Pakistan Crisis - Seven Problem, Seven

Solutions
Pakistan is experiencing a major existential crisis. But crises are mixed blessings which can lead
to regression or progression. They can cause a breakdown or become a fertile ground for a
breakthrough. Some Pakistanis are worried that Pakistan, like Iraq, is heading towards a civil war
where thousands
Of innocent men, women and children will be killed because of the violent
confrontation between different ethnic and religious groups. It is so sad that, even in the
21st century, millions of innocent Pakistanis are caught between religious
fundamentalism and Western imperialism while the Pakistani military and government
are unable to provide safety and security to their citizens. Since September 11, 2001,
Pakistanis have been pushed into international religious, economic and political wars. In
the eyes of many foreign powers Pakistan, a nuclear power, has become a ticking time
bomb, ready to explode at any time.

Pakistan has taken the centre stage in world politics not only because of its geographical
position but also its historical love/hate relationship with the four other nuclear powers
in the world - India, Israel, England and America. Pakistan is experiencing a major
political crisis.
Many Pakistanis are concerned that over the next few years their mother land might
again be divided into religious and secular states similar to the events in 1971, when
East Pakistan became Bangladesh. “Can Pakistan survive?” has become once more, a
million dollar question, as maintaining independence this time might be as difficult, if
not more difficult, than gaining it half a century ago. Abul Kalam Azad had predicted in
1947 that if Pakistan separated from India on religious basis, it would further divide
fifty years after its birth. It is ironic that Pakistanis, as a nation, even today, have not
been able to find satisfactory solutions to the following problems.

1. SOCIOECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Even after decades of existence there is no equal distribution of wealth and resources.
Pakistan remains a feudal society where 90% of its wealth is owned by 10% of people.
Industrialization has suffered because of the unpredictable economy and politics. None
of the governments, military or civil, had any effective plan of action to decrease the
gap between the rich and the poor. Military not only uses most of the national budget,
but many army officers have been running many civilian organizations. Those
Pakistanis who went to work in the Middle East in 1970s and 80s, and brought back
foreign currency, have also created an economic imbalance and uneven social growth in
the country.

2. EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS

Rather than increasing, in the last sixty years, the literacy rate has decreased as the
schools have not kept up with the population explosion. Sadly, most people in the
villages cannot read or write. There is no national standardized educational system.
Because of the large number of children, many poor parents, who do not practice family
planning, send their children to madrassas, religious schools, as they get free food and
shelter in those institutions. It is ironic that many of these madrassas are funded by
Saudi Arabia to promote their fundamentalist interpretation of Islam and literal
interpretation of Quran. For children to accept blind faith rather than learn critical and
creative thinking can be a serious concern for any nation.
Pakistan is the only country I know where many children do not get their primary
education in their native language. Rather than studying in Punjabi, Pushto, Balochi and
Sindhi, many children are taught in Urdu, English and Arabic which are not their
mother tongues.

3. HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS

While many Pakistanis suffer from physical and emotional problems, there is no
adequate health care system in place. Many pregnant women remain anemic and there is
a high infant mortality rate. Children still suffer from malnutrition because of pervasive
poverty. Many patients with emotional problems only see a psychiatrist when they get
violent and have a nervous breakdown. Mental illness is still surrounded by visible
stigma. Because of lack of health education there is less emphasis on prevention. When
I was working in Zanana Hospital in Peshawar I met many infertile couples who went
to holy shrines rather than consulting infertility clinics.

4. RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS

Because of religious teachings in the families, schools and

communities, many Pakistanis have grown with a religious rather than a secular world
view. This trend intensified when Pakistan transformed into Islamic Republic of
Pakistan. Ironically in Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s time Ahmedis were declared non-Muslims.
The process of Islamization of Pakistan accelerated during Zia-ul-Haq period when
religion was introduced to all aspects of life. The more religion entered politics and the
separation of mosque and state became blurred, the more Pakistan traveled on the path
of becoming a theocratic state.

5. IDENTITY PROBLEM

There was a time when some of my Pukhtoon friends used to

say that they have been Pathans for 5000 years, Muslims for 1500 years and Pakistanis
for 50 years, but the identity of Pakistanis has changed over the decades. There are
many Pakistanis who identify with Arab and Muslim culture far more than their own
ethnic and native culture. Their names are Arabic and they greet now with “Allah
Hafiz” rather than “Khuda Hafiz”. They know more about Mohammad of Arabia than
Buddha, Bullay Shaha and Guru Nanak of India. Many Pakistanis do not realize that the
land and culture of Mohenjo Daro and Harappa existed far before 1947, when Pakistan
was born. The issue of identity for many Pakistanis is still a major unresolved issue.
6. POLITICAL PROBLEMS

It is unfortunate that after all these years an autocratic political system prevails in
Pakistan. People are more familiar with army generals and dictators than democratic
minded political leaders. Democracy has not thrived in Pakistan since many religious
leaders consider it a Western and un-Islamic system. Social, political and religious
intolerance has increased over the decades. It is also sad that popular political leaders
like Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto did not die natural deaths, one was hanged
and the other assassinated. Many Muslims still dream of a Khilafat where one religious
leader will be the life long leader. In 1500 years of history Muslims have not developed
any unique political system that can be considered democratic. There are many Muslims
who dream of converting others by preaching their brand of religion and there are others
who support holy wars.

7. HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS

Pakistanis have suffered for decades because their human rights have not been protected
in the communities as well the courts. Whether they are women or children, Ahmedis or
Christians, Shiites or atheists, the rights of minorities are always threatened. The
Pakistani Constitution does not ensure equal rights and privileges to all citizens.
Pakistan still struggles between the secular British and religious Arabic laws and
traditions. Pakistan has not resolved political conflicts between different provinces.

FUTURE OF PAKISTAN

In the next few years Pakistanis need to make many significant choices otherwise
international powers might dictate certain decisions as they see Pakistan as a failed state
that exports “terrorists” and having nuclear weapons, has become a threat to world
peace. If the British Empire can lose her colonies, the Berlin wall can come down and
the Communist World can disintegrate, Pakistan can also divide further and the map of
the Middle East can change in the next decade.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

While I am discussing the unresolved problems of Pakistan, I am also reflecting upon

the possible solutions. In this introductory article I can only enlist the solutions as each
of them is deserving of a detailed discussion. For Pakistanis to make sure that Pakistan
not only survives but also grows and thrives and joins the modern world by becoming a
progressive and democratic state, they need to take following steps:
1. The gap between the rich and the poor has to decrease.
2. The curriculum of schools need to be reviewed so that children can receive scientific
and secular education in their mother tongue. In addition, they need to develop critical
and creative thinking.
3. Health care education and free health care needs to be provided to all citizens.
4. The Pakistani Constitution has to become secular and humanistic so that all citizens,
especially women and minorities have equal rights and the blasphemy law is abolished.
5. Pakistanis need to become aware of their own cultural traditions and Asian identity
rather than primarily identifying with a Middle Eastern identity.
6. All political parties need to present their 5 to 10 year plan to deal with serious
economic, religious and social problems so that people know which party will serve
them the best.
7. All political parties and citizens need to make sure that army officers stay in the army
barracks and not take over the parliament in the future.
For some people it might seem like a dream but all nations have to dream before the
dream comes true. If Pakistanis did not fulfill that dream, I am afraid their dream might
turn into a violent nightmare in the not so distant future.