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US Senator John Kerry arrived in Pakistan on Monday to discuss a proposed bill envisaging US$1.5 billion of economic assistance per year to Pakistan over the next five years. During his visit, Senator Kerry, who is also the Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will touch on regional and security issues in meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, but the focus will be on future civilian and military aid.
If you could share a cup of tea with Senator Kerry during his stay in Islamabad, what would you ask him about the US’s plan for non-military assistance to Pakistan? How do you think non-military aid, which Pakistan is due to receive under the Kerry-Lugar bill, should be spent? What would you suggest Senator Kerry insist upon during meetings with the Pakistani leadership on how to distribute and allocate civilian aid?
Previous funds channeled to Pakistan through various aid agencies eventually ended up in the hands of agencies. The net result is abject poverty in many sections of the Pakistani society leading to terrorism breeding ground. If the new aid has to benefit the poor Pakistani public, the aid agencies should ask the Pakistan Government to submit its plans to an expert committee made up from the donor countries. All the bidding process should be vetted by the committee so that every transaction is above the table. Even with all these safety nets, we can’t say that it will be 100% corruption free; but it will be much better than allowing the corrupt Pakistani politicians and agencies to manage the show.
As long as corrupt politicians are in the office, not even $40 billion will be able to help Pakistan. These people have deep stomachs – perfectly able to digest billions and still crave for more. The money given by the US will go in a black hole without a trace. Mark my words!
The best strategy for the USA???? Stay out of Pakistan. Let Pakistan solve its problems on its own, let the Pheonix rise from the ashes…. there is always dark before the dawn.
Education no doubt, as others have put it quite nicely. The only thing I’d like to add onto it is when I say (but perhaps rest would agree) education I/we mean up to date education. There are lots of new fields emerging that we could concentrate on. However we are a developing country who seems to have skipped the “sciences – stage” and that is why we are in this borrowing cycle. When ever we need a new tech we approach another country. Perhaps we should be looking into training our country.
Just a few points to note:
1) Information Technology is not everything. We focused very much on this field following the trend. I think we have enough I.T. labour as it is but because we lack everything else the local I.T is useless and all it ends up doing is making more websites (in this situation). And ofcourse we rely on contracts from abroad which again are mostly commercial and not revolutionary.
2) New fields need to be picked up now. We tend to ignore Physics and Mathematics and the default sciences which is ridiculous. These are solid fields and most fields use these basic sciences at their core.
3) Probably the most important. Teachers need to be paid more I think but at the same time they need to be scrutinized more. If that happens we would attract intelligent people if not geniuses from our own country, who would want to follow healthy research careers in affiliation with good local universities. In turn benefiting our own country and avoiding brain drain.
4) We seem to be obsessed with our country’s defences. So perhaps fields that can be aligned more towards benefiting our forces (for e.g : nuclear programmes, aeronautics, nano tech, electronics) should be promoted.
5) Utilizing the budget DOES NOT mean constructing more ghost schools with ghost staff. Spend it where its appreciated and where its useful.
6) Stop recruiting P.A.s and secretaries in the Government offices. You have enough CHOTA’s, CHOUKIDAARS, BAWARCHEES and DRIVERS. Horrendous waste of budget.
The basic idea is to create a stimulating environment for Pakistani’s otherwise the brain drain will continue and the lack of a revolution will persist.
Its the same story for the last sixty years. We will not pay tax because we dont know where the money goes. Weeks before Musharaff left office Shaukat Aziz (the imposed PM) said we have $13billion reserves. The all of a sudden we were in need of foreign exchange. where did the money go? If you want us to pay taxes bring the culprits to justice before you come to us.
Dear Sir,
In the light of track record of present day rulers, It is obvious that like most of our citizens, the donors have many doubts on the honest utilization of these funds by the rulers and other politicians alike.
I would want that these funds be made available to civil soceity organizations that have clearly identified short and long term sustaible development targets for the regions in which they operate and show transparency and accountability in their oprating procedures.Please see such an an example on the website:
http://www.kadohunza.org/hdf
For the last 62 years, this aid has been feeding corrupt, incompetent leaders. It will be better, if people of Pakistan bring in a revolution that will result in a system, whereby competent and professional run the country with NO aid money. I think this will be welcomed by a majority of Pakistanis.
Don’t let the government/agencies have any part of this. Let the foreign aid agencies decide, distribute and audit.
1. Education
2. Infrastructure
3. Job Opertunities
these 3 will compliment each other and create a self sustaining system which will
alleviate poverty, radicalisation and resentment among the locals.
Kerry needs to insist upon his meeting with the Pakistani leadership to ensure that the money is spent on the said projects without corruption and personal favours to own people.
Otherwise no matter how much money s invested and no matter how many good projects are introduced all will be wasted and end result will be zero.
money which come through aid the politicians will keep most of it and what ever left is going to be distributed by these Govt agencies in which most of it goes in bribe rest to no where this how it is done so I can only be able to recommend only one thing that what ever the aid goes to Pakistan should be spent by third party with oversight and accountability attached to it.
We should have the infrastructure fixed education free for all health and food subsidiary programs as far as law and order we can dream only.
Education, infrastructure, create more jobs for people in cities as well as villages, these could be related to technology, finance, agriculture , import-export. Thats the most important thing and focus. Secondly, invest in security to eliminate taliban . Dont allow talibans and supporters to preach in local mosques and influence more people. Make people aware that peace, education is the path to go ahead and not violence in name of jihad.Start focussing on internal issues, and stop pointing fingers at india,afghanistan and how US is wrong attaching conditions to aid.
We dont trust our leaders so any civilen aid should be distributed by a commaty of USA citizen, this 1.5 billion should be given directly to the very poor people of pakistan to by Home & land or start small business.
Hope every pakistani will agree with me
Spend all moeny to Education, it is the only way towards prospersity. By educating masses we can get rid of this talibization. By educating we can create good economists, scientists,doctors, engineers as well as good human beings.
I understand education and health takes top priorities but how? There should be political control and infrastructure required. Knowingly or unknowingly Pakistan harbored terrorism and its paying the price now. The Aid should be spent to dismantle terrorism to the root level unless things cannot be achieved. Do not allow terrorist to take control believe in your Govt. and support them. Keep military away from making decision. Humongous task ahead Good Luck.
The aid should be spent to create schools that have been blown up by Taliban. Need to spend money to launch a MASSIVE “anti-extremism” media campaign to shut out their influence. Also purchase strong radio jammers to jam all Taliban sermons on radio.
1-Education
2-Law and Order – I am surprised that no one has mentioned this big issue.
3-Health
4-Infrastucture improvements
Most importantly we need an audit mechanism to track the money. I don’t want all of this money to be transferred to a personal swiss account.
Dinesh, with respect I want to disagree with your idea of giving these politician another chance. We have already tried them several times but they never perform.
Firstly, I should be aware of what US or Senator Kerry needs in return.
My only advice in this regard is to setup an institution where we can develop efficient politicians. And after few years it should be mandatory for all to qualify from that institution before joining any political force. This might be the legal way to benefit existing politicians with this aid. They deserve it more than Pakistan. Pakistan Zindabad
We dont need aid! What we need is a debt for development swap. If we can save the resources we spend on debt repayment we can increase developmental spending and promote distributive justice. Like the Dutch Disease, Aid makes us dependent and every five years we make a round trip from where we started.
“The art of accurate observation is called cynicism by those who don’t have it”…I don’t know who said it but it’s relevant to what im about to say…
I would simply hand him back the ‘cheque’, saying “Thank you Mr.Kerry (Senator or whatever), for your offer to help but Pakistan would manage the war on its own as its in our best interest to bring peace”…well if i were the foreign secretary, i would get sacked, if i were the foreign minister i would lose my portfolio, but if i was a man (with some stature) who was about to go into elections, I would win a lot of votes. Why? Because that’s exactly what the people of Pakistan want. As I see it no Pakistani wants to take the aid as a quid pro quo for our sovereignty (which is slowly and steadily eroding, unless we take desperate measures). Besides, given the history of these aids, especially to Pakistan, I’ve come to the conclusion that they more so than not, serve as vested interest and policy tools of donors. I’m not saying that there are no or little benefit of such dole-outs, but they have come to bear so heavily on us that we’re now losing the most important tool of any sovereign, independent and elected government i.e. to make its own policy. Aid is good but self respect is better. Senator Kerry needs to do more this time.
And what is more…with such harrowing conditionalities…no way, we’re proud of the poverty as long as we’re free.
1. Learning from the past experiences, US must reorientate its aid donation policy to Pakistan. The practice must shift from capital lending to capital investment. Thus, instead of aid flow, aid utilization should be the area of focus. My recommendations are:-
a. Provincial Governments after due deliberation in the respective assemblies should identify the key areas of development and should propose the same to Federal Government.
b. The Federal Government should decide the priority and distribution of capital shares against provincial demands considering due share of all provinces with particular focus on FATA.
c. After having the parliamentary approval, the matter should be finally decided by the standing committee of Senate.
d. The final proceedings of all the projects coupled with the distribution of capital resources must be shared with the general public through media.
e. Overall objective should be to achieve a slow but sustainable industrial and agricultural coupled with provision of civic facilities and human resource development.
f. On part of US, International Agencies of high repute should monitor the capital utilization and project management without dictating the any developmental strategy.
I want to have this aid spent upon the interests of the nation.
First of all, it should be used to strengthen the educational structure in Pakistan. As education is the base of every kind of modernization and transformation, both good and bad.
Moreover, it should also be used to boost up the communication infrastructure in the country. By repairing roads in a ‘lasting’ way and constructing new roads, improving telecommunication and extend it’s radius, cutting down the costs of telephone, internet and other such services etc.
In general this aid should be utilized to improve the quality of life of the people. But I have my personal opinion that none of the above mentioned uses would be implemented by the government so that it could bring about a noticeable change as almost half [ i am being conservative !] of it will go down in the pockets of our politicians, as always….but one should hope for the best…
Education, of course! However, the respective provincial governments should be mindful that not all education is productive. In fact, some of it, as we now know all too well can be very destructive. A new universal curriculum based on critical thinking is the need of the hour! Simultaneously, the GoP should start competency based vocational training programs that ought also be founded on critical thinking oriented curriculum.
Though as Indian, I may not be welcome to comment on this issue, but few items can be decided to be collaborated with India. My suggestion will be for setting up of higher learning institutes like like IIT, IIM, AIMS and collaboration on agricultural research, tourism and small scale industries, traditional crafts and Cultural exchange.
I would like to see the money spent through micro finance initiatives on development projects run by the people, and not by the Government. The Government is like a diseased organism, where nothing is working properly.
If money is spent on education and development by a varied and large number of private entities, that would yield much better results in my opinion.
Education! Education! Education!
Just three suggestions
One – If possible, Keep out Army and Mullahs out from the decision making process to invest the money.
Two – If possible, think about the poorest of the poor – how is it going to help her/him.
Three – Have faith on decision makers (whoever those are) and don’t brand them corrupt – give them a chance to perform.
Maybe avoid word spending, use investing it to make your country happier place to live!