The capital of the country was moved to Islamabad during Ayub’s time, and I can understand the reason for that (GHQ) but if we practically see its approachable to very small area of the country. I know that military and bureaucracy will not want the capital to be shifted from where it is now, and secondly it is not easy to shift a capital (as it requires lot of funds). And some people will also have arguments that even New Delhi (the capital of India) is also very far from most of India.
If we keep the practicalities of moving the capital aside, and considering that most of Northern Pakistan is much better developed as compared to the Southern Half. What do you guys think should be the most suitable location for the capital of the country. I think DG Khan should have been the capital as its almost in the middle of the country, approachable from every where and most of the areas which need urgent attention in terms of development (like Interior Sindh, Seraiki Belt, Balochistan and also Southern KP). Secondly I think having the capital very close to the GHQ is a security risk as well.
What do you guys think, can shifting of capital help in carrying out development works in the most impoverished areas of the country?
What do you guys think, can shifting of capital help in carrying out development works in the most impoverished areas of the country?
It will/should make no difference in my perspective. As far as developmental works are concerned, they are the direct responsibility of the representatives of the constituents, and if they are sincere, then they can get the job done from anywhere. Most of our prime ministers/ presidents have NOT been from mainland Punjab. Yet, not even their hometowns have seen any development. Benazir was from Larkana, and the place is far from being developed. Gillani is from the seraiki belt, and we all know what state that is in. Others ran similarly failed tenures, so at the end of the day, its not the location of the capital, its the will in the dil.
If we implement the spirit of 'federation' then the federal government will have powers over only defense, law and order, constitution, monetary policy, finance, formation of long term development policy and foreign relations. It wouldn't really matter where the capital is since common people would not need to go there for trivial matters as they do now.
If we implement the spirit of 'federation' then the federal government will have powers over only defense, law and order, constitution, monetary policy, finance, formation of long term development policy and foreign relations. It wouldn't really matter where the capital is since common people would not need to go there for trivial matters as they do now.
I agree with you that if we have a true federation we wont have any problems but I dont really know if we will have a federation or not in the near future. We need to pull up the standard of living of the areas neglected during the past 60 odd years thats a must.
The saddest part is that the people who represent people from the neglected areas (feudals in the shape of presidents or prime minsters) dont really want to carry out development in those areas (especially the rural ones) as they will lose control. They need to control their areas to keep ruling the country like they always have. Like even in the Seraiki belt the hold of feudals is loosening in the cities, but still the rural areas are in their control. They are taking their last stand.
The people sitting in Islamabad (making the policies) who have never been to these areas cannot basically judge the situation of those areas. If the government moves there, everything will be in front of them and then they can start developing the least developed parts to bring them at par with the rest of the country. Educational institutes and industries are needed there which if left upon the feudals will never happen.
Why Riyadh, Delhi, Kabul or Tehran was chosen as capital of their respective countries? Islamabad is a great capital and well developed with best weather all year around.
In the nations history capital's and monuments like National Assembly, Senate, Supreme Court, HQ of government departments become culture heritage by the time.
Certainly it will help impoverished areas to develop when you direct 100 bn a year. But shifting capital doesn't make any sense. But by making new provinces will likely going to solve this problem, when funds are being driven to new provincial capitals.
Most historic city of Pakistan is Multan. Actually Texila and Multan is par in history, Multan was once the capital of most area that constitute Pakistan. Multan is also at the junction of all 4 provinces and is almost at the centre of Pakistan. I think Multan should have been the capital of Pakistan too.
Anyhow, moving national capital can have impact on development of local areas, but that impact is not as significant as giving political and financial independence to local areas (in Punjab that would mean making south Punjab a province).
Certainly it will help impoverished areas to develop when you direct 100 bn a year. But shifting capital doesn't make any sense. But by making new provinces will likely going to solve this problem, when funds are being driven to new provincial capitals.
Why Riyadh, Delhi, Kabul or Tehran was chosen as capital of their respective countries? Islamabad is a great capital and well developed with best weather all year around.
In the nations history capital's and monuments like National Assembly, Senate, Supreme Court, HQ of government departments become culture heritage by the time.
Most capitals are due to historic reason , It was a great mistake but it can not be changed now due to financial reasons ,We can afford this .
The simple solution of problem , Shift the GHQ ,Air headquarter and Naval headquarter to the south of South Punjab .
Shift the GHQ ,Air headquarter and Naval headquarter to the south of South Punjab .
why?
creating the viable strategic communication lines & logistics require hefty amount of time & resources. When it's close to getting complete you are talking about moving def-HQs to South Punjab, Mashallah. Typical Jiyala though process.
why?
creating the viable strategic communication lines & logistics require hefty amount of time & resources. When it's close to getting complete you are talking about moving def-HQs to South Punjab, Mashallah. Typical Jiyala though process.
They have to build new GHQ ,Why not in the heart of Pakistan .
Had Quaid-e-Azam alive he would have never allowed shifting of capital. Shifting capital of Karachi to Islamabad was blunder then, and shifting now capital from Islamabad will even be bigger blunder.
