PAKISTAN STUDIES

SUBMITTED BY: ADNAN HAIDER

REG NO: SP20-BSE-037
SUBMITTED TO: SIR NASRULLAH KHAN
ASSIGNMENT#4
SECTION: BSE 2B
DATE: 23-12-2020
Political party:
A political party is defined as an organized group of people with at least roughly
similar political aims and opinions, that seeks to influence public policy by getting
its candidates elected to public office.
Parties tend to be deeply and durably entrenched in specific substructures of
society in a sustainable and well-functioning democracy. They can link the
governmental institutions to the elements of the civil society in a free and fair
society and are regarded as necessary for the functioning any modern democratic
political system.

Major political parties that exist in Pakistan:

 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
 Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan
 Pakistan Muslim League – N
 Pakistan People's Party
 Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP)
 Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)
 Barabri Party Pakistan (BPP)
 Awami National Party
 Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (F)
 Tehreek e Islami
 Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP)
 Pakistan Insani Haqooq Party (PIHP)
The certain problems that almost every political party face for
carrying out their mandate effectively.

ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
One of the mainstays of any country around the world for economic development
is its existing reserves of the natural resources and assets base. Pakistan has plenty
of natural resources such as large reserves of oil and gas, great quantity of copper
and ore deposits, in addition huge coal and salt pits, and gemstones. Likewise, it
possesses sound manufacturing industries of textiles and clothing, steel fabricating,
cotton ginning factories, sugarcane mills, sports goods, and leather manufacturing
etc.

Apart from these mineral resources and industries, Pakistan also has vast tracts of
agriculture land. Out of total geographical area, about 27 percent is cultivated, and
of this, 80 percent is irrigated. Pakistan has one of the most developed irrigation
systems in the world, i.e., Indus Basin Irrigation System. We have rivers and sea.
We have harbors to export and import goods. We are blessed with four seasons
and a fit tropical weather in terms of farming and agriculture.

There is no doubt that Pakistan is a resource-rich country and possesses mineral

fuels, manufactured goods and beverage and tobacco (13%). Moreover, the other
resources include food and live animals (11%), crude materials (11%), chemicals
(11%), machinery (8%) and miscellaneous articles (8%). In addition, we have 175
billion tons of coal reserve. It is up to 618 billion barrels of crude oil. The natural
gas reserves are also in abundance, it’s about 885.3 billion cubic meters.

Despite being blessed with fertile agriculture land, abundance of minerals and
sound industrial base, our economic development is not progressing as it should.

The major challenges in achieving economic development are:

Energy crisis: The constant leading power cut-off challenge has troubled the
economy. Since the year 2000 this curse has wreaked havoc on the overall
economy. As admitted by Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja
Muhammad Asif during a National Assembly session a few days ago that the
power shortfall has exceeded up to 5,000MW. Until energy lingering crisis is not
resolved the determined economic development is a far-off dream.
Terrorism: It is a huge stumbling-block for economic generation in Pakistan.
Since 2002 we are a war-torn country. The State Bank of Pakistan report (2016)
says that war on terrorism has cost $118 billion. According to Global Terrorism
Index (2016), out of 163 countries, Pakistan stands 4th worst hit. This has long
been a reason for Pakistan’s negative international image which has limited the
foreign investment in the country.

Wealth Concentration: In Pakistan wealth is concentered among a few rich

families. The rest of the population is dependent on them. Due to wealth
concentration, around 35 percent people spend their lives under poverty line.
According to Multidimensional Poverty Index (2016) 39 percent population of
Pakistan lives in poverty, which means that 4 out of 10 people in Pakistan live in
poverty.

Corruption: Since 1947, the ongoing corruption has steadily planted its roots. In
current circumstances, it has become a highly political debate as even the prime
ministers of the country are accused of it. The corruption has proven to be a
menace for institutions. According to corruption perception index (CPI 2016) out
of 175 countries Pakistan stands at 116.

Youth unemployment: We are blessed in having about 63 percent of youth

population. Half of them are unemployed. According to Asian Development Bank
(ADB) 50.7 percent of the population aged 15 years and above is employed. Of it,
the female ratio is very less. The rest are struggling for survival. On an average,
Pakistan needs to create 20 million job annually for young people alone.

Lack in quality education: Education is a key component for economic progress.

Unfortunately, our current literacy is 60 percent, least in South Asian countries.
About 25 million children in are out of school. More importantly, on grass root
level, thousands of schools are lacking very basic facilities such of sanitation,
water, electricity, boundary walls etc. 

Poor health facilities: The public hospitals depict bleak pictures where we find
lack of proper medicines, beds, equipment etc. Due to absence of basic health
facilities, 170 women die from pregnancy for every 100,000 births. For every
1,000 babies born, 66 die before their first birthday. In addition, approximately 44
percent children in Pakistan are stunted. Every day, due to malnutrition and
poverty children are dying in Thar.
Tax evasion: Regressive tax system collects about 90 percent tax revenue from
common men. Big corporations, landlords, businessmen, politicians do not pay
their due share of taxes. They earn lot but pay less tax; on the other hand, poor
earn less but are taxed more. Each year billion rupees are evaded through tax
havens established in foreign counties. The incidences of tax evasion have
hampered Pakistan’s economic progress.  

Lack of good governance: We lag good governance and pro-poor fiscal policies.

Features & characteristics of a good political system:

(1) Use or threat of use of legal force:

The first characteristic of political system is that it allows the legal authority to use
force. If David Easton speaks of “authoritative allocation of values”, Dahl of
“Power, “rule” and authority”. All these definitions imply that legal authority can
use force to compel anybody to obey its orders.

It possesses legitimate and heavy sanctions and rightful power to punish.

Consequently, we must agree with Max Weber that legitimate use of force is a
distinct feature of political system, giving it a special quality and importance, and
its unity as a system. When the state or governments extends certain facilities then
at the same time it possesses power to impose taxes upon the people and punish
those who violate those orders.

(2) Interactions:
Almond in his book, “The Policies of Developing Areas”, writes: “Political system
is that system of interactions to be found in all independent societies which
perform the functions of integration and adaptation (both internally and vis-a-vis
other societies) by means of the employment or threat of employment or legitimate
physical compulsion”. Thus, the political system not only includes governmental
institutions such as legislatures, executives, courts, administrative agencies but all
structures in their political aspect.
Among these are included formal organizations like parties, interest groups, and
media of communication; traditional structures such as kinship ties, caste
groupings anomic phenomena such as associations, riots an demonstrations.

Consequently, the political system includes interaction between all the formal and
informal institutions. The process of interaction is divided into three phases –
input, conversion and output. The Indian Constitution reflects the various
interactions as many amendments were brought about to bring out Zamindari
abolition and socialism and remove poverty.

(3) Interdependence of Parts:

Interdependence means that when the properties of one component in a system
change, all the other components and the system are affected. In political system
the political parties having a wider base and mass media (Television, radio and
newspapers) change the performance of all other structures of the system and
affect the general working of the system.

Not only that but the emergence of trade unions and pressure groups affect the
working of the political parties, the electoral process, the legislature, the
bureaucracy, and the judicial system. For example, if the government is unable to
check the ever-rising prices or inflation, then the laborers are bound to demand
more wages.

In case the demand is not met by the employers, then the laborers may resort to
strike which may become violent in the long run. In that case the employers may
call the police and the police may resort to firing to quell the disturbances.

In such cases the mill-owners will close the mills. To solve this problem, the
government will have to intervene by appointing a tribunal consisting of the
representatives of the labor, the management and the State.

If the dispute is not solved out by the tribunal, then the government will have to
pass the legislation fixing the minimum wages and increase the dearness allowance
according to the corresponding increase in the price index. The government will
fix the bonus etc. All this amply demonstrates how a happening of a great
magnitude affects the entire political system.
(4) Comprehensiveness:
Political System is comprehensive because it includes all the interactions from the
formal as well as informal institutions in the society. For example, it includes the
interaction of regionalism, religious upheavals, inflation, party-politics, tactics of
pressure groups and social changes brought about by modernization.

(5) Change of Boundary:

Yet another aspect of the concept of the system is the change of boundary. The
political system consists of interacting roles of nationals, subjects, voters, the
legislators, bureaucrats, and judges. The same individuals who perform role in
social and economic system also play their notable role in political systems. When
the individuals form interest groups, vote, or pay taxes, they change their role from
non-political to political ones.

For example, on the Election Day, the citizens leave their farms, plants, and offices
to go to the polling stations. In this way they are crossing the boundary from
economy to politics. Similarly, during the war time the large fluctuations in the
boundaries of political system take place. Therefore, the boundaries of political
system frequently change.

(6) Political Communication:

“Political Communication”, according to Almond, “Is the crucial boundary
maintenance function,” autonomy in the media of communication can help the free
flow of information from the society to the government. It can communicate the
articulation of interest emanating from political parties, legislatures, and
bureaucracies which themselves can correct the actions of interest groups.