‘Imported Government Not Acceptable’

If at all, Pakistan or, Pakistanis for that matter, can pride on anything being
indigenous, indeed those are their governments. These governments get elected by a due
process of public voting through a fairly organized and regulated process, though behind
the curtain manipulations, if at all effective, are not in the public domain and, therefore,
cannot be disputed.

I have been witnessing the general elections since 1970, acclaimed publicly as the first
‘free-and-fair’ elections in Pakistan ever. Since then ten more have been orchestrated, all
returning home-made political cadres. Thus, the general public sentiment of an ‘imported
government not acceptable’ makes sense. However, the purpose of invoking this cliché here
is not to contest its legitimacy but to draw attention to something that is more of a
contradiction of sorts. My concern is that over a period of fifty-two years what have these
home-made governments done towards indigenous manufacturing capacity building? This
applies to both products — consumables and durables — and infrastructure projects? From
microchips to motor cars and from nanotechnology to nuclear bombs, what credit do we
owe ourselves in their making. It has almost entirely been the imported capital, whether
technology or finance, that has seen Pakistan advance in material terms. But the one
valuable indigenous resource we produce — our technical professionals in the few
institutions of repute — are inevitably being mass exported. What a paradox!

Our debt rating is so poor that we are amongst the most addicted IMF countries in
the world. Over the last thirty years, this will be the 13th time that IMF will bail us out.
Against such a dismal backdrop, every country in its right mind will be too happy to keep
Pakistan at an arm’s length. For Pakistan to really reinforce its economic and physical
infrastructure and redefine its political culture, its leaders must come out of their obsession
for street-power and slogan-mongering. While it conveniently serves their short-term
interests, any leader aspiring to leave his imprints of loyalty and patriotism in public
memory will have to discard his ego. Nothing less will suffice.