Current issues of Pakistan

(Humaira Arshad, Daska)

Islamic Republic of Pakistan was established in 1947, a high populated country, full of natural resources and more than 60 years of independence but still not respected in the world community. In less than 30 years of independence, it’s one wing gets separated (Bangladesh). Remaining part till today is living on IMF, World Bank and foreign donations. Majority of the population is living in rural areas without basic necessities of life. There are so many issues which are facing by Pakistan, including terrorism, electricity load-shedding, unstable economy, fewer educational facilities, poverty, high population growth rate and Kashmir issue etc. These issues exist in Pakistan right from its independence but now these issues are on their peak.

Among all these issues Terrorism is one of the most terrible issues in Pakistan. Pakistan is one of those countries which are being affected by the terrorism activities in their premises; Due to terrorism there is loss of monetary, loss of lives, and even the loss of national peace and dignity. Pakistan is going through hard times under the hand of terrorism activities. The start of terrorism in Pakistan was late in 2007 when the incident of Lal Masjid took place but the terrorism has peaked to its extent in the last one decade. Taliban do many attacks at different places of Pakistan but Peshawar army public school attack is so miserable. Many innocent children’s and their teachers died and several injured. So the Prime Minister of Pakistan took a great action against this attack and called all political parties at one table for deciding next action. At the end of this meeting our Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced army operation against terrorists with the name of Zarb-e-Azab. The Prime Minister also announced 20 points of anti-terrorism for eliminating terrorism in Pakistan. But still terrorism affected the Pakistani nation in immense adverse manner as it has destroyed the national economy as well as the national goodwill of our country in the eyes of the international world.

As Electricity crises in Pakistan is another major issues which are hindering the economic growth of Pakistan. Electricity in Pakistan is generated, transmitted, distributed and retail supplied by two vertically integrated public sector utilities: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) for all of Pakistan (except Karachi), and the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) for the City of Karachi and its surrounding areas. There are around 16 independent power producers that contribute significantly in electricity generation in Pakistan. For years, the matter of balancing Pakistan’s supply against the demand for electricity has remained a largely unresolved matter. Pakistan faces a significant challenge in revamping its network responsible for the supply of electricity.

Contrary to Pakistani government and expatriate claims, Pakistan suffers from a massive electricity shortage. Electricity generation in Pakistan has shrunk by 50% in recent years due to an over reliance on hydroelectric power. In 2008, availability of power in Pakistan falls short of the population’s needs by 15% Pakistan was hit by its worst power crisis in 2007, after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the following riots. Production fell by 6000 Megawatts and massive blackouts followed suit. The blame was laid on the then president, Pervez Musharraf, and was instrumental in his defeat. Load Shedding (deliberate blackouts) and power blackouts have become severe in Pakistan in recent years. The main issue with Pakistan’s poor power generation is raising political instability, together with rising demands for power and lack of efficiency.

Political instability is also one of the big issues in Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif government is facing many problems due to the rigging of election in 2013.PTI ( Pakistan Tehreek e insaf) and many other political parties agree that in the election of 2013 PML (N) (Pakistan Muslim League noon) do strong rigging. Imran Khan announced long march against this election rigging in the capital of Pakistan. He created huge disturbance for public and government but in the end he did not achieve his goal. Tahir-ul-Qadri also join this long march of Imran Khan which held in 14 August. Both leaders defeated badly and the public backed home hopeless. Besides this the early days of Nawaz Sharif have very trouble but now they are trying to fulfill this gab bravely.

Although Kashmir issue is another most conflict between India and Pakistan and both countries have fought three wars. During these wars thousands of innocent people will killed and many in prisons on India. Pakistan is doing every effort to solve this issue at every level include international conferences held in United States.

Another brutal curse on Pakistan is poverty. Poverty is basically when people do not have access to basic necessities of life such as food, clothing and shelter. The natural disaster, political instability and high inflation have played its vital role in making this poverty dragon more giant and devastating. Due to poverty people adopt illegal and unethical way of earning that might include begging, theft, stealing and even robbery. This effects the law and order situations of the country. According to an analysis conducted by the government of Pakistan shows that the poverty has increased roughly from 30% to 40% during the past decade that means people’s earning is not enough to meet their basic needs. Consider that if 40%of a country’s population is earning their life below the poverty-line in which the people are deprived of basic necessities of life such as clothing, shelter, food, education and medication, such families and their children will be forced to think of their survival only.

Although High growth of population is also major issue of Pakistan. In 2009, the population increased rate was 2.98% per annum which has gone up with the passage of time to 3.1% per annum. The present increase in the population in the Pakistan considered being the highest in the world which is highest alarming in view of scarcity of the resources. Low literacy rate, joint family system, poor economic conditions and many more are main factors which have contributed a great deal towards the enormous increase in population.

Other main issue of Pakistan is unstable Pakistan economy. The main cause of the economic breakdown is the social and economic system. The failure to start running the closed or sick industrial units and to set up new ones has partly halted industrial progress. Pakistan slackness is the failure of the nationalized factors and manufacturing centers to improve their working by offsetting the negative results of socialization and nationalization. The banks and other financial institutions functioned faultily which is also cause of Pakistan economic instability. Due to this instability Pakistan’s GDP growth rate remains low , current GDP rate is almost 21.1% which is very low as compared to other countries.

As the Pakistan’s education is continuously developing this is eventually helping the development of the entire nation. One of the drawbacks which Pakistan’s education is facing is low investment of the public in this sector, which is only almost 2% to 2.2% of the total GDP.Due to low investment the illiteracy rate in Pakistan is high. Although the provincial government has stated to increase investment to almost 7% which would be miracle if achieved. Despite of this Pakistan produces almost 445000 universities graduates and almost 10000 computer science graduates, which shows that still Pakistan has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world.

Pakistan is also facing a health crisis with rising rates of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which disproportionately affect poor families, with possible side effects of disability and premature death, and worsening poverty as people pay for medical treatment out of their own pockets.The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 4 million cases of diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, and skin conditions that had largely resulted from the flood conditions. Cholera outbreaks have also been reported from flood-affected areas. Furthermore, dreaded diseases such as dengue and Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fevers have been reported from the field, along with measles encephalitis and neonatal tetanus. This is also main issue of Pakistan.

Although Zarbe-e Azab operation is working perfectly against terrorists but government of Pakistan should take other strong measures to eliminate terrorism in Pakistan. Government of Pakistan should also think about electricity problem and electricity should be supplied according to its demand. Government should take effective steps in order to control the rapid growth rate of population and should give awareness to the people related to the disadvantages of the rapid growth rate of population. As the poverty is prevailing fastly in the country ,government must resolved this problem before it becomes national issue. And the most important thing is that government should more financing in education sector so that literacy rate can increase. Government must also provide better cheap or free health facilities to the people (specially to poor people).Government must adopt effective steps for the progress of economy because a stable economy is the indication of development in the country. in this way Pakistan can solve all these issues and can be considered as developed country.

Humaira Arshad
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