad Nadeem has accomplished what this administration could not. His gold medal victory has brought joy to the distressed people of Pakistan. Rewards should be showered upon the Olympian gold medallist, and the coffers of the ruling elite should be opened. However, they are often reluctant to give, even though they happily rob the public of their rights. Arshad Nadeem is being praised, with occasional discussions of awarding him 10 million, while in other contexts, announcements of 50 million and more amenities are made. The feat accomplished by Arshad Nadeem is priceless and cannot be repaid by any amount of money. Arshad Nadeem’s wishes and the pride of this nation should be respected. Whatever he asks for should be granted, and more athletes should be trained under his supervision with skill development, so that gold medals can be won in future Olympics; otherwise, the Pakistani flag may not be visible alongside medals at the next Olympics.

The Quaid’s counsel for posterity

By: Raza Muhammad Khan | August 13, 2024

OVER a decade before Partition, the Quaid shared his views with the people at Lahore, in March 1936, about the conditions of forming a representative government in India, in these words: “Any unscrupulous and unprincipled leader today can exploit the masses of the country, at any stage, he likes, as long as he can play to the tune that they like. Unless therefore we get … people who are trained and who understand and have the requisite knowledge, at least to select a leader rightly and say we will stand by you and support you loyally, and who should be able to disown him, if they go astray; we cannot have representative government’.

The same year he addressed the people of Bengal at Calcutta: ‘We want to produce independent, progressive and fearless men….(but) …. you have, among you, elements and coteries, which must be overpowered….and those who obstruct us and put difficulties in our way we shall resist them’. One year later in December 1937, again at Calcutta at a Muslim League conference he said: ‘Muslims must….first set their own house in order, as none was caring to do anything for them. They must organize for self-defense and self-help’. In April 1939, while addressing Kashmir Student Federation, he advised: ‘ The methods of fight have to be regulated according to the time and the forces arraigned against us.

Learn, study and find your way out. Old weapons and methods of attack are gone. I ask the Muslims to study and find the latest methods and weapons of carrying on the fight in the struggle and success will be ensured’. In a message to Islamia College Peshawar, in July in 1940, he said: ‘… you should observe and maintain the highest sense of honour and integrity and serve your people selflessly in every way, you can. Make yourself, self-respecting, self-confident and self- reliant’. During an address at Lahore in March 1941, he said: … ‘Do not be carried away by slogans’….You will say, what is nation-building?…there are at least three main pillars, which make a nation worthy of … running the government. One is education, without which you are in…. darkness, but with education you will be …as you are in broad daylight. Next, no nation, and no people can ever do anything much without making themselves feel economically powerful in commerce, trade and industry. And lastly……. you have got to prepare yourself for your defense, against external aggression and to maintain internal security’.

In a message, to Muslim Students Federation NWFP in April 1943, he said: ‘….we have got the greatest message in the Quran, for our guidance and enlightenment…. let us utilize our great potentialities in the right direction, let us forgo our personal interest and conveniences for the collective good of our people and for a higher and nobler cause. …. if we work steadily with courage, optimism, self-confidence, discipline and unity, Insha Allah, we shall win the battle very soon’.

Soon after Independence, at an address at Lahore in Oct 1947, he told the people: ‘Do not be overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. There is many of an example in history of young nations building themselves up by sheer determination and force of character. We have all that we need to develop, but you have only to develop the spirit of the Mujahid. You are a nation whose history is replete with people of wonderful grit, character and heroism. Live up to your tradition and add to it another chapter of glory…. and be prepared to sacrifice everything, if necessary, in building of Pakistan as the bulwark of Islam and as one of the greatest nations whose ideal is peace within and peace without…. Keep up your morale. Do not be afraid of death, our religion teaches us to be always prepared for death. We should face it bravely to save the honour of Pakistan and Islam. …there is no better salvation for a Muslim than the death of a martyr for a righteous cause… Remember that the scrupulous maintenance and enforcement of law and order are the prerequisite of all progress. …Do your duty and have faith in God, there is no power on earth that can undo Pakistan. It has come to stay’.

At a Speech at Dacca University in March 1948, he declared: Freedom does not mean that you have a license, that you can now behave just as you please and do what you like, irrespective of the interest of other people or of the state….’ A month later, at Islamia College Peshawar, in 1948, he advised: ‘You must learn to obey for only then you can learn to command. In your criticism of the government, you must learn to be constructive. …think and act with sobriety and in all humility as selfless and true soldiers of the people and with absolute loyalty to Pakistan. The success of our achievements will depend upon our unity, discipline and faith, not only in ourselves, but in God who determines the destinies of people and nations”.

During address at an Army Regiment in Malir, Karachi, in February 1948, he directed: ‘You have to stand guard over the development and maintenance of democracy…on your native soil. With faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile that you cannot achieve’. The Quaid wrote his will, eight years before the partition in which he donated most of his earning to Aligarh University, Islamiyah College Peshawar and Sind Madrassah at Karachi. These are the values and guiding principles, which the Quaid-e-Azam taught, desired and practiced, for the creation, security, development, progress and governance of Pakistan. On this Independence Day on 14 August, let’s remember the counsel of the Quaid, let’s emulate him and let’s rededicate ourselves to build, develop and defend Pakistan, as desired by him. Pakistan Zindabad.

Potential of Pak-UAE Trade Relations

By: Irfan Qureshi | August 13, 2024

In a significant boost to economic diplomacy, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has committed substantial investments into Pakistan’s burgeoning sectors, marking a timely intervention for a country grappling with economic volatility. This pledge, announced during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to the UAE, signifies more than just financial aid: it symbolises a deepening of strategic economic partnerships that could reshape the future of both nations.

The infusion of capital comes at a critical juncture for Pakistan, which is navigating the turbulent waters of high inflation, low growth, and stringent reforms mandated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). With its $350 billion economy in dire need of stabilization, foreign investment is pivotal. The UAE’s commitment, articulated by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, underscores a robust bilateral relationship poised for exponential growth.

Over the past two decades, the UAE has been a cornerstone investor in Pakistan, injecting billions into diverse sectors such as communications, services, tourism, information technology, oil and gas, housing, banking, and real estate. This extensive investment portfolio includes prominent Emirati entities like Etisalat, Emirates, Emaar, and Dubai Islamic Bank. Their presence in Pakistan has not only bolstered economic activity but also enhanced the UAE’s image among the Pakistani populace. The trade dynamics between the two nations are equally robust. Pakistan’s imports from the UAE include crude oil, gold, and machinery, while its exports to the UAE encompass petroleum products, textiles, rice, leather, fruits, vegetables, sports equipment, and construction materials. This exchange underscores the complementarity of their economies and the potential for deeper integration.

With a burgeoning tech ecosystem, Pakistan is ripe for investment in IT infrastructure and services.

The investment pledge is expected to target pivotal sectors such as information technology, renewable energy, and tourism. These sectors represent the future of Pakistan’s economic landscape, offering sustainable growth opportunities and significant returns on investment.

With a burgeoning tech ecosystem, Pakistan is ripe for investment in IT infrastructure and services. The infusion of capital from the UAE can accelerate digital transformation, enhance cybersecurity frameworks, and foster innovation hubs that could position Pakistan as a regional tech leader.

Pakistan’s energy sector has long struggled with inefficiencies and shortages. Investment in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power can mitigate these challenges, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, and promote environmental sustainability. The tourism sector, with its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, remains underexploited.

Strategic investments can develop infrastructure, promote eco-tourism, and attract international visitors, thereby generating substantial revenue and employment opportunities.

From a financial perspective, the UAE’s investment can significantly bolster Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves, providing much-needed liquidity to meet external repayment obligations.

This is particularly crucial as Pakistan seeks to secure an $8 billion bailout from the IMF, which requires demonstrating economic stability and growth potential.

Economically, the synergy created by UAE investments can catalyze growth through several mechanisms: Investment in high-growth sectors will create numerous employment opportunities, reducing unemployment and fostering economic inclusivity. Enhanced focus on IT and renewable energy can drive technological innovation, improve productivity, and promote sustainable practices. By boosting export-oriented industries, the trade deficit can be reduced, improving the overall balance of payments position.

The UAE’s strategic investments across various countries have consistently led to enhanced economic growth, job creation, and infrastructure development.

In India, for example, investments in infrastructure, energy, and retail sectors have enhanced logistics, ensured energy security, and created numerous jobs. Similarly, in Egypt, UAE investments in real estate and telecommunications have stimulated economic growth, modernized infrastructure, and boosted tourism. In Indonesia, investments in renewable energy and port infrastructure have contributed to sustainable energy goals and improved trade capabilities.

In Morocco, UAE investments in tourism infrastructure and renewable energy initiatives have advanced the country’s renewable energy agenda and created significant employment opportunities.

These successes underscore the UAE’s commitment to fostering long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. By comparing these outcomes with the investments made in Pakistan, it becomes evident that the UAE’s involvement typically brings substantial benefits and fosters long-term partnerships.

This positive track record can reassure stakeholders in Pakistan of the potential for similar success and economic upliftment, reinforcing the UAE Government’s role as a reliable and impactful investor on the global stage.

The UAE-Pakistan economic relationship, fortified by historical ties and contemporary investments, is poised for a transformative journey.

The UAE’s commitment is not merely a financial transaction but a testament to the mutual trust and strategic vision shared by the two nations. As Pakistan navigates its economic challenges, the support from the UAE could prove to be a linchpin for sustainable growth and development.

For both countries, this partnership offers a win-win scenario: Pakistan benefits from capital inflows and economic diversification, while the UAE strengthens its strategic foothold in South Asia, paving the way for a prosperous and integrated future.

The road ahead, marked by cooperation and shared goals, promises to unlock unprecedented economic potential and usher in a new era of economic synergy.

Policy Games we Play

By: Ali Tauqeer Sheikh | August 01, 2024

WHY do governments fail to do what they say they want to do? Any student of public policy will testify that policy is not what they say they will do but what they actually do.

It would hardly be an exaggeration to argue that most social sector policies are aspirational or declaratory; there’s little serious intent to implement them.

Hiding behind a tight fiscal space has become very convenient for successive governments. Demands to reduce the bloated size of government and expenditures are deflected by tying the issue to governance and institutional reforms — for which little or no appetite is visible.

For many governance gurus, reform means renaming ministries, moving them from one to the other administrative division, occasionally merging them, or relegating them to the provinces. The absence of political stability and financial resources is typically invoked to delay and scuttle institutional reforms. These are indeed ‘good’ reasons, but perhaps not the ‘real’ reasons, or at least not the primary ones for the failure to implement declared policies.

Pakistan’s policies can easily be divided into two groups: one, declaratory policies to please the public or international community, and second, a group of policies for which budgetary allocations are made — and released — to systematically remove barriers to their implementation. Social progress or human security have for decades remained on our declaratory policy list, and seldom on our priority implementation list.

Most social sector policies in Pakistan will have long, unprioritised wish-lists, and lack in action plans, timelines, and costing. We can add to this the weak ownership of key stakeholders and its linkages with other sectors and different tiers of governance. Climate-related policies in the country are no exception to this general rule.

The national policy ecosystem hardly aligns with high-profile climate targets.

Climate-resilient and low-carbon development is proclaimed policy, awaiting mainstreaming in the policy landscape. My recent research gave me the opportunity to look at 60 policies governing sectors critical to climate adaptation and mitigation. I have learned that Pakistan has a rich inventory of sectoral policies, but that they are rarely aligned with national and international climate commitments. Sectoral policies set national sectoral objectives and determine the direction for investments. They often recommend specific projects and programmes. With some variations, provincial policies are typically aligned with national policies or priorities.

Some national policies have not been revised since the 18th Amendment was approved in 2010. Likewise, on subjects that are now firmly in the provincial realm, not all provinces have developed their sectoral policies. Countless draft policies are languishing on departmental websites, waiting for a push that does not always come from the federal government.

In fact, sometimes the federal government itself has hindered the development or approval of provincial policies, arguing that in the presence of national policies, the provinces only need action or implementation plans. Now with the provinces being ruled by different political parties, the response to federal policy asks are not uniform.

Of the 60 policies reviewed, only one — the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Policy (2023) and its action plan (2023-30) — is clearly aligned with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), a commitment Pakistan has communicated to the climate change secretariat. Additionally, only three federal policies have referred to the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP): the national water, forest, and food security policies (2018, 2012, 2015). Ironically, all these policies are dated as they were developed before the revised NCCP and NDC were approved in 2021.

Hence, the national policy ecosystem offers a barren landscape of alignment with high-profile climate targets. These are central to Pakistan’s global adaptation and carbon emissions reduction commitments. This is not a good omen for a country that seeks to access international climate finance and investments.

In Pakistan, climate-proofing across policies varies by sector. Of the 15 policies highlighted in the latest version of the Pakistan Economic Survey (2023-2024), six deal with energy issues, but most of them were approved before the NCCP and NDC were released in 2021.

These include the LNG Policy 2011, the National Power Policy 2015, the Power Generation Policy 2015, the Alternative & Renewable Energy Policy 2019, and the National Electric Vehicle Policy 2019. Ironically, another four policies that were approved subsequently have no reference to Pakistan’s carbon emission targets: the National Electricity Policy 2021, the National Hazardous Waste Management Policy (2022), the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan 2021-30 (2023), and the National Clean Air Policy (2023). A closer review shows that although some of these policies have acknowledged Pakistan’s climate vulnerabilities, almost all have failed to address direct and indirect sector-specific climate risks and threats.

My handpicked policies from various sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture, and industry, that were released after the approval of the updated NDC in 2021, ironically lacked specific sections on climate adaptation or mitigation measures as outlined in the NDC. Furthermore, these policies did not explore potential sources for innovative financing, unlike their counterparts in other countries.

This reflection should not be construed to imply a comment on the quality of the country’s sectoral policies, but only to underline the lacuna on how the policy environment in Pakistan is fragmented.

We have all seen how weak institutional frameworks hinder the formulation and effective implementation of policies. The main obstacles to effective public policy development in Pakistan include lack of viable policymaking mechanisms, governance deficits, elite capture, and the absence of public input and oversight. This has led to challenges in coordination and consistency across different levels of government. These elements contribute to a dismal track record in public policy formulation and implementation.

Perhaps the most serious public policy challenge in Pakistan is the system’s inability to act and correct itself. Presently, it is willing to go to any lengths to avoid purposeful action and reform. One of the most important contributions of the SDGs is that they have provided a guide on how to think about the linkages between various sectors — they are not simply a fancy and colourful list of targets and indicators for various sectors. Clearly, Pakistan needs to upend its policy environment.

Population Control as a Key to Climate Resilience

By: Gulab Umid | August 01, 2024

The rapid acceleration of Pakistan’s population growth is severely compounding the nation’s resource scarcity and amplifying the formidable challenges posed by climate change. Despite Pakistan’s negligible contribution to global warming and carbon emissions, it is paradoxically one of the most adversely affected countries. The Global Climate Risk Index ranks Pakistan fifth among the nations most susceptible to climate change. Concurrently, it stands as the fifth most populous country globally. However, in terms of per capita income, Pakistan languishes at 161st place, and its GDP is ranked 138th. With a growth rate approximating 2%, the country’s population increase effectively nullifies its developmental progress.

The severity of Pakistan’s population dilemma is starkly illustrated by various statistics. Efforts to maintain a balance between population and resources are increasingly futile, and climate change exacerbates this imbalance. Resource scarcity heightens the vulnerability of impoverished communities to natural disasters, necessitating a greater allocation of resources for their rehabilitation. This, in turn, strains the national economy, diverting resources from productive uses. Between 1980 and 2021, Pakistan’s average temperature rose by 0.9 degrees Celsius. The Global Climate Risk Index designates Pakistan as the 27th least prepared country to mitigate the impacts of climate change. From 1998 to 2018, climate change-induced disasters resulted in over 10,000 fatalities in Pakistan and inflicted economic damages amounting to four billion dollars. The catastrophic floods of 2022 alone resulted in losses exceeding 30 billion dollars.

Research conducted by international organisations operating in disaster-affected regions reveals that population growth and climate change could plunge 80 to 90 million Pakistanis below the poverty line. At the current annual growth rate, Pakistan will necessitate 104 million jobs and 15.5 million homes. Climate change is disrupting rainfall patterns, accelerating glacier melt, and increasing the frequency of floods, droughts, and sea storms, which further escalates the risks of economic decline. Environmental experts forecast that the trend of extreme temperatures will persist until at least 2027.

Pakistan, once an exporter of wheat, has now become an importer due to the adverse effects of population growth and climate change. This population surge also impinges upon resource distribution. According to the Population Council of Pakistan, by 2040, the country will require at least 57,000 additional primary schools. Currently, 25 million children are already deprived of education, and achieving universal primary education could take another fifty years.

The burgeoning population not only heightens the risk of food insecurity but also contributes to increased carbon emissions. Consequently, global warming has a profound impact on Pakistan, diminishing agricultural productivity. Agricultural scientists have long advocated for the promotion of traditional grains such as millet, barley, and maize to reduce the pressure on wheat production. Population growth also drives deforestation and the reduction of agricultural land. Over the past two decades, the number of trees in Pakistan has diminished by one percent, and from 2017 to 2020, arable land decreased by three percent.

Urban population growth significantly contributes to rising temperatures. The proliferation of air conditioners, which generate dry heat, has increased by more than five percent in urban areas and by over three percent in rural areas over the past fifteen years. Despite these changes, discussions on climate change in Pakistan predominantly focus on carbon emission reduction strategies, overlooking the critical nexus between population growth and environmental change.

To effectively address the climate change challenges facing Pakistan, it is imperative to prioritise controlling the rampant population growth rate. Achieving a balance between population and resources will facilitate the well-being and prosperity of future generations. Comprehensive strategies that integrate population control measures with environmental sustainability efforts are crucial for Pakistan’s resilience against climate change.

On Paradoxical Geese

By: Ammad Aziz| August 01, 2024

All eyes look hawk-like on the major world powers as they chart the future’s history in this year of elections– Modi’s second re-election, Starmer’s triuRaisi’s visit so evidently laid bare that Iran is truly alienated and looking for all avenues of support, and only an increase in contact surface within our relations with Iran will clarify what spine Pezeshkian stands on. Start small: cultural and educational exchange programmes, technology partnerships, and the like. Maintain an open dialogue with Washington on potential policy initiatives, and treat the project with cautious optimism. Only time will tell whether Pezeshkian can lay a golden egg, after all.

Trumph over the Tories, the fall of France’s right-wing alliance, and US President Biden’s second face-off against former President Trump (now with Biden replaced by Kamala Harris)), who was subject to horrific political violence only this past weekend, in a true emblem of the gravity of this election cycle.

Yet, perhaps the election that holds most promise for Pakistan is the one which was neither expected nor planned, as reformist Masoud Pezeshkian wins the presidency in Iran after his predecessor Ebrahim Raisi passed away in an accident in May.

Pezeshkian is both an anomaly and a curiosity– after a long period of discontent in Iran, accentuated in the mass protests following Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody and exacerbated by record inflation, the Iranian populace had lost faith in their tenuous democracy entirely. Indeed, the first round of voting saw only a 40 prtcent turnout, and it was only through Pezeshkian’s fear tactics that he was able to mobilize enough people to defeat his hardliner opponent: “Vote for us, or worse than us is coming for you.”

His policy stances are an intriguing contradiction of obeisance to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the Revolutionary Guard as well as a firmly pro-USA and social reformist stance. He campaigned on a platform of scaling back Iran’s nuclear programme in a bid to lift sanctions, deescalating Iran’s belligerence in Middle Eastern conflicts, and placating public anxiety about policing public and private life, including an easing of the mandatory hijab policy. Intuitively, his candidacy would never have been permissible– and yet, Khamenei saw fit not only to approve it, but to bless his incoming presidency.

Therein lies the fundamental contradiction: when key domestic and foreign policies fall under the ambit of the Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guard, why would Pezeshkian’s promises be worth anything more than the God-gifted breath with which he delivered them? Most would argue not.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller has gone on record expressing skepticism that his presidency will lead to any substantive change in relations between Washington and Tehran, and perhaps they are right to believe so. Despite the pressure that the USA has exerted through the geopolitical alienation of Iran, the latter has remained unmoved on its hardline policy stances. The worst of times have seen escalations like the assassination of TRDC chief Qasem Soleimani.

However, for all that the State Department may be pessimistic about Pezeshkian’s ability to realign the Washington-Tehran axis, that is not to say that it will not be looking for cause for optimism.

US interests with regards to Iran are compelling and have always been so. When Mossadegh was overthrown in 1953, the reintroduced shares of the British in the denationalized Anglo-Iranian company saw a 40 percent split towards the Americans, and Iran served as a key bulwark against Soviet influence in the region which formed much of the architecture of the Sino-American rapprochement of the 1970s. More recently, Iran’s antagonism towards key Middle Eastern allies of the USS..Saudi Arabia and Israel, has upset US interests in the region, and any thought of nuclear warheads commanded by the Revolutionary Guard leaves one blanching.

Setting aside the irony for a moment that Mossadegh was the last Iranian leader to recognize Israel, Pezeshkian’s position as a mouthpiece reformist is nonetheless an opportunity for both the U.S. and for Saidi Arabia – and Pakistan, by proxy.

In the most charitable of terms, Islamabad’s relations with Tehran have been lukewarm, and the frank reality is that our role as their protector state carries less than ceremonial weight. In practice, Iran is a major potential partner on the geopolitical and economic front, while also being an unshakeable threat to Pakistan’s own foreign policy interests.

Take India: they see in Iran the opportunity to sandwich Pakistan between two antagonistic neighbours, and any support of the US. initiative to bring Iran to a nuclear deal shadows a satisfaction at the thought of seeing Pakistan caught between two nuclear-armed neighbours. In either case, they act as an economic anchor for the country with projects in Chabahar accelerating rapidly, in a mirror to China’s own investments there given that the latter views the port as an alternative to Gwadar due to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard acting as a consolidatory force when put against the political instability that has upset CPEC progress.

Raisi’s visit so evidently laid bare that Iran is truly alienated and looking for all avenues of support, and only an increase in contact surface within our relations with Iran will clarify what spine Pezeshkian stands on. Start small: cultural and educational exchange programmes, technology partnerships, and the like. Maintain an open dialogue with Washington on potential policy initiatives, and treat the project with cautious optimism. Only time will tell whether Pezeshkian can lay a golden egg, after all.

Despite this, Pakistan found itself hosting Raisi not too long ago, where he enticed us with oil trade agreements – something that many will recall led to a near-standoff between Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the US government. It is not surprising in the slightest– Iran itself revitalized an antagonism with the USA on the Levantine front, and as President Biden’s government pursues a peace deal with Israel before the upcoming election in November, Iran will lose the slight purchase it has gained on this path from the tacit support offered by Russia and China.

India will throw down its weight to bring Iran to the negotiating table with the USA., of course, but this is arguably indicative of how dire the situation in Iran truly is. As Khamenei faces a succession crisis for the role of Supreme Leader, his approval of Pezeshkian’s presidency is a sign that Iran’s need of the hour is to trend towards normalization. If that is true, then perhaps Pezeshkian may be Pakistan’s golden goose.

Crucially, a stable Iran is imperative to three of Pakistan’s key foreign policy partners; namely the USA, China, and Szudi Arania. As Pakistan enters a 37-month programme with the IMF– its 24th bailout package– and ideates on project proposals to entice Chinese and Saudi investment, there is the potential that Iran’s tenuous position with a discontented populace and a collapsing economy could be a lever for Pakistan with the Occidental world, where Islamabad acts as a regional anchor to soften Tehran’s policies.

If Pezeshkian’s faction is more influential than currently assumed, Pakistan can lobby for phased relief from sanctions for Iran in exchange for a concrete roadmap towards compliance with international nuclear agreements. There are tangible benefits that Pakistan can help Iran with towards economic and sociopolitical stability, assisting in the establishment of humanitarian aid channels exempt from sanctions, and joint counter-terrorism initiatives to contain the influence of the Afghan Taliban as well as military-to-military dialogue on non-combat operations like disaster response. Developing confidential backchannels for discussions between the USA and Iran can facilitate a path towards more ambitious endeavours, like trilateral infrastructure and trade agreements involving Turkey and securing energy cooperation agreements that can funnel Iran’s excess energy production to help with Pakistan’s pressing power crisis.

That is not to say that this could not turn out to be a more woefully misread situation– it is entirely sensible to assume that supporting Pezeshkian’s government in stark historical contradiction to the Revolutionary Guard and the Supreme Leader could backfire. It was only six months ago that Iran fired a missile into Balochistan, and skilled diplomacy prevented an escalation of the incident.

If Pezeshkian is a genuinely antagonistic figure towards the Iranian establishment, then Pakistan risks an increase in insurgency in Balochistan, as well as potentially alienating the USA at a critical time if diplomatic efforts are not cleared through official channels beforehand. However, this seems arguably unlikely, given that Oman is already initiating the facilitation of talks between Iran and the U.S. not one week after Pezeshkian’s election, lending credence to the idea that Iran’s plight is genuine and Pakistan’s opportunity ascendant.

Raisi’s visit so evidently laid bare that Iran is truly alienated and looking for all avenues of support, and only an increase in contact surface within our relations with Iran will clarify what spine Pezeshkian stands on. Start small: cultural and educational exchange programmes, technology partnerships, and the like. Maintain an open dialogue with Washington on potential policy initiatives, and treat the project with cautious optimism. Only time will tell whether Pezeshkian can lay a golden egg, after all.

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Articles Regarding Pakistan

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At this critical hour, the government, the opposition leaders, including all other segments of society must show selfless national unity which is very necessary to pull the country out of the ongoing serious crises.

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Potential of Pak-UAE Trade Relations

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Policy Games we Play

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Population Control as a Key to Climate Resilience

By: Gulab Umid | August 01, 2024

On Paradoxical Geese

By: Ammad Aziz| August 01, 2024

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