Daily Times

Few days ago while scrolling through MalaysiaKini.com I came across the article which was an amalgamation of political satire and ignorance from the very basic economics. The very political acumen of the author seems dubious as he failed to ascertain whether he was writing a political commentary or economic epilogue. Starting from a sweeping statement as following “… there is nothing to suggest that Pakistan has the money, the population, or the internal demand to offset the loss in the Indian Market”.

Now one can wonder that how on earth a person even with a very little IQ level can overlook a country which has the world’s 5th biggest population as per United Nations Population Division ranking with most of it comprising of young people. It seems the gentleman is obsessed with population figures of India. But he should not underestimate a country like Pakistan which has population of over 220 million people. The economy of Pakistan is the 24th largest in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), and 42nd largest in terms of nominal gross domestic product.

So the question of internal demand is nothing but a childish approach to suggest. The author needs to avoid brushing aside the economic or political importance of Pakistan. He should stop wearing glasses which are tainted with Indian perspective all the time. The author further blamed the Honourable Prime minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad by portraying him as a person with vendetta by saying “Mahathir has not forgiven Imran for stabbing him in the back for his last minute withdrawal from Kuala Lumpur summit.” Here one doubts whether the author has any familiarity with the international politics where the basis norm is that there are no permanent friends or foes in the International relations.

The economy of Pakistan is the 24th largest in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP), and 42nd largest in terms of nominal gross domestic product

If Mahathir was so angry then why he would invite PM Imran on an official visit. Perhaps the author should not comment upon international politics prior learning the very basics of the same. Another derogatory rather slanderous remarks about Pakistan are “Pakistan cannot increase its demand overnight to counter-balance the loss of export from India”. Similarly the author opines “Pakistan is a financially indebted country to IMF loans, grants from Saudi Arabia and other donors.

The country’s foreign debt is about US110 billion and is mainly from the borrowings from international donor agencies such as the IMF”. Well here shows his lack of understanding that countries go to IMF in order to sustain and stabilize their economies. It does not mean that those countries going to IMF or other international monetary bodies are financially bankrupt. It is simple common sense that IMF or world Bank never extends its loan facility to bankrupt states. Pakistan has opted for IMF and other borrowings for a limited period, not for time immemorial.

How he can be so sure that Pakistan cannot increase its palm oil demand. Any tangible source or facts and figures? The overall article is obsessed with India’s so-called supremacy in mind looking at Pakistan from a very shallow angle. But the author failed to explain why after being stabbed in the back, Dr Mahathir is still backing Pakistan’s point of view vis-a-vis Indian atrocities in Kashmir and its notorious anti Muslim policies. It is hoped that next time before resorting to writing, Deputy Chief Minister (II) of Penang Mr Ramasamy Palanisamy will try to remain neutral. I waited for few days to Pakistani High Commission authorities at Kuala Lumpur to respond to the above article yet it feels as if some people working there who don’t bother about the such things. Although I have many differences with Pakistani security agencies and their anti-human rights policies yet I deem it necessary to respond to any such malicious attempt to malign Pakistan.

The writer is a senior journalist