KARACHI:
Reforming the agriculture, mining and minerals, and information technology (IT) sectors is crucial for economic recovery. Developing these sectors can enhance the economy’s resilience and prepare it to withstand local and global challenges.
Even though Balochistan is barren due to a lack of water resources, it still possesses mineral-rich soil because of frequent flood deposits, which is perfect for agriculture. A system for the supply and sustenance of water can help revitalise the ground in Balochistan and other provinces for agriculture. The country also has immense potential in minerals but selling the raw product is not the solution. The need of the hour is to bring industry to the mineral-rich lands to produce finished products from those minerals. These industries must be incentivised and given an adequate environment to flourish.
All these sectors require proper research and development, which can be achieved by developing universities and research facilities. The IT industry particularly needs appropriate backing from the educational sector. We need a network like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to bolster research, innovation, and growth. The present government has taken some steps to improve and invest in these sectors but more needs to be done to boost the country’s potential.
Musa Abubakr
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, July 26th, 2023.
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