Not that we needed the EIU to tell us that. Any Pakistani can see the country is sliding downhill and fast. It takes undue optimism to make the case that the Taliban will be defeated anytime soon and equal amounts of good luck to witness an economic turnaround. We are already going through a power crisis, one that is exacerbated with every passing day thanks to the circular debt issue. This problem, too, is not about to go away. We are lagging behind on all indicators of being a prosperous country, with our statistics in the domains of health and education being particularly pitiful. The only surprise for us should be that there are actually five countries ranked below us in the EIU list.
Being ranked a little higher than rock bottom in a slightly arbitrary list is not likely to spur us into action. Making Pakistan a more liveable country for the next generation, however, should be our top priority. This means making sound investments in infrastructure, health and education. It means finding a solution to the militant menace before it devours us. It means making peace with our neighbours and increasing trade with them for mutual benefit. The stewards of this country have led us astray and the future looks bleaker than ever. We need to change this course immediately for the betterment of this country and the generations who will live in it.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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@3rdRockFromTheSun:
Exactly my friend. We have the tht overused explanation for ecerything "pakistaniyon keh khilaaf saazish" Unless the people change this foolish ideology of theirs, there will never be any betterment
To solve a problem, the first step is to accept that there is a problem. If one falters at the first step itself, no amount of hope and goodwill can help. As long as the local population ignores the fact that their own intolerance and hatred cultivated over years is the problem; and that they themselves are to blame, and not any 'foreign hand'; things will never improve.
Such a load of nonsense- we all know that these studies are subjective and biased. I just back from the UK and everyone there is down and depressed about the economy there. Even the young people are complaining and want to leave England because they see nothing but unemplyment and hardship. Others just see a life of living on state social assistance or khayrat. There may be challenges in Pakistan but it is still better off than most Muslim countries at least. Pakistan can change and develop unlike most Muslim couintries which don't have any chance for betterment.
Okay my motherland may have been worst country to live in but one encouraging fact that among the line of eighty countries it stands at 75th position.
A 2012 study of 22 nations conducted by Prof Miles Corak for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) found that Pakistan offers greater upward income mobility than the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, China and 5 other countries.
The study's findings were presented by the author in testimony to the US Senate Finance Committee on July 6, 2012.
http://www.riazhaq.com/2012/11/pakistan-offers-higher-economic.html
"We need to change this course immediately for the betterment of this country and the generations who will live in it." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Gen Kayani also agrees with that and will take up in his next speech. Till then pls wait.
Paksitan should be renamed Potentialistan +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Its so full of potential. Only that never materialises into reality.
@Mirza: "a revolutionary reformer would descend upon us and would offer all the remedies and panacea for the country and its poor masses." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The masses are lost for they recognize not that the reformer has already landed among their midst: President Zaradari:)
As long as idealogy business continues there is absoluty no chance of peace and prosperity but more and more bloodshed is guaranteed.The journey in the other direction will start only when nation decide to go for a secular state.This country has lot of potential but at the present it benefits only the merchants of idealogy business.This change will never come without sacrifices. Those dreaming of smooth change are living in fool's paradies.
This report is bogus and biased. It does not take into account that a revolutionary reformer would descend upon us and would offer all the remedies and panacea for the country and its poor masses. Till such time we would keep denying all the signs and facts, would not change a bit and wait for somebody to save us.
Why don't you leave then, who's stopping you.