Stagnation

Pakistan is ranked 119th out of 128 countries Global Innovation Index

Innovation, the ability to create new things, is not anyone’s birthright. One’s social status, nationality, the level of education and financial success are not linked with one’s ability to have ideas. But actually bringing them to fruition requires that they are generated in an idea-friendly environment. At a national level, an idea-friendly environment is one in which governments, through their budgetary allocations and policies, encourage individuals to take the risk of becoming researchers, entrepreneurs and inventors. This is dependent on education that focuses on fostering curiosity and scientific rigour, on infrastructure that facilitates learning and an economy that helps new business ideas to grow. Unfortunately in Pakistan, spending on research and development or education has never been a priority. Our output of university graduates, research papers, inventions and entrepreneurial start-ups is also low. There certainly are examples of individuals who have come up with brilliant ideas that are highlighted locally and internationally. However, such people succeed despite the system rather than because of it.

This is all reflected in stark terms in the Global Innovation Index report 2016 in which Pakistan is ranked 119^th out of 128 countries. For a country which spends less than two per cent of its GDP on development, this is an expected result. This ranking reflects our inability to promote ideas, which has resulted in a society that relies on blind obedience and apathy to innovation. Not having been allowed room to breathe, creativity has fled to other countries where Pakistani scientists, educators, innovators and artists flourish unfettered. We must understand the tragedy of consistently losing out on this talent’s contributions. Our society has sunk into stagnation, which discourages newness everywhere, from classrooms to the halls of parliament. We must change or accept the fate of all those who refuse to change — being left behind and forgotten. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2016.

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