Is IT the Panacea?

Re: ROmair

In democratic systems, all political parties are allowed to exist and participate in elections. If they are indeed horrible, the voters will take care of them and eliminate them. The voters decide, not the military. Simple concept, isn`t it?

And surely the mighty Pakistani army can ensure fair elections if it wanted to, right? Sure it has lost several wars to India but an election is much easier to manage.

Re: AAmir

What has got you shakin in your shalwar? As for the story, I read an identical story about an incident in Pakistan. But there was a difference. There the daughter was actually killed by the father and brother in a karo-kari festival.

Re: Zahra

Chill out sista. I think scout`s post was meant to illustrate a point, not necessarily to be taken literally, word-for-word.

Isa,

Another aspect that is totally missing in pakistan is the openeness of the society. In india, many have asked, why did the IT flourish in bangalore and not in the `literate` state of kerala. Kerala is a repressive state, they do not encourage people of other states, it is not a `melting` pot, rather a rigid segmented place, not ideal for the confluence of ideas needed for an emerging human activity.

The image of the leader of the IT uno country, Clinton, drving on the wrong side of the road, after a decoy assisted flight, is not the best of invitation to any one.

regards

jay

Hamidm #2: Good post, as usual!

ROmair #8: I think you have said it all. We need to look at the benefits of IT with a clear eye. Providing software services at low cost to US and Europe can be a major revenue earner and create some jobs. If the money is wisely spent, it may invigorate the local economy.

However, there are other uses of IT too. If you increase the access to the Internet to a larger percentage of the populace, you can have more transperancy in governance, freer access to information, and lower transaction costs.

For example, Indian Railways web-site provides information on train timings, seat availability, latest RAC/waiting list status of your ticket etc. Probably Pak Railways has something similar too. This is N times more important and useful to the common man than any hi-fi stuff.

The only democracy good for Pakistan is Government of the military, for the military and by the military.

And will remain good until Pakistan will have its Military democratic Government restricted to Northern Punjab.

RSaxena if you can annihilate Pakistan Military without harming people of Pakistan. I will join hands with you in eliminiating the curse on Pakistan for 53 years.

But IT is good for Pakistan. It is politically correct to say these days.

In Tiloon Mein Ub Tel Nahin Hai.

Studebaker #18

I don`t think Pakistan should let such stories come in the way of its IT program. Every industry goes through phases of rapid advancement and slowdown. At the level of national policy what matters is not short-term cyclic behavior but trends over longer periods of time.

I agree with Scout on this one. Both India and Pakistan need to make a two-pronged attack: one at the forefronts of IT, the other at the basic education level, deploying resources generated from one to feed the other.

Zahra #19,

My ``IT mahal`` example related to Pakistan was a hypothetical one, read my post again.

Don`t be so defensive about anything negative about Pakistan.

Zahra #19,

My ``IT mahal`` example related to Pakistan was a hypothetical, read my post again.

Don`t be so defensive about anything negative about Pakistan.

Scout:

The example that you brought up was highlighted in New York Times about Banglore. Pakistan has not reached that level yet. I suggest before you utter your random points you realize the context.

Thanks!

RSexana # 13 ``Neither IT nor democracy are good for Pakistan.``

Actually both IT (immdiately) and democracy (in the long run) are very good for Pakistan. However, ARD, PPP, and PML are definitely not good for Pakistan. I am surprised you equate democracy with the ARD. Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the group of people who constitute the ARD. These people love democracy about as much as you love Pakistan.

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Zahra #11, ``It seemed that the Indian discrepancies were given a Pakistani name.``

Nope, these discrepancies exist in Pakistan as well. One would have to be blind not to think so.

Let`s not shy away from the truth here.

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Neither IT nor democracy are good for Pakistan.

``LAHORE, Pakistan, March 23 (AFP) -

An extra 6,000 police threw a security blanket over this eastern Pakistani city Friday as political groups vowed to go ahead with a democracy rally on the country`s national day, police said.

Police were posted at all major intersections and ringed with barbed wire the historic Mochi Gate park in the heart of the city to prevent demonstrators from gathering there.

At least 90 people were arrested, including seven senior members of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD), bringing to 27 the number of ARD leaders detained since Wednesday, police said.

Twenty-five female members of the Pakistan People`s Party, including the political secretary to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, led police on a brief car chase through the city before being taken into custody.

They were seen chanting slogans from three vans before police intervened about one kilometer (mile) from Mochi Gate.

Another 15 women were taken into custody as they appeard on a road and shouted slogans against the regime.

ARD president and protest organiser Nawabzada Nasrullah was also placed under virtual house arrest ``to ensure no one violates the law,`` said Deputy Inspector of Police Javed Noor.

``We will reach the venue (Mochi Gate) no matter whether they seal it with barbed wire or concrete walls,`` Nasrullah told AFP shortly before police surrounded his home.``