Watching Poverty Grow

Re: # 136
Khyber
They beg for aid and make no effort at increasing revenue by collecting tax on agricultural income. The feudal-lords, military and the mullas may eat up all foreign aid and Pakistan could find itself at the brink of collapse again.

Re: # 135malikR...I agree,so Zardari is custodian of Pakistan's begging bowl now,can someone tell me what happens to all that money we get in aid and charity in our begging bowl from all over the World???
http://pukhtunkhwatimes.blogspot.com/

Re: # 131
Khyber
I think Iran publishes the most books compared to other muslim countries. True, that the participation of muslims from muslim countries is severely hampered by the state's sanctioning and censure of material. Such atmosphere discourages scholarship and research which translates in poor literacy rates as well as the number of books published.

On the eve of independence, Mr.Jinnah held out a glorious vision for Pakistan's future, a vision of a prosperous and tolerant people, a responsible government free from corruption, nepotism and jobbery, and an enlightened society. This was the spirit of 1947.Over Sixty years on we are nowhere close to that vision. By the age of 63 a COUNTRY - like a man - should have achieved a certain maturity. After decades of existence we know, for good and for bad, who we are, what we have done and how we appear to others. But unfortunately, Pakistan remains curiously immature,a Country with less then 50% rate of literacy can’t bring political wisdom that usually accompanies age. But today the country's national narrative of macho victimhood appears to the rest of the world as simply bizarre.Who is responsible for that???The elite, bourgeious, feudal politicians,mullhas,civilian and military bureaucracy.
http://pukhtunkhwatimes.blogspot.com/

Re: # 131
Good Point Khyber. At the time of French revolution in 1780s, there were many libraries and literacy rate was high. Lack of focus on education and the pressure to censure all that does not fit the so-called moral criteria has kept us backward.

Re: # 130
Mr. Haq
I am overawed by all the advice and lecture on participation. As you would know, lesser mortals like me indulge most of their waking hours worrying about a livelihood, family and friends. In this mortal cycle of birth, procreation and death, we happen to do good inadvertently or without a deliberate decision. With some disdain for the smallness of our contribution, publicity of our share could be shameful for us. Without any comparison to your towering achievements in life, I went through the usual cycle of learning, making friends, a family and associations like other ordinary individuals. Communicating with others on the basis of my life experience and listening to others is pleasureable time for me. It is like having a beer with friends. My life experience does have a few bitter and sad stories and I do not find it necessary to describe them in any other way but as sad and bitter.
Thank You.

Around 6,000 books are published in United States every year. In Pakistan, or for that matter, in rest of the Islamic world, the number of books published every year hardly crosses the triple digits. Isn't the cause of our downfall obvious? Time to stop blaming the west for our own failings,stop living in denial.
http://pukhtunkhwatimes.blogspot.com/

Re: # 129
malik, As you proclaim your faith in democracy and its ability to solve all of the serious problems you also highlight, it is important that you understand what democracy means as it is practiced in developed nations of the world, where it does help the average people escape hunger and poverty and illiteracy.

Just voting and selecting the rulers by free and fair elections is only the beginning. And then the real job of governance begins. It requires active participation of the people at all levels who understand their rights and obligations of being citizens of a democratic society.

Here are a couple of quotes from Alex de Tocqueville's book "Democracy in America":

"The health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens."

"Americans of all ages, all stations of life and all types of disposition are forever forming associations. There are not only commercial and industrial associations in which all take part, but others of a thousand types-religious, moral, serious, futile, very general and very limited, immensely large and very minute."

If democracy were a magic wand and a panacea, we would see a real "Shining"example of it next door. The reality, as we all know it, is quite the opposite. Democracy in India has failed to solve even the basic issues of widespread hunger and poverty.




Riaz Haq, PakAlumni Worldwide

Re: # 128
While you are stuck between military dictatorship and a bloody revolution the people of Pakistan will like to keep their democracy and achieve their rights. Truth sounds cynical to those who live in complete disregard of their surroundings.

Re: # 126
I think you are barking up the wrong tree.

You have an extremely ambitious agenda, with a cynical attitude toward all of the institutions in Pakistan.

You keep talking about eradicating the feudal system, emasculating the military, giving provinces their rights and putting an end to religious zealotry before attempting to help the people in whatever modest way you can. In other words, you want nothing short of a revolution NOW! In the meanwhile, you want to let the problems grow and fester. Maybe you believe in sowing the seeds of a revolution by letting the problems get much worse. But revolutions are often bloody and their outcomes unpredictable. Those who wish for a revolution often become its first victims.

Your political obsessions prevent you from seeing what is the most effective way NOW to help the people who are hurting the most. And how to empower them the best way you can short of a revolution.

While I disagree with your course, it's obviously up to you to decide in your own conscience what is best for you and what you do for the causes you care about.
Riaz Haq, PakAlumni Worldwide

Re: # 125
Political change cannot happen until people are prosperous and educated, you insist, but that is totally wrong. Political changes occurred in and around us during our life-time. East Pakistan seceded. Your conclusion that democracy has failed in Pakistan is also wrong. Democracy in Pakistan has never been accomodated by the over-bearing army and their allies. If Pakistan has to live, it must go through the required political changes democratically.

Re: # 125
I never advised you to stop supporting Pakistan military.
Did I?
You are obviously anguished by my politacal stance. The government and institutions in Pakistan run a campaign against those who raise sensible voice in politics. They are denied jobs and out-casted. With growth of media and technology, somebody like me finds a space to write critically about Pakistan military/government, feudal-lords and mullas but it hurts some like twitter is hurting the mullas of Iran.

Re: # 124
Political change can not be brought about in the absence of a critical mass of people who are reasonably well-educated and well-fed and care enough about their fellow citizens.

If you want to end the madrassah style charity that brainwashes young people into becoming terrorists, then you have to offer an alternative. Both civilian and military governments have clearly failed to provide such an alternative. So critics such as you and I have to do it.

But you need to change tracks from your entirely political agenda and focus to a more human-centered agenda. That's the best way for us to influence the situation right now.
Riaz Haq, PakAlumni Worldwide

Re: # 123
Participation in charity does not replace the importance of political change. Charity foundations that have the blessings of the military preach hatred and convert poor, jobless youth into fidais.

Re: # 118
malikrashid,
The welfare city of Rashidabad, located near Hyderabad Sind and spread over 100 acres, has a number of schools, dorms, hospitals, orphanages etc. The entire complex has been built and is being run by various private trusts and foundations to help the poor get education, food, housing and healthcare. Replicating this effort all over the country can make a significant difference in the lives of the rural poor.

I think we should all participate in and support such efforts to give hope to the people under the horrible feudal/tribal systems.

There is a good post on Rashidabad on Pakistaniat.com website. Here's the link: http://pakistaniat.com/2009/06/24/rashidabad/
Riaz Haq, PakAlumni Worldwide

Re: # 121
This is the easiest thing for the government. Sardars were awarded lands by the British. If some infrastructure and access allowing people to move freely and work could be managed, Sardari system would lose control over people.