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Serious setbacks for political economy of Pakistan |
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By Mehmood-Ul-Hasan Khan
Politics plays very important role in economic development and political stability is supposed to be the essential for the continuation of macro economic policies. Unfortunately, the frequent agitation by the opposition party/ parties has brought the political system to disrepute. The chaos created by strike calls, looting and burning has created some unrest, which has multiplier effects on the economics of the country. Examples of South Korea, India, Japan, China and many others verify this notion.
Unfortunate happenings
The current wave of political uncertainty has created doubts in the eyes of domestic as well as foreign-investors. The deteriorating law and order situation in the country, vote of no confidence, killing of Nawab Bugti and Wana operations have forced foreign investors to pullout their money from Pakistan. Massive capital flights have been noticed from the stock exchanges.
Twelve countries ejected capital from Pakistani stock markets in the first two months of the current fiscal year. It is a total disinvestment of $36.15 million.
Economic consequences of the strike
We must ask a question, why strikes? What is gained from these strikes and how it helps the incident for which these strike calls are made? Not long ago, the Nastar Park incident ended up with a call for three days strike and ended up in damage to shops and businesses, loss to educational system and millions of people suffered due to three days closure of nearly all business and financial activities.
This time, a “shutter-down and wheel-jam” strike across Balochistan and Karachi resulted in death, injuries, arson and damage to public and private properties. At least 45 vehicles, scores of shops, banks and government buildings were ransacked or set on fire.
Hundreds of rioters were taken into custody. More than 8 people were killed. The Quetta-Karachi routes were blocked at Mastung and the Hub Bridge, while the Quetta-Nushki highway, Quetta-Sibi road and the coastal highways were blocked at several points too.
A branch of the agriculture bank was damaged at Wadh and protesters ransacked the tehsil and union council offices in Naal and Chagai, respectively. The business community and transporters kept shops closed or vehicles off roads. Attendance in offices was negligible.
The big question is, those who give strike calls are they friends of Pakistan and Pakistani people?
Industrial activities in Balochistan
The four industrial sites in Balochistan namely Hub Industrial Estate, Uthal industrial area, Gadani industrial area and Winder industrial area pay 75 per cent of tax generated in the province. However, because of these disturbances, they were closed.
According to latest reports, activities in Hub Industrial Estate (200 units) with some major manufacturers of textiles, polyester, chemicals, marble, auto parts, tyres and other products and other industrial and commercial areas of Balochistan had been paralysed for two days after the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti.
Employees of these units were unable to reach their destinations because of lack of transportation resulting in losses amounting to millions of rupees to the country. The metropolis and other areas of Balochistan observed complete shutter-down strikes and mobs set ablaze many office buildings and shops of consumer market.
The president of Lasbela Chamber of Commerce and Industry [LCCI] President Mohammad Aslam suggested that industries in the area had suffered billion of rupees in production losses. The general strike of September 1 added salts to their wounds. Demonstrations and rallies were staged in interior Sindh too. All business centres, markets and shops remained shuttered while transport was off the roads in Quetta, Turbat, Mund, Buleda, Dasht, Tamp, Naukundi, Saindak, Khuzdar, Taftan, Usta Muhammad, Gandakha, Jhall Magsi, Naseer Abad and Dera Allahyar.
Losses to PR
Pakistan Railways is bearing great losses due to non-operation of trains. Railway traffic on the 141-kilometre track between Quetta and Sibi has been closed till further orders after widespread riots. Bolan Mail and Balochistan Express trains that run between Karachi and Quetta are not being operated up to Sibi.
Economic dangers
The ongoing wave of defiance and destruction in Balochistan may spoil the development efforts of the government. The federal government should realise the situation and deal with political wisdom and use the power of bullets. The Baloch people’s grievances, especially their demand for a fresh look at the quantum of provincial autonomy are still very much there and Akbar Bugti’s death has not solved any of these problems.
The honest truth is that in Blochistan, has been kept deprived of economic activities, progress and has remained backward due to vested interests of many tribal chiefs.
It is a tussle between feudalism and the writ of the government, which must prevail and it seems that feudal lords see that as lessening of their power over their people in the area. The unfortunate death of Akbar Bugti has badly disrupted the Balochistan’s economy and government’s efforts of development.
On a different note, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz survived the no-confidence move against him in the National Assembly. However, the government now needs to carryon their agenda of reforms towards financial discipline, transparency, accountability and merit.
However, the Jamaat-i-Islami chief has hinted that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal may part ways with the Balochistan coalition government in view of the situation in the province. The opposition has failed on nearly all counts and now is looking for ways to regain some credibility. Will they achieve this by submitting their resignations is yet to be seen?
Conclusion
The government should initiate meaningful and effective economic development activities throughout the province and generate opportunities of employments so that people may come out of the influences of feudal lords and participate in constructive works in the days to come. A failure to do so can put the entire economic development package of Rs130 billion at risk.
And last but not the least, the opposition must not try to gain political mileage by provoking the politics of dead bodies in the days to come since this can very well derail the ongoing economic prosperity for all the people of Pakistan.
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