I launch this thread in order to let guppies share their ideas on how Pakistan can be made a better place to live.. having a personal experience of places like Dubai (11yrs) and Canada (2+yrs as yet), and hailing originally from the city of Karachi (been there loads of times as well), it just bothers me to see the levels of disorganization, pollution, and absurdity found in our major cities (Karachi is said to exemplify Pakistan and so here I go..) in numerous categories.. Plz guppies even if you can’t practise some improvement in your own country (although you can solve that too if you live there) at least tell me that the guppies are aware of what goes on in there and want to see an improvement..
Let’s divide this thread into two divisions (might sound like I’m getting a bit too organized but)..
General issues
Common problems that can or do exist at all times and how can they be stopped
Current issues
Problems going on recently in our country/city and how can you relate them to the general issues and/or stop them
SO LET’S WISH AND PRAY FOR A BETTER PAKISTAN FROM NOW ON AND OPEN UP OUR MINDS FOR THE GOODWILL OF OUR NATION..
NOTE–IF ANYONE KNOWS ANY ORGANIZATION THAT IS WILLING TO PUT A STOP TO OUR COUNTRY’S ISSUES PLZ LET US KNOW SO WE CAN HEAR OUR VOICE ON A WIDER STAGE
Law. A strong law allows all improvements, and without a law no improvements can be made. A law should be MADE TO BE FOLLOWED (and anyone who doesn't do that should be dealt "by hand"). It's like trying to make potato chips without potatoes. Although in Karachi since the Naimatullah Khan era we are steadying towards this the progress should be fairly fast in this vital category.. Once this is in mind, let's proceed towards rest of the improvements.
Tax. Put them somewhere, somewhere!! On roads, schools, buildings, jobs.. don't just use them to fill up your tummy you top-level dunno what.. use tax properly and we will have a stable infrastructure if I am right. And once the government understands that the people need to understand too to keep things going smooth.
Education. Public education is a must for a well-developed society. Now if taxes are used properly there should be damn enough money for public schooling. And for God's sake hire qualified teachers and have a UNIFORM EDUCATION SYSTEM (not just a franchise, as can be in some private schools)..
Crime. One answer: law. Although street crimes aren't as common as used to be to be true, we should at least TRY to make sure that there are none. A dedicated (which requires some work on the govenrment's side) and well-supplied police force should do the job.
Pollution. Now this pisses me off like hell ever since I've known my city (Karachi). Plant trees, pollution-control technology (which is available now although expensive, but we can afford it if we want to), and most of all take precautions not to deteriorate the environment (a good car insurance company can do SOME of the job).
Legalization. Illegal drugs, illegal medicines, numerous illegal trades (including animal and child labor/abuse), illegal goods.. only law should have the right to control ALL (I repeat ALL) kinds of businesses going on in our country. Having some human/animal rights and trading organizations monitoring our trades would be quite handy for help.
Poverty. Create job opportunities--simple as that. And believe there can be many once our system gets organized.. also there should be a certain kind of balance between the poor and rich (zakat organizations, welfare etc.)
We should also have rehabilitation centers for the poor and needy where they can recover. I suppose there are a FEW out there right now (Edhi and the same credit to those I forgot to mention) but we need a lot more to let the current situation (those people living on the roads.. ugh) get better.. the same goes for animals >> like it or not they are also living beings and need all the same protection (some poor people can really mistreat them just for a bit of money)
Current issues:
Dengue fever recently plagued our country.. as I mentioned if our environment was kept clean (nullahs were allowed to do their work, and money was put on sewage filters and other waste efficiency) there would be a minimal chance of this disease to occur; I suppose a good deal of trees were also cut because of this so the mosquitoes don't find a host for laying eggs (ugh.. yeh jihalat).. remember, every problem has a solution..
Recently I was watching the "Humara Karachi" exhibiton on TV and I really hope that the boisterous fireworks were performed under controlled circumstances.. our air pollution level is already quite dangerous especially in the major cities
P.S. Pardon me if I made any mistake or forgot to mention anything (which I am pretty sure I did) but I hope I succeeded in giving the guppies the picture.. Thx
i think that there needs to be better law enforcement like maybe there are laws which are currently in place but they are not bein used properly or are being ignored.
ithink that the education system needs a shake up because in pakistan we have many clever kids but they maybe from poor backgrounds and may not afford to go onto uni and/or college so have some sort of funds that can help them
Ban all riskshaws and replace them with something better that doesnt create noise or air pollution. Also ban those BIG trucks with distracting poetry written on it lol...
Ultimately before anything from above, specialy in karach they should install proper drinking water system + proper sewage system.
Laws do exist in Pakistan however, they are not enforced. Pakistan needs an educated citizenry who are taught to respect the law and whose law enforcement are morally upright and strong to enforce the laws of the land.
For the law enforcement, education alone is not enough: law enforcement needs to be subjected to checks and balances. Law enforcement agencies need to be held accountable (for their actions) thru internal audit/investigation agencies. Somebody has to police the Police.
Bottom line is that the writ of the law has to be upheld and enforced and it has to be enforced to the citizenry and the law enforcement.
Before any of these issues can be addressed or implemented, the issue of corruption must be fixed. Corruption is so rampant over there that it interferes in every aspect of whats called "progress". So what to do about this? Make corruption punishable by jailed hard-labor? And enforce it.
Second to this is education. This should be made a top priority. The more education available to the general population, the better they will be able to serve the better interests of themselves and their country.
Third should be the very strict monitoring of the madrassahs. They teach hate and develop little warriors. The only useful function they serve is to give little boys 2 or 3 meals a day. So turn them into soup kitchens and shut up the ignorant mullahs (pardon this comment for the good ones).
IMHO this would be the best start and once these things are addressed and under control then progress and prosperity should follow.
Very nice and apt ideas…Thank you for sharing retro…If you are a good Muslim and keep these ideas and work to implement them, you can be my leader anytime…
I commend you Retro for taking the initiative to start this thread. You have mentioned most of issues which drove me crazy with frustration, anger and helplessness when i was in pakistan. Dealing with neglected orphans, abused women, lack of proper healthcare for the poor etc. was so hard that I actually left the country from sheer anger at the govt. and police for not doing enough to implement the laws in place. I have given shelter to orphans in my house only to helplessly watch as someone claiming to be a relative would take the child away to exploit and abuse. Same thing with abused women, rape victims who I had to hand over to authorities who themselves would end up abusing the already traumatized victims.
Only after i left Pakistan did I realize that running away did not give me peace at all. So after 2 weeks i am going back to set up base in lahore. Only thing is that this time I am going back with the intention of doing everything within my power to make a difference within my sphere at least. I came across a wonderful gentleman who lives in NY and runs orphanages in Angola and Sri Lamka. I was offered a position in NY to run an orphanage there but instead I convinced him to start one in Lahore, where I felt the poor had fewer resources and needed help more. So I plan to set up a hospital offering free medical care and a shelter for the orphans. I ask all who are reading this to pray that God gives me success in this venture.
Thankyou
1- Clean up the pollution and garbage, it'll work wonders for tourism.
On cultural side, promote Urdu more and discourage regional languages to give everyone a stronger sense of Pakistaniyat, and Arab/Gora-wannabes should be gassed (jokin, maybe thas a bit harsh).
Great thinking tashiqa. We do need kind and generous people like you in Pakistan. You thinking and planning is very nice. I definately pray for you and for your noble cause. Keep it up my prayers and best wishes are with you.
