Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
:k: I couldn’t have said it better.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
Where the leaders who talked about change by using Punjab card to get Punjabi votes?
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
The fact remains that Pakistan is currently among the top three recipients of US aid. And even historically, when all the US aid to Pakistan since 1947 is added together, Pakistan is overall the fifth largest direct recipient of American taxpayers’ money in the last century.
Despite all this, the problem with a lot of Pakistani chest thumpers, naysayers and the ‘let’s-blame-others’ group is that living in the bubble they do, they often forget about the abject poverty that bedevils the lives of the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis. So although the people belonging to the richest 1-2% of Pakistan can taunt and be dismissive of aid, for the poorest Pakistanis, US and international aid-- whenever it comes, however much it is-- can and do provide some relief. Yes, aid alone cannot solve all their problems because their poverty is so crushing, the population of Pakistan is so high, and even the US faces economic issues so the amount of American aid cannot be unlimited. But when you’re a poor country, aid is important; every single penny counts.
No one can deny that not just American taxpayers but also those in the UK and Europe help keep the Pakistani economy afloat especially since so many of the affluent Pakistanis and the businesspeople and the politicians and the army-wallahs in Pakistan don’t pay taxes. Speaking of which, even the economic aid that the US give to Pakistan Army is eminently beneficial because it means that the Pakistani army has to take less from the Pakistan's federal government budget, much of which goes to PA.
Interestingly, just yesterday there was Op-Ed piece in the Express Tribune by Adam Thomson, the British High Commissioner to Islamabad that mentioned that Pakistan has among the lowest tax collection rates in the world and a tax revenue to GDP ratio that’s much less than in countries with similar GDP per capita. But he also wrote that about 12 million primary school age Pakistani children are out of schools and one in three Pakistani earns less than 50 rupees a day (i.e. less than half a dollar). Many of these people living below the poverty line do benefit from aid programs in sectors like education, energy, and health. And just because it’s all hunky dory for some Pakistanis doesn’t mean that’s the case for everyone.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
Beg and complain. This has become a trademark of Pakistan.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
The fact remains that Pakistan is currently among the top three recipients of US aid. And even historically, when all the US aid to Pakistan since 1947 is added together, Pakistan is overall the fifth largest direct recipient of American taxpayers’ money in the last century.
Despite all this, the problem with a lot of Pakistani chest thumpers, naysayers and the ‘let’s-blame-others’ group is that living in the bubble they do, they often forget about the abject poverty that bedevils the lives of the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis. So although the people belonging to the richest 1-2% of Pakistan can taunt and be dismissive of aid, for the poorest Pakistanis, US and international aid-- whenever it comes, however much it is-- can and do provide some relief. Yes, aid alone cannot solve all their problems because their poverty is so crushing, the population of Pakistan is so high, and even the US faces economic issues so the amount of American aid cannot be unlimited. But when you’re a poor country, aid is important; every single penny counts.
No one can deny that not just American taxpayers but also those in the UK and Europe help keep the Pakistani economy afloat especially since so many of the affluent Pakistanis and the businesspeople and the politicians and the army-wallahs in Pakistan don’t pay taxes. Speaking of which, even the economic aid that the US give to Pakistan Army is eminently beneficial because it means that the Pakistani army has to take less from the Pakistan's federal government budget, much of which goes to PA.
Interestingly, just yesterday there was Op-Ed piece in the Express Tribune by Adam Thomson, the British High Commissioner to Islamabad that mentioned that Pakistan has among the lowest tax collection rates in the world and a tax revenue to GDP ratio that’s much less than in countries with similar GDP per capita. But he also wrote that about 12 million primary school age Pakistani children are out of schools and one in three Pakistani earns less than 50 rupees a day (i.e. less than half a dollar). Many of these people living below the poverty line do benefit from aid programs in sectors like education, energy, and health. And just because it’s all hunky dory for some Pakistanis doesn’t mean that’s the case for everyone.
very well written and i do hope that all "Pakistani chest thumpers, naysayers and the ‘let’s-blame-others’ group" read this post with an open mind....regardless of what Uncle Sam's real intention was for awarding this aid, the fact remains that US has awarded us over $50B of aid and we have wasted almost all of it due to our corrupt DNA...for god sake, US literally destroyed Japan and Germany in the 2nd WW but when USA awarded aid to these countries for rehabilitation, they accepted it and used it for rehabilitation....not for corruption!
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
I agree with you that the blame lies with us Pakistanis for wasting the aid. The people must know that it is our politicians and generals who are to blame if US has been able to further its agenda here. You CANNOT blame US for safeguarding their own interests.
There are a couple of things to consider though. One, we must know the US intentions. It is a stylized fact that US aid to Pakistan increases significantly whenever we have dictatorships. It is much easier to buy a handful of generals than a crowd of a few hundred filthy politicians. We should be aware of their agenda and know if it conflicts with Pakistan’s interests. You cannot just write off ‘naysayers’ and label US aid ‘aal iz vell’. The mere fact that both Pakistani military and US establishment refuse to even divulge the exact amount (forget about bloody civilians auditing those proceeds) of aid given to Pakistan Army should raise serious red flags.
Two, a question that intrigues me is this: If Pakistani establishment and political elite refused to ‘comply’ with US demands, how much aid we would have received? It is certainly not as if US has a blessed heart that bleeds to see so many poor Pakistanis suffering.
See page “CRS-27” of this document: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/row/RL31362.pdf
The aid given to Pakistan is much much more than India/Bangladesh combined. It is pretty evident that poverty alleviation, etc. are NOT what it was meant for. Otherwise, Bangladesh is equally deserving. We, the bloody civilians of Pakistan, have at least the right to know what “Uncle Sam’s real intention was”.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
Beg and complain. This has become a trademark of Pakistan.
Errr what?
The aid money is a price US had agreed to pay Pakistan to buy their parternship in their damned WoT. It is nothing les than a contractual deal between two countries. Take it as a plain old compensation as well, if you like. The aid money is no charity to Pakistan from the US, it's Pakistan's due right and an agreed term of service.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
Errr what?
The aid money is a price US had agreed to pay Pakistan to buy their parternship in their damned WoT. It is nothing les than a contractual deal between two countries. Take it as a plain old compensation as well, if you like. The aid money is no charity to Pakistan from the US, it's Pakistan's due right and an agreed term of service.
Americans have been giving all that money as aid and Pakistan has beem accepting as aid. Americans do a full performance review of Pakistan before releasing the aid and that is done in the most humiliating manner that is also widely published in their media. It doesnt make it any different if u call it service fee or whatever.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
Its easy to say and brush aside “bottom line is Pakistan received xxxx amount of aid”, the aid is given once it is made sure that the bl00dy ruler will entertain what “SAM” wants, not what Pakistan wants.
Look at the graph in link… why is that US aid is at max when there is military government in charge in Pakistan whereas US wants “democracy” to prosper? Zardari proved himself as bigger seller so the so-called-aid continued with same interest probably.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
Americans have been giving all that money as aid and Pakistan has beem accepting as aid. Americans do a full performance review of Pakistan before releasing the aid and that is done in the most humiliating manner that is also widely published in their media. It doesnt make it any different if u call it service fee or whatever.
You've basically just agreed with my point.
Financial assistance also known as aid from the US to Pakistan is performance based. The US had to go public with their 'review reports' because Pakistan was being naughty and pissed the yanks off with their double games.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
You've basically just agreed with my point.
Financial assistance also known as aid from the US to Pakistan is performance based. The US had to go public with their 'review reports' because Pakistan was being naughty and pissed the yanks off with their double games.
U are looking at it in a different way.
States perform for their people and their interests, not for other states for money. Pakistan accuses USA of worst possible crimes including attack on soverienty (drone attacks and obl raid) and promoting terrorism. We have officially declared that all our troubles are a result of alliance with USA. Our people have made it clear that we hate them at every level in our society yet we keep sucking their aid money no matter what way they give it to us. I would call it prostitution.
This is definately not how Pakistanis view it because we have grown so used to beggary that we think of it as our birth right to take money from others.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
That’s a mischaracterization. But as I said before, it’s easy the Pakistani 1-2% (not to mention the people living luxurious lives abroad) to dismiss aid because they don’t benefit much from it, nor do they see or seem to care that much about the majority of their countrymen living in abject poverty n Pakistan. So they can advocate hawkish policies while their country literally goes to hell and become more and more poor.
However, let’s not forget, aid is just one benefit of cooperation or alliance with the US. That cooperation also determines Pakistan’s international standing. And whether your goods get access to the American market or not. The ties with the US influence Pakistan’s relationship with other countries as well and the economic interaction with those too. It’s a globally interconnected world, and the United States is the superpower so when it leads, many often follow.
It’s therefore important to be realistic and cognizant of your economic needs and interests, especially when you’re one of the poorest countries on earth. Pakistani leaders, generals, and the establishment should know that cooperation with other nations will get their country not just aid but other aforementioned benefits too. And Pakistan wants, or should want what Turkey wants or what Japan wants or what Germany wants. Which is economic prosperity. And which comes with having good ties with other countries, like the US. Plus it pays for a country to be part of the solution rather than part of the problems facing the international community.
Unfortunately, Pakistani Army has been in power for much of their country’s existence. And yet poll after poll shows that the Army is the most trusted institution in Pakistan with even some latest polls showing that it enjoys favorable ratings of as much as 90%. While democracy is the best form of government no doubt, curiously, Pakistanis don’t seem to hold it in as much high esteem as they do their military. The army enjoys much legitimacy as an institution in Pakistan so it makes sense for the US too to deal with whoever is in power in Islamabad, which just happens to be the army most of the time. But even then, except for the last 12 years, when military assistance has been higher than economic aid although both remain very high, most of the American tax payers’ money that Pakistanis received was economic and not military aid in nature. A lot of that aid was administered through USAID and helped agricultural, energy and education sectors in Pakistan, including in the first few critical years.
Ever since independence, Pakistan’s foreign policy has been consistent in its pro-Western, pro-American tilt. Which is just as well since that’s where most of the aid and trade opportunities comes from. In his letter welcoming the first US Ambassador to Pakistan in February 1948, Mr. Jinnah wrote, “I am hopeful that good relations and friendship already existing between the people of America and Pakistan will be further strengthened and the bonds of friendship between our two countries will be more firmly riveted.” No matter who forms the government in Pakistan, whether civilian or military, it’s in the interests of Pakistanis that their government strives to have cordial relationship with America and the West. Therefore, they will, as they should, also accept any aid which might be forthcoming. Even the current KP government buttressed its 2013-2014 budget with millions of dollars and pounds provided by USAID and DFID (the British equivalent) funded programs.
Sometimes Pakistanis like to flatter themselves by thinking that they have been a great source of help to the US and the international community but anyone who doesn’t live under a rock should know that actually has not been the case. It’s actually frustrating that Pakistan continues to be a global hotspot for extremism. And that Pakistan Army and Pakistani establishment have not stopped hedging their bets on rogue groups. Their deadly “strategic assets” still very much seem to be there despite all the pleas, implorations, requests to Pakistani government and Pakistani Army made by other governments to act against those groups. If Pakistani Army had sincerely tried to overcome Pakistan’s extremism problem, not only that would have been good and in the interests of its neighbors and others, it would have best for Pakistani people themselves. They deserve better from their country.
Foreign policy is not about ego, it’s about realism. PML-N is a conservative, right-way party but even the Sharif brothers are making some laudable efforts to improve ties with Pak’s former rival, India. They know that’s important because the economy demands it and because they know Pakistan can’t afford hostilities with India. Likewise, it’s in Pakistan’s national interests to have good ties with other nations too, and to not take for granted any country, including the US.
POSTRSCRIPT: Not only is Pakistan among the top recipients of US Aid, the United States is also among the top three trading partners of Pakistan. Pakistan actually has a significant trade surplus with the US. That means Pakistan actually exports more goods to the US than it imports. And that trade with the US help employ hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
^ So much misinformation in one post!!!
If a rich guy has several female friends and most of the 'friends' have similar economic standing, but he gives a lot more gifts to your wife than his other friends. Would you not be concerned?
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
U are looking at it in a different way.
States perform for their people and their interests, not for other states for money. Pakistan accuses USA of worst possible crimes including attack on soverienty (drone attacks and obl raid) and promoting terrorism. We have officially declared that all our troubles are a result of alliance with USA. Our people have made it clear that we hate them at every level in our society yet we keep sucking their aid money no matter what way they give it to us. I would call it prostitution.
This is definately not how Pakistanis view it because we have grown so used to beggary that we think of it as our birth right to take money from others.
I agree with you in essence. Pakistah army had always been and perhaps will always act like contracted guards for superpowers. Poor Pakistanis one day might find the entire country making it in the auction halls of Beijing if by any chance Chinese take over the world. A very dark joke but you got the point - Pakistan army had never been sincere to its poeple.
But then again, who do you think Pakistan army really is? A nuclear armed and world's sixth largest army who played a pivotal role in defeating the Russians in last Afghan war and know more about ins and outs of that country than Afghans themselves, was never going to work for America for *free. *Even the Americans were never that dumb to even assume this. It may not be their birth right but certainly contractual right to demand all that money. If Israel, for being an ally can get all that aid (they have offcially been number one recipient for American aid fro decades) then why not Pakistan, she is an ally too after all. It's a shame that you are under an impression that as if its the ordinary Pakistani that is a direct recipient of Ameircan aid.
Although I'm bitterly disappointed with Pakistan army but I still have so much hope in that institution. Every now and then I do feel like putting some trust into them.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
I agree with you in essence. Pakistah army had always been and perhaps will always act like contracted guards for superpowers. Poor Pakistanis one day might find the entire country making it in the auction halls of Beijing if by any chance Chinese take over the world. A very dark joke but you got the point - Pakistan army had never been sincere to its poeple.
But then again, who do you think Pakistan army really is? A nuclear armed and world's sixth largest army who played a pivotal role in defeating the Russians in last Afghan war and know more about ins and outs of that country than Afghans themselves, was never going to work for America for *free. *Even the Americans were never that dumb to even assume this. It may not be their birth right but certainly contractual right to demand all that money. If Israel, for being an ally can get all that aid (they have offcially been number one recipient for American aid fro decades) then why not Pakistan, she is an ally too after all. It's a shame that you are under an impression that as if its the ordinary Pakistani that is a direct recipient of Ameircan aid.
Although I'm bitterly disappointed with Pakistan army but I still have so much hope in that institution. Every now and then I do feel like putting some trust into them.
Looks like you have some kind of anti-army agenda :) but I am talking about the culture of beggary in Pakistan for which every Pakistani is guilty of and not just the army.
It's not only USA that we 'work' for. Look at how happily they take aid money from Saudi Arabia and an average Pakistani's complaint with oil rich Arab countries is that why don't they share their wealth with us for the sake of Islam. Last year Turkey gave some free buses and it was one of the most highlighted feature of that bus project, highlighted both by government and media. These are all symptoms of beggar mentality.
There is no pride for a nuclear armed, sixth largest army in fighting for another country for money. There is no comparison between Pakistan and Israel when it comes to dealing with USA. Israel is much more strategically and ideologically aligned with USA and is treated like a real ally and they in turn respect USA and treat them like friends.
I personally don't agree with the view that soon Pakistan will be in same situation with China as Chinese are not as generous as Americans when it comes to money and by the time they will be in a position to shower money on their allies they will have known how generosity to beggars can be counterproductive like in the case of USA and Pakistan.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
If I have an anti army agenda then what shall say about about your views eh?
You are confusing so many dfferent things and emotions and frankly speaking I'm now losing the track and the interest. Let's just go back to your original post and hopefully I won't have to do anymore replying after that. The aid Pakistan's getting is simply because of their partnership with USA on the WoT. It's not charity. It's a result of a contractual deal. Simple as that. Yes we can have all sorts yadda yadda talks about how states don't fight for other countries for money but tough luck, Pakistan army has been operating like this since the country had a very first fall of democracy. If you agree with this then you are as "anti army" as any other average Pakistani who is sick and tired of living in a third world military state.
Re: U.S. AID efforts towards Education and Energy in Pakistan.
If I have an anti army agenda then what shall say about about your views eh?
You are confusing so many dfferent things and emotions and frankly speaking I'm now losing the track and the interest. Let's just go back to your original post and hopefully I won't have to do anymore replying after that. The aid Pakistan's getting is simply because of their partnership with USA on the WoT. It's not charity. It's a result of a contractual deal. Simple as that. Yes we can have all sorts yadda yadda talks about how states don't fight for other countries for money but tough luck, Pakistan army has been operating like this since the country had a very first fall of democracy. If you agree with this then you are as "anti army" as any other average Pakistani who is sick and tired of living in a third world military state.
All i want to say to you and all Pakistanis who think like you is to keep up the 'contractual' work, this is the only way for Pakistan to live if it is going to live at all. Until then keep sucking and keep complaining.