HAPPY 77th birthday Pakistan! As the saying goes “you have come a long way baby”. Admittedly, the journey may have taken a turn for the worst over the past decade or so, and maybe we are at one of the lowest points in our history. But, I am full of realistic hope and confidence that if we focus and act with deliberation and sincerity of purpose, Pakistan will be a powerhouse on the world stage in ten years. Let us make the winning of the Gold Medal by Arshad Nadeem a starting point. Not unlike current day Pakistan, he had very few financial resources, belonged to a very large yet poor family, had no substantial supporters and precious few sponsors. The similarities between the situation of Arshad and current day Pakistan are uncanny. However, despite the shortfalls, he worked with passion and faith, never looked back, and eventually rose to shatter world records to secure a Olympic Gold Medal- a Gold for Pakistan after 40 years. Is he a microcosm of the emerging Pakistan? Absolutely. So, I am certain that we can accomplish as a nation what Arshad achieved as an individual.
Another facet where Arshad has shown Pakistan a new direction is with his show of camaraderie and graciousness towards his main competitor, Neeraj Chopra of India. How they congratulated and hugged each other is without equal. Not just they, but their respective mothers have each said that their son’s competitor is like their own child. God bless you all, the players and their mothers! If Pakistan and India (and Bangladesh) can form a workable union and follow the example of these two athletes and their mothers, the subcontinent will become the largest trading block in the world by 2035 when Pakistan will be 300 million people, India 1.6 billion and Bangladesh nearing 200 million. Combined, the three will have a population of 2.1 billion from the collective 8.9 billion of the world. That would make the three nations almost a quarter of the world, with unfathomable economic potential.
Speaking of Bangladesh, I spent almost 12 years in Bangladesh and have a fairly good sense of the country. My work concentrated on the development of 16 business sectors which gave me an opportunity to mix with the poorest of people, the self earners, the small enterprises, the bureaucracy and the political elite. Our work contributed substantially to the economic growth of Bangladesh, so it is with mixed emotions I see the turmoil engulfing the country. Knowing my background, people have asked me to offer my thoughts on the latest developments in Bangladesh. I have refrained from talking about Bangladesh because I don’t want to comment lest I inadvertently hurt some while they are down, but here are my two cents vis-a-vis lessons for Pakistan. First, tyranny can never last for long. Sheikh Hasina ruled as an increasingly undemocratic force for 15 years and to me the surprise is not that the revolution happened, but why it took so long. Bangladeshis have a low tolerance for undemocratic rule and can be quick to political passion. Belated yes, but the revolution was foreseeable and bound to happen. Kudos to the students and people of Bangladesh. Given our youth bulge, we need to be mindful of ourselves. Further to this point, another lesson from the Bangladesh example is that aged leaderships of the world do not understand the mindset of Gen Z. They have shown in recent turmoil in Bangladesh and elections in Pakistan, Thailand, UK, France and other countries that they have a short fuse for dictatorial, nepotistic and dynastic rulers. Plus, they rightfully feel that older generations have failed them and they want to take control of their destinies.
Leaders need to be cognizant of the power behind this mindset and need to take action to provide them opportunities, lest they fall victim to similar revolutions. Finally, and perhaps critically for Pakistan, since 1971, Bangladesh has had a pro-India, anti-Pakistan bias. This revolution is the first time in Bangladesh’s history that Bangladeshis have realized that India is perhaps not in their best interest, and have turned on India. I don’t expect them to become pro-Pakistan necessarily, but an open eyed and neutral Bangladesh is good for the region and good for Pakistan. We should in turn reach out and support them, just as the mothers of Nadeem and Chopra have voiced support for each other’s sons. The current situation can lead to a bright partnership for the future for South Asia.
Pakistan has limitless potential. By 2035, we will be the 4th largest country in the world. We are and will be the top 6 military powers. Our economy will be the top 20 in GDP-PPP terms and yes, we are and will be one of the nine nuclear powers. The average of these rankings will place us at the top 5 percent of the nations of the world. However, we need to work toward economic self sufficiency and I see hope on that front. We have a military leadership that wants to let the political process continue with minimal interference. Concurrently, new political thought and parties (e.g. Awaam Pakistan) of educated and decent leaders are emerging who are focusing on drawing implementable strategies and roadmaps to fix the nations systems and structures. I am also full of hope that Pakistan can add USD 100 billion to its GDP by 2035 by establishing new sectors (grass root agro-processing, Gandhara based tourism, employment of youth in new initiatives, engagement of women in the workforce, etc) on which I have written a separate article. Let us not focus on where we are. Let us look ahead like Arshad Nadeem and toil, and work, and dedicate ourselves to a single cause; to make Pakistan a powerhouse of the world by 2035. Happy Birthday Pakistan. You will go a long way motherland!
—The writer is a former Senior Advisor to the Government.
