Re: Musharraf's resume
In no particular order this is a list of positive achievments of Musharraf's rule to date. There are other achievments, but 40 is enough for now. :)
- Balanced foreign policy – maintaining good relations with all major powers.
- Peace process with India.
- Strategically-wise and historic decision taken after 9/11 to support war against terrorists, and dumping Taliban.
- Withstanding American pressure and not sending troops to Iraq.
- Withstanding American pressure and proceeding with Gas pipeline with Iran
- Complete crackdown on sectarian terrorist groups, leading to almost complete end of Sunni-Shia killings that had plagued Pakistan for over a decade.
- Successfully smashing Baloch rebellion.
- Skillful handling of the AQ Khan scandal.
- Dropping vote age from 21 to 18.
- 20% reserved seats for women in National & Provincial assemblies.
- 33% reserved seats for women in Local Government bodies – over 28,000 women elected.
- Women’s Protection Bill.
- End of separate electorate system for minorities.
- Media freedom – dozens of private TV channels allowed for first ever time.
- Devolved Local Government System – getting rid of colonial DC system.
- Ending of loans from the IMF.
- Doubling of GDP from $70 to $140 billion in just 7 years.
- Doubling of per capita income from less than $500 to $1000 dollars.
- Year on year GDP growth averaging 7% or more.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up from just $0.5 billion in 1999 to $8.4. billion this year.
Forex reserves up under $1 billion in 1999 to over $16 billion today.
Trebling of tax revenues from $5 to $15 billion.
More than doubling of Exports from just $7.5 to $17 billion.
10-fold increase in overseas remittances from $0.5. to $5.5 billion.
Highest ever allocated to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) – 500 billion rupees in 2007 (less than 100 billion in 1999).
Growing middle class of 35 million people.
Elected assemblies (and President) completed their full 5-year terms for first time in Pakistani history.
Creation of Higher Education Commission in 2002,
Construction & completion of historic second port of GWADUR for Pakistan.
Construction & completion of M1, M3, M9 & M10 motorways.
Starting construction and/or completion of other historic highway projects – Makran Highway, Lyari bypass, M8 motorway, Karakoram upgrade etc.
Key banking reforms, applauded by westen investors.
Telecommunications boom.
Stock market boom.
Real Estate boom.
Tens of thousands villages provided electricity and gas at a rate never seen before, during last 8 years.
Dozens of small dams built across Pakistan
Not using the “religion card” to further interests like previous leaders.
Appointment of the most talented people to top positions – Shaukat Aziz, Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, Dr Shamshaf Akhtar, Zubaidar Jalal etc.
Smooth and professional handover of Army Chief position to General Kiyani.