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Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pakistan at crossroads
Since its birth in 1947, Pakistan has journeyed through triumphs, turbulence, and tenacity. Forged in the crucible of Partition, it inherited fractured infrastructure, a fragile economy, and a volatile neighbourhood. Yet within decades, Pakistan defied odds—building institutions, nurturing civil society, and asserting strategic relevance. Today, the question is no longer what went wrong. It is: how do we finally get it right? Pakistan's early years were defined by institutional consolidation and diplomatic agility. The establishment of a robust military, a functioning bureaucracy, and a legal framework laid the foundation for statecraft. The Green Revolution in agriculture, the Indus Basin irrigation system, and major dams like Tarbela and Mangla transformed food security and energy access. In science and technology, Pakistan made bold strides. The nuclear program -culminating in the 1998 tests - was a testament to strategic resolve. SUPARCO, though underfunded, laid early groundwork for satellite development. In medicine and philanthropy, figures like Abdul Sattar Edhi and Dr. Adeeb Rizvi built institutions that rival global benchmarks. Pakistan also produced two Nobel laureates whose achievements continue to inspire. Dr. Abdus Salam, a theoretical physicist, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering work in electroweak theory. Malala Yousafzai - the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate - became a beacon for youth empowerment and gender equity. Karachi, once the beating heart of Pakistan's commercial enterprise; Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was not only a symbol of national pride - it was a global leader; helping launch Emirates, Air Malta, and other carriers. Culturally, Pakistan's literary, musical, and artistic heritage flourished. From Faiz Ahmed Faiz's poetry to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's qawwali, Pakistan projected soft power that transcended borders. In sports, Pakistan once dominated the global stage - world champions in hockey, squash, and cricket. The 1992 World Cup win united a divided nation, while legends like Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan inspired generations. Yet these achievements coexist with chronic underperformance. Political instability -punctuated by military coups, judicial overreach, and dynastic politics - has eroded democratic continuity. Civil-military imbalance remains a structural fault line, often stalling reform and undermining civilian authority. Economic mismanagement has been another Achilles' heel. Despite abundant natural resources - coal, copper, gas, and fertile land - Pakistan has struggled with fiscal discipline, tax reform, and industrial diversification. Reliance on foreign aid and IMF bailouts has created a cycle of dependency, stifling innovation and self-reliance. Education and health sectors remain underfunded and unevenly distributed. Literacy rates hover below regional averages; public health infrastructure is overstretched; brain drains continues to sap talent, while youth unemployment fuels disillusionment. Security challenges - ranging from terrorism to sectarian violence - have diverted resources and attention from development. The war on terror cost: thousands of lives lost, billions spent, and a tarnished global image. Why Pakistan has not realized its potential The answer lies in a convergence of internal contradictions and external pressures. Internally, Pakistan has struggled to build consensus on national priorities. Ethnic divisions, provincial disparities, and ideological polarization have fragmented policymaking. The absence of long-term planning - replaced by reactive governance - has led to policy reversals and institutional fatigue. Externally, Pakistan's geopolitical location - while strategic - has often been a double-edged sword. Entanglements in Cold War alliances, the Afghan conflict, and regional rivalries have shaped foreign policy more than domestic imperatives. Strategic depth often came at the expense of economic breadth. Moreover, Pakistan's elite capture - where a narrow segment controls wealth, influence, and policy - has perpetuated inequality and stifled meritocracy. Land reforms were never fully implemented. Industrial cartels and monopolies have resisted competition. The disconnect between governance and grassroots needs remains stark. The tragedy of East Pakistan's secession in 1971 was a watershed moment - born of political neglect, economic disparity, and cultural alienation. Yet, half a century later, the lessons remain unlearned. In Balochistan, similar patterns of marginalization persist. Pakistan must treat every province not as a periphery, but as a partner. The path forward: Six pillars of renewal: Institutional reform and rule of law: Strengthen democratic institutions, ensure judicial independence, and depoliticize civil services. Accountability must be institutional - not episodic. Economic diversification and innovation: Move beyond textiles and agriculture. Invest in IT, renewable energy, and value-added manufacturing. Reform taxation and document the informal economy. Education and human capital: Declare a national education emergency. Reform curricula, train teachers, and expand vocational and digital learning. Scale public-private partnerships in health and education; Regional connectivity and peace diplomacy: Pivot from confrontation to cooperation. Trade with neighbours, cultural exchanges and regional infrastructure can build trust and strategic depth. Climate resilience and sustainability: Prioritize water management, reforestation, and disaster preparedness. Integrate green infrastructure into urban planning. Civic engagement and narrative sovereignty: Reclaim Pakistan's story. Empower youth, promote pluralism, and foster inclusive discourse through media, academia, and civil society. A nation waiting to rise Pakistan's journey has been neither linear nor easy - but its resilience is undeniable. It has weathered wars, disasters, and internal strife. What it now demands is not just reform, but renewal. A new social contract - rooted in equity, accountability, and aspiration - can unlock the promise long deferred. Pakistan's potential is not theoretical - it is tangible. It lives in its classrooms and clinics, its startups and studios, its villages and cities. It pulses through the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan, the deserts of Thar, the shores of Gwadar, and the streets of Karachi - once a global aviation hub and cradle of commercial dynamism. It echoes in the hopes of Balochistan's youth - long marginalized, now central to the nation's future. The time for hesitation is over. The time for transformation is now. The article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Business Recorder or its owners.
Business Recorder
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Maryam pays tribute to Sattar Edhi on anniversary
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that she salutes Abdul Sattar Edhi for his selfless public service. She highlighted, 'Abdul Sattar Edhi's life teaches us a lesson that if the passion is sincere, even a single individual can serve the humanity.' She paid glowing tributes to Abdul Sattar Edhi on his eighth death anniversary. She outlined, 'Abdul Sattar Edhi is the pride of Pakistan. His name will live till eternity. People like Abdul Sattar Edhi are the ascension of humanity and the glamour of society. Serving humanity without any greed for years speaks volumes of Abdul Sattar Edhi's distinctive, unparalleled and humane feature of personality.' The CM affirmed, 'Abdul Sattar Edhi's personality is worth emulating by every human being in the society. Abdul Sattar Edhi's aim was the welfare of humanity, his mission should continue unabated. Abdul Sattar Edhi's name has become a symbol of honour and respect across the globe.' She maintained, 'Those who selflessly serve the humanity are included among the most beloved of Allah Almighty.' She lauded, 'The lives of millions of people are being illuminated owing to the bright candle lit by Abdul Sattar Edhi with regard to rendering public service.' She emphasized, 'Abdul Sattar Edhi's life is a beacon light for social workers across the world. Projects like 'Himmat' Card, Ration Card and 'Dhee Rani' Programme have been launched in Punjab to serve the humanity without any discrimination.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
21-06-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Sindh partners with filmmaker for Edhi biopic
Listen to article The Sindh government has announced that it will produce a feature film on the life and work of Abdul Sattar Edhi, the late philanthropist and founder of the Edhi Foundation. The announcement was made by Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon during a film festival held in Karachi. He underscored the importance of cinema as a medium for shaping public narratives, stating that while India has effectively used films to project its national narrative globally, Pakistan has yet to fully tap into this potential. 'There are countless historical and social stories in Pakistan that, if brought to the screen, could not only highlight our cultural richness but also acquaint younger generations with national heroes,' Memon said. He stressed the need to tell the stories of those who have made significant contributions in various fields, calling it a timely and necessary endeavour. The information department, he added, is collaborating with veteran filmmaker Satish Anand to produce the film on Edhi's life, though further details about the project are yet to be shared. Read More: Abdul Sattar Edhi – our own Abou Ben Adhem Abdul Sattar Edhi, widely revered as 'the father of the poor' and 'the angel of mercy,' dedicated his life to humanitarian service. Born in Gujarat in 1928, Edhi migrated to Pakistan in 1947. In 1951, he opened his first clinic, marking the beginning of what would become the country's largest and most respected charitable network. Nominated multiple times for the Nobel Peace Prize, Edhi and his team built a vast network of welfare services: maternity homes, orphanages, shelters, morgues, homes for the elderly, and rehabilitation centres for the mentally and physically challenged — all aimed at helping the most vulnerable. His wife, Bilquis Edhi, a nurse by profession, continues to oversee women's shelters and the adoption of orphans. The Edhi Foundation has facilitated the adoption of around 25,000 children. Also Read: 'Because the ambulance is more Muslim than you' Today, the Foundation runs blood banks, mobile clinics, ophthalmology and diabetes centres, surgical units, a cancer hospital, and shelters for abused women and displaced persons. It also supports prisoners, psychiatric patients, and accident victims through various outreach initiatives. Before his death in 2016, Edhi had launched the 50-kilometre Edhi project, focused on emergency aid for road accident victims across Pakistan's highways. The planned film seeks to honour his enduring legacy and introduce new generations to the life of a man who devoted himself to the service of humanity.
Express Tribune
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Right to children's identity in Pakistan
Listen to article The right of children to identity is globally recognised, with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child emphasising its critical importance. As a signatory to this convention, Pakistan is committed to upholding and protecting this right. Yet for many children in the country, access to legal identity remains a distant dream. Orphans, street children and those without parental presence often struggle to gain legal recognition. This issue stems largely from insufficient sensitisation among government officials, weak advocacy and a lack of policy focus on identity rights for vulnerable children. Pakistan's Constitution offers a strong legal foundation. Article 4 guarantees every citizen the inalienable right to be treated in accordance with the law, without discrimination. Article 9 ensures the right to life and liberty, recognising personal identity as central to human dignity. Article 25 promotes equality and prohibits discrimination based on gender. In 2016, NADRA introduced the Orphan Registration Policy to help fill this gap. The policy acknowledged the vulnerabilities faced by orphaned children and emphasised the importance of formal registration as a gateway to securing legal identity. However, the policy mainly covers children in registered orphanages or Child Protection Institutes — excluding thousands of street children and those in informal care arrangements. Pakistan's judiciary has repeatedly underscored the state's obligation to protect children without parental care. In a landmark 2014 case, the Supreme Court directed provincial chief secretaries to assist NADRA in registering orphans and abandoned children. The petition, filed by Abdul Sattar Edhi, responded to NADRA's refusal to register children without legal guardians. Justice Azmat Saeed Sheikh noted that such children should not suffer for being abandoned and that their welfare is a state responsibility. In Anas Ahmed v. Government of Pakistan, the Sindh High Court ordered immediate implementation of orphan registration policies. Similarly, the Lahore High Court in Jannat Gull v. State reaffirmed the state's duty to protect vulnerable children and uphold their right to liberty, education, and dignity — drawing on religious obligations to care for the abandoned. Despite clear directives and frameworks, implementation remains patchy. A UNICEF report highlights Pakistan's alarmingly low birth registration rate: only 42.2% of children under five are registered. The report cites inconsistent provincial implementation and limited outreach. A 2022 Reuters investigation further revealed that millions of Pakistanis, including children, remain unregistered due to the absence of a father's identity. This disproportionately affects abandoned children and those born to single or unwed mothers, exposing them to exploitation, trafficking, and child labor. Women, particularly unmarried mothers, face intense societal and bureaucratic hurdles when attempting to register their children. Many are deterred by social stigma or by NADRA's requirement for both parents' information. This rigidity effectively denies legal identity to children whose fathers are absent or unknown. As a result, these children are excluded from public services and protection programmes. Coordination gaps between NADRA, local governments and child protection institutions further delay or block registration, compounding the problem. Although Pakistan has ratified multiple international conventions on child rights, enforcement lags behind. Weak institutional capacity, lack of resources and bureaucratic red tape create serious implementation challenges. Orphans and abandoned children, in particular, struggle to access legal identity due to inconsistent enforcement across provinces. This disconnect between policy and practice underscores the urgent need for systemic reform. Sensitising frontline officials is crucial for translating policy into action. More inclusive registration mechanisms are needed to ensure that no vulnerable children, including those outside institutional care, are left out. Lessons from international best practices provide valuable insights. Bangladesh significantly improved registration rates between 2005 and 2008 by linking birth registration with immunisation services. Gambia achieved a 90% registration rate by integrating registration into reproductive and child health programmes. In Ghana, community health workers were trained to support birth registration, making it more accessible at the grassroots level. Pakistan can adopt similar models by leveraging its robust public health infrastructure. Integrating birth registration with immunisation and child health services could accelerate outreach, especially in rural areas. In Albania, geo-mapping was used to identify and register mobile populations. Colombia deployed mobile registration offices and kits to reach internally displaced persons — strategies that could be adapted for Pakistan's underserved areas. Another promising approach is to link registration with social safety nets. Nepal's Child Grant Programme made birth registration a prerequisite for cash support. Bolivia tied school stipends to children's registration status. These conditional cash transfer models incentivise early registration. Bangladesh and Ghana also collaborated with NGOs to expand access. NGOs played a pivotal role in conducting awareness campaigns, facilitating community workshops, and assisting local authorities. To create meaningful change, NADRA must expand its orphan registration policy to cover street children and those at risk of exploitation. Officers must be trained to facilitate registration even in the absence of one or both parents. The successful Digital Birth Registration (DBR) initiative, piloted in 2014, should be scaled nationwide to improve efficiency and access. In parallel, provincial child protection laws must be harmonised with NADRA's policies. A simplified and expedited process should be introduced. Priority processing, minimal documentation and cross-agency coordination are essential to streamline access. Specialised training must also be provided to NADRA, local government and child protection officials to enhance their capacity and empathy in dealing with vulnerable populations. Despite constitutional guarantees, judicial directives and progressive policies, the absence of effective implementation leaves many excluded from basic rights and protections. A coordinated, multi-pronged approach — strengthening enforcement, integrating identity services into health and welfare programmes, expanding awareness and fostering partnerships — is vital. Only then can Pakistan fulfill its constitutional and international obligations to ensure that every child is recognised, protected, and empowered through legal identity.
