1. Political leadership: Structured in deeply rooted feudal system is what failing the nation in providing any guidance; 5 percent of landholders possess 64 percent of total farmland.
2. Corruption: A major impediment to progress. In 2013, it scored 127 out of 175 on the Corruption Perceptions Index published by the Transparency International.
3. Defense spending: Its security concerns are what driving Islamabad to up the spending ante frantically. Needs to reset priorities given the depressing socio-educational-economy graph.
4. Religious radicalism: That created Taleban too and is eating into the vitals of the nation. Islamabad will do well by taking into confidence major organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami, as also tapping the huge youth resources to the benefit the developmental works.
5. Illiteracy: Even poor countries like Mozambique, Ghana, Niger and Mali have an edge over Pakistan where nearly 6.5m children do not go to school.
6. Bad economy: Untapped resources — both human and natural; power crisis; lack of development in agriculture and industrialization — enough ingredients to affect the economy.
7. 1971 war: That created Bangladesh after partitioning Pakistan. It was a major moral setback. Yet Islamabad could have learned lessons from post-WWII Japan than getting engaged in low-level wars with India.
8. Foreign policy: The feudal mindset is wanting in diplomacy nuances. As a result, it lost Kabul, angered US and deepened animosity with Delhi. Needs to make its policy G-7 centric and make China ties more productive.
9. Two-Nation Theory: It needed to change its pre-Independence stance to one “united nation” theory. Instead, Pakistan degenerated into multi-nation theory.
10. Cultural and moral degradation: It’s commonplace and it’s unfortunate, because the concept of Pakistan was germinated in the idea to revive Islam.
10 things that make Pakistan proud of
1. Allama Iqbal: The impact of his words and works reverberate all across the nation and outside even after 75 yrs of his death. A constant source of inspiration, he was also behind the idea of a Pakistan to revive Islam. The national poet needs special govt policy on his vision.
2. Individuals: Haris Manzur, 9, broke the 800-yr-old record of UK’s Oxford University by becoming the youngest ever to pass O Levels exams. Just an example. Many such individuals are bringing laurels to the nation. Malala, for instance.
3. Diaspora: That sustains country’s economy. In 2013, Islamabad received record $14 bn remittances from overseas expats. The real but unsung heroes!
4. Economy potential: It has world’s second largest irrigation system; not to mention of huge mines of minerals the country possesses. What it needed was a visionary leadership, a good policy and a will to move ahead.
5. Nuclear deterrence: Which catapulted Pakistan to the select group of nations, making its defense impregnable.
6. Social movements: The works by Edhi Foundation, Ansar Burney Trust International and several others will put to shame the likes of Mother Teresa and Ford Foundation.
7. Education: Thanks to men like Prof. Ata-ur-Rahman, who by sheer dint of their efforts have transformed the educational sector
8. Urdu: In the “English”-ridden world, Pakistan thrives on Urdu, thanks to the colossal works by Molvi Abdul Haq and Niaz Fatehpuri. Even the Gen-Next is much enchanted by the language which has its own “sweet” contribution to the Islamic culture.
9. Cricket: It spurs nation; a morale booster whenever the nation feels low. Imran Khan took it to the height of popularity. Will Khan do the same in politics?
10. Art and Music: It won India without creating tension on borders — making Indians dance to the tune of its music: From ghazals, pop music, qawwali to divine songs, it enchanted almost every Indian.
