It is in irony that in Pakistan significant economic progress took place during military rule
KARACHI: We associate democracy with liberalism, freedom of expression, economic prosperity and the best attainable standard of living. Is that really the case? It is in irony that in Pakistan significant economic progress took place during military rule. In this respect civilian governments have fared badly thereby disappointing the common people. For instance, after the country slipped into the military rule for the first time, the GDP rate jumped from an average of 2.5% in the 1950s to 6.8% in the 1960s. This is widely acknowledged as an era of unprecedented growth for the Pakistani economy. And when democracy was revived in the country in 1971, the economic growth graph plummeted massively. I am not pleading for military rule even though under military rule the country attained significant economic progress. So in order to avoid military rule our political parties should mend their ways and deliver the goods. They ought to know that this is what counts.
Mohammed Bilal
Published in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2018.
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