ISSUES IN GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

Article Review:
Neha Amman
Registration No: 028

This article discusses the impact of CPEC on local communities and how people have showed their
willingness and somehow resistance to adapt to new ways. This article, discuss how the fishing
community in Gwadar, Pakistan, is regarded as a secondary population to whom little attention is paid.
How they essentially take away their traditional health facilities, which they have been using for centuries
under the guise of progress and national integration. The community here was mostly employing old
traditional methods to provide health services to children and women, but when the country decided to
develop the area, new health facilities were introduced, and people's living standards improved as a result.
However, they are unaware that it is critical to consult with the community prior to proposing any new
ideas. So that if change is required and progress is expected people should be satisfied with whatever the
development is offering.
The community had to deal with structural dominance imposed by state laws, powerful religious
organizations, militant threats, and ineffective national multicultural health care. The data collected
through objective as well as subjective means. According to the article, these approaches are seen as a
threat to the state, causing the government to handle security in the area, erasing local customs in the
process. This action causes new issues, including isolation. Traditional healers have little freedom of
expression as a result of the tightening of control. The majority was recorded by the media, but it was also
ignored. Healers from the minority Christian faith, for example, have difficulties as a result of the
problematic blasphemy law. Furthermore, other unjust acts coexist. Because traditional healers are
viewed as a threat by the state, no safeguards are in place to assure their safety. This has been proved in
the past on several occasions.
Another challenge to traditional healthcare workers is Wahhabism, an extreme Islamic sect that emerged
during the era of Zia ul Haqq. They are particularly concerned about faith healers, whom they believe
have no place in their philosophy. They believe faith healers will deceive people and persuade them to
commit evil acts. As a result, any action that challenges their view of Islam is met with extreme
opposition. Regardless of the approach used by the government to eliminate traditional voices, the article
claims that it will only be temporary. This allows them to deny basic rights to inhabitants, which is wrong
because injustice does not last long. Whether today or tomorrow, justice will be done.
Another major issue was that they were poor and couldn't afford a new health-care system; they preferred
their old system because they didn't want the new system to have an impact on their culture; they wanted
to preserve their culture and identity. Later, there was a sentiment that these healers were kafir because
they promoted shirk in society, which sparked a resistance movement. The state desired a single religion
for the entire state, but as is customary, mullahs, tabligy jamaat, and Wahabis wanted to promote their
own religion, causing instability.
Apart from that, they have taken a stand against anti-blasphemy regulation. They employ word
replacements instead of just asking for spiritual assistance. For example, instead of using the complete
name, use "Murshid." They avoid being caught up under blasphemy legislation this way. Religious
groups and opposition to military threats are also discussed in the article. To appear innocent, they
participate in hidden rituals and ruin themselves as "religious people." The data gathering strategy uses
both subjective and objective methodologies to fill study gaps. According to the author, observation
generated more information than interviews. This increases the risk of research rejection. This study is
called into question due to the observer's bias, inability to recognize any constructive point, human
capacity limitations, and other comparable concerns. The study covers all the relevant factors as to why
the people of Gwadar were resistant of modern change.