Re: Pakistan 'a failed state'? (Merged)
Pakistan ranking mentioned in ‘US Foreign Policy magazine’ as failed state, going from 34th last year to 9th this year, did not really gave me information regarding Pakistan and surprises or worries on Pakistan deterioration but it only exposed the integrity, ignorance and bias analysis this magazine have. To me, this magazine has shown not the deterioration of Pakistan but showed the worth of the analysis and reporting in this magazine that is nothing but farce. BBC news giving importance to that ranking show that when it comes to propaganda, even BBC is not too far behind, making farce of their integrity.
From the BBC news reporting:
//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4964934.stm
**
Pakistan***'s 'plunge'*
Pakistan moved from 34th last year to ninth in the new report - one of the sharpest changes in the overall score of any country on the list.
The contributing factors were Pakistan's inability to police the tribal areas near the Afghan border, the devastating earthquake last October in Kashmir and rising ethnic tensions, the report said.
Contributing factors were:
Cause one: Pakistan’s inability to police the tribal areas near Afghan border:
Was that factors not present last year?
Answer is that this factor was present last year too.
If this factor was present last year then, is Pakistan more able to police this area last year than this year?
Answer is that the situation has improved. Certainly, policing situation has not become worse this year than what it was last year.
In the past, there was no policing of this area from Pakistan (so, it was much worse). Pakistan government has started to bring Pakistan government writ in this area after 9/11. Situation is also improving and it has improved this year over last year. So how can this factor contribute adversely, causing of deterioration in Pakistan ranking?
[On the other hand, do they take policing situation in Assam, Kashmir and other part of India in accessing Indian ranking as failed state?]
Note: All those Bull-Sh*t crap regarding Taliban, Al-Qaeda regrouping or problems relating to Taliban/Al-Qaeda was all there last year and nothing changed over this one year to justify it as excuse for deteriorating the ranking of Pakistan from 34th to 9th.
*Cause two: Devastating earthquake last October in Kashmir: *
Magazine using this factor as excuse for deteriorating Pakistan ranking as failed states is more ridiculous then anything.
In 2004, there was huge earthquake in Indian Ocean causing Tsunami around the region, devastating Indonesia and effecting India, Sri Lanka etc. I wonder that magazine took Tsunami of 2004 into account when ranking Indonesia, India or Sri Lanka, in making these countries as failed state.
Well, numbers of devastating hurricanes strike USA every year. I wonder if these hurricanes affect American ranking as failed state.
** On the other hand, from what I can see, response of the people from all over Pakistan, people that were of diverse ethnicity belonging to different provinces, towards the earthquake in Kashmir and northern area, shows that Pakistan instead of failed state is much united and successful state.**
*Comparing the indifference response by the people of USA towards American hurricane victims (when looting became norm) or indifference response of Indians towards Indian Tsunami victims or Kashmiri earthquake victims on Indian side contrast the response of Pakistanis where people seems to be eager in every way to help the victims. *
Just imagine that Hunza had magnitude of 6.2 earthquakes in December 1974 and many dies (officially 5300 killed and 17000 injured, though figures during those days were ridiculously underestimated and since media was controlled, no one use to know or could have questioned). Bhutto government completely censured most of the news, enough that many Pakistanis do not even know about that earthquake. What happened then? Very few people all over Pakistan even knew or realized how devastating that earthquake was and certainly, there was no mobilization or feeling of belonging as it happened this time. It shows that today, Pakistan is more integrated and involved as one nation, making the state a successful state rather failed state (thanks to the present government that is trying to bring people togeather).
*Cause three: Rising ethnic tensions: *
*Again, the ethnic tension last year was worse then this year. It is improving every year. Since President Musharaf came to power, ethnic tension has gone down. Much before 9/11 President Musharaf banned sectarian parties and is trying to bring harmony amongst different sects. So how can ethnic tensions could deteriorate Pakistan ranking from 34th last year to 9th this year? *
On contrast, India is infected with riots and tensions, such as Hindu-Muslim riots, Hindu-Christian riots, Hindu-Sikhs riots, Hindu caste riots, communists-High caste Hindu riots, Naxalites riots in the name of class war … etc.
American ethnic tension, where White (WASP) discrimination against blacks (and others), discrimination to a level of riot against Muslims, tensions against Mexicans, KKK willing to lynch anyone who is not Anglo-Saxon white etc seems worse divided then Pakistan.
So, all the indications they mentioned seems to be better this year then last year and still that farce magazine pushed Pakistan to 9th from 34th.
Apart of above factors there are many other factors that give indication that Pakistan is not only becoming a very successful state year after year but has improved a lot even during last one year.
Some Improvement over the past few years:
Stock market has increased substantially (it was 1200 in 1999, now it is 11000). Pakistan stocks index increased by over 56 percent during last one year. Is that a sign of a failed state?
[Last year this time (23rd May 2005):
Karachi** Stocks down 315.87 points** KARACHI, May 23: At close of trading the KSE-100 index was at 6984.22, down 315.87 points from Friday’s close. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
This year today (23rd May 2006):
Karachi** Stocks down 7.25 points:** KARACHI, May 23:At 11:00 PST The KSE-100 index was at 10923.30 , down 7.25 points. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 11:00 PST)
It shows that stock market has increased by over 56 percent in one year (from 6984 last year to 10923 this year)].
Stable exchange rate: Is it a sigh of a failed state?
[Let see the exchange rate. Pakistan was a country when rupee use to devalue almost every year but it has actually got revalued in open market since Musharaf came to power.
Last year today (23rd May 2005)
Forex update KARACHI, May 23: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.65 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 14:30 PST)
This year today (23rd May 2006):
Forex update: KARACHI, May 23: The Pakistani Rupee was traded at Rs 60.47 to the US Dollar in the open market. (Bureau Report) (Updated @ 11:00 PST)]
GDP has increased 8.35 percent last year and expectation is that it would increase by another 7 percent this year.
Per capita income has increased substantially, gone to 735 dollars and would go to over 800 dollars this year (most likely, it would be around 825 dollars).
Dollar reserve has gone up to over 13 billion first time in history.
Debt to GDP ration has become much better.
Export and Import has both increased substantially.
Deficit financing has reduced.
Industrial output has increased by 12.5 percent last year and is expected similar increase this year.
Pakistan communication industry had the highest growth rate in the world during last one year. At present, there are 35 million mobile phone subscribers in Pakistan and expectation is that it will increase to over 75 million subscribers by 1978. Is that a sign of failed state?
New car sale, that was languishing around 40000 units when President Musharaf came to power is expected to reach 200000 this year, that is 500 percent increase. Is that a sign of failed state?
Property prices at places have increased substantially too, a sign of booming economy. Cement consumption has increase over 500 percent during President Musharraf rule, showing activity in construction industry. Obviously, there cannot be construction boom in a failed state, or could be?
Well, story is same regarding most consumer goods, including motorcycle, fridge, freezers, telephone, computer, bicycle, television or anything one mention. One think of a thing [from food, clothing, cement (for houses) to durable goods] and one would find that consumption is increasing in leap and bound. If one look at service and recreation sectors one see improvement too, like telephone land connection, mobile telephone subscription, variety of TV channels, various radio stations, different hotels and restaurants, parks, roads, water availability in different areas, policing, judiciary, media freedom, information availability etc, anything one think of there is improvement, development or work going on for improvement or development. This shows that standard of people are increasing fast (though demands are always for more). So, is that sign of failed state?
*Certainly, all the improvements mentioned above and many more improvements that are not mentioned, even in comparison to last year figures, shows that Pakistan over the last year or even comparing to any past years since independence, is successful and considerably improved as nation, rather deteriorated as mentioned in that magazine.
*
)
(inshallah)