As we celebrate 79th Independence Day of Pakistan, it is appropriate that we take stock of what Pakistan was, what it went through in recent decades and what we can hope for in the future. It came into being on 14th of August 1947. This was the period when the World War II had recently ended and many nations from Japan in the East to Germany in the West were rebuilding themselves from the ravages of war, which besides taking numerous human lives, was also a major setback to their economies. As a matter of fact, 79 years in a nation’s history is not long, but long enough to set the direction right. The two globally emerging alliances then were the capitalist and the communist. Siding with the capitalists, Pakistan was invited to join the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) of 1954 and Central Treat Organization of 1955 (CENTO) created to block communist expansion, and to secure strategic regions in which Pakistan played a meaningful role.
Located in South Asia with an area of over 800,000 km and with a coastline of 1100 km, Pakistan is labelled as the fifth largest country having a population of over 250 million with 60% youth under the age of 30 years. It is blessed with both human and natural resources which include available fertile lands having water networks and a comprehensive irrigation system which provide agriculture sector with the basic ingredients needed. Additionally, coal & gas reserves, copper fields, salt ranges, gold, gypsum, chromite, iron ore, and different varieties of rare earth from its extensive mineral deposits wait for it to be developed. Consequently, it has well established industrial base for textiles, cement, fertilizer, steel, automotive, sugar, engineering goods, leather and the list continue with industrial units providing value added goods.
Pakistan does not lack anything a nation can desire considering a diverse landscape ranging from the towering peaks of the Karakoram, Hindu Kush, and Himalaya mountain ranges in the north, including K2, down to the fertile plains of Punjab, the arid expanses of the Thar and Balochistan deserts, and the mangroves and beaches along the Arabian Sea coastline in the south.
Laurels were earned by the founding supervisors in every field since they had struggled for Pakistan and were very much on track with the teachings, wisdom and the vision of the Quaid, Mohammed Ali Jinnah had for the newly found Pakistan.
It is common knowledge that Pakistan’s economy in the 50’s and 60’s was amongst one of the fastest growing in the world and the most recognised in Asia. It was Japan which partnered with Pakistan in their initial growth seeking supplier’s credit from Pakistan to buy jute and raw cotton and in turn supply textile machinery, later. This was since textile was the only industry allowed to revive under Japan’s occupation which ended in 1952 after the World War and its sovereignty fully restored. Pakistan had sent its first trade mission to Japan under Mirza Abul Ispahani as early in September 1948 to review Japanese textile industry for Pakistan’s benefit. Few would know that the only Head of State ever to be received at the airport by the Emperor of Japan himself at the time, was the President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan. Pakistan was known as the “tower of strength” on the Japanese peace treaty signed on September 8th, 1951, at San Francisco as was stated by the then US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.
It was in 1961 that the first state visit ever by a Pakistani Head of State was made to meet his counterpart in Germany who recognised Pakistan as an example of successful development policy in a developing country and partnered with Pakistan to launch an industrial development program; hence becoming one of the first economic partners of Germany. It may even surprise many that Pakistan, in 1963 had loaned 120 million Rupees to Germany for development when the parity of the then Deutsche Mark was below the Pakistani Rupee at 0.75.
It was unfortunate for the country to have gone through an extremely bad patch extending over 2 decades because of regional turmoil and uncertainties. First on account of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and thereafter getting involved with the global war on terror after the 9/11 incident in America; not to mention the Iran-Iraq war lasting 8 years in the neighbourhood. Pakistan had become the front-line state fighting in both cases resulting in human losses of over 60 thousand innocent lives and billions of dollars in terms of economic losses. Pakistan had also in the meantime, denoted nuclear devises to counter the threats from India and in doing so faced sanctions which took a heavy toll on the economy. This is the period when Pakistan faced severe difficulties in overcoming the impediments that were created. Hope could have fast given way to despair, but Pakistan remained steadfast in maintaining a balance in the fast-changing geopolitical situation which even presently continues when we see Pakistan playing a pivotal mediatory role between waring nations one of which happens to be a close neighbour.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CEPC), with China agreeing to invest more than 50 billion dollars for infrastructure improvement and towards which, no less than the President of China himself visited Pakistan in 2015 to witness the signing of agreements in different sectors. This single phenomenon was being viewed to be the game changer for Pakistan in the days ahead since the Government of Pakistan had also made plans for 30 Special Economic Zones (SEZ’s) to be built alongside inviting foreign investors to benefit from the packages being announced by different provinces connecting with the Belt and Road initiative by China to follow.
Looking back, assessing the present, knowing the global positioning in the mediatory role played and accepting that all ingredients and advantages for a thriving existence are available, Pakistan needs to and is working towards the changes badly needed in the system to adopt itself with the present-day challenges in meeting the aspirations of its people. Pakistan Zindabad!
Nahin hai na umeed Iqbal apni kasht-e-veeran se,
Zara num ho to yeh mitti bari zarkhaiz hay saqi
Allama Muhammad Iqbal
