Pakistan’s economy is near to collapse

By:Syed Sadaqat Hussain

How long Pakistan’s economy will survive if the present situation of the Karachi city continued for few more years. Once again before starting the Muharram, Karachi is under the siege of fresh wave of ethnic and political violence and sadly saying that 28 killed in last 36 hours only, whilst the city where police and para military forces are forced to maintain law and order situation since a long time. Every time government vows to restore order in the southern port city of Karachi and would not tolerate a repeat of the disorder whist the situation is that they are totally fail to establish peace in the city having all machinery and funds to stop killing of innocent people in the city. The fresh situation is that there are so many groups in the battlefield such as political parties, different ethnical groups, religious factors, Talban are fighting each other and in the meantime they are fighting with police, and paramilitary forces as well. The targeted killing escalating its way and the situation in this context could not seen normal since a long time. It is really a mockery that how a government or state and its economy can bear such a huge loss of lives and trade where the Karachi is a pragmatic commercial hub of the country. It is the known fact that Karachi generates over 60 per cent of the total revenue of the country and provides fuel to its economy and also providing shelter and employment continuously to every walk of the people to its citizen but what the city is receiving back is: law and order situation, targeted killing, Bhatta, Politically captured areas and No Go Areas etc. etc. On the other hand, the government is not serious to establish peace in the city, which is a general opinion of every citizen of Karachi. The last week of this month was terrible in Karachi; the loss of lives continued through targeted killing and unavailability of CNG. Some analysts say that the potential reflects a civil war. In fact, the city is under civil war-like situation—there is no day gone without killing 7 or 10 persons. Whilst, the causes of clashes are purely existence of illegal weapons and the city has a long history of sectarian and ethnic strife. Now the political parties and their workers are very active for political control of the city. There are so many places in the city, which are No Go Areas. Business Community urged many a times to Army for taking over the control of the city. The City —vibrant few decades back—is now showing picture of a dead city. Business, educational, cultural activities are totally affected by daily killing. Unhealthy slogans, red, green, white, flags on every residential project can be seen showing control of the area from the political parties. Paramilitary troops have already been deployed in several areas of Karachi and now become a question mark. Even there is no rescue to protect life, property and work. In addition, Karachi plays a key role in the Afghan war, supplies for American and NATO forces are shipped to the city for trucking across the country and into neighboring Afghanistan. Karachi residents say that the government has failed in its responsibility to maintain law and order. Interior Minister Rehman Malik has often rushed here to mediate, but peace has never lasted. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, or M.Q.M., which controls the city government, is a secular group that draws support from Urdu-speaking people whose ancestors migrated from India after partition in 1947. The Awami National Party, or ANP, has an Islamic Pashtun base that has been growing because of migration from the north, where the army has opened a series of campaigns against the Pakistani Taliban. Similarly, Jamat-e-Islami, and Ahl-e-Sunnat Waljamaat also have a larger exposure and influence among the citizen. The only solution to establish peace in the city is to deweaponize Karachi. Until and unless city would not clean up from weapon, political culprits and their dacoit workers, the peace will not be lasted here. We would like to see about the action by the provincial government of Sindh should be taken to ensure the economic hub of the country remains the safe, vibrant destination for locals, and visitors as it was always been in the few decades back. The prime responsibility of the government is to ensure public safety very seriously and employ a comprehensive approach to ensure the continued safety of the local and visitors to the city. We have increased spending on local law enforcement and dispatched additional forces to the city but the results are zero. Government should simultaneously take decisive action against the lawbreakers. This includes modernizing the city police, seeking more federal assistance to fight against all mafia and passing a new law to strengthen the penal code. A comprehensive and continued strategy would be developed to deweaponize the city. Most affected areas to be controlled by the Military. No Go Areas and politically held areas should be cleared with the help of Army. City’s exit points are watched carefully. Patrolling of army and construction of bunkers are necessary to better safeguard of the people. These measures would be very helpful if the authorities sincerely adopt the strategy.