Nothing to engage with

While the current state of affairs is a sorry tale, the good news is that it can be changed


Muhammad Hamid Zaman January 21, 2020
A Reuters representational image.

As the country continues to struggle with economic crises, inflation and general anxiety about the future, there is some legitimate criticism of the diaspora community. While remittances may have shown a slight uptick, other targets for the diaspora contribution on national development projects have not shown any signs of energy. The argument is that while other countries, in particular India and China in the region in the recent years, and eastern Europe since the collapse of the Soviet Union, benefitted tremendously from their diaspora communities, why does Pakistan lag behind? Is this a sign of our relationship with the country, or is there something else?

Research shows that people living outside the country, more or less, are patriotic to the same extent. There may be propaganda, but in general the extent and strength of their relationship with the land and the people of the ancestors on average is the same. So let us take that bit about patriotism out of the equation. Now let us examine the other factors by which diaspora contribute or choose not to. Here, there are two fundamental features — first, contribution through remittances and financial support, and the second, through professional skills. I will focus on the second part first.

Scholars and scientists, in general, are interested in the quest for knowledge, in skill transfer and in helping local institutions. While individual relationships matter, so does the broader direction of the leadership. As a scientist, I am terribly ashamed to say that there is no direction whatsoever of the national science and technology enterprise. The minister is not suitable for the job and represents everything that a serious scientist or scholar would never ever want to see. He is unqualified and makes bombastic claims that are just not true (remember the big conference that was going to happen in October, well, what happened of it?), takes cheap shots at other countries scientific enterprises, hits people in public and is interested in everything except science. Scientists are serious about research, rigor and intellectual contribution — the ministry represents everything but that.

Let us also look beyond the ministry of science. Why would anyone serious about water resources be interested in engaging with the ministry that is headed by a someone whose only claim to fame is cheap public theatrics? When it comes to education, the ministry of education in K-P now is headed by someone who has no education beyond the 10th grade. The climate change minister has embarrassed herself several times by her utter lack of knowledge on the subject. The list goes on and on.

Engaging any community, be it within the country or outside, requires trust. A trust that both parties have the same mission. There has to be an understanding that the contribution of the community or individual will go towards the purpose it is meant to serve. Trust has a lot to do with leadership. Trust is built on attitude, dignity, honesty and a sense of purpose. That, unfortunately, is completely absent from many in the cabinet who hold important positions.

Let us now go to the first part of the equation in contribution of diaspora — financial support. This part is also related to trust. The diaspora community is likely hold tight to their wallets, not because they love their country less than other expat communities, but because they are unlikely to trust institutions that do not inspire them and whose leadership is highly questionable. The dam fund is a case in point. With bizarre behaviour in the courtroom, and stranger stunts outside, the whole episode did serious damage to the reputation of the judiciary.

While the current state of affairs is a sorry tale, the good news is that it can be changed. Trust building takes time, but there is a real appetite for engagement among the diaspora. Appointment of people who are decent, competent and qualified — and those who speak with a sense of purpose and vision will lay the much needed foundation of a relationship that will engage many more in the diaspora community.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2020.

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