New Delhi, Nov 5 — Pakistan is grappling with four major problems that keep it from growing: a weak economy, political unrest, security worries, and rising corruption. A recent story in the Lahore daily Friday Times paints a bleak picture of how the country is stuck.
The piece says Pakistan’s “Jihadi culture” turned the nation into a breeding ground for militant groups that fought in Afghanistan and Kashmir. Many of those groups were even used by Pakistan’s own security forces for strategic gains. In 2002, after a terror attack on the Indian Parliament, then‑President Pervez Musharraf banned several jihadist outfits. But the remaining fighters merged into the Tehrik‑e‑Taliban Pakistan (TTP), turning the country into a security nightmare.
The article reminds readers that before Pakistan entered the first Afghan war, it had no major security problems. From 1982 to 1985, the government trained and sent over 85,000 fighters to Afghanistan. The Soviet retreat in 1989 left these fighters in Pakistan, where they married local women and settled in tribal areas. The “jihad project” turned Pakistan into a hub for drug production, heroin addicts, and firearms, driving a 1.5 million‑strong heroin user base by 1985—a huge jump from the tiny numbers in 1978.
Security issues worsened after 2001, when the nation stepped into the global fight against terrorism. Over 80,000 lives were lost, including many security personnel and civilians taken by bombings and attacks.
On the economic front, Pakistan has chronic foreign‑exchange shortages, food insecurity, slow exports, high imports, and a heavy national debt. The country spends heavily on non‑development projects, wastes resources, and carries an unsustainable defence budget. The government and international lenders have imposed strict conditions that many see as a threat to national sovereignty.
Population growth and unchecked urban spread further strain the economy, leaving countless young people job‑less. Many turn to overseas work but risk falling prey to human traffickers, sometimes losing their lives in foreign waters.
The poverty rate has crept to 45 %. The country’s foreign‑exchange reserves sit at about $14‑$15 billion, largely in safe deposits or loans from friendly nations. The article calls for tough reforms: cut wasteful spending, end elite privileges that cost $17.5 billion, and stop asking for more foreign aid.
In addition, Pakistan’s political situation never has been stable enough to uphold basic rights, conduct free elections, or maintain a truly independent election commission. The legacy of the 1970 elections and martial law that led to the separation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) is still felt today.
Overall, the Friday Times warns that unless Pakistan tackles its economy, security, corruption, and political instability, its future will remain uncertain.
Source: ianslive
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