Security challenges take their toll on the economy

Stand united as one nation to defeat destructive forces.

KARACHI: Over decades, the rise and fall of nations has led us to believe that an improved security situation is directly proportional to commercial and business success, hence the ultimate difference between progress and chaos.

Severe lack of security in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces has magnified security challenges in the country and brought down growth in business and profitability. Though the country has vast potential to explore natural resources, namely oil, gas and hydrocarbon reserves, the exploration and production activity has slowed down significantly as every effort to ensure stable and secure conditions for drilling has met with failure. Moreover, the security lapse is not being questioned enough.

In financial year 2011-12, the country is nowhere near the target of drilling 76 wells, reaching only 41% of the figure with drilling of 36 wells. With petroleum prices skyrocketing and the circular debt issue still unresolved, energy companies are finding it hard to survive and sustain their activities.

The security challenges have not only affected the economic progress, but have also led to loss of lives. Many Chinese engineers have been killed in the last few years who were working to build infrastructure and port facilities in Balochistan, where the blame game between the government and locals continues to spark violence and fear.

Unless people stand united as a one nation and boundaries are secured, destructive forces will always be at work to dismantle the country’s framework and lead it into oblivion.

Security, it seems, is the ultimate currency today and needs to be analyzed further. War has continuously been going on across the border, sparking fears of infiltration of militants and illegal immigrants. If the country does not ensure security on the borders, it will not be able to achieve growth and development.

It is time to understand why there is huge hue and cry about human rights violations in the country. Outside forces are trying to bring down Pakistan’s rising flag and block efforts to reduce dependency and debt. These forces also try to use some local people to ensure the country remains far from any kind of progress and growth.

Lack of security is the ultimate loss to all. The country must revert back to local laws and legal system to try to bring constitutional amendment and reconstruct new laws to address injustices, especially in Balochistan, and secure borders of the state.

Security is the currency of the future and if the country makes good use of it, it can earn foreign exchange, reduce budget deficit, unemployment and inflation, improve physical and financial health of people enabling them to work more efficiency and achieve millennium development goals (MDGs).

The writer works in the media and writes on international relations.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2012.