Daily Times

Sir: At the basic level, Pakistan’s problem is that its ruling elite — both elected and paid — seem to be enamored by Dubai as a role model. It is a place which has become a safe tax haven for the world’s rich elite, a tourist resort with beaches and skyscrapers and a city where the local Emiratis population amounts to few hundred thousand only. It is hardly a role model for a country like Pakistan, which has a population of 200 million, numerous educational institutions and enough scientific knowhow to be amongst those possessing a nuclear deterrence and a trained professional army.

A prominent land developer who has set a trend to build modern housing societies while addressing Supreme Court stated that he had “built Bahria Town Karachi so that Pakistan can grow from a third world country to a first world country”.

I beg to differ with this individual and the thousands on his payroll. Without getting into the legality or illegality of his projects, Pakistan has talent and human resources to become part of the developed world if it follows the Singapore Model. From a mosquito infected backyard of Southeast Asia, Singapore has developed to a first world country. Its economy is larger than that of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh combined. Meanwhile, it occupies an area smaller than Karachi. It can proudly claim to have the best universities and hospitals, which can be compared to any of Ivy League university of USA. It has a state-of-the-art public transport system and a completely documented economy. It is a place where due process of law takes place and every citizen submits to rule of law. Singapore is not known for its skyscrapers but is a country which imposes the highest taxes on second houses and cars owned by citizens.

ALI MALIK TARIQ

Karachi

Published in Daily Times, June 29^th 2018.