STEPHEN Cohen aptly stated that “the lesson of history is that you can’t get your economy right if you don’t get your politics right.” Politicians are supposed to resolve the chronic issues of a state. They can turn the impossible into the possible, or vice versa. Currently, the Government of Pakistan has nearly reached a breaking point in trying to find respite from various widespread concerns.
However, due to unprecedented issues and ongoing uncertainties, overcoming these challenges seems more difficult than ever. One of the state’s gravest concerns is the government’s proposed constitutional amendments, which inevitably await reform by the relevant authorities.
Pakistani politicians appear heedless of the state’s crucial concern, which is not just the economy but politics itself, the key to reform and success. No nation can achieve glory and development without political stability. Stable and sustained politics pave the way for good governance. In its current state, Pakistan is struggling to manage its resources effectively, which is directly linked to its progress.
A contemporary estimate suggests that around 65% of the country’s population is under thirty years of age. However, a troubling fact is that unemployment is rampant in Pakistan and is expected to grow further in the coming years. The IMF has projected that Pakistan’s unemployment rate will rise from 6.2% to 6.4% in the current fiscal year, and parliamentarians are expected to address this economic turmoil with a measured and constructive approach.
Though Pakistan is blessed with multi-dimensional resources—from natural resources to industrial corporations, geographic advantages, tourism, technical education and skills development—it continues to suffer from mismanagement. As W.B. Yeats aptly wrote in his poem The Second Coming: “Turning and turning in the widening gyre/The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.” This signifies that the policymakers—the centre—are unable to hold things together and act accordingly. The government’s proposed constitutional amendments have become the new riddle of the Sphinx, an emblem of political polarization.
Ultimately, both the economy and politics are essential for stability, development and success. As Otto von Bismarck said, “Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable—the art of the next best.” A robust political system can remove obstacles to progress and development, while a weak system can undermine even a strong economy. Unlike countries such as Syria, Ukraine,
Afghanistan and Yemen—torn apart by conflict—Pakistan has no such external cause for its political instability, which directly leads to economic turmoil. Politicians must eliminate intra-party hatred and enmity and pave the way for progress, peace, prosperity and quality education. Otherwise, such a political system is vulnerable to collapse, chaos and challenges that will threaten its legitimacy and efficiency.
—The writer is Lecturer at University of Loralai, Balochistan
