With August 14 approaching fast, Dawn.com would like to know your thoughts on Pakistan and the way forward.
In your opinion, what should be done today to fix the many problems Pakistan faces?
Please give your answer in one sentence along with your name, age, location and profession to qualify for the survey.
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Pakistan must empower women and good quality education focus on english medium for all. Also must take religion out of politics and move towards with educated leadership, progressive thoughts and a desire to create a country that is for everyone not just one religion or group.
PAKISTAN IS IN SEVERE NEED OF REAL DEMOCRACY.IT CAN BE ACHIEVED IF WE ALLOW TO PROCEED THE PROCESS OF DEMOCRACY AS IT IS A LONG TERM PROCESS.
Make peace with India.
R.N.Swamy
Hong Kong
Empowerment of women & Universal Education which can easily be funded by small cut backs on defence expenditure.
Azmat, 57
Banker
Brunei
Publicly punish all the corrupt bureaucrats, politicians, feudal lords, and mullahs. Then spend the money normally going in to corrupt pockets to fund small businesses and educating our population.
Kamal
Student.
USA
Objective: In your opinion, what should be done today to fix the many problems Pakistan faces?
Solution:
1) Identify problems and inefficiencies (ex: energy crises, clean water issues, food prices aka. inflation). Then tackle them by having Free Trade policies in place and import cheaper goods to tackle inflation, and bring in advance technology to alleviate energy crises and clean water concerns. We also must have strategic plans in place with achievable and measureable targets. Nothing will happen overnight, but at least have a strategy and implement it. We have plenty of strategic allies that are willing to help and finance rhese asperations such as China, US, etc. Also increase tax base and revenues so that we dont need to rely on foreign aid (need to be self-sustaining).
2) Emphasis on and Resource Allocation ($) for Education, R&D, Infrastructure Improvement, and Health Improvement & Awareness. No society can advance without having a healthy high skill labor force which is capable of innovating and is efficient and values the essence of time. Smooth, efficient, and fast transportation will further reinforce a productive private sector.
3) Civil Liberties and Respect for Each Other. Nothing is more important than human dignity, and respect. These are the pre-requisites for an advance, stable, and a prosperous society.
4) Eliminate corruption (starts with the individual), and demand & encourage transperancy. Ask and challenge. Build consensus.
5) Maintain strong and credible military force and eradicate terrorism. Foreign direct invesmtnet would cease otherwise.
6) Peaceful relations with the world and our neighbors. Need emphasis on economic development and trade more than arms race and confrontation. Free trade will bring down inflation, and resolving the energy crises will reinforce higher economic output. Foreign Direct Investment will automatically follow inshallah.
Pakistan Zindabad.
Umair Chaudhry
New York University
NYC, USA
Pakistan is resource rich and has a potential demographic dividend to tap into. Much of its problems are self-inflicted due to various fantasies it always nurtured. Today its significance remains in its nuisance value. A fundamental reorientation is needed where civilized, purposeful pursuit of its people’s happiness and prosperity becomes the key priority. It automatically means peace and cooperation with India. There is a big market and major investor next door. Any two major cities of India export more than all of Pakistan. What would happen when Karachi and Lahore attain that level? All Pakistan needs to do is shed fantasy and be civil and a great future awaits it.
shan
34
New York
Pakistan must take religion out of politics and move towards a more secular, educated leadership with progressive thoughts and a desire to create a country that is for everyone not just one religion or group.
Cut ties with the imperialists and incorporate the awam (public) in the political process.
Imran Khan.
Umeed ki akhri kiran.
Physician.
36 years of practice.
USA.
We can discuss literacy, corruption, awareness and many other aspects to solve problems in Pakistan.
Many people blame the corrupt Leaders for these problems but I as a member of the society blame every Pakistani that we are the one who bought our country to this situation. Our ignorance of the bigger picture and our attempt to find loop holes in our system.
Either its Power Crisis or Armed Militants, We cannot change our Country if we can’t change ourselves. Our attitude towards our problems … I have heard common people saying that if the government is prowling countries assets then it wouldn’t make a difference if we get some of that as well.
I say a Revolution .. Punish all the Political leaders, Military Generals, Judges, Democrats, Feudal Lords even the Media think tanks. Let the common people understand that there’s a price to pay for all or any misdeeds.
Long Live Pakistan
Name: Omer
Age: 30, Dubai
Profession: IT Consultancy
1) Flourish democracy, 2) Improve literacy level, 3) Popularize rational thinking, 4) Focus on women upliftment, 5) Open up economy, 6) Develop scientific skills among students, 7) Allow out of box thoughts to flourish, 8 ) Keep army out from day to day life of citizens, 9) Popularize positive developments of world and 10) Don’t misquote your own history.
In my opinion, to fix the problems of Pakistan today, we should try to build up a fair and just society by strengthening democratic and judicial institutions, getting rid of feudalism and vested interests, and spreading basic education amongst the general populace, irrespective of their financial status. My particulars are: 70 years, Brossard (Canada),Retired Civil Aviation employee.
We must have to stop Corruption; it’s time to say America bye. We are required sincere leadership; our youth have ability to solve our problems. We have natural resources but Crept leader are major problem for us.
Muhammad khan
36 Yaers
Pakistan
You’re not going to like my suggestion. It’s the suggestion, any intellectual in Pakistan will give you. Najam Sethi, Hoodbhoy, Nisar have all suggested this.
“forget Kashmir”
Your country will have no other way to go but up and up.
Reform education system, and encourage research based critical thinking among the youth of Pakistan.
” Every one should start check on himself/herself ”
Bilal Zahid
27
Student
Asia
Get rid of waderas and landlords
First we have to be honest with ourself and admit that that we have a problem with ourself instead of blaming every other country for our problem,it has to start from home and then move outwards ,select honest people from the local council>>>city level>>>>govt who are responsible for their deeds.we have to be honest Pakistani who can respects everyone regardless of their religeon,culture and creed.law should be same for rich and poor and not be influenced by elite
start making cheap solar power in thar desert with chinese technology and employ millions of unemployed youth.
* Keep the religion in heart and Secularism in mind and politics.
* Universal education
* Equal right for non muslims
* Reform of Islamic religion with changing time
1. Education reform to get the younger generation in the population bulge look at a wider perspective while participating in the global economy.
2. An appeal (followed by enforcement) to all patriotic Pakistanis’s to pay taxes (less than 2% of the taxable population actually pays). Education in of itself will provide an enlightened base; but they will need jobs to go with it. Revenue generation from taxes and subsequent investment by the Federal government could spur the economy and generate these jobs.
3. Increase efforts for cross-border trade with India and leverage its booming economy.
Research Scientist
California
Pay taxes. Then have those taxes put to proper social use to provide basic infrastructure. Roads, sewage, electricity, gas etc.
Owais,
I thought over again and again on your suggestion regarding paying taxes.So simple, but have so much depth in it.Just think about it.If we all, I mean really really all of Pakistanis pay their taxes due to them,what does that mean.
It means Pakistanis are honest.This will be a paradigm shift in in our morality.Imagine what goes along with honesty.Every thing we can think about it.Pakistanis will have honest leaders.Pakistanis are intelligent, and the leaders can spend the tax money(hopefully a handsome amount) to achieve all Pakistan needs.Schools,hospitals,Universities,Infra structure,etc..
This will bring prosperity to all.Unfortunately this little,but profound suggestion will be lost in so many other excellent ideas which Pakistanis suggest.
I think it is time all the well meaning Pakistanis would start practicing what they preach, and the Pakistanis can achieve the dream for all the citizens.
If you want to change Pakistan – there are Three areas you need to address
1.. Change the school books so they reflect the truth and address past problems. Plus get rid of all violent refrences in school books. Make the Children proud of a Tolerant Islam
2.. Only allow educated people to become Imams and Mullahs. By educated, I mean , educated in areas of science , and social studies, as well as some amount of economics – plus critical thinking.
3.. The army, which has a very narrow viewpoint of Governance, and where the Generals are only educated in military terms , but not aboiut economics or the sciences nor about critical analytical thinking , should always be governed by civilians – never the other way around.
Separate religion from state!!!!!