Journey of Prosperity & Turning Point
By Mian Shamim Haider

RIGHT decisions at the right time do pay in history of nations. Those people who take the time by forelocks and take proper decisions keeping in view all delicacies and apprehensions reach the destination with flying colours. And those who remain reluctant miss the bus and are always legging behind in the race of nations.

Nature offer such opportunities when a nation can lay foundation-stone for the bright, safe and secure future. They have to decide for the prosperous life of their future generations. Such junctions are called the turning points in history.

It is of paramount importance for the national leaders to fully avail such opportunity for the benefit of their people because mistake of a moment can throw you centuries back in darkness of backwardness. History provides us evidence that such nations lost their identity and vanished away by and by as the time rolled on. Those who realise the ground realities take timely decisions accordingly. They not only protect their people but also make their future safe and secure.

But this will only depend upon the vision of the leader. All developed nations followed this principle. They made the nations pillars deep and lifted them to the sky. It may be Europe, USA, Canada or Australia. Each one of them followed this path.

Europe was sometimes, in the past a dark continent but now it is a symbol of prosperity. USA which is today the only superpower of the world was sometimes back a colonised country. People of Korea had nothing to eat they were almost starving when they borrowed the five years development plan from Pakistan.

They made proper decisions and implemented them. Today they are far ahead of Pakistan. Australia was in the past nothing but a vast strip of calm coasts and thick jungles. But they developed their resources and today their seashores are illuminating. You leave all others and take instance of our brother Malaysia. Where it is today and where it was yesterday?

Potentials in Pakistan were much more than these countries but we remained stagnant where we were due to lack of decisions. Today we are once again facing the same situation. We had reached the point from where we could take a turn to our prosperity. We have thrown away from our necks the yoke of debts and loans taken from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). It is milestone in the economic history of Pakistan.

This huge achievement unfortunately, has not been duly appreciated by some corners and they are rather spreading frustration and confusion among the people. Government is shaping its economic policy in a much better way.

Employments are being created for the young educated people at a large-scale. Those who are not educated, easy bank loans are being extended to them. Flow of money from overseas Pakistanis is much higher than before. Our stocks of foreign exchange are at the highest point than ever before in Pakistan.
Accordingly inflation is decreasing day by day. All Government and semi-Government institutions are rapidly coming out of loss. This all is due to the better planning of the Government in the field of economy but we can only feel sorry that ill-wishers do not recognise these achievements. They are putting in all their efforts to create political chaos in the country.

This instability will only block the progress. So this is the time where the people have to decide to foil the intrigues of the enemies and carry on the journey treading the right path which leads them to their safe and secure future as well as progress and prosperity.

Everybody knows the Holy Qur’an has also revealed that life depends on water. The Government realising this fact well in time have chalked out a comprehensive development plan. Several small and big dams are underway and their construction will save the coming generations from the crises of water. This have never been visualised in the past. Its hundred per cent credit goes to the present Government. Even the worst opponents cannot deny these facts.

Balochistan, although comparatively a backward province, yet abounds in natural resources. First time in history of Pakistan huge amount Rs 150 billion is being spent on different Mega Projects. Completion of these projects will guarantee the prosperity and general welfare of the people of Balochistan. The roads being built in the province will lead to the far-flung remote areas which are rich in minerals and connect them with big cities.

Cantonments in the settled and unsettled areas of this province will be another factor for progress of the province. It will facilitate development plan to be implemented in an effective way. Schools will be opened. People will get education and their standard of living will automatically be raised.

But those who have their own vested interests knowing that their monopolies will be broken, are opposing these projects. They want to keep their people backward to rule over them. Therefore, they do not want that any era of development or prosperity to usher in this province. So they are of the opinion to stop all kinds of investments and projects there.

Just take one instance of Gwadar Deep Seaport. It will be the only corridor between Middle East and Central Asian States. Most of the European countries will use this Seaport for all their imports from and export to the Central Asia through this Seaport. Pakistan will be naturally benefited by the octri tolls. Government is determined to complete this Seaport well before its scheduled time, despite opposition from many corners. Restarting the Sandak Project, Coastal Highway, Chaman Spinboldak Railway tack up to Qandhar are the projects which cannot be under mind by the worst criticisers.

These projects will prove solid fronts to win the economic war at international level. So it is for the innocent people to stand by the Government and should not lead astray by hollow slogans of the so-called leaders. There are some people who are propagating in a very negative way that democracy in Pakistan is a dummy democracy. They forget perhaps that how much injurious such remarks are for Pakistan. The do not keep in mind the national interest in the flow of their speeches.

They are sitting in Parliament as its honourable Members but do not recognise the decisions passed by the majority. Is it not a self-contradiction of their stand? They should not be so adamants because obstinacy has never paid anybody in the past. There are some rules of every game and a good sportsman is never shy to abide by these rules.

They should at least admit that President Musharraf being duly empowered by Supreme Court of Pakistan, arranged elections and let the democratic institutions run. All Provincial Assemblies are functioning, National Assembly is there Senate is also working.

All their honourable Members are duly elected by the voters. What else is the name of democracy? Local Government system which has been introduced is no less than a revolution in the history of Local Bodies. All powerful bureaucracy has been placed under the elected members.

Women have been given representation. Government values the ever-biggest opposition in the democratic history of Pakistan with high esteem. They have been invited for dialogue many times. Press is at full liberty. No censure, no sanctions, no vindication of revenges. No discrimination at all, are the steps which bear justification to be appreciated. Judiciary is independent. Courts have decided many cases against the Government.

A direction has been given to the foreign policies for the first time. Priorities by the international powers were so swiftly changed that we had very little time for the future of our country. But we did it by the grace of God and that could only be possible due to the timely decisions taken by the President. We had reached the point where we could be declared as bankrupt and as a failure State. But now we owe nothing to IMF.

Now we are an important country particularly in the South Asia and generally in the world. Opponents attack our Kashmir policy but why do not they see that right from Agra Summit up to now India is in a defensive position over this issue. The world is keen to solve this old pending burning issue of Kashmir. We are committed and we stand by to stop the wave of terrorism anywhere.

Our courageous stand saved Pakistan from unknown dangers. It all happened due to timely right decisions. Let us pray to Allah Almighty to enable us to take right decisions in future also so that Pakistan moves fast on the path of progress and prosperity.●

© 2005 Mian Shamim Haider