Daily Times

Bertrand Russell focused on intellectual and moral aspects of human life. It is important to learn to put things across based on verified and verifiable facts. That is intellectual base. Moral base suggests differentiating love from hate, separating right from wrong. All spheres of human life need guidance from intellectual and moral values for tension free society, justice system and relationships. I follow the said values and accordingly advocate the same for the sake of regional and international peace.

The World Economic Forum needs to promote values to enable people around the globe to adjust to the continuum of certainty and uncertainty and help create opportunities for making a fairer world. This organization (WEF), over the 50 years of its existence, has not done much more than cushioning and justifying capitalism; even helping it to survive in a world without ideologies and competing systems after the fall of communism, even socialism. Unless multinational organizations and institutions are regulated and controlled by ordinary people, they are going to think about themselves only, their interests and profits. According to reliable sources, over two thousand billionaires own or control some sixty percent of the world’s common resources. The point is, how to end the monopolies and adopt measures that help make a fairer world? Competition and monopolies’ controls can lead to building trust and democracy, for opening the doors to establishing government of the people, by the people, for the people. The looting of resources must come to an end to benefit the common men and women.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) should focus more on action, not only talk. Needed is sustainable path to a common future; that should be the major objective of WEF, to bring ease and satisfaction to the common people for common future. The world economic, political and social systems should be about sharing and caring. The flourishing world of plenty has to bring glory to all.

Being a sovereign state, Pakistan does not need to take dictation from anyone on the economic and political decision-making. Islamabad is better places than any other country to follow such an independent and sovereign course. The United States cannot and should not except to have such a stance on Pakistan while being silent about Kashmir and India. The bias is obvious and visible, and is a barrier to better and friendly relations. There is clear non seriousness in American approach to the regional peace for which Pakistan must get credit. So close to Afghan peace deal, the US needs to be looking to work with Pakistan, not drive it away.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) should focus more on action, not only talk. Needed is sustainable path to a common future; that should be the major objective of WEF, to bring ease and satisfaction to the common people for common future

We must brace ourselves for the tug of war between some opposing interests in the region. US-India nexus would like to scuttle all our planes and dreams. American would like to keep its influence in Afghanistan though Pakistan. American presence in Pakistan also serves their ambitions against Iran. Scuttling of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and circumventing of China and Russia, is a combined Indo-US project. Thus, it is foreseen that some big incentives are on their way to attract Pakistan and duping it to play this ominous role of allowing further US ingress in our polity, security and economy. If positive, which is not so positive, an approach of the United States. does not attract Pakistan. The Americans may resort to exploit our dear country and use sticks of FATF, IMF, retiring of loans, Indian threats and cut in the US, Middle Eastern remittances. This typical strategy of the United States, the blowing of hot and cold will be applied yet once again.

Our leadership, political and military should demonstrate behavior different from the past. They should now have the courage and refuse to cow down or oblige, citing our own interests and relations with China and other countries in the region. We can’t please the US at the cost of displeasure of China, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia and others. On the other hand, is it so easy to annoy the United States and friends in the Middle East? This situation needs to be handled with care after deliberations domestically an internationally. The greatest threat is always from India and that we must meet wisely and with full use of our capabilities and quick powerful response. Remember, we can’t afford to lose our trustworthy friend and all other support we now have.

We must debate the issues candidly in the civil society and parliament and devise strategies and policies. We need to consult our international friends. We need to act without any delay. We as a nation have to be prepares for all eventualities.

We in Pakistan have to thrice on disruptive development, after understanding the implications and ways to manage this mode of development in our national interest.

One needs to get back to track and then find a way forward though creativity, rethinking positive, out of the box approaches to sustainable systems of development and management for short and long-term goals and objectives. Pakistan was the Asian tiger in early years of its existence due to excellent development, planning the Third Five Year Plan, specially provided guidance to some regional countries on road to sustainable development and stability as well as security.

Dependence on US aid and neglecting to build our own economic base resulted in multiple complex political, economic and social problems. We need to build a strong industrial base with domestic resources, At the same time, we have to focus on agriculture to avoid the kind of crisis the country is now facing. Flour bags; where could the people get this basic necessity, and that too at government-fixed price- i.e. control price)?

Why do governments export a commodity when the stuff Is not sufficient even for domestic requirements? Regretfully, a sad situation. Perfect plans and implementation are required to address disruptive mode of development.

The writer is the former director of National Institute of Administration (NIPA), Government of Pakistan