Daily Times

In 1971 when East Pakistan seceded to become an independent Bangladesh, its population was around 67 million whereas West Pakistan’s was around 60 million. In the next sixteen years, by 1987, Pakistan population had surpassed that of Bangladesh. Today, while Pakistan’s population is 210 million, Bangladesh’s population is just short of 167 million. Not only has Bangladesh successfully controlled the population growth rate, over the last ten years its economy consistently grew at a rate of no less than 6 percent annually.

Bangladesh also has us beat in other areas. Its per capita income is higher than Pakistan as is its GDP growth rate. While our forex reserves struggle at $17 billion, Bangladesh’s have crossed $33 million. Furthermore, while 60 million people live below the poverty line in this country, there are only 22 million of such unfortunates in Bangladesh. This is a territory whose people were looked at with disdain by both the political and military leadership of Pakistan, before and after it became a separate country.

Though we have refused to reflect on this as a country, the reality is that people and state of Bangladesh have been doing well ever since they separated from us. By virtue of this fact Pakistan’s own policy choices in the areas of political system, economy, security and international diplomacy stand as plain fiascos. Our morbid sense of national ‘insecurity’, self-assumed status as a fortress of Islam, disgust for people’s right to rule themselves have lead us to the socio-economic and political disaster we find ourselves in today.

Though we have refused to reflect on this as a country, the reality is that the people and state of Bangladesh have been doing well ever since they separated from us. By virtue of this fact, Pakistan’s own policy choices in the areas of politics, economy, security and international diplomacy stand as plain fiascos

Despite this sorry state of affairs, we are still adding 3.8 million to our population every year. This development is no meagre challenge. We are already an impoverished country, burdened by lack of investments, no public health or education and our people feel increasingly politically disenfranchised. Yet our policies and narrative remain security driven as they always have.

Over the last seventy years of our existence, we have seen numerous experiments conducted on our state and governance system. We lost East Pakistan because of these experiments, and today we are more divided than ever before. All that can save us is a strong democratic system, but for that too we will need to come up with a new social contract with the goal of promoting citizens’ welfare and development.

Today, the shortcomings of our security-centric state policies are clearly visible. We must prioritise internal stability and peace over international agendas. South Korea, Taiwan, China and Singapore are some countries who have done so despite having territorial and ideological disputes with neighbouring countries. Regardless of whatever situation these countries found themselves in, they preferred to invest in education, health and their people. Pakistan will have to do the same.

The writer is a sociologist with interest in history and politics. He tweets @ZulfiRao1

Published in Daily Times, May 10^th 2018.