The floods could be a blessing in disguise. Under military rule - ever since General Ayub took over the military expenditure expanded and it was set in stone that it should remain 80% of the annual budget, come hell or high water. That leaves the government with 20% -10% for attempting to pay back the loans given by the World Bank, IMF and other organisations. The remaining 10% is left development, infrastructure, education, health and to run the government. Since the military is unwilling to let government have more money for Pakistan all kinds of problems have arisen.
The washing away of roads and bridges is because the miltary is not concerned with progress and prosperity of Pakistan. What the military does not realise is that unless Pakistan prospers - the miltary will also not be survive. Military budget allocation has to be sensible. Despite this allocation - Pakistan lost most of Siachin to India. In the 1965 War, there was a chance to win back Kashmir. General Ayub was afraid the war hero general would take over from him. The military lost in East Pakistan.
The collapse of the infrastructure from these floods is entirely the fault of military. The military has not allowed diversion of funds; to ensure the maintenance of of the roads and bridges. The building of additional brides. Pakistan today looks as if war had broken out and the devastation is because of it.
Malaysia is example how a Pakistan should be. Malaysia has invested a great deal in education and health. Its military has never interfered in anything, for this reason Malaysia is way ahead of Pakistan in almost everything. Ayub Khan scuttled our education system because he had to keep the feudal lords happy.
Businesses have stopped investing in setting new factories, because electricity prices have become ridiculously expensive. The government has to pay back foreign loans, but is unable to do so because the military does not want it budget shaved. A civilian government should set priorities on the budget allocations. A military budget is only useful in war time, not otherwise. Many people hoped after we had become a nuclear powered country, the size of the military would be reduced - but that never happened.
The first priority now is that Pakistan has to recover from the damage caused by the floods. If the military budget remains at the same level, then there is no chance that Pakistan would ever recover from this extensive damage - in the next ten years. The military is not separate from Pakistan should not consider that it has the right to a huge budget, which does help in Pakistan's quick recovery.
The collapse of the infrastructure from these floods is entirely the fault of military. The military has not allowed diversion of funds; to ensure the maintenance of of the roads and bridges. The building of additional brides. Pakistan today looks as if war had broken out and the devastation is because of it.
Malaysia is example how a Pakistan should be. Malaysia has invested a great deal in education and health. Its military has never interfered in anything, for this reason Malaysia is way ahead of Pakistan in almost everything. Ayub Khan scuttled our education system because he had to keep the feudal lords happy.
Businesses have stopped investing in setting new factories, because electricity prices have become ridiculously expensive. The government has to pay back foreign loans, but is unable to do so because the military does not want it budget shaved. A civilian government should set priorities on the budget allocations. A military budget is only useful in war time, not otherwise. Many people hoped after we had become a nuclear powered country, the size of the military would be reduced - but that never happened.
The first priority now is that Pakistan has to recover from the damage caused by the floods. If the military budget remains at the same level, then there is no chance that Pakistan would ever recover from this extensive damage - in the next ten years. The military is not separate from Pakistan should not consider that it has the right to a huge budget, which does help in Pakistan's quick recovery.
We should start paying back all the loans and never be burdened with them anymore. When Japan took its one only loan from the World Bank, it was for starting its Bullet Train service. As soon as Bullet Train became profitable, Japan returned everything it owed to the World Bank.
Things are so pathetic in Pakistan. Ever since country has come into existence no new railway system has been started. There is no direct railway system between Karachi to Quetta. So much so development was made in direction of the development of an inter-city railway in the whole of Pakistan. The Super Highway between Karachi and Hyderabad in a state of disrepair. Once the journey used to take one and half hour, now takes six hours or more. The military is hell bent on discouraging inter-city road travel.
Things are so pathetic in Pakistan. Ever since country has come into existence no new railway system has been started. There is no direct railway system between Karachi to Quetta. So much so development was made in direction of the development of an inter-city railway in the whole of Pakistan. The Super Highway between Karachi and Hyderabad in a state of disrepair. Once the journey used to take one and half hour, now takes six hours or more. The military is hell bent on discouraging inter-city road travel.
Military acts as if it is an enemy of Pakistan. Because the military does allow enough funds for for mega-projects to come into existence. The flood water is an indispensable resource. If in the outskirts of Karachi there was a gigantic water reservoir, it would help the people of Karachi with a great deal of clean drinking water. Surprisingly though, the most badly hit area in Karachi are those which are administered by military itself. There is no guarantee of continued reliable water supply, which indicates that the military is also not interested in helping its own officers.
Pakistan can only prosper if the military leaves the budget making to the civilian government. The military will have to justify its budget allocation. China did not become the world's second biggest economy by outlandish electricity prices. China kept its electricity to the bare minimum, so that Chinese businesses can flourish not disappear entirely or discourage further investment, which is exactly has started happening.
We have assess our priorities over and above else. Do we want to overspend on the military in times of peace? Or do we move ahead become rich industrialised country with factories all over Pakistan, employing millions of Pakistanis.?
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