Rizwan Ghani
IN Pakistan, the standoff on APC and other developments including Afghanistan show that there is need for mega shift in our policies. Covid-19 has put the existing world economic, political and foreign policy systems on hold but Pakistan is safe so it should review its situation and benefit from it. It is a good opportunity to prepare for post-pandemic world and use it to our advantage. But most of the policies being made in Islamabad don’t seem to be helping economy, public and other national interests. In foreign policy terms, India is occupying Kashmir but it has been given trade access to CARS through Pakistan. PM has adopted a conciliatory tone in his op-ed for mutual benefit but it appears that West has gotten away with Kashmir and regional trade. The re-opening of Wagha border under Pak-Afghan trade agreement is its proof. It is a foreign policy blunder. If peace is ultimate objective in Afghanistan, then as per international law foreign forces should withdraw. The proposal of continuation of Afghan occupation is self defeating. Only Afghanistan’s integration in the regional trade is going to guarantee permanent peace in the region. On the contrary, Modi is securing India’s interests in the region with the help of the West. But he is also engaging with China. He extended olive branch to China in his UNGA address to protect India’s $85bn annual trade despite border situation. Delhi has made defense deals with Moscow. In Pakistan’s case, India will thwart any effort including American to bring peace in Afghanistan because its aim is to destroy Pakistan. India needs war in Afghanistan to be useful for West, secure regional trade through Pakistan to avoid China, control Afghanistan, and in turn get NATO like free US security protection. It is in the national interest of India and its allies that Afghan war never ends so that Pakistan collapses internally. Pakistan should get India removed from Afghanistan otherwise its waste of time.
Our economy is being kept in poor state to control our foreign policy. Policies of SBP and Finance Ministry incurring irreversible losses are cases in point. A case pending in the SC should be opened to bring culprits to justice. Pakistan is surrounded by world’s leading exporting nations but India is being facilitated in the regional trade which will have irreversible consequences on our economy, industry and jobs. Loans, tax breaks and subsidies are not a permanent solution. We need to adopt domestic consumption based economic model, traditional banking, restore saving and pension accounts, and state controlled departments to rebuild our economy. It can be done with help of value addition, SME, vocational & technical skill, IT, food and water security and seed banks. Pakistan kept out of global economy on one pretext or the other. PM UNGA address to recover stolen money has fallen on deaf ears. West uses stolen money to stimulate their economies. After fall of the (former) Soviet Union, European Central Bank took control of CARS money and Europe benefitted. Today, EU has given $2.2tn stimulus package from the international banking system that is sitting on $6.5tn stolen from the third world. According ICIJ, Europe is not serious about AML. Pakistan should register cases in local high courts to recover stolen public funds. All financial institutions, central banks and cities dealing in dirty money laundering are obliged under international anti-money laundering laws. Their details are available in British and US media and US FinCEN report.
If we divide the world economy in pre and post Covid-19 eras, then history shows that Pakistan was blocked in its first half. It is evident from the data of per capita income ($1235, 139th), average wage ($1,724, highest $30,400) and 70% population living below international poverty level. As per one commentator, we have two economic systems in which rich get richer and poor get poorer. The businesses of our politicians are expanding while country’s economy is in asf shambles, debt ridden and public services are disappearing. Look at our elite tax record, their life styles and culture of immunity. The system of finance, education and travel visas is made for the rich only. Its continuation in post pandemic era is going to bring same old results with no benefit to public. Without bringing state backed system, average Pakistani will suffer due to privatization, globalization and denied integration in global community as compared to their western counterparts who enjoy visa free access to 100 countries. On political front, there is need to bring genuine reforms to strengthen democracy. Accountability should be done across board to end mega corruption. Political parties’ laws should be changed to end dynastic politics. Lawmakers cannot defend corruption of party leaders because it is illegal under any law, norm or practice. If EC fails to act then judiciary should scrap it. PM should also play his part because defending corruption is also corruption. There should be no immunity for lawmakers because democracy protects weak against the strong. Johnson’s standoff on Brexit showed that court can always send a sitting PM to jail. In 14th Century a British monarch rejected minister’s plea for privacy for having second wife because you get paid with public money. It’s law in parliamentary form of democracy to keep lawmakers life public.
—The writer is senior political analyst based in Islamabad.
