Promoting Unity Amidst Anarchy

ACCORDING to a UNDP report, Pakistan’s elite consume subsidies totaling $17.4 billion a year, disproportionately placing the burden of the economic slowdown on the inflation-hit masses. This situation not only exacerbates social inequality but also signals a disturbing lack of fiscal responsibility. The prioritization of elite interests over the needs of the broader population creates an environment of discontent and instability, raising concerns among potential investors. Investors are wary of a system that favors the wealthy and ignores the economic hardships of the majority. Such dynamics undermine confidence in the country’s economic viability and hamper sustainable development. The economy, long in deficit, has sunk to a crawl. The dream of becoming an Asian Tiger has been shattered and the pride of a nuclear-armed nation has become a story of the past. Political parties refuse to engage in dialogue, creating a divide that continues unabated. This challenge is compounded by a changing strategic environment, with economic desperation on one side and polarization bordering on chaos on the other. The country is increasingly vulnerable to exploitation by global powers pursuing their own interests.

Certainly, dialogue is the path that can change the fate of nations. The goal is clear, but the laziness and inaction of political leaders tell a different story. Is this negligence deliberate or can the elite not find a way out of the impasse? The reality is that 65% of the country’s population is struggling for basic needs and they are also burdened with taxes. There is no capital available for work and business because interest rates are high and the government is taking everything from banks to plug the budget deficit. Foreign investors are not coming in; existing investments are being relocated. Moreover, the government is standing with a stick in its hand; speaking out leads to dire consequences. Dialogue between political parties is essential to overcome the toxic polarization that plagues the political landscape. However, it cannot be based on maintaining the status quo, nor can it assume that the current situation offers any potential for improving the nation. Moreover, in an atmosphere characterized by fear and intimidation, the prospect of meaningful dialogue is fundamentally compromised. Dialogue can only take place within a framework of politeness and decency, with room for constructive engagement and mutual understanding.

It is essential for both sides to acknowledge the threats to the state and the need and importance of national unity, and avoid any actions or words that could spoil the political atmosphere. Only then can the dialogue move forward. Another crucial point is that parties must demonstrate through their words and actions that they will not act stubbornly in dialogue for the greater good of the nation, which necessarily includes sustainable peace and development; failure to do so would amount to conspiracy. To avoid chaos and unrest and to protect the state from foreign traps, the dialogue should focus on practical steps aimed at restoring freedoms, setting up mechanisms for providing basic amenities at the grassroots level and developing a policy framework to ensure food security. All colonial-era laws that classify dissent as rebellion must be annulled. Perpetuating these colonial traditions, which subjugate the population, only promotes incivility and undermines both the media and civil society. This requires major reforms to the Pakistan Penal Code. This code continues to restrict freedoms and disproportionately benefit people in terms of economic opportunities and participation in state decision-making processes.

Another prerequisite for dialogue that can be fulfilled immediately is the fulfillment of the constitutional requirements for third-level local government. Provinces must establish politically, administratively and financially autonomous elected local governments for equitable resource sharing and sustainable development. There is currently no better way to ensure public participation in decision-making and hold political parties accountable, thereby freeing them from the clutches of mafia-like influences. Mechanisms for providing essential needs such as law and order, education and health care can be the biggest obstacles to chaos and unrest. Third, food security must be declared a national priority and the production of pulses, fresh fish, meat, milk, yogurt and oilseeds must be given the same importance as current cash crops. Commercial agriculture was promoted during the colonial era, which continued even after independence. This not only damaged the environment but also led to the destruction of pastures, forests and aquatic life, pushing a large population to the brink of starvation. The transition from commercial agriculture to sustainable agriculture must necessarily begin with better water management. Currently, there are 400 million feet of clean water under the Indus Basin, which, if protected from pollution and abuse, could be used through solar energy for the needs of the human population and sustainable agriculture. Enough water could be used to restore natural lakes, pastures, and forests. The restoration of rivers could also be used to supply trade goods, which is not only very cheap but also increases the strategic importance of the country.

—The writer is a political analyst based in Islamabad.

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