Launching Ceremony of All Pakistan Muslim League

LONDON: Former President General (rtd) Pervez Musharraf on Friday formally announced his new political party “All Pakistan Muslim League” (APML). Musharraf told hundreds of cheering supporters in London and in Karachi, that the best way to deal with Pakistan’s political and economic troubles is to bring his party to power. He said that there is a need to “bring all patriotic people under one flag — that flag should be All Pakistan Muslim League.”  Musharraf admitted that mistakes were committed during his government and sought apology from the nation for the same. “All Pakistan Muslim League to wage jihad against poverty and illiteracy,” he vowed, adding that the time for talks is over and now it is time to act. He invited all Pakistanis to come forward and join hands with APML and strengthen it. He said that his party manifesto will be governed by the Holy Quran, Quaid-e- Azam’s 11 August 1947 Constituent Assembly address and 12 April 1949 Objective Resolution by Liaquat Ali Khan. He described nepotism and corruption as the biggest curse for any society and vowed to rid the country of the same. “Internal and external threats will be dealt with strongly and the fight against terrorism will continue till the elimination of this scourge.” He said that annual GDP growth will be increased to over 6 percent and recalled that 8 percent growth rate was achieved during his government. “I believe in freedom of media and will support it thoroughly…only those are afraid of media who have got dirty laundry to hide,” Musharraf stated. ”Today I announce starting my political career and joining All Pakistan Muslim League. I want to begin my political career with clean slate.”

Pervez Musharraf launches the All Pakistan Muslim League

Former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf has launched the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) that plans to enter the political arena for the next general elections. He also issued an apology to the nation for “past mistakes which hurt Pakistan”.

Musharraf told cheering supporters that the best way to deal with Pakistan’s political and economic troubles is to bring his party to power.

He said there is need to “bring all patriotic people under one flag – and that flag should be the All Pakistan Muslim League.”

Musharraf said the only way to tackle Pakistan’s problems was to bolster the army’s role.

Minutes from the Event:

7:00pm

Recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.

The cermemony starts with the national anthem of Pakistan.

The proceeding for former President Pervez Musharraf’s party have started

People chant slogans for the Pervez Musharraf.

Bad mein ho ga har insaan,

Sab se pehlay Pakistan!

Chaaron soobon ki pehchaan,

Sab se pehlay Pakistan!

7:06pm

Naeem Bukhari, host of the ceremony talks about the achievements of Pervez Musharraf.

Bukhrai says “since leaving office General Musharraf is the only politician who has risen in stature.”

He says “ Musharraf above all, moved Pakistanis out of despondency. Brought economic uplift to the country. Why has Musharraf chosen to enter the murky world of Pakistani politics? Because of his love for Pakistan, its people and to address the drift of the current Pakistan government.”

7:09pm

Pervez Musharraf starts his speech.

Mushrraf announces his participation in politics of Pakistan.

The crowd starts chanting slogans in appreciation.

7:14pm

Musharraf says “I did take some wrong decisions in my past. Some of them were political decisions and I am only human, and I apologize for all those mistakes which have hurt Pakistan.”

He says “I have learnt a lot from those mistakes and I am sure I will not make them again. I will start with a clean slate.”

7:17pm

Musharraf says that this is Pakistan is identity which is why he says Pakistan first.

He says that Pakistan is in a bad state and we are responsible for this downfall. It is obligatory for us to not only save Pakistan but also take it towards success.

7:21pm

Musharraf says Pakistan was made when the Muslims of the subcontinent realised that they would not prosper under Hindu domination. We attained Pakistan, and when we look at the people, they did not get the happiness that they aimed for.

The former president says that those countries where the people are not happy get destroyed. Why do people get unhappy? Because they do not get the rights they fought for.

7:23pm

Musharraf says “In our nine years we place the fear of God in the hearts of the rich and powerful. We gave Pakistanis honour around the world and we improved the economic conditions.”

He says it is time for us to move Pakistan forward.

7:27pm

Musharraf says that it is time to revive the fire that once existed in the All India Muslim League. He says “we will remake Quaid’s Pakistan under the banner of the All Pakistan Muslim League.”

He says “APML will do jihad against hunger and poverty.”

7:29pm

He says that the time for talk has passed, now it is time to take action.

APML Flag

Musharraf says that the text “sub se pehle Pakistan” is written in white because it represents the minorities, and their symbol, the ‘shaheen’ because is soars high and lives on elevated places.

7:31pm

Musharraf says “jo darta hai woh khota hai.”

7:35pm

Musharraf says that they will end the culture of dynastic politics.

He says that on the question of more provinces, the people’s decision will be accepted.

He says at the international level, the party will adopt “enlightened moderation” approach.

He says that they want good relationship with India, only after issues are resolved.

The former president says that all focus will be diverted to the country’s progress.

Musharraf says the party’s constitution will be based on the Quran and Sunnah.

 7:38pm Musharraf says nepotism and corruption are the biggest curse.

Musharraf says that men and women should be equal.

He says that the party will particularly focus on educating women

Food, clean water and electricity are the most important necessity

We will make langars for the poorest of Pakistan and involve the Baitul Maal and enforce philanthropic activity.

7:42 pm

The former president says we will raise the GDP like we did before.

He says we will crush anyone who raises his voice against Pakistan.

Musharraf says “we will wage war on terrorism until the war goes on.”

7:47 pm

He says that there can be no success if we do not fight terrorism. There should be zero tolerance towards it.

Musharraf says that there the al Qaeda have no right to be in Pakistan.

Musharraf says that we can generate energy from alternate sources.

He says that people have lied in terms of energy. “Do they think we are idiot?” I want to tell the liars that right now Pakistan has the capacity to generate 19,500 MW of electricity.

Musharraf says agriculture is important. We can do import substitution and export orientation.

7:50 pm

Musharraf says the people are crushed under rising prices. He says that daily necessities should be given to the poor at lower rates.

He says that the health and education system needs to reach the people.

He says he believes in the freedom of media and says that he can claim that he freed the media.

He says we are not scared of the media. Only those are scared who have something to hide.

7:53 pm

Musharraf says he invites all politicians to come and join the APML, especially the youth of the country.

Musharraf says Allah has blessed Pakistan with resources. We have water and energy sources as well as human capital. We are talented people. Why can’t we stand on our own feet.

Musharraf says we will not rely on the IMF.

7:57 pm

The crowd chants slogans, “Musharraf teray jaan nisaar, beshumaar beshumaar!”

Musharraf says he is thankful towards everyone and says “sub se pehle Pakistan.”

The crowd breaks into appreciation.

8:11 pm

PPP leader Jahangir Badar, commenting on the launch of the APML, says Musharraf gave his speech as if he was still the president of Pakistan. He says that he welcomes Musharraf to return to Pakistan as the people want to hold him accountable. Badar also says that the current crises are a result of Musharraf’s regime.

Event: All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) launching Ceremony

 Venue: YMCA Lawn, Saddar, Karachi

Ex-Pakistani leader admits mistakes while in power

October 1, 2010 – 8:03pm

Pervez Musharraf, the former President of Pakistan, aknowledges the applaud of his supporters as he arrives for the announcement of the launch of his new political party, the “All Pakistan Muslim League” in central London, Friday Oct. 1, 2010.

LONDON (AP) – Pakistan’s ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf has apologized for mistakes made during his last term in office as he launched a bid to return to power. Musharraf told scores of cheering supporters on Friday that some of his decisions had negative repercussions for his nation of 175 million. But the leader who stepped down in 2008 amid protests and under the threat of impeachment stopped short of specifying what the mistakes had been. Critics have accused him of doing little to improve Pakistan’s stagnant economy and not doing enough to clean up the political infighting that has plagued the country.

 ”I take this opportunity to apologize,” he said. “Human beings make mistakes.”

 The 67-year-old former leader spoke as he launched a new political party, arguing that the current leadership offers no hope of alleviating the “darkness that prevails in Pakistan.” He said under his government there would be progress in every field.

 ”I have confidence I can lead Pakistan toward light,” he said.

 Numerous terror plots and attacks, including the 2005 suicide bombings that killed 52 commuters in London and an active plot to wage Mumbai-style shooting sprees in Europe, have been seeded in Pakistan’s tribal areas. Musharraf declared that he had the experience to tackle the challenges of al-Qaida, the Taliban in the mountainous tribal regions and the spread of extremism in Pakistan. He insisted that, unless Pakistan was part of the fight against terrorism and extremism, “that fight will not succeed.”

 ”There will be zero tolerance for extremism,” he said, adding: “People should be patient with Pakistan.”

 He said he wouldn’t do anything different this time around to tackle extremism, but improving the economy was a critical part of the equation. Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, also said he didn’t support another military coup and doubted another one is imminent.

Security was tight for the launch, which took place at a storied and posh former gentlemen’s club. Reporters were swept for weapons and explosives before coming in, then bomb-sniffing dogs were brought into the room where about 200 people applauded at the announcement. Several Pakistani politicians have used London in recent years to announce their intended political comebacks though few have been successful. Some 1 million Britons are of Pakistani descent and many retain ties to Pakistan.

Musharraf may be arrested or deported, just as Sharif was upon his return to Pakistan in 2007. Musharraf seemed unconcerned. ”There is no case against me in the courts of Pakistan today,” he said. “Whatever cases there have been, have been motivated politically. … I am prepared to face anything. I am not afraid.”

Introduction: 

This document lists some of the achievements of the former President of Pakistan, General (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf. It is, probably the longest single statement of feats of  developments, repairs and enhancements in one of the “most difficult countries to govern” (Time Magazine).

• The Situation on 12th October 1999, when Mr. Musharraf took over was that Pakistan faced:
  • Economic bankruptcy.
  • International isolation.
  • The Country was referred to as a ‘failed state’.
  • Political instability and chequered political history of previous governments. Opposition never allowed an elected government to complete term and derailed the process / institutions.

• Achievments Summary:
  • Empowerment of people through devolution at grass roots level.
  • Empowerment of Women at all tiers of government / legislature.
  • Legislation against honour killings. Women Protection Bill.
  • Empowerment of minorities through joint electorate as well as reserved seats.
  • Empowerment of younger generation by reducing voter age from 21 to 18 years.
  • Empowerment of media by allowing total freedom to press and print media and flow of information.
  • Empowerment of economy through wide ranging economic reforms.
  • Record allocations for science and technology, education and health sectors. Emphasis on human resource development.
  • Free, Fair, Transparent and Peaceful Elections

Economic Achievements

General:

• During his years in power, Pakistan pursued consistent and favourable policies of liberalization, deregulation and privatization.
• Economic recovery, institutional reforms and good governance were our declared priorities.
• For economic recovery, the Government pursued a two-pronged strategy of ensuring macro-economic stability and introducing structural reforms for self-sustainable growth.
• As a result, the economy had expanded at an average rate of 7% per annum during the last four years. Its growth touched a record level of 9% in 2004-05.
• Growth of large scale manufacturing which was 3.6% during 1999-00, registered an average increase of 11.31 % per annum during the period from 2000-07. Growth of this sector was highest in 2004-05 i.e. 19.9%.
• Exchange rate remained stable despite widening of trade and current account deficits, clearly indicating strong inflows of external resources.
• Foreign Exchange reserves have crossed US$ 16 billion mark and the increased reserves can now finance more than 31 weeks of imports against only 10 weeks in 1998-99.
• Per capita income had increased from $ 526 (1999-00) to $925 (2006-07).

Revenue Collections

• Total revenue collections increased from Rs 308 billion in 1999 to Rs 846 billion during 2007.

GDP

• GDP growth which was 3.9% in 1999-00 grew at an average rate of 6% per annum during the period from 2000-07.
• Total GDP which ranged between Rs 769.7 billion (1988-89) and Rs 2,938.4 billion (1998-99), registered an enormous growth during the last 8 years and ranged between Rs 3,826 billion (1999-00) and Rs 9,970 billion (2006-07).

FDI

• Total FDI during 11 years from 1988-99 amounted to US$ 4.87 billion. The same during the subsequent 8 years registered enormous growth and amounted to US$ 13.195 billion.

Micro Credits and Loans

• Micro credits to the tune of Rs 11.454 billion were extended to lower strata of the society.
• Agricultural loans of the order of Rs 596.44 billion were extended to farmers.

Stock Market

• Growth of stock market ranged between (–) 44.7% (in 1997-98) and 219.1% during 1988-99.
• As against KSE index of 1,257 points on 12th October, 1999, it was 13,772 in 2006-07.
• As against market capitalization of Rs 334 billion on 12th October, 1999, it was Rs 3,980 billion at the close of financial year 2006-07.

State of Foreign Debt

• Foreign debt and liabilities grew at an average rate of 7.4% per annum during 11 years from 1989-99. Total debt in 1989 was $20.522 billion which rose to $38.922 billion in 1999.
• If this trend had continued, Pakistan’s external debt and liabilities would have been over $ 60 billion. This level was brought down to $38.86 billion. 
• External Debt and Liabilities (EDL) as % of GDP, which fluctuated between 51% and 66.3% during the period from 1988-99; (66.3% in 1988-89), fluctuated between 42.6% (2002-03) and 27.1% (2006-07).

Agriculture

• In 1998-99 our country was importing key staples to meet domestic requirements. In contrast, in FY07, country witnessed significant rise in the productivity in almost all major crops.
• Agriculture credit market was quite shallow and gross disbursements were only Rs 42.9 billion in 1998-99.  Gross disbursements of agri-credit rose to Rs 168 billion in 2006-07.

Remittances

• As against US$ 1.06 billion received during 1998-99, US$ 5.5 billion were received during 2006-07.

President’s Programme for Improvement of Watercourses

Total watercourses to be improved

86,000- 90,000

Watercourses improved

41,459 (against a target of 38,200)

Target for next two years

48,541

Funds spent

Rs 21,653 million

Funds to be spent

Rs. 29,000 million

Social Sector Achievements 

Health Sector

• During 1998-1999 total health expenditure was Rs 25 billion which had increased to Rs 50 billion.
• There had been an increase of about 20,000 registered doctors, around 3,000 registered dentists, about 15,000 nurses, and 56,000 lady health workers. The quantity, quality and distribution of this workforce were being improved.
• During 2000-2008 health indicators had shown gradual improvement.
• Many new initiatives in the health sector were undertaken during this period, including the Expanded Program of Immunization; Polio Eradication Programme; Hepatitis Control Programme; Primary Health Care Programme, TB Prevention & Control Programme; Aids Prevention & Control Programme; Blindness Prevention & Control Programme; National Maternal and Child Health Programme; and National Nutrition Program.
• Ø President’s Special Initiative on Health sector were started. Under this initiative all the resources in BHUs/ RHCs were being computerized and complete integration of Primary Health Service at BHUs were being pursued to improve the health care delivery system. Programme implemented at 837 BHU & all over Pakistan.
• Ø Public health related legislations enacted since 1999-2000 for promotion of healthy causes such as Prohibition of Smoking and Protection of Non-smokers, Promotion of Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition. Transfusion of Safe Blood, Medical Aid to Injured Persons and Safe Use of Injections & Invasive medical devices.
• Legislation to regulate Tissues and Organ Transplantation has been carried out.
• Urban Health Initiative

Clinics to be set up in next two years

815 (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta).

Estimated cost

Rs 1.548 billion (Federal Govt. to fund establishment charges for three years).

Education Spread

• 81 new universities including Degree Awarding Institutions (DAI) and 14,117 schools/colleges were opened.
• 1,267,519 stipends to the needy students.
• 47,546,520 students were provided books free of cost.
• 127,623 missing facilities were provided in educational institutions.

Women Empowerment

• National Policy for Development and Empowerment of Women was announced on 7th March, 2002. 
• This policy contained a vision, defined goals, aims and objectives, formulated through a laborious and detailed consultative process.
• Reservation of 20% women’s seats in the National Assembly (There were 72 women Members of the National Assembly against 60 reserved seats).
• Reservation of 18% seats for women in the Senate (There were 17 women Members of the Senate).
• Reservation of women seats in the Provincial Assemblies (There were 139 women Members of the Provincial Assemblies against 128 reserved seats).
• There were six (6) women members of the then Federal Cabinet, which was an important step towards increasing women’s role in the national decision – making. We have a woman as Governor of the State Bank.
• Reservation of 33% seats for women at all tiers of local government remains a hallmark of the new system centered on the devolution of power (There are 27,624 Women Councilors against 28,549 reserved seats in local bodies).

Legal and Social Empowerment of Women

• Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2004 (Honour Killing Bill) enacted.
• Reservation of quota for women in Government jobs including Central Superior Services.
• Presidential Ordinance promulgated on 8th of July 2006, “the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006,” allowed bail for women held on all charges with the exception of terrorism and murder. Out of more than 6,000 jailed women, around 1,000 were freed.
• Enactment of Women Protection Act, 2006 which provides a just and secure environment for women to work as equal partners for the development of Pakistan.

Poverty Alleviation

• Government’s efforts have resulted in reduction of poverty from 34.4% in 2001 to 23.9% in 2005.
• In this way one crore 27 lac (12.7 million) people came out of poverty.
• During last 5 years Rs 1,441 billion have been spent on poverty reduction and employment generation.

Employment opportunities

•  During 1999-07, as many as 110,086 teachers, 65,231 Lady Health Visitors and 78,024 personnel in Police Department were appointed.
• 1,187,432 job opportunities were created in the Telecom Sector and 126,742 in Local Government Departments.
• 6.6 million Job opportunities were created in Punjab in new business/industries.
• 165,609 jobs were provided in various departments in the provinces.

Infrastructure Development

Mega Projects

• Work on 102 mega projects was initiated in various sectors from 2000.
• Such projects included Makran Coastal Highway, Lowari Tunnel, Pindi Bhattian – Faisalabad Motorway (M-3), Karachi Northern Bypass, Mirani Dam, Raising of Mangla Dam, Gomal Zam Dam, Sabakzai Dam, Satpara Dam, Kachhi Canal, Rainee Canal, Greater Thal Canal, Gwadar Port, Lining of Watercourses, Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road, Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Neelum-Jhelum Hydro Electric Project  and Islamabad-Muzaffarabad Road.
• Six projects costing between Rs 1-5 billion have since been completed.
• Work on six projects including raising of Mangla Dam and Lyari Expressway and first unit of 4 MW of Satpara Dam, was nearing completion.
• Work on the remaining 89 projects was in progress and was scheduled to be completed during April, 2008 to December, 2016.
• As many as 34,251 development schemes were launched during the period from 1999-07.

Electricity and Gas Supply – 1999-2007

Village Electrification (WAPDA):

• Villages electrified during 1947-1999:   67,180

• Villages electrified during 1999-2007:   54,50
• Rate of Village electrification per year            

    In 1999                            In 2007         

      1,400                                        14,000

• New connections installed: 1.36 million

• Number of beneficiaries (new): 9.53 million

• Total amount spent: Rs 26.60 billion

Gas supply:

• Towns/ villages/ localities supplied gas during 99- 07: 11,494

• Amount spent on gas supply schemes during 99-07:  Rs 78.81 billion
• New connections provided during the period: 17.94 million

Clean Drinking Water Programme

Telecom

Telephone connections

                    2001-02       2006-07

Fixed line             3.7                       7

Mobile                   1.6                       62

Teledensity           3.3%                    45%

Total Length of Roads Constructed 

4,575.7 Kms of roads constructed by NHA at a total cost of Rs 90.9 billion.

PSDP Allocations 

• As against total Federal PSDP of Rs 568.57 billion during 11 years from 1988-99, Rs 1,078.90 billion were provided during the next 8 years viz from 1999-2000 to 2006-07.

Objectives and Challenges in the Foreign Policy

- To promote a peaceful environment regionally and internationally that is conducive to tasks of socio- economic and technological development of Pakistan to build a strong, progressive prosperous moderate Islamic society consistent with the vision of the Quaid-i-Azam.

- To build relations and international cooperation that helps socio-economic progress and a strong defence.

- To seek peaceful resolution of disputes especially Jammu and Kashmir.

- To promote causes espoused by the Muslim Ummah and support international endeavours especially for the progress and rights of the developing countries

- To project the correct image of Pakistan abroad.

- To promote Pakistan as a hub of economic and communication activities leveraging its strategic location at the intersection of South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia.

Regional Peace and Security

Relations with India

-         Building tension free relations with India is in the interest of both countries and the region.

-         Kashmir is at the heart of the past conflict and tension between Pakistan and India. The President initiated the peace process which aimed at confidence building measures as well as resolution of disputes. The atmosphere in bilateral relations has since improved which is important for both countries.

-         We are making efforts to resolve Kashmir. The President had put forward his ideas for a solution which is acceptable to all three Parties especially Kashmiris. This is possible, given sincerity, flexibility and courage on the part of leadership in both countries.

-         The ideas relate to defining regions of Kashmir, self-governance, demilitarization and joint mechanism. It is important that Kashmiris should be free to manage their affairs and interact with each other. President initiated ideas for the bus service and opening of five routes across the LoC.

-         These ideas have generated positive resonance among the Kashmiris. The President had interacted with leaders of APHC on a number of occasions who supported the President’s ideas. 

-         Pakistan is ready to show flexibility and move forward depending on Indian reciprocity.

-         We also want to move forward on resolution of issues including Siachen and Sir Creek in a positive manner.

-         The best confidence building is the ability to resolve problems.

-         Trade between Pakistan and India has increased. But trade and interaction especially in cultural areas depend on trust and confidence.

-         We want to maintain the peace process and hope for early settlement of disputes which could turn a new page of peace, understanding and cooperation in South Asia.

Afghanistan

-         No country has greater stake than Pakistan in peace, stability and prosperity of Afghanistan. Our vision for transforming Pakistan into a hub of economic activity with linkages to Central Asia cannot be realized without stable Afghanistan.

-         We would not allow our territory to be used by elements that want to destabilize Afghanistan. However, Afghanistan has suffered an unfortunate history in the past thirty years which has gravely impacted on Pakistan. Today both countries are facing challenges of terrorism and extremism as a result of forces that are product of this unfortunate history.

-         In order to address the problems we need to understand ground realities. The main problem has been in Afghanistan in the shape of Taliban militancy, drugs, war-lords and absence of national reconciliation. There is some support from our side of the border especially from FATA to the Taliban and other militant elements inside Afghanistan. On our part we are committed to stop such cross border support.

-         We have taken measures and made sacrifices. We have deployed our forces. The Afghan army and the multi-national forces have same responsibility to stop the movement of undesirable elements across the border.

FATA

-         Our Tribal Areas have been affected by the Afghan Jihad which had generated forces of extremism. After 9/11, Al-Qaeda escaped to our areas placing a heavy responsibility on us to counter this challenge.

-         We have adopted a comprehensive strategy for FATA to counter terrorism and extremism. Military action is only one part of the strategy. Political measures and socio-economic development are other important elements.

-         However, it is our responsibility that FATA or any other area is not used against Afghanistan or by any elements against any country. On this count the world has an expectation from Pakistan. We are also working with tribal elders to ensure that the tribal territory is not used by militants for violence and terrorism.

-         The actions that we are taking are in the interest of Pakistan’s security and development. Our policy is not at the behest of any out side country. The comment in the international media or in some foreign circles that Pakistan should do more is not relevant as we are doing whatever is in our best interest. We understand that the world has a stake in our success because there is a common challenge. But our strategy to meet the challenge will be dictated by our interests and what we determine is the most effective way forward. 

Afghan Jirga

-         The recent Afghan Jirga has been a positive development particularly the decision by the Jirga to constitute a 50 member Council (25 from each side) which inter alia is mandated to talk to “opposition” for peace in the area.

-         The President had himself attended the concluding session.

-         At the Jirga as well as in other meetings, the two countries have also agreed not to provide shelter to subversive and anti-state elements from either side. There is also need to stop exchanging accusations against each other. What is needed is cooperation to counter the common challenges. The Jirga has registered success in that direction.

-         Pakistan-Afghan trade is close to 1.2 billion dollars. Pakistan has contributed US $ 300 million for reconstruction and rehabilitation inside Afghanistan. Half of this amount was disbursed on projects that were completed including the Torkham-Jalalabad road.

Extremism and Terrorism

-         We need to counter the danger of extremism and terrorism for our own sake, for the stability and progress of our society.

-         The international community also has expectation from us in this regard. We can differ on the approach to counter these forces but everyone rejects violence, terrorism and extremism.

-         Extremism is a state of mind. There is need for a comprehensive strategy that combines political and administrative measures, socio-economic development and military action for an effective strategy.

Relations with United States

-         It is an important relationship which is not limited to cooperation in counter-terrorism. After the EU, the US is the largest trading partner of Pakistan. We have large US investments in the country and there is nearly one million strong Pakistani expatriate community in the United States.

-         The US also desires long term sustainable, strong, strategic relations with Pakistan. In developing this relationship, both countries ought to remain sensitive to each other.

-         The notion that Pakistan’s policies are influenced by the United States is wrong. Our foreign policy is shaped primarily by our own national interests. However, in determining our interests we have to understand the regional and global environment and our relations with other countries.

-         Our independent policy is evident in our refusal to contribute troops in Iraq or our position on Iran which opposes use of force or our position on IPI or our position on peaceful use of nuclear technology.

-         We also have differences of perception with the United States. For addressing terrorism, we insist on addressing the root causes. But these differences should not imply that we adopt a course of confrontation with the Untied States or for that matter with any country. Such an option would be disastrous in today’s world.

-         (In response to questions about perceived US involvement in Pakistan’s affairs, it may be mentioned that friendly countries are interested in political stability and progress in Pakistan. They have an interest in the political developments in Pakistan. However, these developments are determined by ground realities in the country. The government’s strength is primarily derived from what it has achieved in the country.)

Relations with China

-         Relations with China are strong and stable and are continuously growing in all aspects. There is unprecedented level of Chinese investments in Pakistan especially in the telecom sector, construction and mining. China has constructed the Gwadar port and are upgrading KKH. Chinese firms are engaged in construction of dams, raising the height of Mangla and other similar projects. Pakistan and China has signed an FTA. In the defence field, we are cooperating on important joint projects including JF-17 aircraft and production of tanks. China remains our reliable partner.

Iran

-         We have traditional close friendly ties with Iran.

-         We support Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear energy within the framework of its obligations of the NPT. We are opposed to use of force in the Iran-US standoff on nuclear issues.

-         Pakistan is engaged in important negotiations on the Gas Pipeline project (IPI Project).

Relations with Islamic countries

-         We enjoy close brotherly ties with brotherly Islamic countries and play an active role within the OIC.

-         The President had visited number of Islamic countries (Arab and non-Arab countries) in an effort to bring focus on the Middle East situation specially the problems of Palestine and Iraq and the rising confrontation in the Gulf region. The President was subsequently invited to address the Arab League Summit in Riyadh.

-         We have special relations with the Gulf countries which regard Pakistan as an important anchor of stability in the region.

-         The President has made efforts to reform and strengthen the OIC.

South East Asia and Pacific Regions

-         In October 2003 Pakistan launched Vision East Asia policy with a focus on building Pakistan’s relations with countries of the region. Pakistan became a member of Asian Regional Forum and signed a treaty of Amity and Cooperation with the ASEAN. Pakistan was invited to Asia-Europe meeting in September 2006 and remains an active member of Asia Cooperative Dialogue (ACD). Pakistan had hosted the Fourth ACD meeting in Islamabad in April 2005.

-         Pakistan has strong relations with Japan and South Korea. Japan has a large ODA programme in Pakistan and is one of the largest investor in the country.

New openings in Africa and Latin America

- President had visited Brazil, Argentina and Mexico in 2004 and has concluded several agreements with these countries. Following the visit, Pakistan signed an agreement with MERCOSUR in July 2006 providing a framework for economic cooperation with Latin American countries.

-         Pakistan is actively expanding its interaction and relations specially trade with African countries.

The United Nations

Pakistan continues to play an active role in the United Nations and other international forums. Pakistan remained member of the Security Council 2003-2004 and held the Presidency of ECOSOC in 2005 and is presently the Chairman of G-77.

Provinces Specific Data

1. A. Balochistan

Development Projects

• Balochistan being the least developed Province was the special focus of attention for development.
• During the 8 years period from 1999-07, Rs 108.3 billion were allocated for Federal projects in Balochistan.
• As many as 185 development projects were initiated in various sectors, in Balochistan. These were estimated to cost Rs 216 billion.
• As against Rs 30.6 billion allocated for these projects during 2006-07, an amount of   Rs 46.60 billion has been allocated in PSDP for the current financial year (2007-08); a 52.29% increase over last year.  

Dams

• Mirani Dam (Completed).
• Sabakzai Dam (Completed).
• Mangi Dam and Water Conveyance System for storage and supply of drinking water to Quetta city/surrounding areas.

Communication Infrastructure

• Gwadar Deep Sea Port (First Phase completed).
• Coastal Highway (Completed).
• NHA projects (14).
• 6,378.89 Kms of black topped roads.
• 1,561 Kms of shingle roads.
• 194 Kms farm-to-market roads.
• Construction of numerous roads between towns/villages, some examples are:-
  • Lakpass Tunnel Project: 180 meter long tunnel worth Rs 932.153 million is being constructed near Quetta for smooth flow of traffic.
  • Hoshab – Panjgur – Nag – Basima – Khuzdar road (600 kms):  The project would cost Rs 17.45 billion and on completion help in developing remote areas.
  • Dera Allah Yar – Nuttal – Sibi – Dhadar road project:  Work is in progress. On completion it will link many towns of interior Balochistan.   
  • Construction of Khujuri- Bawata Road (64 kms):
  • Reopening of Chamalang Coalmines: These mines were re-opened and providing jobs to more than 12,000 persons. 
  • Water Supply Schemes
    • Provision of clean drinking water.
    • Installation of Tube Wells.
    • Irrigation Schemes
      • Kachhi Canal (this project alone is providing employment to over 8,000 people and on completion has potential to change the fate of farmers of the area by irrigating 700,000 acres of agricultural lands).
      • Installation of new tube Wells.
      • Flood protection Schemes.
      • Construction of ponds (for storage).
      • Restoration of Karez system of water storage and transportation.
      • Health
        • Construction of Hospitals/dispensaries.
        • Posting of Medical/paramedical staff.
        • Provision of equipment/medicines.
        • Miscellaneous measures
          • All the 29 Revenue Districts of Balochistan have successfully been converted from ‘B’ to ‘A’ areas.
          • Bringing the entire Province under the jurisdiction of one law enforcement agency i.e. the Police would yield great benefits for the people of Balochistan.
          • Besides going a long way in improving the law and order situation, it would also generate additional opportunities for the youth of Balochistan.
          • Capacity building of rehabilitated IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) through payment of subsistence, rehabilitation grant @ Rs 20,000, 10 goats per family and provision of tractors, seeds and fertilizers, jobs in PPL and Schools and health facilities.
          • Student completing 16 years of education will get stipend of Rs 10,000 per month for a year.
          • Waiving off of agriculture loans up to Rs 300,000/-.
          • Enhancement of quota from 3.5 to 5% for Federal employment.
          • Introduced the concept of Oil City to attract the international investors and provide employment to locals of the area.

Employment Opportunities

• 7,589 teachers recruited so far since 1999.  6,000 more being recruited shortly.
• 40,234 Lady Health Visitors recruited out of which 35,130 LHVs were appointed on contract in Family Planning Health Project.
• 12,308 youth recruited in Police Department, another 9,000 are being recruited.
• 10,141 individuals recruited in District Governments and approximately 10,000 more are being recruited shortly.
• 58,225 job opportunities offered in various departments e.g. forest, Local Government Agriculture, General Administration etc.
• Nearly 2,300 individuals were provided loans of Rs 210,000 each by NBP for procurement of Rickshaws under President’s Rozgar Scheme.  2,500 other cases were processed.
• 30,000 vacancies were created for Baloch youth in FC.
• Due to pragmatic policies of his Government, the number of soldiers and officers joining Armed Forces for Balochistan had increased manifold.

Literacy Drive

• 5 new universities established.  2 universities (at Naseerabad and Gawadar) were being established.
• 9 Engineering Universities were being established in collaboration with industrially advanced countries.
• 58 colleges and 556 schools were opened.
• 1,239 appointments made in universities.
• 5,483 students enrolled.
• Rs 88.50 million provided to district Governments for onward disbursement to needy students.
• 3,250,537 students provided with free books.
• Rs 438 million allocated for provision of missing facilities in educational institutions of the Province.
• 7x New cadet colleges are being established shortly.
• 1000 x scholarships for Baloch Students in best schools/colleges of the city with free lodging and boarding.
• 6 x new buses for Balochistan University.

Poverty Alleviation

• Rs 514 million provided as micro-credit loans by Zarai Taraqiati Bank and Khushhali Bank.  All banks are allowed to award micro-credits to needy people for small business schemes.
• Rs 4,026 million provide as agricultural loans to needy farmers.
• Provincial Bait-ul-Mal has disbursed Rs 950 million among 603,648 needy families since 1999.
• 2,122 development schemes have been launched since 1999 through Provincial ADPs for which Rs 59.91 billion have been allocated by the provincial Government and Rs 18.59 billion have been provided by foreign donors as aid.

New Roads Constructed

• 6,378.68 Kms of roads black topped. 
• 1,560 Kms of shingle roads
• 194 Kms farm-to-market roads.

1. B. Punjab

Employment Opportunities

• 70,000 teachers appointed.
• 4,800 LHVs appointed.
• 37,495 persons appointed in Police Department.
• 6.6 million persons given jobs in new businesses/industries.
• 43,220 persons given jobs in various departments.

Literacy Spread

• 18 new Universities/Degree Awarding Institutions (DAIs) opened.
• 6,108 schools/colleges opened.
• 1.2 million students were given stipends.
• 28 million students provided with books free of cost.
• 118,276 missing facilities provided.

Poverty Alleviation

• Rs 10.94 billion disbursed as microcredit.
• Rs 592.41 billion given as agricultural loan.
• 96,362 persons supported by Bait-ul-Mal.
• 15,874 development schemes executed.

New Roads Constructed

• 4,815 Kms of roads.
• 5,041 Kms of farm-to-market roads.

1. C. Sindh 

Employment Opportunities

• 20,182 Lady Health Visitors (LHVs) appointed.
• 9,035 persons appointed in Police Department.
• 7,001 persons given jobs in various departments.

Literacy Spread

• 29 new Universities/Degree Awarding Institutions (DAIs) opened. 
• 4,369 schools/colleges opened.
• 23,945 students were given stipends.
• 165,000 students provided with books free of cost.
• 1,733 missing facilities provided.

Poverty Alleviation

• 9,201 development schemes executed.

 New Roads Constructed

• 1,303 Kms of roads.
• 946 Kms of farm-to-market roads.
• 2,606 Kms of roads improved.
• 626 roads/accesses constructed in rural areas.

1. D. NWFP

Employment Opportunities

• 28,737 teachers appointed.
• 15 LHVs appointed.
• 14,890 persons appointed in Police Department.
• 57,163 persons given jobs in various departments.

Literacy Spread

• 15 new universities/DAIs opened.
• 2,996 schools/colleges opened.
• 32,000 students were given stipends.
• 15.6 million students provided with books free of cost.
• 6,570 missing facilities provided.

Poverty Alleviation

• 7,054 development schemes executed.

New Roads Constructed

• 174.56 Kms of roads. 

1. E. Northern Areas

Employment Opportunities

• 1,783 teachers appointed.
• 142 LHVs appointed.
• 1,717 appointed in Police Department.
• 17,327 job opportunities created in new business/industries.
• 9,476 persons appointed in various departments.

Literacy Spread

• One new university opened.
• 332 schools/colleges opened.
• 32,000 students were given stipends.
• 15.6 million students provided with books free of cost.
• 6,570 missing facilities provided.

Poverty Alleviation

• 7,054 development schemes executed.

New Roads Constructed

• 621 Kms of metalled (truckable) roads.
• 280 Kms of farm-to-market shingle roads.
• 235 Kms of jeepable shingle roads.
• 493 truckable shingle roads.

1. F. FATA

Employment Opportunities

• 11,727 teachers appointed.
• 351 LHVs appointed.
• 370 new job opportunities created in new business/industries.
• 6,155 persons given jobs in various departments.

Literacy Spread

• 509 schools/colleges opened.
• 153,564 students were given stipends.
• 1.300 million students provided with books free of cost.
• 10,193 missing facilities provided.

Poverty Alleviation

• Agricultural loans worth Rs 782.562 million extended.
• 12,973 new development schemes executed.

New Roads Constructed

• 534.73 Kms of shingle roads.
• 872.19 Kms of black topped roads.
• 322.605 Kms of improvement of roads.
• 432.693 Kms of roads in Agencies/Frontier Regions.

******

Economic Achievements

• Economic recovery result of prudent macro-economic policies, wide-ranging structural reforms, fiscal discipline and consistency in policies.
• Economy has performed robustly over the last several years with GDP growth touching a record level of 9% in 2004-05.
• External debt and foreign exchange liabilities grew at an average of 7.4% per annum during 1990-99, rising from $ 20.5 billion in 1990 to $ 38.9 billion by June, 1999.
• If this trend had continued, Pakistan external debt and liabilities would have been over $ 60 billion instead of the current level of $ 38.86 billion.
• External Debt and Liabilities (EDL) as % of GDP, which fluctuated between 51% and 66.3% during the period from 1988-99; fluctuated between 42.6% (2002-03) and 27.1% (2006-07).
• Exchange rate had been stable hovering around Rs 60 per dollar.
  • Foreign exchange reserves have crossed US$ 16 billion mark and the increased reserves can now finance more than 31 weeks of imports against only 10 weeks in 1998-99.
  • Revenue collections increased from Rs 347 billion in 1999 to Rs 841.4 billion.
  • Extra fiscal space allowed us to increase PSDP from Rs 116 billion in 1999 to Rs 520 billion in 2007-08.

• Mega Projects launched – nearing completion.



Major Economic Achievements of Musharraf Government

LINK on Original Face-Book Page 

Economic Growth

• I salvaged a near bankcrupt economy and transformed it to emerge as one of the four fastest growing economy in the Asian region along with China, India and Vietnam
• Pakistan’s economy grew at an average rate of 7.0 percent per annum
• The performance of large-scale manufacturing has been unparalled in the country’s history. It grew at an average rate of 11 percent per annum
• Services sector grew at an average rate of 6.0 percent per annum
• Because of our strong economic policies, Goldman Sachs a global investment bank, included Pakistan in the category of new emerging market (Next – 11) destined to play a major role in the world economic setting.
• Goldman Sachs extended their coverage from BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China) to eleven more emerging economic power including Pakistan, Korea, Mexico, Vietnam, Turkey etc.
• Pakistan’s per capita income doubled (from $ 526 in 1999-2000 to $1085 in 2007-08). In other words, the average income of Pakistani people more than doubled during my regime.
• The size of the economy more than doubled (from $74 billion in 1999-2000 to $170 billion in 2007-08) as well.

Investment

• I succeeded in turning around the economy with the help of Pakistan’s private sector. My government always interacted/communicated with private sector because we believed that they were the engine of growth. Constant engagement helped restore the confidence of the private sector on economic management.
• Investment as a result rose from 17.4 percent to 22.9 percent of GDP – an increase of 5.5percent of GDP in seven/eight years is unparallel in recent times in Pakistan.
• Foreign Investment surged from $0.5 billion to $8.5 billion during my government – a 17 fold increase in 8 years which reflected the growing confidence of foreign investors on Pakistan.

Unemployment & Poverty 

• The government succeeded in creating 13.5 million new jobs and accordingly reduced the unemployment rate from 8.3 percent to 5.2 percent
• Strong economic growth succeeded not only in creating new jobs but reducing poverty by one – half. That is, poverty reduced to one-half during my government. The number of people living below the poverty declined from 34.5 percent in 2000-01 to 17.2 percent in 2007/08.
• Income inequality also started narrowing after 2005-06.

Inflation

• Low inflation has been the hallmark of my government. Inflation averaged 5.5 percent during 2000-2007

Deficit and Debt 

• Tax collection by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) tripled during my regime – increasing from Rs 308 billion to Rs.1025 billion
• Overall budget deficit as percentage of GDP reduced to almost one half.  Budget deficit averaged over 7.0 percent of GDP during the 1980s and 1990s but was reduced to an average of 4.0 percent of GDP, thus reflecting the financial discipline of my government.
• The country’s debt burden reduced to one – half. National (Public) debt was over 100 percent of GDP by end of the 1990s but reduced to 55 percent by the end of my government
• In the words of the IMF “The large and sustained decline in the external debt to –GDP –ratio was one of Pakistan’s most remarkable macroeconomic achievements of recent years”.
• Debt servicing used to consume 64 percent total revenue in 1998-99. By maintaining financial discipline and reducing budget deficit, we succeeded in bringing it down to 25 percent only. In other words, the resources saved from debt servicing were diverted towards development program.

External Sector

• Both exports and imports grew at higher double –digit-levels
• Foreign exchange reserves increased from $500 million to over $16 billion – a sixteen fold increase in reserves during my government.
• Exchange rate remained stable as a result of the build up in foreign exchange reserves
• Remittances continued to grow from less than $1.0 billion to over $16.0 billion
• Pakistan’s international credit rating continued to improve from selective default to B+
• I had the honour of taking Pakistan out of the IMF program in December 2004.
• We re-entered the international bond and equity markets by floating Eurobonds and Global Depository Receipts (GDR). We also succeeded in floating a 30 year Eurobond which showed the confidence of the global investors in Pakistan.  
• We pursued a successful privatization program for the state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

Stock Market 

• Karachi Stock Exchange emerged as one of the best stock exchange, in emerging economies. The Karachi Stock Exchange Index surged more than 11 times – rising from 1189 in October to 13998 in November 2007. This represented the growing confidence of the private sector (both domestic and foreign) on economic management.

SOCIAL SECTOR 

Education

• Overall Literacy Rate increased from 45% to 55% during 2000-01 to 2006-07.
• Male literacy rate increased from 58% to 67%.
• Female literacy rate increased from 32% to 42% during my government.
• Gross enrolment at primary level (5.9 years) increased from 72% to 91% – an increase of 19 percentage points.

Higher Education

• The state of higher education in Pakistan was in a pathetic condition prior to my government. We had 48 universities; the number of Ph.Ds and engineers per million population was only 112 –about one – third of the minimum standards prescribed by the UNESCO. We had the stock of only 2600 science Ph.D and the country was producing barely 50-60 per annum.
• My government launched a multi – pronged strategy, including the establishment of Higher Education Commission (HEC).
• We provided substantial resources to higher education. The development budget for higher education increased from Rs. 500 million to Rs. 14 billion in 2006-07 .
• Number of universities increased to 130 in 2006-07 from 48 in 1998-99.
•  Number of students enrolled in universities increased from 276 thousands to 948 thousands – more than three fold increase in enrolment in universities.
• Number of Ph.Ds produced by Pakistani universities increased sharply to 624 from as low as 50 – 60.
• There were 3800 students sent abroad for higher education (Ph.D) in foreign universities, of which, 303 have completed their degrees.
• There 3508 students enrolled in Ph.D Programs in Pakistani universities, of which 336 have completed their programs.

Health 

• Various Health indicators also improved during my government. for example, children aged 12-23 months immunized increased from 53% in 2000-01to 76% in 2006-07.
• Life expectancy increased from 63 years in 2000 to 66.5 years by 2008
• Infant mortality rate declined from 83.3 per 1000 infants in 2000 to 65 by 2008.
• Social Sector and Poverty – Related Expenditures Increased from Rs. 167 billion (3.8% of GDP) to Rs. 500 billion (5.7 % of GDP) 

Question: Not a single MW of power was added to the national grid in your time. Is this perception correct?

Answer: This perception is factually incorrect. The total installed generation capacity in 2000-01 was 17,772 MW which increased to 19,566 MW by 2007-08 – an increase of 1794 MW during my tenure. These facts are well documented in Pakistan Economic Survey 2001-02 (PP. 202, Table 15.13) and Pakistan Economic Survey 2007-08 (PP.259, Table 15.16)

Out of 1794 MW increase in installed generation capacity, 1770MW (99%) increase is attributed to WAPDA. The major addition came from Ghazibrotha power project.

But I would like to explain a little bit more on this issue. In 2000-01, Pakistan was having a surplus of 3000 MW because of the induction of electricity through the Independent Power Producers (IPPs). According to the 1994 Power Policy, even if we did not consume electricity, the government was required to pay 60% of the capacity to respective IPPs. Thus, we were having surplus power 3000 MW with all its financial implications.

We entered into negotiation with India to export electricity but it did not work out for a variety of reasons, including the military standoff in December 2001 till August – September 2002.

By January 2003, we were still having surplus of 2000 MW with all its financial implications. Do you think that my government would have set up another power plant when we were already having surplus electricity. According to our estimates, the surplus power was to be a eliminated by 2007 provided our consumption of electricity would have grown at the rate of 6 percent per annum.

Pakistan’s economy grew at an average rate of 7.5 percent per annum during 2003-07 and accordingly the electricity consumption grew at an average rate of 10-11 percent – much higher than our assumption of 6 percent. Consequently, the surplus power was eliminated by mid- 2004 instead of 2007.

Your question would then be: what did your government do in mid – 2004? My answer is plain. We launched 50 new power projects totaling 12, 141 MW during February 2004 and until June 2007.

These facts can be checked with Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB). These projects were to come in operation during October 2008 to December 2015. You should keep in mind that it takes minimum four years for a power plant to come under operation. Three of the said projects have come into operation and inaugurated by the current Prime Minister.

Thus, the perception is absolutely wrong. It was created deliberately by the present regime to hide their inefficiencies and misguide the people of Pakistan.

Question: People have raised question about the utilization of US assistance under was against terror which was provided to your government.

Answer: People have raised question about US assistance on war against terror because they were not provided facts. Let me give you the facts.

The total US assistance since 2001-02 and until November 2008 (the last number I have) amounted to $10,768 million. These assistance include economic, military and war against terror. Of the total assistance of $10,768 million, $6,062 million (56.3%) was the reimbursement of expenditure that Pakistan incurred against the war on terror. Since war on terror is being fought on daily basis, the expenditures are also incurred on daily basis.

My question to you: should we treat reimbursement as economic assistance? The answer is certainly no. Thus, over 56 percent of US money was not economic assistance. This was our money which was reimbursed by the US.

The remaining $4,706 million included debt write off ($1495 million), $ 3 billion US assistance package under the Camp David agreement; and remaining amount included grants for the purchase of Wheat and Soyabean oil.The bottom line is that Pakistan received $1,514 million in cash over seven – and – a half years

The APML Manifesto-Our Covenant-Pervez Musharraf-1st Oct 2010

by Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday, 13 October 2010 at 13:19

This, our Covenant is more than a hypocritical political party manifesto. It is very precious to us for we regard it as our Covenant with God and the people hablum minallah wa hablum min alnass “hold on to the rope of God and to the rope of the people “(Surah Aal e Imran). If you do you will not know failure. This is God’s Covenant with Man and Man’s Covenant with God and with his greatest creation, humanity or Al Naas.

We have been taking our country for granted. We forget that Pakistan is the most precious country in the world because it is the only country we have. We don’t realize that without it we would be international orphans, bereft of identity, without hope, shunned by all. It is our motherland and our stamp of identity. That is why Pakistan must come first. 

Today our motherland is in danger and it is we her children who have put her in danger through our follies and foibles. She is asking us, her sons and daughters, to save her. That is the imperative upon us one and all. Everything else is secondary. She is in distress. “Save me “she is saying “save me from the rapacious few who are bringing me to death.” My dear compatriots and fellow patriots, the time to stand up and be counted has come. The time to put our lives on the line to cleanse our mother with our sweat and blood is upon us. It is this mother earth that we came from and it is to the bosom of this same mother earth that we will return. She is our ultimate mother. She must be cleansed and made into Pakistan in the true sense.

People strive to make states because they feel that they will achieve economic well being more easily under the new dispensation; that their life and liberty will be protected and their children and their children’s children will constantly improve economically, culturally, socially and politically and will enjoy all those freedoms that are their God-bestowed birthright. This belief in the State is what leads to long-term happiness. This is what provides homogeneity in diversity and gives citizens a stake in their country. This is from where Unity, Faith and Discipline come. This iswhat makes people live, fight and die for their country.

States in which citizens are unhappy fail and vanish into that limitless graveyard where many a state, civilization, empire and superpower lie buried and forgotten. Citizens become unhappy when the State fails to provide them economic wellbeing, protect their freedoms and liberty and make them feel as if they are being deprived of those very rights that they formed the state to protect. Then they lose their stake in it and the state becomes a failed state.

Pakistan was formed because the Muslims of the subcontinent feared that their God-given rights would not be protected under the inevitable Hindu majority. Having achieved our desired state, if we glance at the condition of our people today, the promised and anticipated delivery has not been forthcoming and they still yearn for their rights and for freedom from deprivation. The overwhelming majority of our people are poor. The rich, the powerful and the influential use the law to their advantage; its penalties are applied only on the poor. So also it is with all the benefits of freedom — only a small elite enjoy them while the poor majority wallows in inhuman misery, want and deprivation. Only this small elite has benefited from the fruits of freedom. We tried to change this rot during my governance between 1999 and 2008. We put the fear of ALLAH in the hearts and minds of the rich and powerful, we empowered the teeming masses to emancipate them financially, politically and administratively and we raised the prestige of Pakistan in the eyes of the world. We put Pakistan on an unprecedented upsurge and gave pride to the people. It is unfortunate that we are again on a downward nosedive. All the gains we made are no more. The majority is so busy trying to survive from morning to night, wondering how they will feed their children that they have little time to think or worry about anything else.

It is now time to redeem the pledge that the Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah made to the people of Pakistan and ensure that the fruits of freedom are shared equitably by all. This is the least that we owe him, owe to our people and owe to our future generations.

Our social contract was to make Pakistan a state in which its citizens and their progeny could live as free and proud citizens with equal rights. Today, that social contract has all but evaporated due to the perfidy of successive

rulers. Their prime aim has been self-aggrandizement and megalomania. Their level of loot was such that corruption soon descended into outright plunder. All while the people got poorer and unhappier. We have to realize that while we may have many enemies outside our borders, the greatest danger to us lies from within. Centrifugal forces are gaining strength, pulling us apart. The poor, the vast deprived multitudes that form the overwhelming majority of our population, are unhappy. We have to agree to a new social contract that keeps the original dream of our founding fathers alive and we have to do this very fast, before the Rubicon is crossed. This we can only do by following Allah’s injunction to make ourselves into the central, pivotal community that he calls ummatun wusata, a modern and progressive state, and a model for others to emulate.

Today our decline is so precipitous that we cannot delay the formation of a solid block of all patriotic Pakistanis under one umbrella to save Pakistan, to redeem our original pledge to ourselves and our nation and place our country on the path of progress and prosperity. The time has come to unite towards one single goal of “Pakistan First “. The time has come to unite the people of Pakistan towards that common goal. The time has come to unite in thought and action, political forces, the bureaucracy and the armed forces to save Pakistan and help move it forward.

Such a dynamic, unifying political force can only be created if we were to rekindle the unifying spirit of All India Muslim League that attracted Allama Iqbal, Quaid-e-Azam and many other great Muslim Leaders to create Pakistan. The time has come to unfurl a Muslim League umbrella for all. This umbrella now shall be All Pakistan Muslim League (APML). APML shall, Inshallah, be a party of national salvation reviving the lost spirit of the Quaid, unifying the people of Pakistan towards the end goal of realizing Quaid’s dream. So with the greatest humility and submission to Almighty Allah we follow his injunction: “ Let there arise out of you a brand of people inviting all to that which is good and enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity” (Surah Aal e Imran, ayat-104)

The APML has been formed to galvanize all Pakistanis regardless of political affiliation, sex, colour or creed to once again struggle to win back and preserve their freedom. Once again Pakistanis are being awakened to

launch another freedom movement in their own land, to regain their independence from the overarching influence of a small power elite to only benefit themselves and their progeny, leaving millions of people to a fate of abject poverty, illiteracy, hunger and hopelessness.

Our call goes out to all those who are frustrated by the current pathetic situation of their country and want to make a difference.

Our appeal is to people across the broad spectrum of the Pakistani polity who are fed up with the alarming decline of their country in all spheres of life, by their loss of prestige, pride, confidence, sovereignty and independence.

We invite you to stop talking and start acting.

We invite you to stop reacting and become proactive.

We invite you to reclaim your self-esteem, your Khudi.

We invite you to turn your dreams into reality.

We invite you to turn idealism into action.

We invite you to reject being swept along by the forces of history made by others and start making your own history.

We invite all Pakistanis to start forging their own destiny. We invite you to take up the challenge of Allama Iqbal: Khudi ko kar buland itna, keh har taqdeer sey pehlay Khuda banday say khud pochay, batta tairi raza kya hai

Raise your self-esteem so high that before determining every fate ALLAH asks man, “Say, what is it that you wish.“

First and foremost, we have to craft a new social contract. In so doing we will take guidance from three documents.

1. Our guiding light will always be the Holy Quran, the immutable Word of Allah. If Pakistan is an Islamic Republic as our constitution says,then it naturally follows that our basic document from which everything flows has to be the Quran.

2. Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s speech to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947.

3. The original Objectives Resolution that was presented to the Constituent Assembly by our first prime minister, Shaheed-e- Millat Liaquat Ali Khan on April 12, 1949.

We stand for peace and reconciliation within our borders, with all our neighbours in the region and with all countries of the world. But a peace with honour and dignity, which we shall always uphold and preserve jealously. We believe in diverting all our energies towards national development and welfare of our people. We will strive towards harmonious relations with all on bilateral basis avoiding involvement in any interstate, ethnic or religious feuds. Peace with India will also be one of our prime foreign policy objectives. We will strive for resolution of all our disputes including Kashmir in a spirit of sincerity, mutual flexibility and courage in order to usher in a new era of socioeconomic development. We believe in making SAARC a more potent organization for South Asian intra- regional cooperation. We also would like to use our geostrategic location to facilitate inter-regional cooperation. On the international plane we will pursue the strategy of Enlightened Moderation for the socioeconomic development of the Muslim Umma and the resolution of all important international political disputes. Within this strategy we shall keep striving for the restructuring of the OIC to increase its effectiveness.

In our 1973 Constitution we already have a document of consensus. It is a good starting point that goes a long way towards arriving at a social contract. We will democratically enhance and modernize the constitution to reflect more faithfully the desires and aspirations of our people. More unity and harmony will be brought between the provinces to strengthen the federation.

a. With the wishes of the people we will address the issue of the creation of more provinces thereby reducing the structural irritants between the existing provinces. This we believe will be administratively most suitable and will also allow us to give maximum autonomy to the provinces.

b. Pakistan’s politics will be strongly anchored on real democratic principles. We will introduce and follow the true essence of democracy, shunning hereditary politics. Power will be devolved to the people at the grassroots level through an empowered Local Government system. The local governments at District, Tehsil and Union Council level will be given administrative, political and financial autononomy. To make them administratively self-contained we will create a district cadre within the Civil Services of Pakistan.

c. The government and governance in Pakistan is top-heavy, too centralized and sluggish in decision-making. We also spend over 30% of our budget on the cost of running the establishment. We need to correct this by cutting our establishment costs and increasing efficiency. This we will do through restructuring the government and the civil service to enhance merit and quality.

d. The concurrent list will be brought in harmony with the wishes of all provinces yet retaining the solidarity of Pakistan

e. We will improve our electoral system in order to meet Allah’s command to choose our leaders from the best among ourselves. As things stand right now elections do not lead to the emergence of the best. This deficiency in the quality of our legislature needs to be rectified.

f. The National Finance Commission Award will be looked into, to allow more economic viability to provinces yet allowing the centre enough financial independence for reinforcing socioeconomic development.

Our constitution already says that Pakistan is an Islamic Republic in which Islam is the state religion and where no law shall be made that is repugnant to Quran and Sunnah. It also states qualification and disqualifications for leadership under articles 62 and 63. However, we avoid implementing the more important social welfare aspects of Islam, which would justify our claim to being an Islamic Republic. We have not written in our constitution what is incumbent upon the state to do in order to be able to call itself Islamic. What are the Islamic duties of the state? How does it implement its Islamic ideology? We believe that it is the primary duty of the state to ensure that no segment of its population loses faith and their stake in the state. Thus we believe that it is the duty of the state to implement Huqooq Ul Ibad or the charter of the rights of Allah’s creation, the human being.

a. We firmly believe that all citizens are equal regardless of religion, caste, creed, ethnicity or language. It is the duty of the state to facilitate them in practicing their faith freely and without fear of transgression by others.

b. We believe in gender equality and will practice it in letter and spirit. We will strive against all forms of gender discrimination and will specially encourage female education. We will fight against socio-cultural injustices against women like honour killing, child marriages, marriage to the Holy Quran, karo-kari, wani, child abuse and sexual harassment. We stand for female emancipation following a three pronged approach:-

i. ii. iii.

Enhancing their political empowerment Enhancing their economic empowerment

Undoing laws and customs discriminating against women.

c. We will strive against exploitation of people through slavery, bonded labour and unjust use of labour in every form.

d. A state without adl is an abomination to Islam. Adl exists when

a society is balanced with no great difference between rich and poor, rulers and the ruled and where the people are genuinely empowered. A society based on egalitarianism and distributive justice where all its citizens are equal before the law regardless of status. Towards achieving this end:-

i. Judicial reforms will be carried out to consolidate the process of adl. The negative elements of bails and stay orders will be addressed and inordinate delays in trials, as also pendency of cases will be tackled.

ii. Easy access to justice will be ensured.

iii. Availability of cheap and speedy justice will be ensured. We will institute a system by which those who cannot afford a lawyer will be provided a good one by the state either free of cost or at a reasonable fee. To this end all lawyers, no matter how senior, shall have to take a certain number of cases of the poor and needy on behalf of the state.

e. We consider food, clean drinking water and energy to be man’s inalienable right :

i. To provide clean drinking water we shall create a very elaborate network of desalination, water filtration and reverse osmosis plants. We shall start by providing these down to the Union Council level and then move further down to each village level. Private philanthropists and entrepreneurs will be encouraged to help out in the respective regions.

ii. We shall establish kitchens that give free food to the poorest. For this we will co-opt the langar already running in various mosques and khanqahs of Sufi Saints. We will ask philanthropists to open langars or contribute generously towards the effort. Public sector funds will be used to reinforce genuine philanthropic efforts.

iii. We will outsource establishment of kitchens and water filtration plants as much as possible to private philanthropic organizations. Bait Ul Maal will be fully integrated in this national welfare activity.

iv. Electricity will be made available down to every village having 50 houses or more.

OUR MANIFESTO

Nepotism and corruption have been the greatest ills afflicting our society and retarding performance. We will take all measures to root out corruption especially in government circles and among the rich and powerful. Our guiding principle in governance shall be merit and merit alone. There will be no nepotism or favouritism in any promotion or appointment. It is essential to raise the morale of the nation, restore lost self-confidence, faith and pride. This can only be done by giving the nation hope for a brighter future. We need to work with the media to spread optimism in the people. Together with “Pakistan First” we need to adopt another slogan: “Jaag Pakistani Jaag”.

Our concept of good governance shall be “To ensure security, progress and development of the state and welfare/well being of its people”.

Security.

The security of Pakistan will be guaranteed against external and internal threat. Towards this end:

a. The armed forces of Pakistan will be equipped and maintained at a level that they deter external aggression. Any adventurism against Pakistan will be thwarted.

b. We will fight terrorism everywhere in our land till we defeat it. For this purpose we will reduce our immediate dependence on the Army, strengthening the Police and more so the second line forces of Frontier Corps and Rangers.

c. Extremism in our society will be checked through a well

thought out and implemented domestic strategy. While our Islamic polity and credentials will be promoted, no space will be given to anyone or any organization spreading obscurantism in the masses.

d. Any attempts by any groups or individuals against the integrity of Pakistan will be crushed.

Progress and development of the state: The prosperity of the people of Pakistan is directly related and proportional to the development of the state. Therefore, the progress and development of Pakistan will be undertaken with a clear vision and strategy. The development strategy will focus on the following areas:-

a. Economy: We believe in “what is good for business is good for Pakistan”. No progress, no development in any sector is possible unless our economy is put on high growth. For this the cardinal requirement is to develop the trust, faith and confidence of Pakistanis and foreign well wishers, especially investors, in the government. Having achieved this we will follow the following broad guidelines as we successfully did between 1999 and 2008:-

i. An overall strategy of deregulation, liberalization, privatization and entrepreneurship will be implemented.

ii. GDP must grow by minimum 6% annually.

iii. Borrowing will be controlled, ensuring debt to GDP ratio never crosses 60%. We are determined to get out of the IMF debt trap again as we did during my governance.

iv. Fiscal deficit will be reduced through a substantial increase in revenue collection by broadening the tax collection base and reducing the number and level of taxes. We are determined to substantially enhance our tax to GDP ratio. Everyone will be brought into the tax net through electronic means opening a Data

Warehouse. Simultaneously we will reduce expenditure on running government by reducing ministries in the Centre dealing with provincial subjects.

v. Balance of payment deficit will be controlled through increasing our earnings in exports and foreign direct investment and reducing our expenditure on debt service liability.

vi. Inflation will be brought under control to check rising prices of consumer goods for the poor.

vii. Exports will be enhanced through market diversification and an industrial policy encouraging SMEs and product diversification.

viii. Investment will be drawn into Pakistan by providing an investor-friendly environment and improving law and order. We will give comfort to all investors through a continuity of our policies.

Ix. We consider population growth as a major cause of retarding economic development. We will adopt major population control measures to bring the growth down to 1.5% per annum.

b. Communication Infrastructure: Communication infrastructure linking Pakistan to other countries in the region, linking our provinces to each other and linking important places within provinces is essential for national integration and economic development. Pakistan’s geostrategic location linking West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia and China provides us the enviable position of acting as the trade and energy corridor for the entire region. We must therefore work towards extending our road and rail link into western China and Afghanistan facilitating linkages of Central Asian republics’ road/rail network to ours, thus fulfilling their much desired access to our sea ports of Karachi and Gwadar. This will facilitate inter-

regional trade with its many advantages to Pakistan. Inter provincial, intra provincial and farm-to-market road connectivity will be enhanced particularly linking Balochistan and Gwadar port with the other three provinces. The entire railway system will be improved gradually to broad guage, then to standard guage. Gwadar Port will be connected to the main railway line. Gwadar Port will be extended and made into an 18 metre deep seaport. It will be developed into a major container terminal and ship repair facility.

c. Water Management: Water is a nation’s life. We are fortunate to have abundant water sources in the form of glacier water coming down our major rivers, monsoon rain water flowing down all minor and major water courses and sub soil water. But the demand for water – for human consumption, livestock and agriculture is enormous. We have to implement an effective water management regime to fully utilize all the available resources and optimize its availability to meet our growing demand. This requires :-

i. Enhancing water storage capacity through construction of maximum dams. Today, on the average 35 maf of water flows down unutilized into the sea. This is criminal. We must utilize all the glacier and monsoon water downflows.

ii. Maximum new canals will be made to carry all the harnessed water in dams to barren lands bringing maximum acreageunder irrigation.

iii. Rain water in Balochistan has tremendous utility potential if harnessed but unfortunately it all goes waste. We will build maximum delay action check dams to save water for human consumption and livestock.

iv. Preserving our existing irrigation water poses another challenge with a huge potential of increasing availability. Brick lining of water courses was initiated in 2003 and

should be nearing completion. We will now go for brick lining of distributaries and canals to preserve our water against seepage waste thus ensuring availability at tail ends.

d. Agriculture: an agrarian economy, with about 70% of our population being rural, we will concentrate on maximizing our returns from agriculture. We will follow a self sufficient, import substitution and export oriented strategy. We spend about US$ 2 billion on import of edible oil. This amount must be saved by increasing our sunflower, canola and cotton seed production to be able to produce our own edible oil. Wheat, rice and cotton production must be maximized for self sufficiency and export. The three million acres of virgin land coming under cultivation through completion of new canals and dams will be made to follow this crop growing pattern.

e. Energy: We have to cater for our energy needs for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes. We have to generate electricity by the cheapest means. Fortunately we have abundance of sites for generating hydro electricity which is the cheapest. This potential must be fully tapped concentrating on major run of the river projects. Coal is another cheap source which needs to be tapped fully. The abundant coal reserves at Thar will be fully exploited. Possibilities of on-site gasification will be examined. Nuclear and alternate source of energy (wind and sun) will also be exploited. Unfortunately our known oil and gas reserves are limited. Their offshore and onshore exploration will be our focus. In the meantime, we must import gas from Iran, Qatar or Turkmenistan to cater for our industrial demand and requirements of running our thermal power plants. The overall energy strategy will be to increase hydro electricity, nuclear and alternate source of energy and reduce dependence on gas/oil thermal power.

f. Industry: expansion of our industrial base can be the driving force of our economic revival and employment generation. We will give special incentives including a one-window operation

to give comfort to overseas Pakistanis for putting up industry in their home country. We will emulate the example of the highly successful Sunder industrial estate off Lahore to develop more estates with public-private partnership. Today, our industry is textile oriented with 60% of our exports being textile but only 6% of world trade is in textile while over 60% is heavy engineering and high technology. Although in the short term our focus will remain on textile, our long term strategy must be to diversify to enter the 60% market of high technology and heavy industry. To guard against concentration of big industrial houses we will spread wealth and jobs through growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We will introduce a culture of creating startups that focus on export-orientation and import substitution. We will strengthen capital formation by attracting venture capital and private equity funds to invest in Pakistan.

g. Environment: Environment preservation is an important world issue, to which we pay scant attention. Pakistan is suffering from a very fast pace of deforestation. This is occurring due to non-availability of fuel in our remote areas especially mountains. We will check illegal cutting of trees. Wherever trees have to be cut for development purposes at least double the numbers will be planted. We do not agree with environmentalists who believe in denying development for the sake of tree preservation. Water contamination is another critical area of neglect in Pakistan. We must tackle pollution of our rivers and sea water on an emergency basis. We will install water treatment plants for the purpose and institute regulatory controls over industrial effluent.

h. Terrorism and Extremism: We will show zero tolerance towards terrorism and extremism. Any talk of progress or development of Pakistan becomes irrelevant if we are unable to counter and defeat the scourge of terrorism and the increasing extremism in our society. We shall combat this menace with a well articulated strategy till we defeat it. We have to contend against four menaces within Pakistan: Al Qaida in Tribal Agencies, Taliban in Tribal Agencies, Talibanisation being spread

by Taliban in the settled districts of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and even beyond and finally extremism in our society. The strategy to be followed against each will be:

i. Al Qaida They have to be eliminated with force. No foreigners have any right to use Pakistan’s territory for terrorist acts in Pakistan or elsewhere in the world.

ii. Taliban They are our own people but are religiously misguided. With them we will adopt a triple strategy of force, political dialogue and socio economic development. We believe that political deals with them should always be from a position of strength. They have to be dissuaded from going into Afghanistan or harboring any Afghan Taliban. Special funds for socioeconomic development will be allocated in pacified areas of Tribal Agencies.

iii. Talibanisation Spreading and forcing obscurantist Islamic views on the vastly moderate population will be checked. Force will be used against any violating individual or Tanzeem.

iv. Extremism in Society Extremism is a mind set and it exists in certain areas of Pakistan. It generally flourishes on account of poverty and illiteracy. The long term policy will be to educate the masses and reduce poverty. Other than that, we will follow a five point strategy of :

• Checking of misuse of mosques which promote militancy in any form and sectarian or religious hatred. Mosque’s Khateeb will not be allowed to deliver unchecked, offensive sermons inciting people to any kind of violence.

• Militant/ extremist religious organizations will be banned and their activities curbed. They will not be allowed to resurface under different names or

Human Resource

titles.

• All publications, books, magazines, posters, hand bills, wall chalking preaching militancy, arousing sectarian or religious hatred will be banned.

• Religious syllabus in schools will be kept under constant watch. All teachings inciting religious/sectarian hatred will be removed. Emphasis will be on Haqooq ul Ibad to improve national character and civic sense.

• No Madrassa will be allowed to be involved in militancy in any form. Talibs studying in Madrassas will be maistreamed into the society through teaching them all board subjects and making them take board exams thus qualifying them for board degrees. This way, their positive element of free boarding, lodging, food and education will be optimized and the negative aspects of unifocal religious approach alone will be eliminated.

Human resource: development will remain central to our philosophy and all our policies. We believe that development or progress of any society/state is directly proportional to the quality of its people. We, therefore, have to strategise human resource development and allocate maximum funds towards it. Private sector philanthropic activities will be reinforced wherever possible and with public/private cooperation in various sectors output/delivery to the people will be optimized.

a. Education: We will create an educated society. We will address education in a holistic manner, enhancing literacy level and improving primary, secondary and higher education. For better organizational efficiency we will devolve responsibility for primary/secondary education to Districts, college education to Provinces and university education to the Higher Education Commission. Special focus will be towards vocational training

and skill development so that we emerge as a skilled force provider for the region and the world. Science and Engineering will remain the focus in higher education. The PhD programme targeting 1500 PhDs every year by 2015 will be revived as also the foreign universities arrangement of drawing high quality international universities into Pakistan. NGO’s and private individuals/organizations passionately involved in education will be financially reinforced. Quality education will be spread through public-private sector cooperation. The National commission on Human Development will be reinforced to spread adult literacy and universalizing education at Primary level. Allocation of funds towards education will be increased every year to reach 6% of GDP in 5 years.

b. Health: Maximum resources will be devoted to primary and secondary health care taking resources and facilities down to the grassroot level, reducing the load on tertiary health care. 60% of disease being water borne, we will open filtration plants down to Union Council level for providing safe drinking water. Selected NGOs and philanthropic organizations will be reinforced for expanding delivery to the common man. Every Basic Health Unit will be provided with a doctor. Every Tehsil/ District Hospital will have services of specialists available and will be equipped with required diagnostic medical equipment.

c. Population Control: Population explosion is sapping all our resources, putting pressure on our economy and over burdening all urban civic resources. It must be checked for better economic performance. The situation is worse when seen from the fact that while the educated and those who can afford are exercising population control, the poor and illiterate are growing unchecked. This is leading to a lowering of quality of population. We must arrest this tendency. Strong population control measures will be instituted. Religious scholars will be persuaded to issue fatwas in support of family planning.

d. Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation: Economic progress of the state is the basic tool of poverty alleviation.

Therefore, GDP must grow by at least 6% per annum. We will increase the earning capacity of the individuals and families through developing skills and creating more jobs. For this we will facilitate growth of private industrial sector to create maximum employment opportunities. Poverty resides in the rural uneducated unemployed, urban educated unemployed and urban uneducated unemployed. We will strike at the root of each one of those:

i. For the rural uneducated, unemployed agriculture, dairy, livestock and agro-based industry will be developed. For encouragement special incentives will be given in these areas. A white revolution in dairy will be brought about throughout Pakistan. We will improve the quality of livestock through spreading artificial insemination techniques and embryo transfer technology. Maximum state land will be allotted to poor landless cultivators. The maximum share of ZTBL loans will be given to small farmers requiring sums of less than two lacs. The revolving credit system for poor farmers, protecting them from the domination of middlemen, will be reinforced. For the poor population living on the coast of Balochistan and Sind, fisheries sector will be developed.

ii. For the urban educated unemployed, telecom and IT sectors will be promoted.

iii. For the urban uneducated unemployed, labour intensive activity of building, construction and infrastructure development will be promoted.

iv. Special schemes for employment generation will be imaginatively implemented.

v. Government land will be generously allocated to the landless. Cholistan Development Authority will be fully activated. New water schemes will be developed and land distributed among the poor.

vi. Micro financing will be encouraged and spread all over Pakistan for easy loans to the poor to start small businesses.

e. Targeted intervention: For the poorest segment of the population essential food items will be sold at reduced prices. A web of utility stores will be spread all over the country and special ration cards will be issued through the Bait Ul Maal.

Media: APML stands strongly in favour of the independence of the media, which will be maintained in letter and spirit. However, we have to create mutually agreed legal provisions for modulating independence with responsibility where national interest is involved.

Culture and heritage: The soft image of Pakistan will be publicized in Pakistan and spread throughout the world. We have a cultural heritage extending over 8000 years BC of which we ought to be proud. We are the cradle of Hinduism , Buddhism and Sikhism. Let this be known to all. We have a culture which is unique. We will encourage and promote our culture as we were doing between 1999 and 2008.

Sports: The people of Pakistan deserve a healthy diversion from the tensions of life. Sport provides the best recreational activity. We will encourage maximum sports activity, following a three-tiered approach in various sports. Competitions/championships will be held at District/ Provincial/ National level, school/college/university level and corporation level to improve quality and generate national interest.

Conclusion: We have full faith in the resilience, dynamism and enterprise of the people of Pakistan. By the grace of Allah, Pakistan is endowed with abundant water, fertile land, sources of energy, natural resources and dynamic human resource. There is no reason why we should not be able to stand on our own feet as a proud, forward looking and progressive state in the comity of nations.

APML Cover Design

 

APML Flag

 

APML Logo ( The Shaheen)

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Answering Your Top 3 Questions – IV

Question: Which political organization supports your vision? Pasdar-e-Pakistan is a grassroots organization of my supporters. The Pasdars have been holding seminars, conventions, press conferences and public demonstrations on issues of national concern. They are engaged in building support all over Pakistan and beyond. As this organization expands its membership of registered supporters, I urge you to offer your support to it.

Answer:

For further information, please contact:
info@pasdar-e-pakistan.org
Phone: +92 51 2814270
Or visit: www.pasdar-e-pakistan.org

Question: Why was the energy sector neglected? Why could Kalabagh Dam not be built? It is not correct to say that the Energy Sector was neglected during my tenure. Energy Sector was given the high priority it warranted. Facts which are visible on ground are being distorted or misinterpreted, either on purpose or due to lack of knowledge. Some pertinent details are given below for your reference:

Answer:

Answering Your Top 3 Questions – III

Infrastructure. We spent billions on Gwadar Port. It was a gigantic project completed on time and executed in a most transparent manner. The Port has geo-strategic importance. Its eventual linkages to the Central Asian Republics, Russia and China and the resultant trade corridors hold the promise of a quantum surge in economic activity in the region. This will bring about a perceptible difference in the quality of the lives of the entire nation but more importantly, the people of Balochistan. Other major infrastructure projects completed include the Coastal Highway, Gwadar-Rato Dero (950 KMs) Road, Mirani Dam, Subukzai Dam, Kachi Canal, and other smaller projects over which the PSDP allocation was more than that of Punjab. Let anyone challenge this statement.

Governance. Barring a few cities, the entire province of Balochistan was ‘B’ area for policing and law enforcement purposes. We were successful in converting a major part of the Province to ‘A’ areas. In this way, it was brought at par with the rest of the country. My administration believed that Balochistan needed the maximum possible resources for development, which had been neglected in the past. In this effort we were prepared to cooperate and talk to everyone in the province, but there could be no place on the negotiating table for elements opposed to the very being of Pakistan.

Question: Why was Akbar Bugti targeted?

Answer: Bugti’s death was a result of his own confrontation with the state. He incapacitated the Sui gas plant (by having 500 rockets fired in a single day), blew up gas pipelines, electric pylons, railway lines and bridges. He challenged the Frontier Corps and the Army by denying movement to them, and had rockets fired on garrisons. Aside from this, Bugti had let loose a reign of terror on the people of his area. The Kalpar tribe which was opposed to him were banished and forced to live as refugees in the adjoining districts of Punjab. Governments are required to act when their writ is challenged and when activities which are detrimental to the responsibility of the State are blatantly carried out.

The government reacted to restore law and order. Let me clarify here that the President of Pakistan or the COAS does not pass direct orders to the military or law enforcement authorities at a tactical level. Aspersions on my person therefore are quite baseless. Of his own accord, Akbar Bugti left with his militia for the mountains in an offensive mode while challenging the writ of the government. With regard to the ensuing operations Bugti was located in a cave. A detachment including four officers of the Pakistan Army entered the cave to ask him to surrender. It appears that the cave collapsed due to an explosion in which he himself, his followers and the brave military men who attempted to engage him got buried.

After the operation, Dera Bugti was a peaceful place and those banished by the warlord were able to return to their homes.

Question: Why did you allow private US security agencies such as Blackwater, DynCorp or Xe to operate on Pakistani soil?

Answer: The answer to this is very short. Never did I, or my government, either allow any such agency to operate in Pakistan or have any special access into the country.

Answering Your Top 3 Questions – II

Answer: One thing is for sure, that I will return to Pakistan. The timing however is of the essence. It is mainly dependent on the domestic environment. I have to see whether people vastly want me to return and also whether I can deliver. I have to work through the political and democratic process. Only grassroots support can enable me to carry out a programme and policy based on my vision for the future. So if this question is coming from someone who desires that this happen, it is really up to you to begin engaging. The youth who have been voicing this question and are the future custodians of Pakistan, have to get activated.

As far as forming a new Party or getting into an alliance is concerned, one has to be pragmatic. Existing politicians have their importance and a definite role to play. I have to generate direct public support to try something original. I do believe in a military maxim: “Never reinforce failure.”

 Question: Why were such large amounts of bank loans written off? Does this not send the message to   the citizenry that crime pays?

Answer: Absolutely correct, it should never be done. But who says I have written off a single loan of any rich or influential individual? Never have I done this.

I have, however, written off loans of the poor, especially those stricken by natural calamities. This was always done on a collective basis. Loans of the poor were written off in drought stricken areas of Baluchistan and Sindh in 2000, then of the earth quake affected in 2005, the flood affected of Baluchistan and Sindh in 2006 and as a part of agriculture reform package for the poor. It was always made sure that these special reliefs were not availed by well off individuals. I have never written off a single loan on an individual basis.

Any individuals who got loans written off have done so on their own, using their influence or other underhand means which must be investigated and action taken. This has never come to my knowledge, and I never took any decision to write off loans to benefit a single individual.

Answer: These are baseless allegations. Not a single Pakistani was handed over by me to the US or any foreign country. Those taken by US were captured in Afghanistan and not given to US. Our policy was clear:

1. Pakistanis will be tried in Pakistan.
2. Foreigners will be offered to their own countries first and in case of refusal (which was invariably the case), will be handed over to the US.

The facts about Dr Afia Siddiqui’s case are still unclear. I only heard her name through the media when the story of her arrest in Afghanistan became public.

Answering Your Top 3 Questions – I

 

Friday, 11 December 2009

 

1) Was there a way post 9/11 for Pakistan to handle the Americans and the Taliban that would have avoided the current situation where we seem to be stuck with a deteriorating law and order situation?

 

I think we dealt with both in the best possible manner under most difficult circumstances. With regards to the US, the big question after 9/11 was whether to join the Coalition or not. The Americans had decided they were going to attack Afghanistan, and because of geographic compulsions, the attack was most likely going to come from the East. The positives of joining the coalition far outweighed the negatives of not joining.

Imagine what would have happened, had we not joined the coalition? The attack would have still taken place using bases provided by our neighbour, jeopardizing our territorial integrity. The flow of Al Qaeda and Taliban into Pakistan and the spreading of obscurantist Talibanisation into our country would have happened at a much greater scale. This was certainly not in our own interest. Therefore joining the Coalition was and is primarily in our own national interest. It happens to be in US interest also. The thought that we are playing the US game is simply not correct.

With the passage of time the situation has become more complex. There is strong Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan, developing nexus with Taliban in our tribal agencies, spreading Talibanisation into settled districts of NWFP. These in turn are developing links with extremists in our own society, further complicating the issue. The bottom line is that we have to defeat terrorism and extremism wherever it comes from. The Taliban have done tremendous damage to us and will not hesitate to do more unless we defeat them. The choice is stark. We as a nation have to decide what we want for ourselves. A progressive, enlightened, tolerant Islamic society or a retrogressive, obscurantist society?

2) Lal Masjid- Sifting Truth from Lies

The Lal Masjid operation is a case study of how an appropriately timed, meticulously planned and boldly executed operation launched in the supreme national interest can be distorted by vested interests who want to present it as a disaster. I would like to elaborate/clarify various issues which have been distorted.

1. “Hundreds of innocent people were killed which included scores of women and children.”

This is an absolute lie. Firstly none of those killed were innocent. They were terrorists (including five foreigners) who took the law in their own hands and killed a number of policemen, kidnapped and physically tortured Chinese citizens (causing embarrassment to the government) and burnt down Ministry of Environment offices, property and vehicles. They had stored arms and explosives in the mosque and were equipped/prepared for suicide bombings. Secondly the numbers killed were NINETY FOUR and not a single woman or child was killed. This can be ascertained by digging their graves and counting.

1. “The operation was launched overriding efforts to end the occupation peacefully.”

Nothing could be farther from the truth. The siege of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa was started about six months before the operation. There were about two thousand five hundred girls in Jamia Hafsa and an equal number of men who had taken over Lal Masjid. Despite all the pressure on the government in the media to act and evict the occupants who were challenging the writ of the government and causing immense embarrassment, the decision taken was to negotiate a peaceful settlement to avoid casualties. In the months that followed, representatives from Wafaqul Madaris and the Council of Islamic Ideology were sent to negotiate, Maulana Edhis’ wife was sent to pacify the girls and even Imam Kaaba was gracious enough to contribute towards an amicable end to the confrontation. Besides this, a number of politicians and notables also tried their best to resolve the issue. All this was to no avail. The primary concern before launching the operation was how to avoid casualties. The operation was launched only after all efforts towards a negotiated settlement failed and maximum occupants including all women and children were drawn out. The individuals left were all hardened terrorists including five foreigners who refused to surrender and decided to fight it out.

Lal Masjid operation stands as a tribute to the gallantry of all the soldiers, especially of SSG, rangers and policemen who participated in the operation. May all the Shaheeds rest in peace.

3) What compelled you to promulgate the NRO?

Question: “Through the NRO you brought corrupt politicians to power and made Zardari the President.”

Compiled by: Mirza Rohail B and Afreen Baig

• Pak Economy in 1999 was: $ 75 billion (Source)
  Pak Economy in 2007 is: $ 160 billion (Source) and (Source)
  Pak Economy in 2008 is: $ 170 billion (Source)

• GDP Growth in 1999: 3.1 % (Source)
• GDP Growth in 2005: 8.4 % (Source)
• GDP Growth in 2007: 7 % (Source)
• GDP Growth in 2009: 2 % (Source) and (Source)

• GDP Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 1999: $ 270 billion (Source)
  GDP Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 2007: $ 475.5 billion (Source)
  GDP Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 2008: $ 504.3 billion (Source)

• GDP per Capita Income in 1999: $ 450 (Source)
  GDP per Capita Income in 2007: $ 926 (Source)
• GDP per Capita Income in 2008: $1085 (Source)

• Pak revenue collection 1999: Rs. 305 billion (Source)
  Pak revenue collection 2007: Rs. 708 billion (Source) and (Source)
• Pak revenue collection 2008: Rs. 990 billion (Source)

• Pak Foreign reserves in 1999: $ 1.96 billion (Source)
  Pak Foreign reserves in 2007: $ 16.4 billion (Source) and (Source)
• Pak Foreign reserves in 2008: $ 8.89 billion (Source)
• Pak Foreign reserves in 2009: $ 14.3 billion (Source)

• Pak Exports in 1999: $ 8 billion (Source)
  Pak Exports in 2007: $ 18.5 billion (Source)
• Pak Exports in 2008: $ 19.22 billion (Source) and (Source)

• Textile Exports in 1999: $ 5.5 billion
  Textile Exports in 2007: $ 11.2 billion (Source)

• KHI stock exchange 1999: $ 5 billion at 700 points
  KHI stock exchange 2007: $ 75 billion at 14,000 points (Source)
  KHI stock exchange 2008: $ 46 billion at 9,300 points (Source) and $ 20 billion at 4,972 points (Source)
• KHI stock exchange 2009: $ 26.5 billion (Source) at 9,000 points (Source)

• Foreign Investment in 1999: $ 301 million (Source)
  Foreign Investment in 2007: $ 8.4 billion (Source)
• Foreign Investment in 2008: $ 5.19 billion (Source)

• Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) in 1999: 1.5% ( Source)
• Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) in 2005: 19.9% (Source)
• Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) in 2007: 8.6% (Source)
• Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) in 2008: 4.8%  (Source)

• Debt (External Debt & Liabilities) in 1988: $ 18 billion
• Debt (External Debt & Liabilities) in 1999: $ 39 billion (Source)  (Source)  (Source)
• Debt (External Debt & Liabilities) in 2007: $ 40.5 billion (Source) and (Source)
• Debt (External Debt & Liabilities) in 2009: $ 50.1 billion (Source)

• Debt servicing 1999: 65% of GDP (Source) and (Source)
  Debt servicing 2007: 28% of GDP (Source) and (Source)
• Debt servicing 2008: 27% of GDP (Source)

• Poverty level in 1999: 34% (Source) and (Source)
  Poverty level in 2007: 24% (Source) and (Source)

• Literacy rate in 1999: 45% (Source)
  Literacy rate in 2007: 53% (Source)

• Pak Development programs 1999: Rs. 80 billion (Source)
  Pak Development programs 2007: Rs. 520 billion (Source)
  Pak Development programs 2008: Rs. 549.7 billion (Source)

© Our leader – Musharraf 

Chronological record of events, that validates President Musharraf’s election as President and  subsequent endorsements by Supreme Court

Written by: Afreen Baig

1-      On 13 May 2000, Pakistan’s 12 member Supreme Court unanimously validated the October 1999 coup and granted Musharraf executive and legislative authority for 3 years from the coup date. Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was one of the judges that validated. (Link)

2-      On 7 October 2002, the 5 member bench of Supreme Court validated LFO and amendments to constitution. Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was one of the judges that validated. (Link)

3-      On 29 Dec 2004, PML-Q government passed the 17th constitutional amendment bill in National Assembly, with 2/3 majority, also approved by Senate that allowed President Musharraf to hold dual offices. (Link)

4-      Constitution of Pakistan – Article 63 clause (1) paragraph (d), read with proviso to Article 41 clause (7) paragraph (b), allows the President to hold dual office.

5-      On 13 April 2005, the 5 member bench of Supreme Court gave judgment in favor of 17^th amendment and President’s uniform. Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was one of the judges that validated. (Link)

6-      On 28 September 2007, the Supreme Court cleared the way for President Pervez Musharraf to seek another five-year term, and stand for Presidential elections, when six of the nine judges, rejected a tangle of petitions against him and threw out a major legal challenge to his re-election plans. Presided by Justice Rana Bhagwandas. (Link)

7-      President Musharraf was elected President of Pakistan, on 6th October 2007, by a combined electoral of the Senate, National Assembly and the FOUR Provincial Assembles.

8-      President of Pakistan declared emergency on 3^rd November 2007, as per Article 232 of the constitution.

9-      The 10 member bench of Supreme Court (SC) on 24 November 2007 directed the chief election commissioner and the government to declare Pervez Musharraf president for a second term. (Link)

10-  On 24 November 2007, the Pakistan Election Commission confirmed Musharraf’s re-election as President. (Link)

11-  President Musharraf won by 58% votes, declared in November 2007, as the constitutional President of Pakistan!

12-   On 28 November 2007, Musharraf relinquished the office of Chief of Armed Staff, as per November 2007 verdict of the Supreme Court.

13-   On 15 Feb 2008, the Supreme Court validated the proclamation of emergency of 3rd Nov 2007, PCO 2007 and oath of the judges. This full court judgment was written by Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar. (Link)

These facts above raise serious questions regarding the credibility of those so-called political intellects and experts of judicial matters that appear on media talk shows, accusing President Musharraf of violating the constitution, thereby seeking to apply Article-6 on him. They do so, merely for publicity and self exposure, overlooking the role of the Judiciary all along and misguiding the public to zenith. They should know that the Parliament and the Supreme Court, has approved and endorsed every single decision taken by President Musharraf. President Musharraf – being the President of Pakistan was the rightful authority to sign amendments to the constitution, after being approved by the Senate.

Article 270-AA of the constitution gives full protection to the 17th amendment and the 1999 coup, which cannot be called into question in any court of the country on any ground what-so-ever. The 17th amendment was approved by the National Assembly by 2/3 majority and made into law, as part of the constitution.

Then, the Constitution (Amendment) Order, 1980, (P.O.No.1 of 1980) section 2 clauses (3A), (3B) and (3C) give full protection and immunity to Martial Law Regulation made by the Chief Martial Law Administrators, any sentence passed by a Military Court or Tribunal, Chief Martial Law Administrator or a Martial Law Administrator or any person acting under the authority of either, and cannot be called into question in any court.

Then, Article 248 clauses (1) (2) (3) (4) of the constitution, protects the President, and he shall not be answerable to any court for the exercise of powers and performance of functions of his respective office, no criminal proceedings whatsoever shall be instituted or continued against the President or a Governor in any court during his term of office and no process for the arrest or imprisonment of the President or a Governor shall issue from any court during his term of office.

All of President Musharraf’s decisions were according to the constitution, approved by the supreme Parliament and endorsed by the Supreme Court.

Despite these above mentioned facts and articles as per the constitution, if those prejudiced intellects and revenge seeking politicians, call to apply Article-6 on President Musharraf, then they should know the article in full.

Article-6 clause (2): Any person aiding or abetting the acts mentioned in clause (1) shall likewise be guilty of high treason.

Which clearly indicates – that the Supreme Court and the Parliament itself that approved and endorsed the events from 1999 till 2007 shall be held equally responsible, for abetting, if a case ever arises. Yet, as Article-6 itself is NOT a self governing article, that could decide and instigate itself automatically, hence Article-6 provides a clause, leaving it to the supreme Parliament to decide, if and whenever, such a case arises and is brought to the attention of the Parliament.

Article-6 clause (3): [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] shall by law provide for the punishment of persons found guilty of high treason.

Other than the supreme Parliament, no other institution can approve nor apply Article-6. 

Afreen Baig is an independent analyst majoring in International Relations and Economics. She can be reached at afreenbaig@gmail.com

Written By: Afreen Baig  

Foreign Reserves – a significant economic indicator and of vital importance to every expanding economy. Foreign Reserves is the first and basic economic indicator that transmits an air of confidence and trust, amongst the potential foreign & local investors and the nation. Foreign Reserves are held in abundance and accumulated – in order to sustain the confidence of a country’s capacity to carry out external trade confidently, to balance the momentum between demand & supply of foreign currencies, and also used as an intervention tool by the State Bank. Reserves also bail out the economy in times of financial crisis.

By October 2007, at the end of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s tenure, Pakistan raised back its Foreign Reserves to a handsome $16.4 billion. His exceptional policies kept our trade deficit controlled at $13 billion, exports boomed to $18 billion, revenue generation increased to become $13 billion and attracted foreign investment of $8.4 billion.

Pakistan recently has seen a drastic drop in its Reserves by 50% and its currency devalued by 40%, which has left ordinary people confused and the usual cynics have started heaping the blame onto the policies of Mr. Shaukat Aziz, without even knowing the basic macro-economic indicators nor understanding the relationship b/w Foreign reserves, Trade deficit and Currency devaluation.

The Trade deficit (Exports minus Imports) is always managed in ratio to Revenue generation, Capital inflows and Reserves. Almost all developing economies face the dread of trade deficit but their abundant foreign reserves gives them the fiscal space to overcome those grievances.

Illustrating in mathematics for ordinary readers, on October 2007, when PM Shaukat Aziz left us:

Exports – $18 billion

Imports – $30.53 billion

Trade deficit – $12.53 billion

Foreign Reserves – $16.4 billion

What is to be seen above is that, Pakistan’s Foreign Reserves $16.4 bn exceeded the trade deficit $12.53 bn by a comfortable $3.87 billion and with an additional foreign investment of $8.4 billion – Pakistan’s currency stayed stable at Rs.61 per dollar.

Currency starts to devalue ONLY when the Trade deficit surpasses the Foreign Reserves.  This rare phenomenon occurred in PPP’s incompetent & dense minded government, which has led to devaluation of the currency by 40%. They failed to protect our Sovereignty – our Foreign Reserves!

In PPP’s inept government of eight months,

Trade deficit – $20.74 billion

Foreign reserves – $8 billion

Under PPP, the Reserves fell from $14 billion to $8 billion and the trade deficit increased from $12.53 billion to $20.74 billion.

The moment the foreign reserves ($8 bn) fell below the trade deficit ($20.74 bn), the currency starts to devalue. Under Mr. Shaukat Aziz, Rupee stayed stable till October 2007, because our Reserves $16.4 billion EXCEEDED our Trade deficit of $12.53 billion.

In 2007, when international oil prices reached an alarming level of  around $90 per barrel, predicting to exceed $140 per barrel, it hurt the Imports bill of many developing countries, by increasing the trade deficit. The experienced Mr. Shaukat Aziz gauged this situation and immediately started monitoring & controlling individual sectors that were importing. He allowed imports only in sectors that were export specific. His efforts resulted in decreasing our Import bill by 6.53% by September 2007 (one month before he left).

Rupee stayed stable throughout Mr. Musharraf’s supported governments. Trade deficit never exceeded the foreign reserves in the last eight years. The results were as follows – a stable rupee:

2001-02: Rs. 61
2002-03: Rs. 57.7
2003-04: Rs. 57.92
2004-05: Rs. 59.66
2005-06: Rs. 60.16
2006-07: Rs. 60.5
2007 (Dec): Rs. 61

What did the inefficient PPP do in these last eight months? They failed to monitor each sector of imports to control them individually. Pakistan’s economy started destabilizing because PPP could not guard our $14 billion reserves. Nor did they utilize any effort to increase the reserves from where Mr. Shaukat Aziz left it at $16.4 billion! The easier way out for them is to beg around the world barefaced or go back to IMF disgracefully.

What did the PPP further do? They increased the import bill by 55% in the months April to June 2008 and again increased it by 52.65% in the months July to September 2008 – though world oil prices fell from $140 per barrel to $70 per barrel.

Flight of capital takes place ONLY in economies where there is lack of trust and faith! Investors and endowing Public do not trust the government of PPP and are wary of PPP’s earlier corrupt reputation.

In the first four months of PPP, around $22 billion were withdrawn from the economy and KSE’s market capitalization fell by $29 billion. The State Bank was forced to place ban on transfer of dollar outside Pakistan.

Foreign reserves get hurt twice in this depletion process. First, when the investors and public pull back their money. Second, when macro-economic indicators witness imbalance and the government is forced to pay their external liabilities through these Reserves. This second stage occurs only when the government loses other means of regular income and is unable to control their imports.

Every country in the world is forced to make Imports. Imports help boost Exports. Even the world exporter China makes an import worth around $954 billion, to further promote their exports. But, Imports should be Export specific – scrutinized and restrained monthly – which was being done under the policies implemented by Mr. Shaukat Aziz.

Let’s analyze the steady India, as an example, with GDP growth of 9%.

Indian Imports – $188 billion (compared to Pakistan’s imports of $40 billion)

Indian Trade deficit – $63 billion (compared to Pakistan’s deficit of $20 billion)

The Indian currency is not devaluing because their Foreign Reserves $308 billion exceed their trade deficit of $63 billion.

Had Mr. Shaukat Aziz continued, the Trade deficit would have been kept controlled in accordance with Pakistan’s Revenue generation, Capital inflows and Foreign Reserves – which would have kept our rupee stable and economy booming at 7% GDP growth.

This latest IMF tranche of $7.6 billion, pre-arranged for a period of two years, will not help boost an economy whose foreign investment is declining, and where the trade deficit exceeds the total foreign reserves. This economic deception is yet another soothing drug given to us, by our unpopular democratic government of PPP.

If Pakistan wishes to remain free from influence of IMF, there is no better option than to assert our economic sovereignty and accumulate Foreign Reserves, from help of over-seas Pakistani. Additionally, attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and public & private portfolio investment.  Regrettably, PPP lacks the credibility and the reliability to attract back that trust and confidence!

Afreen Baig is an independent analyst majoring in International Relations and Economics. She can be reached at afreenbaig@gmail.com

The only safe ship in a storm is leadership – Faye Wattleton 

18 August 2008, has become a day of gloom for all Musharraf lovers. Today, our eyes and hearts cry! The man we so loved, honored, admired and cherished for his determination to deliver for Pakistan – and deliver he remarkably did! He was a man who believed & practiced in ‘Pakistan First’. The only honest and visionary leader we ever had. Pakistan progressed and prospered under his leadership. Pakistan had hope under his selfless & patriotic policies. We love you Musharraf!

Time is neutral and does not change things. With courage and initiative, leaders change things – Jesse Jackson

General Musharraf in his historic speech to the nation, also enumerating the successes of his 8 years rule, announced to resign as President of Pakistan. General Musharraf was his confident self and his message optimistic. He bowed out with dignity and courage, to avoid confrontation, and in the best interest of the nation and the country. In his words, it was not the time for individual bravado. He received a guard of honor before he parted the Presidency.

Nonetheless, despite his mistakes, he has been that rare phenomenon in Pakistani politics — an honest man with good intentions who tried to serve his country to the best of his abilities. In a country that has suffered so much over the years from corrupt and self-serving politicians, there have been too few figures like him. (Editorial Arab News)

For us – General Musharraf  is our Hero – Our Leader !

A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be – Rosalynn Carter

Highlights of President Musharraf’s last speech  (Here) and (Here) and (Here) and (Video of Speech)

Written By: Afreen Baig 

Dr Ayesha Siddiqa’s ‘The Military Inc.’ is a book deflective of reality, highly derogatory and against the very notion of sovereignty.

Dr Ayesha Siddiqa launches the book by giving the impression that her intention is to cover the entrepreneurial activities of military worldwide. However, in depth reading reaffirms suspicions that her book massively targets the Pakistan Military and the top echelons of the Armed Forces, most of which are based upon self serving assumptions and intentional hoodwinking. A labyrinth of financial figures is presented to further obscure the ordinary reader’s intelligence.

The book sets forward four arguments. First, that MILBUS (Military Business) is military capital that perpetuates the military’s political predatory style; and is kept concealed and includes questionable transfer of resources from public sector to individuals connected with armed Forces. Second, the military’s economic greed increases in totalitarian systems. Third, Military convinces the citizens to bear additional costs for security on basis of conceived threats to the State. Fourth, the book considers the Pakistan Military the cause of all ills, social disparity and democratic fiasco.

Let’s start by setting the record straight. MILBUS in Pakistan – is the result of honest intentions and visionary policies – to raise independent resources, to self-finance the on-going national technological development, to modernize strategic assets, and most importantly, the determination to rely less on Foreign Aid. While at the same time, build facilities for retired military personnel and their families; and slowly withdrawing from National Defense budget allocation as a percentage of GDP.

MILBUS also exists in well developed countries like the USA, UK, France, China, Israel or even Turkey. The Milbus or the PMEs (Private Military Enterprises) are generally known as the Private Military Industry. Famous US PMEs include Halliburton, Black-water worldwide, Defensecurity, Titan Corporations, Kellogg Brown & Root, Air Scan, DynCorp’s, CACI International, etc. Famous UK PMEs include Black-Op’s and Aegis Defense Services. Most of these are active beneficiaries of the Iraq War. The worldwide PME industry is now worth over $100 billion a year. Thus, this is not just a Pakistan specific industry.

MILBUS in Pakistan is being criticized unnecessarily, with the sole intention to malign the Armed Forces. The Pakistan military has never intended to deliberately conceal their economic activities and they do not cause injustice by weighing heavily on civilian corporate sector or individual leaders.

The book ‘Military Inc’ is based upon a series of presumptions and false accusations. Throughout her book, the author obstinately insists that the growth of Military economy is the case of self interest and predatory acquisition by senior officers, in which it allow the Generals to seek benefit for themselves and their clients.

The author fails to provide, any concrete evidence that could confirm her allegations, that questionable transfer of wealth is made to individuals connected with armed forces. All she could give in example were the 500 sq yard official plots given to the Generals at the end of their service, as part of their benefits, and hence her assumption that a retired general is worth from Rs.150 million to Rs.400 million.

Rarely do critics mention, that nominal deduction from the pay of all military officers are made during their service, in return for a small apartment or a small housing, which is handed over at the time of their retirement. However, this facility is still not available to all retiring servicemen.

Next, the book alleges that the military’s economic greed increases in totalitarian systems, where the general public, private businessmen, civilian corporate sector and national business units are all oppressed to encourage and endorse military business units. Her book focuses largely on the four welfare projects managed by the Pakistan Military i.e. The Fauji Foundation (FF), the Army Welfare Trust (AWT), Shaheen Foundation (SF) and Bahria Foundation (BF), and in some places the Frontier Works Organization (FWO).

The author believes that “the profit earned by military is directly proportional to power and gives the armed forces a sense of being independent of the incompetent civilians” – which can only be considered as an extremely reckless comment.

There was great wisdom behind establishing these welfare projects. The visionary minds knew that “the profit earned by the military will be directly proportional to Sovereignty of the Country and the Institution”.

The Military established its first welfare foundation in 1954, with funds received from the British as part of Pakistan’s share of the Post War Services Reconstruction Fund. In India, those funds were distributed immediately amongst those who fought the Second World War. Unlike India, Pakistan’s wise military opted to use those funds to establish projects that would ensure the overall well-being, availability of jobs, and a decent pension for their armed forces.

The initial purpose of these welfare projects was to create employment opportunities for the honorable retired or disabled military personnel.  Servicemen – whose only obligation is defending the borders of Pakistan.

This one wise decision, not only raised the morals of the serving military men, but also gave the ordinary citizens a reason to join the Armed Forces of Pakistan and serve their country. Assured that their future is protected, the servicemen live their lives in testing times on borders, remote locations and a life away from family.

The Fauji Foundation, Shaheen Foundation and Bahria Foundation were all established under the Charitable Endowments Act 1890. The Army Welfare Trust was established under the Societies Registration Act 1860.

Then all these entities are registered Tax-paying Companies. The Army Welfare Trust and the Fauji Foundation pays tax at 20% of their profits. Shaheen Foundation and Bahria Foundation pay Taxes at 30% of their profits. Fair enough!

This limited industrial base that evolved over years added to the military’s credibility and resolves to contribute towards the Nation’s socio-economic development and Pakistan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Like any ordinary successful businessmen or multi-national corporations (MNCs), the Pakistan Military utilized their available structure, nominal budget and dedicated their human resources for the welfare of the uniformed men and civilians working in those companies. While also pioneering technology, developing expertise and establishing quality control.

The book ‘Military Inc’ accuses the Pakistan Armed forces of running business (MILBUS) that are diverse in nature, ranging from small scale to large scale corporate enterprises. As examples, it quotes Schools, Banks, Insurance Company, Radio and TV, a Fertilizer company, Hospitals and Clinics, Cement plant, Universities and institutes, etc.

Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa left no opportunity to magnify and exaggerate the limited and partial presence of MILBUS competing in Pakistan’s broad based expanding economy.

Let’s analyze the limited magnitude and negligible worth of these Military run ventures, compared to similar mega business entities currently present in Pakistan.

According to State Bank of Pakistan, there are total 73 Banks in Pakistan. From which, there are 24 Limited banks, 11 Foreign Banks, 8 Financial Banks, 4 Specialized Banks, 13 Investment Banks, 7 Micro-finance Banks and 6 Islamic banks. Out of these total 73 banks – Dr Ayesha Siddiqa tends to be intolerable towards ONE ‘Askari Bank’ run by Military? In 2007, Askari Bank paid a Tax of Rs. 743 million.

According to Federal Bureau of Statistics, there are 24 Cement plants in Pakistan, and only ONE owned by ‘Fauji Cement Company Ltd’. A Tax-paying company listed on the Stock Exchange.

According to State Bank of Pakistan, there are total 59 Insurance companies in Pakistan. There are 4 in the Public sector, 50 companies in the private sector and 5 are incorporated abroad. Why should anyone be narrow-minded towards ONE owned by military – ‘Askari General Insurance Ltd’, which is listed on the Stock Exchange and pays Tax?

According to the Health Division and the P.M.D.C, there are around 924 Hospitals, 12,726 Medical Institutions, 560 Rural Health Centers and 4712 Dispensaries all over Pakistan. Out of these, if 10 Hospitals and 20 Medical Centers are being run by Fauji Foundation, what’s the hue & cry about? These Medical services are offered to the military and civilians alike. Even the prestigious Aga Khan Health Services (AGHS) own 7 Hospitals and 164 Medical Centers.

According to State Bank Pakistan, there are above 10 Fertilizer Plants in Pakistan from which 6 are State owned and the rest are private. Out of these, only ONE is military owned, the ‘Fauji Fertilizer Company Ltd’, which is listed on the Stock Exchange and audited by KPMG Taseer Hadi & Co, and pays Tax annually.

According to Higher Education Commission, there are 122 Universities in Pakistan. Out of which, 65 are in the Public sector and 57 in the private sector. Foundation University and Bahria University are the only two affiliated with Armed Forces providing quality education to all citizens alike.

Foundation Schools have 90 branches all over Pakistan; compared to the City School which has more than 150 branches and the Beacon-house School which has around 130 branches. We as a Nation should triumph the quality education being promoted by the Foundation schools and the model paradigm implemented.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has 50,125 companies registered with it. From these only 9 are MILBUS projects. Why can’t Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa accept these 9 MILBUS projects out of the 50,125 projects broadmindedly?

The author also alleges that Military’s Internal Economy is hampering the growth of Pakistan’s free market economy – which of course is not true. For her information, under this same system and era, and under the leadership of General Musharraf, Pakistan’s free market economy boomed from $75 billion in 1999 to become $160 billion in 2007.

In the last 6 years, the free market economy of Pakistan expanded by $85 billion. The expansion and growth the Civilian Corporate sector, National Business Units and Multi-National Corporations witnessed in these last 6 years remain unprecedented in Pakistan’s Economic History. Hence proven, that Military’s Internal Economy did not hamper Pakistan’s free market economy!

According to Dr Ayesha Siddiqa’s book, the worth of Fauji Foundation is $169m, the worth of Army Welfare trust is $862m, the worth of Shaheen Foundation is $34.4m and the worth of Bahria Foundation is $69m. Total worth of MILBUS entities in Pakistan arise to ONLY $1.135 billion.  

Hence, the presence of MILBUS companies, in Pakistan’s free economy of $160 billion, amongst these other sectors and enterprises arises to a negligible maximum 0.8%.

The Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) Market Capitalization in January 2008 stood at $75 billion. MILBUS worth as compared to KSE again arises to only 1.5%.

It’s amusing to note that Dr Ayesha Siddiqa wrote a whole book, to malign a system (MILBUS) whose worth does not exceed 0.8% of Pakistan’s free market economy.

Dr Ayesha Siddiqa’s desire to portray the Pakistan Military as a coercive and self serving breed aiming to consolidate their economic power at the expense of Pakistan, not only erodes her neutrality into bias, but the above economic comparisons also contradict all her presumptuous and sham claims. As MILBUS in Pakistan has been competing fairly in free market and contributing to today’s knowledge-based economy. It has played an active role to generate revenue for Pakistan and in contributing to overall GDP.

One of the greatest wisdom foreseen, behind establishing MILBUS was to liberate the Pakistan Armed Forces of international aid assistance and interference. Classified financial autonomy gives the Armed Forces a sense of self-respect and confidence of being independent of the dominating ‘International Coalition of the willing’ and their foreign aid.

The Pakistan Army has received a total of around $17 billion from the United States for arms, equipment and compensation since 1954, the year the United States entered into defense pacts with Pakistan. Much of it was uselessly spend during the 1980’s Afghan war and the wars Pakistan fought with India. After 9/11, the famous foreign assistance of $10 billion comprises 60% reimbursement costs for expenditure incurred by the Pakistani Military while patrolling on PAK-Afghan border, recorded in the ‘Coalition Support Funds’. These worthless assistances have not helped the Pakistan Army contrary to perception propagated in media reports.

Because, with these insignificant and worthless assistance, follows a series of humiliating articles and editorials composed in American print media. The clueless and prejudice Pakistani media ignorantly picks up the chanting and further plays an important role in distorting and altering the actual facts and figures. No relevant person is approached to clarify and set facts straight. Authors like Dr Ayesha Siddiqa bank on such distortion to further slander the admirable Pakistan Military.

After year 2000, the $85 billion expansion of Pakistan’s economy, decreased the ratio of US aid & assistance to Pakistan’s economy by around 100%. Now the U.S aid & assistance account to only 6.25% of Pakistan’s expanding economy. Pakistan is successfully wriggling out of foreign influence. Visionary MILBUS was the right step in the right direction at the right time!

Pakistan Military requires a proper platform utilized to clear the misperceptions being propagated against them and counter the sham allegations. In short, Pakistan military lacks the exposure to enhance their PR with the Public. Pakistani GHQ and ISPR should take up an active role similar to Pentagon and make their interactions more effective.

Next, the book ‘Military Inc’ considers Pakistan Military the root cause of social disparity and democratic fiasco. It alleges that socio-political fragmentation would result in strengthening the army’s control over politics. Throughout her book, Dr Ayesha Siddiqa lambasts and scoffs at the concept of MILBUS accusing the military of building assets and calling them as the ‘new land barons’.

In her desperation to smear the Army, she even fails to condemn the corruption practiced and coercive measures exercised by the inept political leaders. How these redundant leaders influence the bureaucracy, alter the constitution, plunder national institutions, stagnated the trade & exports, multiplied the foreign debts for the country, rob the country of the foreign reserves and accumulate their wealth in developed countries – is all together ignored by her conveniently.  

The truth is that the Armed forces are forced to intervene reluctantly and take control of the state to save it from the irresponsible and hopeless politicians, who drag the country towards brink of collapse, every time they come to power.

In short, Pakistan’s external debt rose from $18 billion in 1988 to become $38 billion by end of 1999. In 1999, Pakistan’s total debt (internal & external) was almost 90% of its GDP. External debt in ratio to foreign exchange earnings were 347%. Debt servicing allocated in 1999 budget was 61% of total revenue resources. According to the World Bank, in 1999-2000 Pakistan was amongst the highly indebted countries.

Despite the above mentioned debacle for Pakistan – the substantial expansion in the personal wealth, land and business interests of Mr. Zardari and Mr. Nawaz Sharif has earned them a place in the ‘Top 5 richest people’ of Pakistan in 2007. Not a single General or military servicemen made it to the list of ‘Top 40 Richest Pakistani’. Who should we consider a peril to Pakistan’s existence – these fraudulent politicians or the reserved military?

The Raiwind complex of Nawaz Sharif, build on an area of around 2000 acre, consist of palatial  residences, 300 acre farm, 500 bed hospital, a school, 200 acre dairy farm, etc – constructed at a cost of above Rs. 800 million. He personally owns Ittefaq foundries, three Sugar mills, numerous Textile mills, Steel Mills, Paper Mills, Spinning mills, Engineering companies, and numerous other business units. He owns several residential properties in Lahore and Muree. He owns vast acres of lands in Sheikhapura, Chunian, Raiwind, Multan and Bhopattian. These feudal turned politicians can easily be labeled as the ‘old Pakistani barons’.

Dr Ayesha Siddiqa also alleges that the military convinces the citizens to bear additional costs for security on basis of conceived threats to the State. She wants the public to believe that their taxes are being exploited at the expense of the notion ‘National Security’. This statement of hers is an attempt to ignore and snub the volatile situation Pakistan faces at its borders.

She also remains oblivious to the fact, that India allocates 5 times that of Pakistan’s defense spending.

However, under President Musharraf, the military spending DECREASED as percentage of GDP and National budget. It now stands at 3% of GDP and 15% of National budget. It strikes out though, how Dr Ayesha Siddiqa veils and ignores the bulk of the National budget of 85% that lies at the disposal of the manipulative hands of our shady politicians. The public has the right to know, what proper utilization has been brought about with that unaccountable 85% in the 1990’s?

This derogatory book ‘Military Inc’ intends to sow seeds of disenchantment amongst the general public against the modest and patriotic institution of the Armed forces of Pakistan, and lower its grace.  Those Armed Forces of Pakistan that run to protect and deliver relief, to ordinary Pakistanis in times of calamities, natural disasters, floods, train accidents, and earthquakes. Does Pakistan have any other force or institution which is as disciplined and effective in providing speedy help immediately? Shouldn’t we strengthen this only institution that we have?

The publication of Dr Ayesha Siddiqa’s own book ‘Military Inc’ in 2007, in President Musharraf’s era, repudiates her claims to term the military rule as manipulative and suppressive. It’s evident that no subtle or coercive measures were taken against her or any arm-twisting to curb the publication of this highly controversial book! Where would she find such boundless and gracious freedom? The book ‘Military Inc’ has become a checker of the chessboard being maneuvered by the unknown and ambiguous foreign powers interested in Balkanization of Pakistan.

The ultimate objective of the book ‘Military Inc’ is to perpetrate friction and cause dissent amongst the ranks of the disciplined Armed Forces. By deliberately triggering upheaval within the lower ranks, the intention appears to encourage internal revolt. As a consequence, the unity, discipline and allegiance of the Armed Forces of Pakistan can be destroyed.  

Thus, to protect the allegiance of the Armed Forces, the whole concept of visionary MILBUS is justified, as a set of activities for the development of Pakistan’s military might, meant to counter the rising regional threat convergence and decreasing dependence upon foreign aid – ultimately protecting the sovereignty of Pakistan and its savior Armed Forces!

Glory and Triumph to Pakistan Armed Forces!

Afreen Baig is an independent analyst majoring in International Relations and Economics. She can be reached at afreenbaig@gmail.com

2. Pakistan in 1999 was an economy of $75 billion and now in 2006 it is a $160 billion economy. [Source].

3. Under Musharraf’s vision: 9 world class Engineering universities being developed. [Source. Project halted due to Political uncertainty]

4. Private sector institutions have increased from 36,096 (in 1999) to become 81,103 (in 2006). (Source)

5. Pakistan is the 3rd best in world Banking profitability. [Source].

6. Pakistan IT industry now values around $2.8 billion, including $1.4 billion of IT exports. [Source] and [Source].

7. Around 80,000 direct jobs & 500,000 indirect jobs have been created by the Telecom sector alone. [Source].

8. Industrial Parks are being setup throughout the country for the very first time. [Source & this & this].

9. Major Mega projects like the Saindak, Rekodiq, Marble production, Coal production and Mining & Quarrying are being pursued. [Source].

10. GDP growth is now 6%. Earlier it was 3.5%.

11. Foreign Reserves from $1 billion to $17 billion. (Source)

12. Karachi stock market: rose from 700 points to 13,000 points. [Source].

13. Literacy rate has improved by 11%. [Source].

14. Poverty levels have decreased by 10%. [Source].

15. 3 dams have been constructed: Mirani, Subakzai, Gomalzam dams. [See this, this, and this. (Kurram Tangi Dam)].

16. 6 Motorways completed or under construction: M1, M3, M8, M9, M10, M11. [Source].

17. Six major highways under construction. [Source].

18. GWADAR advance Mega Sea port developed under Musharraf’s vision. [Source].

19. Historic 100% increase in Tax collection of $11 billion. [Source & this].

20. Large scale manufacturing is 30 year high. [Source].

21. Construction activity is 17 years high.

22. Newly found World class copper- gold deposits in Chagai will fetch around $600 million per year.

23. A new Oil refinery with UAE will fetch $5 billion & will process 300,000 oil barrels a day. [Source].

24. CNG sector has attracted over $70 billion investment in last 5 years. [Source].

25. Industrial sector registered 26% growth. [Source].

For detailed Information see - Musharraf Era: Pakistan Flourishes

©Our leader – Musharraf

Written By: Afreen Baig 

“Political instability, a growing insurgency, a demoralized army and an intensely anti-American population are the hallmarks of today’s Pakistan,” remarked US Senator Thomas Cooper recently.  

 War on Terrorism (WoT) did not start with the advent of 9/11, rather it started in 1980’s when Russia was defeated in Afghanistan, and the USA pulled out abandoning the hundreds of thousands of equipped and trained guerillas. Those guerillas and militants integrated in small pockets in various regions of Afghanistan and NWFP. They utilized their militancy to influence domestic tribes and mosques to instigate and promote radicalism. In 2000-01, Government of Pakistan was forced to ban several extremist outfits due to increase in sectarian violence and its effect on the lives of ordinary Pakistanis. For Pakistan – it was already at war with extremism!

 9/11 further changed the political dimensions for USA, and also changed Pakistan’s destiny. A destiny that is full of expectations, decision making, media trial, uprising opportunist and extremist hoping to destabilize Pakistan. Who will be the ultimate winner is yet to be seen. The regional environment is a complex one and Pakistan is fighting a multi-faceted battle that will change the course of history.

 9/11 put Pakistan in a complicated situation, where tough decisions had to be taken. Richard Armitage’s threatening message forced Pakistan to gauge the urgency and seriousness of the episode. The message was clear – the USA will do anything, to do what it had to do in its National Interest. NATO will follow suit. Pakistan was left alone to decide and protect its National Interest. The President decided in Nation’s self-interest and self-preservation. War on terrorism (WoT) marked its presence – it was inevitable!

 Implications of war are grave and Pakistan having gone under a similar situation in 1980’s knew better. Millions of effected immigrants will insist & require safe dwellings in the tribal areas of NWFP. Keen RAW and Russian espionage missions will try to cross over and operate from our tribal areas. Transport of illegal weapons and arms would have taken place to support our local opportunist rebels. Desperation might have compelled the US and NATO forces to march into a sovereign Pakistan. Above all, India was more than willing to extend its support and services to US on its WoT. Keeping in mind these ground realities; we had to choose our destiny carefully.

 Vigilant and military style analyses were contemplated to calculate the pros and cons. The leadership in Pakistan war-gamed the USA and NATO as an enemy and realized that it was worthless committing suicide over the obstinate Taliban. Our out-dated military was no match for the world’s strongest and finest military, excelling in Air-force supremacy. Pakistan’s stagnated economy had only slightly started recovering, after being tagged as one of the highest indebted countries. Galvanizing the whole nation into agreeing to fight the USA and NATO was another impossible task. Indian eagerness to join the War on Terror was an alarming condition that Pakistan could not have over-looked. Indian jets flying over Pakistan’s space, with our Strategic assets’ lying below were a suicidal recipe. An accidental Indian bomb dropped on our Kahuta plant would have created disaster.

 The Pakistani leadership couldn’t and shouldn’t have risked the entire 160 million Nation, for a few obstinate Taliban. A Pakistani delegate was sent to negotiate with the Taliban to pursue them to hand over Osama bin Laden to USA. The consequences were also made clear, but the over confident Taliban lacked vision to foresee their destiny. Consequently, Pakistan was forced to cut off diplomatic ties with the stubborn Taliban. Given the looming conditions, only a lunatic would have advised the contrary.

 The US plans were evident – they will go to war! When any country of the world goes to war, its neighboring countries are forced to secure their borders further raising the security color codes. Pakistan planned no different. It drew up plans to secure its NWFP border along Afghanistan. Around 80,000 troops were placed to patrol and were assigned specific targets. The ultimate decision to secure our borders did not completely go to waste, and was extremely beneficial in controlling cross border terrorism and infiltration. Pakistan had taken a carefully scrutinized decision.

 In return for participation, the USA had assured Pakistan, that India and Israel will not participate in War on Terror. Second, the USA will not act unilaterally inside Pakistan. Third, the USA will reimburse the costs incurred on Pakistani troops and logistical help. Fourth, the USA will ensure rescheduling of Pakistan’s foreign debt. Pakistan’s intentions were sincere and made with utmost patriotism. Then, who started working behind the scenes, planning to destabilize Pakistan and how and why?

 It is true, that the USA planned this war, not to fight terrorism, but to secure the vast reserves of gas and oil of the Caspian Sea region. Afghanistan was their selected and cheapest route to lay the oil and gas pipelines, starting from the central Asian states. Who then created trouble in Afghanistan, in the tribal areas of Pakistan and in Baluchistan, to jeopardize American interest and Pakistan’s booming economy?

 Pakistan’s image had improved world-wide due to its participation in WoT. Rescheduling of Pakistan’s foreign debt gave it the space to implement visionary fiscal and macro-economic policies. The micro-economic and macro-economic policies boomed Pakistan’s stagnated economy from $75 billion into a $160 billion one. Our exports increased by a 100% and so did our revenue. Our currency’s rating was upgraded and Pakistan saw a new era of multi-national corporations. Foreign investment chose Pakistan as its destination and stock markets profited from the liberal policies. Institutions world-wide like the World Bank, IMF, and Asian Development Bank heaped praises on Pakistan’s economic reforms. Reports by J. P Morgan, the Merrill Lynch, the City Group and the Goldman Sachs gave high marks to Pakistan’s current and future economic prospects as well as to the prudent handing of economy by economic team of the government.

Pakistan had already started attracting the foreign investment that earlier used to eye the Indian market. Pakistan’s geo-strategic location and its competitive labor prices further won preference over the Indian destination. Pakistan’s development programs modernizing the infrastructure paid off well, compared to India’s crumbling infrastructure. Who obviously could not tolerate Pakistan’s bright future?

Three years back the relics of Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA) re-emerged with force, advocating Liberation of Baluchistan from Pakistan. A total of 843 attacks and incidents of violence have been reported since 2002, in Baluchistan, including 54 attacks on law-enforcement agencies, 31 attacks on gas pipelines, 417 rocket attacks on various targets, 291 mine blasts and others on various occasions. It is reported that BLA members have become well-trained and well-armed, with machine guns, rocket-launchers, Motorola wireless sets, and Thuraya satellite phones receiving information about the movement of government troops. Their organized attacks using sophisticated weapons against the Pakistan Army and strategic installations compelled the Pakistani intelligence to determine the root cause and analyze the hands behind them.

 PML-Q senator Mushahid Hussein Syed conceded last year, the involvement of Indian RAW in Baluchistan, while blaming India for exploiting the Afghan ministry of tribal affairs to conduct covert activities against Pakistan. He further accused RAW for establishing its training camps in Afghanistan in collaboration with the Northern Alliance remnants. Approximately 600 Ferraris, or Baluchi tribal dissidents, were getting specialized training to handle explosives, engineer bomb blasts, and use sophisticated weapons in these camps. This news came as no surprise. Indian agenda to orchestrate dissent and support extremist elements inside Baluchistan and NWFP started becoming evident.

 Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna was quoted saying “The government of India has been watching with concern the spiraling violence in Baluchistan and the heavy military action, including use of helicopter gunships and jet fighters by the government of Pakistan to quell it and we hope the government of Pakistan will exercise restraint and take recourse to peaceful discussions to address the grievances of the people of Baluchistan.” This statement from Indian Foreign Ministry says it all clearly!

 In early 2007, the Pakistani military authorities claimed there were 500-600 foreign militants in the South Waziristan area when army operations first started in early 2004. Of them, some 400 have either been killed or captured, according to the army, while a remaining 200 still “stranded” in North Waziristan are now using the Pakistan-Afghanistan border strip as their base to launch midnight guerilla attacks. The Media should question the presence of these Uzbeks, Tajiks, Arabs, and Afghans in Pakistan’s tribal agencies.

 Abdullah Mehsud was detained at Camp Delta in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba and held for 2 years. After his release in early 2004, he returned to Waziristan, and kidnapped two Chinese engineers working on a dam in his region. Who supplied him, Baitullah Mehsud and Maulana Fazallulah – with all the resources, weapons, logistics help, information and money to create havoc in NWFP? It is well known that India other than having an embassy in Kabul; set up four consulates, in Kandahar, Jalalabad, Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat – all neighboring NWFP. The intentions need no further elaboration.

 This is also well known that the Russians were also eyeing the Caspian Sea oil and gas reserves. Energy deprived Indian economy also requires vast supply of gas and oil to sustain itself. A stable and booming Pakistan will steal the growth and regional aspirations that India desires. India cannot endure nor allow Pakistan to become another stable mini-China. Mainland China is competition tough and enough for India.

 Israeli help to India is also apparent. Recently, the Israeli ambassador in New Delhi has said his country’s assistance to India ‘brought about the turnaround’ in the 1999 Kargil war with Pakistan. He said, “The ties between India and Israel were beyond sale and purchase of weapons. And with all due respect the secret part of it will remain secret”. Surely a bold statement!

 Currently, the interest of both the USA and Pakistan are being bogged down. These masked groups of achievers seem to be making the most out of War on Terrorism and by trying to deliberately destabilize Pakistan. To top it all, the Pakistani media has projected Pakistan’s standing with respect to WoT in a wicked way. Their insistence that Pakistan military is fighting the US foreign war against our own citizens is nothing but deceit and sham exaggeration. The Pakistan military is rightly crushing these foreign agents and rebel separatist, whose sole intention is to destabilize Pakistan.

 This WoT that started off as a simple patrolling exercise on NWFP border, has transformed into fighting off foreign extremists and militants trying to conquer tribal agencies in NWFP and Baluchistan. The US and NATO fight in Afghanistan, gave many conspiring elements and countries to execute their fiendish agendas. Had the leadership of Pakistan and the Armed Forces, not foreseen and calculated the effects of war in Afghanistan – Pakistan would have been in a much graver and tormenting situation.

 Thus, Pakistan’s decision in 2001 was far-sighted that avoided direct conflict with the super-powers of the world, and by stationing 80,000 troops on borders, we were able to confine and control the small rebels. The leadership of Pakistan did earn unfair criticism in local media, but it saved Pakistan from a bigger disaster. Otherwise, those small consulates that are functioning from Afghanistan would have rooted themselves inside NWFP and few areas of Baluchistan. Those small miscreants in NWFP and Baluchistan, who are acting as agents of foreign agencies, will soon be eliminated and the involvement of foreign agencies exposed.

 This War against Terrorism and Extremism can easily be won, if our Political parties would introduce democracy within them and give way to honest leadership; those who would prefer the interest of Pakistan above their personal feudalistic agendas of increasing wealth and estates.

 Lastly, a quote by Robert Dreyfuss, which may not sound relevant for now, but it indicates volumes about a particular mindset. The book ‘Devil’s Game’ – published in 2005 quotes on page 336-337 – “Neo-conservatives want to control the Middle East, not reform it, even it means tearing countries apart and replacing them with rump mini-states along ethnic and sectarian lines. The Islamic right, in this context, is just one more tool for dismantling existing regimes, if that is what it takes.”

 Pakistan must always decide in its National Interest! Pakistan cannot afford Political instability, growing insurgency and a demoralized Army!

Afreen Baig is an independent analyst majoring in International Relations and Economics. She can be reached at afreenbaig@gmail.com

©Our leader – Musharraf

All this is all the more amazing when one considers that just six years ago, Pakistan was on the verge of bankruptcy, with only a little more than $1bn in foreign exchange reserves and its stock market teetering at 1,000 points (worth $5 billion only) and foreign debt servicing at 65% of GDP. Our exports were at a pitiful $7.5 billion.

The once ever-declining rupee stood stable at around 60-61 to a dollar since Musharraf took over. Of the 184 member countries of the IMF, Pakistan’s rate of economic growth 7% is one of the best in the world. The Karachi stock market is now above 13,000 points and worth around $65 billion. Now foreign debt servicing has lowered to become 28%. Our exports increased to become $18 billion.

1. Pakistan economy is among the fastest growing economies in the world as its economy has reached the size of $170 billion from a mere $70 billion in 1999. Pakistan attracted a record FDI of $8.4 billion in 2007.

2. 2007: National revenues had swelled from Rs 308 billion during 1988-99 to around Rs 800bn in 2008; and Federal Board of Revenue estimates now 2.8 million Income Tax payers.

Year             Total CBR     Direct         Indirect      Custom     Sales     Central excise 

1998-99       308.5bn        110.4bn       198.1bn     65.3bn      72bn         60.8bn

2005-06       712.5bn       224.6bn       487.9bn     138.2bn    294.6bn      55bn   

2008-09       810.3bn        305bn             –          105.3bn    319.3bn       80.5bn (2008-09 Progressive)

3. Public sector development program (PSDP) has also grown from Rs 80 billion in 1999; to Rs 520 billion in 2007 and increased further to Rs 549.7 billion in 2008.

4. FACT: The rate of growth in Pakistan Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) is at a 30-year high. Construction activity is at a 17-year high.

LSM: 1999-00 was 1.5%, and 2004-05 was 19.9%, and 2006-07 was 8.6% and 2007-8 is 5%.

5. FACT: The Infrastructure Industries Index, which measures the performance of Seven industries, i.e. Electricity generation, Natural gas, Crude oil, Petroleum products, Basic metal, Cement and coal, has recorded a 26.2 percent growth in Industrial sector of Pakistan.

6. FACT: Jan 14: Pakistan now has a total of 245,682 Educational institutions in all categories, including 164,579 (i.e. 67 per cent) in the public sector and 81,103 (i.e. 100 per cent) in the private sector, reports the National Education Census (NEC-2005). The census — jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education, the Academy of Educational Planning and Management (AEPAM) and the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) — reveals that the number of private-sector institutions has increased from 36,096 in 1999-2000 to 81,103 in 2005, i.e. by 100 per cent. 45,007 Educational Institutions have increased in Musharraf Era.

7. FACT: Pakistan is 3rd in world in Banking profitability, a report of IMF said. On the IMF chart, in late 2006, Pakistan’s banking profitability is on third position after Colombia and Venezuela. On the IMF chart, India is on 36th position and China is on 40th position. Pakistan’s Banking sector turned profitable in 2002. Their profits continued to rise for the next five years and peaked to Rs 84.1 ($1.1 billion) billion in 2006.  Pakistan’s Financial Services

8. 11 May 2009: By producing 7.746 tonnes of gold during the last five years – 2004 to 2008 – Pakistan has joined the ranks of gold producing countries. According to the data with the Saindak Metal Limited – during the last five years – Pakistan has produced 86,013 tonnes of copper, 7.746 tonne gold and 11.046 tonne silver, besides the production of 14,482 tonnes of magnetite concentrate (iron), bringing in a total of $633.573 million.

9. In 1999, what we earned as GDP: we used to give away 64.1 % as foreign debt and liabilities. Now in 2006, what we earn as GDP: we give ONLY 28.3 % as foreign debt and liabilities. Now we are SAVING 35 % of Our GDP for economic growth.

External debt & liabilities (EDL):

1988 – $ 18 billion

1990 – $ 20 billion

1999 – $ 39 billion

2007 – $ 40.17 billion

2008 – $ 45 billion

10. According to Economic Survey 2005. Poverty in Pakistan in 2001 was 34.46%. And, now after 7 years of Musharraf; Poverty in 2005 was 23.9%. Poverty DECREASED by 10.56%. Overall, 12 million people have been pushed out of Poverty in 2001 -2005!

11. Literacy rate in Pakistan has increased from 45% (in 2002) to 53% (in 2005). And, Education now receives 4% of GDP and English has been introduced as compulsory subject from grade 1.

12.  12-4-07: The IT industry, which was virtually non-existent seven years ago, has grown to be worth $2 billion of which $1 billion is export related. It registered a 50% growth. 55 foreign IT companies have already entered the market. Now the sector employed 90,000 professionals.

13. 30-1-08: The government has decided to set up a modern hospital cum Medical University in collaboration with the Harvard Medical International, USA, at a cost of Rs 18 billion. The university will be built at the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Islamabad. A total of 2,500 students will be taught at the graduate level, while additional 600 seats will be available for postgraduate research courses.

14. Nov 2006: President Musharraf says that Pakistan will set up Nine Engineering World Class Science and Technology Federal Universities by 2008 with foreign assistance. He said the institutions of higher learning would be established in collaboration with Italy, South Korea, Japan, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Austria and China. The Cost of building these Foreign Universities will be above Rs 96.5 billion.

The Vice Chancellors, Heads of department, Professors and Faculty of the planned university will be from these Foreign Universities; while the Examination system, Quality assurance followed and the Degree awarded will also be from these Foreign Universities.

15. Government has approved to give at least 4% of GDP to Education in 2007 budget.

16. In 1999-2000, there were 31 Public Universities. Now 2005-2006 there are 49 Public Universities. HEC setup 47 new Universities.

a) Air University (established 2002)

b) Institute of Space technology, ISB (established 2002)

c) Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta (established 2004)

d) University of Science & Technology, Bannu (established 2005)

e) University of Hazara (founded 2002)

f) Malakand university, Chakdara (established 2002)

g) Karakurum International university, Gilgit (established 2002)

h) University of Gujrat (established 2004)

i) Virtual University of Pak, Lahore (established 2002)

j) Sarhad University of IT, Peshawar (established 2001)

k) National Law University, ISB (2007)

l) Media University, ISB (2007)

m) University of Education, Lahore (2002)

n) Lasbella University of Marine Sciences, Baluchistan (2005)

o) Baluchistan University of IT & Management, Quetta (2002), etc.

17. 6-member delegation of Australian Department of Education, Science & Technology and AusAID, is visited Pakistan on the request of PM Shaukat Aziz to help Pakistan in its efforts to realign its TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) according to the market needs. Chairman NAVTEC Altaf Saleem informed the delegation about NAVTEC plans to increase the capacity to train one million people annually by 2010 from the present annual capacity of 320,000.

18. Defense Exports of Pakistan have crossed the $200 million mark as the country’s robust Defense manufacturing industry continues to expand. This was disclosed by Major General Syed Absar Hussain, Director General, Defense Export Promotion Organization; after IDEAS 2006 Karachi. Defense Industry UAV.

19. President Musharraf inaugurated an over Rs. 1.36 billion 18 Mega Watt Naltar hydro power project. The project completed in four years at Naltar near Gilgit.

20. Pakistan is now in Large-scale Nuclear expansion. The reactor under construction… could produce over 200kg of weapons-grade plutonium per year, assuming it operates at full power for a modest 220 days per year. At 4 to 5 kilograms of plutonium per weapon, this stock would allow the production of 40-50 Nuclear weapons a year,” the report said.

21. The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) of Hong Kong will sign a concession agreement tomorrow for setting up a US$1 billion Deep-water container port, the first in Pakistan. KPT will invest $450 million for infrastructure development for the project. HPH will invest $557 million. In the first phase, a 1,500m quay wall will be built with a designed dept of 18m.

22. GILGIT: President Musharraf inaugurated the dry port in the border town of Sust, 200km north of Gilgit. The Dry port, a Pakistan-China joint venture, was built in 2004 at a cost of Rs90 million. It is 10,000-foot high Sust Dry Port.

23. Dec 2006: President Musharraf said many canals, including the Thal and Raini canals, were being constructed for better utilization of the water available. He said Rs66 billion was being spent on brick-lining of 87,000 canals in the country, adding that 6,000 new canals would be brick-lined next year.

24. The Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) has approved expansion of Tarbela dam power project that would generate 960 MW costing $500 million.

25. President Musharraf Thursday inaugurated the Mirani Dam. Mirani Dam in Kech area of Mekran district with a catchment area of 12,000 square kilometre has been built in four years at a cost of Rs6 billion that includes Rs1.5 billion in compensation to the affected people. It will have a storage capacity of over 300,000 million acre feet of water.

26. Gomal Zam Dam: This project started Aug 2002 and is expected to be completed early 2008. It is located in the Damaan in NWFP. It is 437 feet high and will irrigate about 163,000 acres of land. The total costs amounts to Rs. 12 billion. Having a gross storage of 1.14 MAF. It will produce 17.4 MW of electricity.

27. Mushrraf says the government is constructing the Rs40 billion Katchi Canal and Punjab had been gracious to provide land for its 350 kilometre stretch that will pass through the province.

28. The Economic Coordination Committee decided to set up a $2-billion mega Oil refinery at Khalifa Point in district Hub, Balochistan. The refinery, commissioned by 2010, would have a maximum refining capacity of 13 million tons of petroleum products – higher than the country’s total existing capacity of 12.8 million tons.

29. Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation (PSMC) during the quarter July-Sept 2007 recorded the highest ever-sales figure of Rs 9.3012 billion.

30. The Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) sector of Pakistan has attracted over Rs 70 billion investments during the last five years as a result of liberal and encouraging policies of the government. Presently, some 1,765 CNG stations are operating in the country, in 85 cities and towns, and 1000 more would be setup in the next three years. It has provided employment to 30,000 people in the country.

31. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has registered 1,135 companies during the first quarter (July-September 2007). With the new registrations the total number of registered companies with SECP as on September 30 has reached 50,125.

32. Telecom sector has attracted an investment of $ 9 billion in last three years. It created of 80,000 jobs directly and 500,000 jobs indirectly.

33. Corrupt & Incompetent Nawaz Sharif made one motorway M2 (Lahore – Islamabad). Under Musharraf 6 Motorways completed or under construction: Pakistan Motorways & Highways.

M1 (Islamabad to Peshawar) – (Rs.13 bn) – [155 km] – (started 2003 – Completed Oct 2007)

M3 (Pindi to Faisalabad) – (Rs.5.6 bn) – [53 km] – (started 2002 – Completed 2004)

M8 (Gwadar to Ratodero) – [1072 km] – (started 2004 – will complete 2009)

M9 (Karachi to Hyderabad) – (Rs.6.3 bn) – [136 km] – (

M10 (Karachi Northern bypass) – (Rs 3.5 bn) – [56 km] – (completed 2007)

M11 (Lahore to Sialkot) – (Rs.23 bn) -[101 km] – (started 2006 – under construction)

34. Under Musharraf various Highways under construction throughout the country. Including N5, N-25, N-35, N-45, N-50, N-55, N-65, N-70, N-75, N-80, S-1, etc.

35. General Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the Makran Coastal Highway (N-10) project in August 2001, consisting of Karachi-Gwadar, Pasni-Gwadar, and Ormara-Liari (Balochistan) Highways. The Liari-Ormara Highway costed Rs3.9 billion and Pasni-Gwadar Highway Rs2.8 billion respectively. The total length of Makran Coastal Highway is 533 kilometers.”

36. 2-12-07: Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) completed. The 1,002-acre airport is 13 km west of Sialkot and is linked by a road to Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Gujrat, Narowal, the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and the Sialkot Dry Port Trust.

37. Ghandara International Airport (Islamabad): the first-ever green-field airport being built at a cost of $400 million; with a renowned international consultant, Louis Berger Group of USA. President Musharraf laid the foundation stone of the project on April 7, 2007 and it will be completed by Dec 2010. Its total area is 3700 acres (15 km²).

38. Major Industrial estates are being developed under Musharraf’s vision: M3 Industrial estate, Sundar Industrial estate, Chakri Industrial, Port Qasim Industrial estate, etc.

39. Oct 2007: In the current fiscal year the Mining and Quarrying sector has registered a growth rate of 5.6 percent. Increased growth was propelled by strong growths recorded in magnetite (30 percent), dolomite (26.1 percent), Limestone (25.2 percent) and chromites.

40. The government has already started various initiatives, to discover and develop world-class copper-gold deposits in Chagai Baluchistan; by Australian Firms that would fetch $500 million to $600 million per year.

41. Major reserves of COPPER & GOLD in Baluchistan’s Rekodiq area have been discovered in early 2006. It has ranked Rekodiq among the world’s top seven copper reserves. The Rekodiq mining area has proven estimated reserves of 2 billion tons of copper and 20 million ounces of gold. According to the current market price, the value of the deposits has been estimated at about $65 billion, which would generate thousands of jobs. 

42. Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday approved 45 developmental projects in its meeting, including six revised projects with a total cost of Rs 154.1 billion with a foreign exchange component (FEC) of Rs 36.8 billion.

43. Rs 9.8 billion have been allocated for 91 different mega projects at Public Sector Universities across the province, said Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan.

44. Oct 2007: A fully functional TMS (Tax Management System), including profiling, withholding, return/payment filing, rectification, refunds, audit, and legal tracking is scheduled to be operational by 2007 in Pakistan, to process the tax year 2007 returns, according to World Bank.

45. The government is providing Sui Gas facility to areas of South Punjab at a cost of Rs 1.311 billion. A total of 1,138 kilometre gas pipeline is being laid. The districts benefiting from these schemes mainly include Multan, Khanewal, Bahawalnagar, Rajanpur, DG Khan, Vehari and Muzaffargarh.

46. The KHI city government’s rehabilitation of Industrial zones and improvement plan for all those four industrial zones, of the city needs to be completed in 7-8 months. Projects worth Rs 2.5 billion and beautification Rs 4.5 billion.

47. 27-11-07: Pakistan Navy Ship Zarrar, the first of Multi-Role Tactical Platform (MRTP-33), was commissioned into Pakistan Navy at a ceremony at PN Dockyard.

48. 29-12-07: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal said the construction work of 47-storey IT Tower in the vicinity of Civic Center at a cost of $200m would start soon. Around 40,000 youth would get employment in the IT Tower. It will have 10,000 call centers of which 6,000 have been booked so far.

49. The President approved the project of laying of 940-kilometre-long “standard gauge” Railway track between Gwadar and Quetta that would cost Rs 75 billion. A German firm won the contract.

50. To increase the income of Farmers, the Government is investing Rs7.80 billion under which a Food Security Program will be launched. Initially it will be launched in 1,000 villages. He said Rs 3.60 billion would be invested in live-stocks and dairy sectors. About 1,200 model dairy farms and 2,950 cattle breeding farms will be established under this investment.

51. Pakistan will launch a Self-controlled Remote Sensing Satellite System (RSSS) at a cost of Rs19.3 billion to ensure strategic and unconditional supply of satellite remote sensing data for any part of the globe over the year. SUPARCO will implement it over a period of six years. President Musharraf has approved the project in principle.

52. Governor inaugurated the DUHS Medical Research City with Dow Diagnostic Reference and Research Laboratories and Jinnah Genome Centre as its important components. He also laid the foundation stone for a library and sports complex which houses different constituent institutions of the university.

53. President Musharraf also inaugurated a 50-bed state-of-the-art Workers Welfare Fund Kidney Center. The first-ever kidney center in Baluchistan, constructed on 7.5 acres at a cost of Rs385 million and having the diagnostic, dialysis, surgical and lab facilities will help the people of this area.

54. Karachi: The building of the 50-bed Kidney Centre in Landhi has been completed. Minister Muhammad Adil Siddiqui . He said that the building of this centre had been built at a cost of Rs70 million.

55. CM Pervaiz Elahi inaugurated Pakistan’s first Software technology park (STP) on Ferozpur Road to be implemented by Punjab IT Board (PITB). The Rs 1.5 billion project is set over area of 32 kanals; will be completed in 12 months and is expected to create direct 10,000 jobs and generate economic activity of Rs 9 billion per year.

56. In what is considered a major leap for Pakistan, a Polytechnic Institute is being established to produce skilled workforce that will rescue the manufacturing industry from the clutches of foreign dependence. Being built in Korangi at a cost of Rs450 million, this government-funded institute will start operating in January 2007 and prepare 500 workers by the end of first year, besides producing 22 different types of dies and moulds for aviation, telecom, pharmaceutical and other industries. Experts from Germany, Japan and Thailand assisted in developing curriculum.

57. Police Act 1861 replaced by Police Order 2002 after 141 years. Police force divided into three separate wings: Watch and ward, Investigation and Prosecution.

58. Federal Minister for Commerce in order to modernize tobacco farming in the country; is setting up a state-of-the-art Tobacco Research Center in Bunner. Annually 8 million kilograms of Virginia tobacco (fine quality), worth Rs 9.2 billion is cultivated in Bunner. Under construction.

59. The government has formed “Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC)” with a cost of Rs 1.4 billion, to increase the export of gem and Jewellery from $25 million to $1.5 billion by 2017.

60. In 1999, Pakistanis could only afford to buy a total of 32,461 locally assembled Cars. The latest annual figure stands at 115,000. Currently, there are 1.3 million cars on Pakistani roads as opposed to 815,000 cars some five years ago; a 60 percent jump in car ownership.

61. In 1999, a total of 94,881 new Motorcycles were sold in Pakistan. In 2005, Pakistanis bought or leased some 500,000 new motorcycles.

62. ISB: To convert the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA) in a style of Sydney Fish Market, the government proposes an action plan worth $10 million so as to make the KFHA a profitable authority. Estimated, Pakistan has a fish and seafood industry worth $1.2 billion. Exports alone are worth nearly $200 million per annum. More than 0.8 million people rely directly or indirectly on the industry for their livelihood.

63. FACT: Pakistan globally ranks 10th among the countries which were among the most active in perusing pro-business policies. A report “Doing Business in 2006″ co-sponsored by World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC). 

Visit the Economic website: http://economicpakistan.wordpress.com/

Links and Footnotes:

1- source

2-Revenues and FBR progressive 2009

3-PSDP

4-n/a

5-Index

6-Institutes

7- Banking

8- Pakistan Gold producing country

9- Debt Servicing and this and BRecorder Economic Indicators

10. Poverty

11. n/a

12. IT

13-Medical university

14- Uni

15. n/a

16. Uni HEC

17. Navtec

18. Defense exports

19. Naltar

20. Nuclear

21. Deep port

22. Sust Port

23. Brick lining canals

24. Tarbela

25. Mirani

26. Gomal Zam

27. Katchi canal

28. n/a

29. Steel Mills

30. CNG

31. SECP

32. Telecom

33. Motorways

34. Highways

35. Makran coastal

36. Sialkot Airport

37. Ghandara Airport

38. M3

Sundar

Sundar

Marble City

Chakri

39. Mining and Quarrying

40. Chagai

41. Rekodiq

42. ECNEC

43. Public Uni

44. n/a

45. Sui

46. Source

47. Zarrar

48. IT Tower

49. Railway track

50. Farms

51. RSSS

52. DUHS

53. Kidney

54. n/a

55. IT park

56. n/a

57. Police Act

58. Bunner

59. Jewellery

60. n/a

61. n/a

62. Fisheries

63. Doing Business

 History

 After the construction of the Hydro-Electric Tarbela Dam and the Mangla Dam, by General Ayub Khan and General  Yahya Khan in the 1960’s, our governments failed to conceive and initiate major electricity projects.

 The inept governments of PML-N and PPP, that still consider themselves vital to democratic dialogue within the provinces, failed to create dialogue within provinces, on the most important issue facing Pakistan’s energy survival – the Kalabagh Dam. Their governments failed to plan for the future growth and energy requirements. Recently the government of PPP has scraped the project altogether.

Unexpected Economic Boom & Energy Consumption in the last 10 years

 Pakistan’s $75 billion economy boomed into a $160 billion economy, with the consumption of gas, electricity and coal increasing YEARLY to an average rate of 7.8 percent, 5.1 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively.

 The number of electricity consumers grew from 15.9 million in 2005-06 to 16.7 million in 2007, showing a growth of about 70 percent over the last 10 years.

 The major Energy consumption sectors of the country are: Industrial (38.3 percent), Transport (32.8 percent), Residential and Commercial (25 percent), Agriculture (2.5 percent) and others (2.2 percent).

 As regards Electricity, the Household sector has been the largest consumer over the last 10 years, on average consuming 44.8 percent, followed by Industrial sector (29.4 percent), Agriculture (12.2 percent), Commercial sector (5.9 percent), Street lights (10.6 percent), the officials say.

Record Sales of Electronic Items

 Recently, we got good news from Pakistan Haier. In May, Pakistan Haier made new RECORD air-conditioner, refrigerator monthly output. The sale volume reached all time high, the year-on-year sale increase of Air-conditioner, Refrigerator, Washing machine, Micro wave and TV are 136%, 58%, 180%, 210% and 106% respectively. Similarly, many other Electronic Companies have created record sales.

Projects executed and under Construction

 The first unit of 290-megawatt of Ghazi Brotha Hydel Project (GBHP) went into operation in June 2003, and  contributed around 50mw of electricity to the national grid. Four more units were added every quarter, and by 2004 the GBHP was contributing 1,450 mw.

Nuclear power plant Chashma-2, will soon come on-line, and will add another 300MW to the national grid.

Mangla Dam uprising will give another 644 GWh of power.

Gomal Zam Dam is under final stage of construction, and upon completion it will produce 17.4MW

In 1999, our installed capacity was merely 15,860 MW. (With Hydel 4826 + Thermal 10,897 + Nuclear 137)

 In 2005-06, our installed capacity increased to become 20,495 MW. (With Hydel 6499 + Thermal 13,534 + Nuclear 462)

Concrete steps under the PML-Q Government

 President Pervez Musharraf launched the Rs 130 billion (US 2.16 billion) Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric project aimed at producing 969 MW power.

Work on 11 projects with an accumulative power generation capacity of more than 12,000MW would start by 2009. These projects include Bunji (5,400MW), Dasu (4,000MW), Kohala (1,100MW), Spatgah and Palas Valley (1,230MW).

Wind and Solar Technology: Pakistan is seeking to explore alternative sources of energy production and use Wind and solar technologies with the aim to produce 9,700 MW wind power by 2030, thereby providing electricity to 7,874 off-grid villages in Sindh and Baluchistan.

225 wind water pumping systems have been installed in Balochistan. Over 140 micro wind turbines of 500 Watts each are operational in Sindh and Balochistan, providing electricity to 691 houses in 18  remote, off-grid villages.

                                                                          
Hydel Power: The government is giving top priority to Hydel power with the potential of producing 40,000 MW Power of which only 15 percent had been exploited so far. 

In 2001, the Water and Power Development Authority of Pakistan identified 22 sites for launching Hydropower projects to meet the ever-increasing demand for cheap power. It indicated that about 15,074 mw could be generated on the completion of these projects, which would also meet the water irrigation requirements for the growing agriculture sector.

  Pakistan Sugar Mills: Association (PSMA) has informed the government that sugar mills can produce 2,000MW of electricity in the next five years.

  Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission: (PAEC) has decided to establish an Engineering Design Organization (EDO) for the indigenous development of nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the country. The PAEC informed authorities that it was planning to add about 1,260MW through Hydel power, 880MW from Alternate energy, 4,860MW from Gas, 900MW from Coal and 160MW from Oil by 2010.

 The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) is investing in a new 220-megawatt power plant that will help control the power shortages in the city, said. The plant will start generating 192MW by March and the remaining 28MW will start being distributed by December 2008.

Thar Coal: The government has decided to develop the Thar coal for power generation on a priority basis to overcome energy crisis following. Out of six various companies that inked MoU with concern authorities to establish coal power projects; two companies have started drilling work in their respective areas.

• Confirmed estimates that its reserves were equivalent to at least 850 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of gas – about 30 times higher than Pakistan’s proven gas reserves of 28 TCF.
• By using only 2% of the existing coal reserves, we can generate around 20,000 MW (20 GW) for almost 40 years
• These estimates were confirmed by separate bankable feasibility studies conducted by Chinese and Russian experts.
• 185 Billion Tons of coal deposits in Pakistan were second only to 247 Billion Ton reserves in the United States and much higher than 157 and 115 Billion Ton reserves of Russia and China, respectively.
• Thar coal reserves were equivalent to at least 400 Billion Barrels of oil – equivalent to oil reserves of Saudi Arabia and Iran put together. One estimate puts Pakistan’s coal energy at 576 Billion Barrels of oil which is equivalent to the combined oil reserves of the 3 largest producers.

The government is planning to set up 5,000-megawatt power generation facilities using coal as fuel within next few years.

Ongoing Power Projects

 The Ongoing Power Projects for which allocations have been made in 2007-08 Budget, are Mangla Dam Raising  

Mangla Dam Raising

Project (Rs 20 billion), Mirani Dam (Rs 500 million), Sabakzai Dam (Rs 200 million), Kurram Tangi Dam (Rs 2.84 billion), Sadpara Multipurpose Dam Rs (900 million), Gomal Zam Dam (Rs 1.8 billion), the Greater Thal Canal Phase I (Rs 8.5 billion), the Greater Thal Canal Phase II (Rs 2.5 billion), construction of 20 small dams in NWFP (Rs 870 million), Bhasha/ Diamer Dam (Rs 500 million), Khan-Khawar hydro project (Rs 1.3 billion), Dubir Khawar hydro project (Rs 2.1 billion), transmission arrangements for power dispersal of Ghazi Barotha (Rs 1.67 billion) and Neelam-Jhelum hydro project (Rs 10 billion).

New projects for the next fiscal year include the Sukkur Barrage Rehabilitation and Improvement project (Rs 100 million), Akhori Dam PC I (Rs 200 million), construction of Jaban Hydroelectric Power Station and Jaban Hydroelectric Power Station (Rs 40 million).

Upcoming Immediate Projects

 Three rental power houses would start generating 1,067 megawatts of electricity by end of year 2008, respectively. Agreements had been signed with China to establish power plants at Nandipur and Chichu ki Malian, and tenders had been issued for two 500MW power plants at Dadu and Faisalabad which would be run by gas and furnace oil. An 800MW power plant would be set up at Guddu.

(C) Our Leader – Musharraf

Our famous manipulators and distorters of truth; who have best abused the freedom of media to achieve their personal agendas and selling themselves off to the highest bidder – Yes, our suited booted prejudiced story tellers – Media anchors & News commentators!

These News & Views analysts, who never left any opportunity to slander and smear President Musharraf and his policies, are now falling left and right to lucrative offers by PPP government. Their useless, baseless and distorted lies are now being paid off rewardingly. Their revealing blackmailing personalities should serve as an eye-opener for our deaf & dumb public – who vastly followed their deception programs. These pundits have always served as spokesperson for our shady politicians, thus largely misleading the public!

Dr Shahid Masood of GEO fame – was appointed as the PTV chairman, through the Establishment Division letter No 1/64/2008-E-6, dated May 31 2008.He was given the additional charge of the MD through the letter No 1/64/2008-E-6, dated June 21 2008. (Source)

After his appointment as MD PTV, Dr. Shahid Masood has been seen appeasing President Musharraf and endorsing the President’s views. See the video (Source)

That same President Musharraf who has been considered, an unpopular Shah of Pakistan, by Dr. Shahid Masood in one of his degrading programs of ‘Meray Mutabik’ where he painted a picture of similarity b/w Shah Iran and President Musharraf – predicting that soon President Musharraf will have no place to hide. Do these guys have any shame left? Do they have the moral courage to face the public and offer apology over their twisting programs?

The latest magician that has been bought from the basket of rotten eggs is none other than the unintelligent ‘ARY Insight’ presenter Javed Malick - who has been appointed as ambassador at large by the Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. A notification dated July 25 to this effect has been issued by the Establishment Division. (Source)

However, when it comes to moment of exercising and practicing ‘freedom of media & speech’, these same self-styled liberal campaigners fail miserably and apply despotic measures. GEO’s dictatorship forced ‘Jawabdeh’ host Iftikhar Ahmed to resign in protest. Just confirms the double standard and hypocrisy practiced by GEO Network. (Source)

One more famous and phony twister of words and adorns a despicable personality is none other than the ‘celebrated on Capital Talk whenever there are lies to be propagated’ – The News  correspondent – Ansar Abbasi.  Ansar Abbasi’s cheap and vulgar style is intolerable. We’re glad the current democratic government of PPP is waking up to realize their corruption. (Ansar Abbasi is corrupt: PM ex-sec)

There are also news that both, The News editor Ansar Abbasi and an analyst on GEO TV Irfan siddiqui, are eyeing PML-N tickets for the next elections, trying to follow the footsteps of Major (r) Ayaz Amir. These analysts are everything but neutral. They are biased in favor of political parties aiming to mis-guide general public. (Link)

Senior journalist Nazir Naji who had always been a PPP stalwart was found abusing a junior journalist on phone which was recorded by that junior journalist Ahmad Noorani. Ahmad Noorani was tracing a story related to illegal plot allotment to various journalists. (Link)

Daily Times Editor Najam Sethi, rightly points out in his editorial of Friday Times:

1- The Pakistani “free media”, with its religious-nationalist mindset, is singularly responsible for misleading the people and creating a huge wave of sympathy for the Taliban and hostility for the government and army that want to fight them.
2- This “free media” created a wave of sympathy and support for the Lal Masjid terrorists (portrayed as some sort of medieval heroes for defying America and the army) in the heart of Islamabad and put the army and government on the back foot.
3- This media also made this war America’s war exclusively by propagating the false notion that if America were to walk away from this region the Taliban and Al-Qaeda would melt away into thin air and all would be peaceful again.
4- Ultimately, this “free media” drummed up support for all the dangerous peace deals between the Taliban and the army or government, especially the last one in Swat on February 28, and enabled the Taliban to exploit the political space and public support to seize large areas of the Frontier.

God help Pakistan – if these blackmailers and Taliban mind-set journalists are what we earned by ‘Freedom of Media’ !
Posted in Afreen Baig, Media of Pakistan, Pakistan Politics Tagged: Media, Pakistan Politics ]]> http://ourleadermusharraf.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/blackmailers-and-biased-our-notorious-journalists/feed/ 3 ab179 http://ourleadermusharraf.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/pakistan-economic-success-mercy-of-911-or-macro-economic-policies/ http://ourleadermusharraf.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/pakistan-economic-success-mercy-of-911-or-macro-economic-policies/#comments Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:15:24 +0000 Administrator http://ourleadermusharraf.wordpress.com/?p=42 ]]> Written By: Afreen Baig

The 1990’s was a lost decade for Pakistan, mismanagement at its helm and corruption rampant. Formation of failed policies, coupled with sheer incompetence and lack of commitment, kept deteriorating the economy of the fragile Country. Benazir’s era was further characterized by ungoverned manipulation and personal extravagance of her husband Zardari.

By 1999, not only were the $10 billion Foreign Reserves misspent without any accountability, but it also shattered the confidence of our nation. Expatriate Pakistanis kept a cautious outlook of the situation and held their foreign reserves back.

In 1999, Revenue generation of around Rs.308 billion could not meet the growing expenditure requirements; with only an average of Rs.80 billion being spent on Public sector development programs (PSDP) annually, and no visible project to boast about. From this Rs.308 billion around 65% was being utilized for debt servicing. In 1988 Pakistan’s foreign debt was $18 billion, but at the end of 1999 it had accumulated to become $38 billion. A 100% increased burden on the already crippled economy. Public and external debt exceeded 300% of Foreign exchange earnings. Pakistan had become a highly indebted poor country. Poverty levels also increased to become 35% according to economic survey. This glooming situation was not being dispelled.

While the world was progressing, Pakistan’s economy was stagnated. Overall there was a feeling of despondency and uncertainty. It not only lowered the morals of the business community, but also affected adversely the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Foreign Investment started diverting to other promising Asian markets, especially that of India for their future prospects.

Nawaz Sharif and People’s Party often lament that during their tenures US and IMF Aid was suspended; and that President Musharraf’s government received huge aid after 9/11 to overcome the economic problems. To set the record correct, USA and IMF aid was suspended only after the Nuclear Atomic blasts of May 1998, but that too was RESUMED later that year in November, a week before Nawaz met President Clinton in USA. Before May 1998, the governments of Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto well-received worldwide aid and assistance from USA, IMF, OPEC, European countries, ODA & OOF bilateral agreements and World Bank.

The inheritance of the ailing economy that took place after October 1999 was not an easy task for the leadership of President Musharraf. Pakistan needed quick reforms, resource allocation, stabilization of policies and alluring back the Foreign Reserves and Foreign Direct Investment.

A misperception persists within some critics that attribute completely the turning around of Pakistan’s economy to: US aid or 9/11. Therefore, let it be clarified that major economic indicators had improved before 9/11, and the economy had already started showing signs of recovery and revival.

In that SHORT span of 2 years BEFORE 9/11, Pakistan’s revenue increased from Rs.308 billion to become Rs.395 billion. Exports increased from $7.5 billion to become $9.2 billion. Foreign Reserves increased from $1 billion to become $3.25 billion. Debt servicing as a ratio to Revenue decreased from 65% to 57%. Public and external debt as a percentage to Foreign exchange earnings declined from 300% to 250%. Current account deficit decreased from $2.4 billion to become $510 million. And, Pakistan’s large-scale manufacturing grew by 11% in June 2001 against 3.5% in 1998. These facts should set aside the skeptical grumblers.

Therefore, the entire credit of stabilizing Pakistan’s economy goes to the visionary decisions, sustained macro-economic policies and financial reforms of President Musharraf and the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. These also highlight their good intentions and ultimate honesty. Their sense of duty towards the country, honesty and the genuine resolve to address the problems does not arise from 9/11. Unlike their predecessors who swept problems under the carpet.

Now countering the other most popular allegation, i.e. US aid enabled the recent economic achievements.

The annual flows Pakistan has received during the last six years amount to approximately $ 1.75 billion from all types of US assistance – military, economic, and reimbursements for logistics support. Of these flows, the aid – military and economic accounts for $ 700 million annually.

This amount is 4.5% of total foreign exchange receipts, 7.2% of total budgetary expenditures, 6.4% of total value of Imports, 4% of total Exports and 5.8% of current account receipts of Pakistan. As a proportion of GDP of Pakistan these gross flows from all sources work out to only 3%. Negligible!

These figures by all means indicate the strength of Pakistan’s booming economy and establish the FACT that Pakistan is no more dependent upon US or foreign aid. Pakistan’s economy has managed to wriggle out of their clutches.

Pakistan’s economy grew at 6.5% to emerge as a $160 billion economy in 2007. Pakistan’s Revenue now stands above Rs.700 billion; as they increased by above 100% in just 7 years. The FBR estimates that there are now around 2.8 million Income Tax payers. A fully functional Tax Management System (TMS) was implemented on International standards with the assistance of World Bank.

Pakistan’s Public sector development program (PSDP) spending increased by above 400% to become Rs.520 billion. This has initiated major infrastructure programs throughout the country, including 7 Motorways and several Highways. Bridges erected and underpasses paved. 18 new Universities are already functioning and 9 Engineering Universities under construction.

Financial reforms enabled Pakistan to emerge as the 3^rd best in Banking profitability according to IMF. Pakistan globally ranks 10^th most active in perusing pro-business policies. The Infrastructure Industries Index in 2007 recorded a 26.2% growth in Industrial sector of Pakistan, with large-scale manufacturing growing at 11%. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) registered 1,135 companies in first quarter of 2007. The IT industry registered a 50% growth.

Under President Musharraf, the government spent over $ 16.7 billion on poverty alleviation programs, and managed to reduce poverty from 35% in 2000-01 to 24% in 2006-07.

The Foreign Direct Investment that the President and the PM managed to attract back into the country is entirely due to their credibility, professional wisdom and personal interaction with the world. Their visionary plans predispose the world to trust them. FDI increased by $ 5.1 billion, for a year-on-year increase of 45.6%.

We as a nation should acknowledge Pakistan’s accelerating prominence in International relations, give credit open heartedly where something is achieved and criticize positively only to achieve something better. Cynicism and despondency should be avoided. Pakistan’s National interest should be held foremost and without compromise!

Afreen Baig is an independent analyst majoring in International Relations and Economics. She can be reached at afreenbaig@gmail.

The right Manager manages his company with whatever resources he has, and manages to set it towards an unprecedented growth and prosperity, utilizing all internal and external factors. Musharraf proved to be the right Manager for Pakistan! MNC’s also provide excellent job opportunities; and with them bring in the required Capital, latest Technology, developed Human resources, management, quality & safety standards.

1.     Dubai Ports World announced on 1 June 2006, that it will spend $10 billion to develop Real estate, infrastructure and transport in Pakistan.

2.     Emaar Properties announced 31 May 2006, three Real estates developments in the cities of Islamabad and Karachi. The projects with a total investment of $2.4 billion will include developing commercial and residential property.

3.     Emaar Properties also signed a unprecedented $43 billion deal to develop two Island resorts – Bundal Island and Buddo Island – over the decade.

4.     International Petroleum Investment Co, owned by the government of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates; has received approval from Pakistan’s government to build a $5 billion Oil refinery at Hub in Baluchistan. The refinery, which will be Pakistan’s biggest, have the capacity to process 300,000 barrels of oil a day.

5.     2006: The government is all set to establish an ‘Oil city‘ with an investment of $40 billion at Gwadar Port to make it the biggest crude and refined oil storage base in the region. The government has allotted 12,500 acres of land in Gwadar. The Chinese Petroleum Chamber would come up with $12.5 billion investment plan for the project.

6.     Kuwait will establish an Oil refinery at Port Qasim, 50 km southeast of Karachi, at expected cost of $1.2 billion. Refinery would have the capacity to refine 100,000 barrels of oil a day.

7.     The Canadian conglomerate Cathy Oil and Gas signed a memorandum of understanding in late 2006 to invest $5 billion in oil and gas exploration, development, production and commercialization in Pakistan.

8.     Canadian Oil & Gas Company signed with Pakistan a $ 200 million project that would generate 50,000 direct jobs in Sindh. It will explore, develop, produce and commercialize of Coal Bed Methane (CBM) in Pakistan up-to 70,000 barrels a day for about 20 years.

9.     July 2006: The Government awarded three blocks in the country’s offshore Indus Delta to British Petroleum Pakistan. BP Pakistan (formerly known as Union Texas Pakistan) will Explore gas blocks U, V and W, covering an area of 21,000 square km, for oil and gas reserves.

10.  Dubai’s Foreign investment in Pakistan’s capital markets recorded significant growth in 2006 and more than doubled to Dh1.278 billion ($351.5 million) by June 30 this year. It stood at Dh554.9 million last year.

11.  The KESC has awarded the contract for Phase-I of the 220 MW Power plant to METKA, EPC contractor, a Greek Company of international repute, whereas Phase-II for 565 MW is under process, it is reliably learnt. The EPC cost of the project is around $186 million including approximately 11 million dollars for chiller equipment.

12.  Sept 26: Am Power Company, a Kuwait-based company, intends to build 225MW combined cycle Power project located at the Sundar Industrial Estate at an estimated cost of $200 million.

13.  The Credit of building the Chashma-2 goes to Musharraf Government. PM Shaukat Aziz launched work on the Billion Dollars 325-megawatt plant in Chashma, which is the second to be built at the site with Chinese help. Chashma-2 cost is around Rs 51 billion which also included Rs20.1 billion foreign exchange component.

14.  In the much-awaited, but positive development, WAPDA has finalised a Chinese consortium China Gezhouba (group) Co Ltd China and CMEC, China (CGGC-CMEC) for construction of strategically most important project of 969 MW Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower. Cost of Construction is above $1.8 billion.

15.  French Renault is establishing a 40-million-euro assembling plant of Renault Logan cars in the country, with the production capacity of 15,000 automobiles per year. This project would attract 40 million euros’ investment and create 600 job opportunities.

16.  Automobile industry in Pakistan has made remarkable progress during the last few years. Despite low indigenous base, it has attracted almost Rs100 billion investment. Rs 52 billion has come in direct manufacturing and Rs 35 billon in ancillary industry.

17.  Pakistan Suzuki, a leading automobile company, has exported worth $957 million during last financial year 2005-06, which has been considered by the government as an encouraging sign.

18.  The Motorcycle industry in the country is progressing so well as manufacturing of motorcycles has touched the Rs.0.7 million mark in financial year 2005-06. Crankcase is manufactured mainly by only two companies but their production capacity is approx 6,000 sets per month.

19.  Honda Atlas Cars; held a Manufacturing Capacity Expansion ceremony of its auto plant. HACPL will increase annual production capacity will be doubled from the current 25,000 units to 50,000 units by the end of 2006. Total investment around Rs1.67 billion.

20.  Manchester firm called Drillcorer has just moved production of its drills to Pakistan. The result is that it can now sell them for £15,000 rather than the £65,000 it would have to charge if they were produced in Britain.

21.  2005: Brunei government is financing the US$2.6 million training “Institute for Pakistan Foreign Service”. Under construction.

22.  WASHINGTON: Pakistan ranked first among all developing world recipients in the value of Arms transfer agreements in 2006, concluding $5.1 billion in such agreements.

23.  2-12-07: Cement sales by Pakistani manufacturers to local and foreign buyers is expected to have reached 11.848 million tonnes; during the first five months (July-November). Exports are expected to grow by 155 % year-on-year to 2.531 million tonnes for the five-month period.

24.  Pakistan’s Financial Sector is witnessing robust growth in Islamic banking. Two fully-fledged Islamic banks — one local and one foreign-based — have opened 23 branches recently. Bank Islami will be the 3^rd  Bank. The 4^th Dubai Islamic Bank would open around 70 branches. Saudi Arabia would open the 5^th Islamic Bank soon.

25.  Takaful Pakistan Limited would soon commence operational activities in the country with an initial paid-up capital of Rs200 million and an authorized capital of Rs 300 million. Takaful is a system of Islamic insurance.

26.  14-6-07: Standard Chartered Bank of Pakistan (SCBP) has made a mega investment of Rs 30 billion to grow in a significant way in Pakistan.

27.  Pakistan’s leading Edible Oil buyers are establishing 4 new Refineries, officials in the industry said. Most of the refineries will be operational by the end of 2007 and they will double Pakistan’s CPO refining capacity of 2,025 tonnes per day.

28.  26-1-07: Canadian Wireless systems developer TenXc Wireless Inc. is partnering with Pakistani company Coherent Designs Pvt. to establish a joint development centre for wireless products in Pakistan’s capital. Global WiMAX market was worth $1.1 billion in 2006 and is expected to grow to $3.3 billion by 2009.

29.  The Minister inaugurated ceremony of a software technology park. The high-tech IT park has been set up at Rawalpindi by a leading US IT company MTBC to start its business operations in Pakistan.

30.  Capital Investment Overseas, an Abu Dhabi based company, will build a five-star hotel in Lahore, with an estimated investment of Rs20 billion (Dh1.25 billion). “The construction of 602 room hotel will be completed by the year 2011.  

31.  Saudi-Kuwaiti joint venture Mid Roc Tussonia Ltd will invest $3 billion to $4 billion in next seven years in power generation, refining and real estate sectors in Pakistan. This was stated by the president of Mid Roc Group Sheikh Humoud Al-Sabah at the launching of the joint venture here. Sabah said that his company would set up two wind power generation plants at Mirpur Sakro at a cost of $200 million. 2,500 acres of land has been acquired for this purpose. Will also establish lube-based oil refinery at Port Qasim over 500 acres of land at a cost of $1.5 billion.

32.  Tata Motors, India’s largest automobile firm, announced its entry in Pakistan through its subsidiary Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle Co with the commissioning of a new truck and bus assembly unit in Karachi. The plant has a capacity to produce 3,000 vehicles.

33.  In 2004, Access Group International announced plans to invest $1 billion over the next 5 years in solar cell manufacture and wind farms. MOUs have been signed with Alternate Energy Development Board.

©Our leader – Musharraf

Footnotes and links:

1. Dubai Ports

2. Emaar

3. Bundal Island

4. UAE refinery

5. Oil city

6. From the President of Pakistan website.

7. n/a

8. Canadian oil & gas

9. BP

10. Dubai Foreign Investment. See also this.

11. See this.

12. n/a

13. Chasma-2

14. See this.

15. Renault

16. Automobile industry

17. n/a

18. Motorcycle industry

19. Honda Atlas

20. Drillcorer

21. n/a

22. Pakistan topped list of arms purchasers

23. See this.

24. See this.

25. See this.

26. See this.

27. See this.

28. See this.

29. See this.

30. See this.

31. See this.

32. See this.

33.

©Our leader – Musharraf

 Recently, it had become sort of a fashion, to give reference to Foreign Polls and Surveys while speculating on the future of Pakistan and the popularity levels of our leaders. Later it was Pakistan’s election process and its consequences. The Media religiously quote these Polls & Surveys to pursue their specific agenda and give credibility to their rumoring views and specious news. The faith is so great that the credulous Pubic doesn’t even bother to check on the reliability, funding and intentions of the lobbies behind these Polls & Surveys.

A survey released by the U.S based International Republican Institute predicted, seventy-five percent of Pakistanis want President Pervez Musharraf to quit. The surveyors also speculated that a major victory for opposition parties could force President Musharraf to step down. Keeping in mind 75% of the 3000 people polled. What could be more unreliable?

These polls come out, and presto! The election results are already forecasted and prejudged even before taking place. Some telepathy! The drama begins, with the international lobbies and leaders pressing the current leaders to accept the results of elections, that haven’t even taken place. Diplomatic missionary’s frenzied interactions with the opposition leaders further imprint the impression of US and foreign meddling in Pakistan. The honorable President Musharraf is left to elucidate upon something beyond his control: The up-coming Elections!

The credibility of these organizations leaves a huge question mark, when they fail to come clean and clear about their affiliations and their loyalty to their financers. Who funds them and for what purpose?

Founded in 1983, the International Republican Institute (IRI) is an organization, funded by United States government. The IRI operates as a political organization abroad, providing training and assistance to political parties. One could question the interest of the IRI in elections of other countries and the kind of assistance or leverage it provides to their political parties? Why would Pakistan’s political parties require assistance from abroad, specifically the IRI?

As a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization, IRI plays no part in domestic U.S. politics. It further raises suspicions, as to why a US organization is not allowed to publish polls and surveys about their own elections, while meddling in Pakistan?

The majority of its board, staff and consultants are drawn from the Republican Party. Most of its staff and board have links to right-wing think tanks, foundations, and policy institutes, while many also represent major financial, oil, and defense corporations. Oil and Defense corporations – the root cause of all recent evil wars!

IRI Board of Directors includes the current aspiring US Presidential candidate Senator Mc Cain. No wonder the Republican Party was eager to group with late Benazir Bhutto and wanted to see the moderate forces together. The IRI was projecting fraudulently the future allies of the Republicans i.e. the PPP in the upcoming Pakistani elections.

The IRI is also accused of training some of the leaders of the 2004 coup d’etat in Haiti, as well as funding opposition groups in the country in a destabilization campaign in the months leading up the removal of democratically-elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide by a coalition of Canada, USA and France.

One more survey frequently quoted by our misguided Media personnel, is the “Terror Free Tomorrow” which claimed that Osama Bin Laden is more popular in Pakistan than President Musharraf. What could be more absurd? It seems more like a devious effort to marginalize Pakistan and distort Pakistan’s liberal image. Above all, our sitting President deserves reverence rather being compared to Bin Laden.

The advisory board of “Terror Free Tomorrow” also includes aspiring US Presidential candidate Senator John McCain and its Board of Director includes Andrew Claster. Andrew Claster is also Vice President of Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates (PSB). This firm was founded in 1975 and, PSB offers services to businesses and political campaigns worldwide.

In January 2005, “The Daily Telegraph” revealed that British Prime Minister Tony Blair had recruited the services of PSB’s Mark J. Penn in the run-up to the general election in the UK, for that year.

Mark J. Penn is President of the polling firm Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates (PSB). He serves as Hillary Rodham Clinton’s chief strategist for her 2008 presidential campaign, for now, and which his firm has received non-refundable $5 million.

As it can be seen above, these organizations that conduct and publish these Polls and Surveys are actively involved in election campaigns for Political parties and make huge profits off those campaigns. When they release such biased Polls and Surveys, the intention is clearly to dictate the minds and behavior of the masses. If the election results come against their calculated projection, the whole exercise is termed as rigged and unfair. The chanting is picked up by media all over, discrediting the honest intentions of the government in place.

It would be unfair, if we fail to pin-point one other popularly quoted Index, the “Failed States index”. This ‘Failed States Index’ conveniently ranks a stable and economically booming country- Pakistan – with GDP growth of 6.5% as a failing country.

Since 2005, the United States think-tank “Fund for Peace” and the magazine “Foreign Policy”, publishes an annual index called the ‘Failed States Index’.

The “Fund for Peace” is an independent research organization. The “Fund for Peace” considers- Threat Convergence; or the idea that weak and failing states may contribute to global security threats such as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and terrorism.

This signifies that few conspiracing countries may manipulate the “Fund for Peace” to write Pakistan off as a country proliferating WMDs and label Pakistan as a ‘Failed State’. There have been numerous attempts earlier, to label Pakistan as a terrorism supporting state. Hillary Clinton also called upon recently to place Pakistan’s Nuclear Assets under UN supervision citing Security concerns. It was therefore not amusing, to see the UN Security Council’s session called and proceeded upon within few hours, after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Cutting ties off with the Taliban in 2001, was in the larger interest of Pakistan. Pakistan could not have afforded suicide over the Taliban.

Similarly, “Foreign Policy” is an American magazine founded in 1970 by Samuel P. Huntington. Huntington is that controversial conservative political scientist, who in 1996, provoked great debate among international relations theorists with the interrogatively- titled book “The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order” in which he wrote:

“Islam’s borders are bloody and so are its innards. The fundamental problem for the West is not Islamic fundamentalism. It is Islam- a different civilization, whose people are convinced of the superiority of their culture and are obsessed with the inferiority of their power”.

The intention of Huntington is clear. We Muslims and Pakistanis must not be mesmerized by the false intellects of these Polls & Surveys. Our blind faith in these Polls & Surveys will obfuscate our judgment to further deviate us from the reality. We must renounce all such Polls & Surveys that strive to meddle in our internal affairs. Pakistan’s National interest should be held foremost and without compromise! Pakistan First!

Afreen Baig is an independent analyst majoring in International Relations and Economics. She can be reached at afreenbaig@gmail.com

Written By: Afreen Baig 

When President Musharraf took over, Pakistan was on the verge of default and bankruptcy, with less than a billion dollars in its foreign reserves and 65% of the revenues being spend on debt servicing. The external debt had grown from $ 18 billion in 1988 to become $ 38 billion in 1999. Pakistan was also being tagged as a terrorism supporting state, due to persistent Indian efforts.

The timing coincided with the great game that was about to take place on the map of the worlds. The US had drawn up plans to somehow secure the Oil fields of the Caspian Sea region that competes in scale with the riches of Saudi Arabia and counter the regional dominance of China and rising India.

By 2010, the Caspian Sea reserves are expected to yield 3.2 billion barrels of crude oil per day, in addition to 4.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas per year. The shortest and safest route for the oil pipeline was designed, starting from the Central Asian states through Afghanistan and ending in Baluchistan. The Afghanistan war was implemented to give success and prominence to the US conglomerate Unocal Corporation over the Argentinean conglomerate Bridas, and wipe out the obstinate Taliban.

September 11 was a planned tragedy converted into an opportunity for the USA and its regional dominance to confine and circle China.

For that plan to be executed safely, the USA needed a destabilized Pakistan, a Pakistan full of political circus and corrupt leaders. Corrupt Pakistani leaders who would prefer US regional dominance, in return for some billion dollars tucked away in their foreign banks.

Initially, the USA supported President Musharraf thinking that he would heed to the US regional aspirations, but it dawned upon them only 3 years back that General Musharraf had double crossed them, only to gain time and fortify Pakistan.

President Musharraf took all this time to strengthen and revive Pakistan’s ailing economy and outdated Military. The USA could never have imagined that under Musharraf’s leadership, Pakistan would have started large scale manufacturing and serial production of Al-Khalid Tanks, Ballistic missiles, Agosta (French) Submarines, and JF-17 Thunder Jets.

And, above all a National Command Authority was formed to implement plans related to KRL (Khan Research Labs) and PAEC (Pak Atomic Energy Commission), including development and employment of Pakistan’s strategic assets. The whereabouts of our Nuclear bombs and Warheads are now unknown to any corrupt politician.

Under President Musharraf, Pakistan was converted into a stable and viable economy. Our $75 billion economy of 1999 grew at 6%-8%, to become a $160 billion economy at the start of 2007.

His infrastructure development vision initiated 6 Motorways and several Highways. He constructed 4 Dams. 20 Public and 27 Private Universities are already functioning and 9 Engineering Universities are under construction. Exports increased from a stagnated $ 7.6 billion in 1999, to become $ 18 billion in 2007.

Major ambitious mega projects like GWADAR (a Port on the Straits of Hormuz), a $90m Sust Dry port in Gilgit, Saindak project, Rekodiq project (world’s top 7th copper reserves & 20 million ounces of gold), Marble production, Coal mining projects, Mineral mining & quarrying, etc. remain unprecedented in Pakistan’s History.

Meanwhile, some US think tanks remained suspicious of PAK-China GWADAR project, and term it as an intentional large Naval base for the Pakistani and Chinese Aircraft carriers and Submarines. 40% of the world’s oil supply passes through the Straits of Hormuz. The Chinese overlooking the straits is an alarming situation for both, the US and India. China needed to be countered and restricted.

China also rushed to complete a $100 billion deal with Iran, in February 2006; to develop the Yadavaran Oil field in Southern Iran. Sinopec will get in exchange, 10 million tonnes of Liquefied Natural Gas FREE till next quarter century. The Yadavaran can produce as much as 300,000 barrels of oil per day. Sinopec will hold 51% stake and India’s Oil & Gas Corp. will hold 29%.

To top this all, Pakistan is pursuing the Iran-PAK-India gas pipeline. President Musharraf also convinced China to buy a stake in this pipeline incase India is unable to proceed. Currently, the countries in dire need of Gas & Oil are the developing 3rd world countries, averaging 6% GDP growth. Who will the USA sell its Caspian Sea gas reserves to, if the major regional markets of South Asia are out??

The US mega game plan to lay the oil pipeline from the Caspian Sea reserves to Gwadar and supplying oil from Iraq’s reserves, will both fall in limbo.

The USA remains apprehensive and deeply troubled. Their great game could have been accomplished if the honest and loyal-to-country Musharraf was toppled, and the corrupt lots of politicians are brought back. The USA wants free and unrestricted access to Balochistan including Gwadar, which under President Musharraf was impossible. Gwadar under US control means controlling oil reserves, passage of oil supply and observing the regional economic houses i.e China and India.

CIA funded impressive regime change plans, and toppled President Musharraf’s progressive government to install a corrupt and pro-American government, and all in the name of democracy, freedom of media and protection of civil rights! Those impressive agitations that came out of no-where and were usually headed by NGOs, organized by local political parties and funded through US political channels were covert operations to undergo regime change of President Musharraf.

China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, understood the regional politics and were steadfast behind President Musharraf. The USA having failed to introduce Democracy or any system in Afghanistan and Iraq, is trying to shift its total failure unto Pakistan. The US Media has already started blaming Pakistan for failure of its ‘War on Terror’, and they’re further rousing suspicions about our Nuclear Assets.

A strong leader is what we need for a stronger, secure and stable Pakistan and a prosperous region!

Afreen Baig is an independent analyst majoring in International Relations and Economics. She can be reached at afreenbaig@gmail.com  

Pakistan produced RECORD wheat

In 2005-06, Pakistan produced 21,591,400 metric tons of wheat, more than all of Africa (20,304,585 metric tons) and nearly as much as all of South America (24,557,784 metric tons).

The Federal Bureau of Statistics valued Major Crops yields at Rs.504,868 million in 2005 thus registering over 55% growth since year 2000. 

Wheat crop damaged in USA and Australia

The U.S. is the largest exporter of wheat, followed by Canada, Russia, Argentina and Australia. Wheat prices soared to record highs on the Chicago Board of Trade and European markets on Wednesday as news of damage to key exporter Australia’s crop heightened concern about shrinking global stocks.

The US Department of Agriculture has projected that world wheat stocks will drop to 114.8 million tonnes by the end of the 2007/08 marketing year, a 26-year low, following poor weather earlier this year in parts of Europe and the United States. “Australia’s crop concerns will definitely add pressure on global stocks already hit by dry conditions and strong demand,” an official at a South Korean flour miller said. 

Wheat shortage in the world and food inflation

Higher grain prices are triggering food inflation in several countries, including India and Pakistan. In Croatia, inflation accelerated at a record pace in December as food prices soared, the state statistics office said today. The People’s Bank of China has raised interest rates five times this year to curb inflation and damp speculation in stocks and real estate. Australia’s consumer prices increased more than expected in the second quarter as fuel, housing and food costs surged. Cattle prices in Australia, the world’s second-biggest beef exporter, have soared about 23 percent this year. Rising bread and flour prices have sparked protests across drought-stricken Morocco, where the wheat crop dropped by 76% this year.

Public disturbances have also been reported in Yemen, Niger, and the Ivory Coast.

In Italy pasta producers have taken great pains to justify the increase by pointing to the soaring cost of wheat, which has increased by 60% over the past year. Consumer groups organized protests in Rome, Milan and Palermo. Wheat prices in Europe have been rising steadily over the past three months, driven up by growing demand particularly in developing markets such as China, coupled with a poor harvest in Australia that has led demand to far outstrip supply.

France inflation rose to highest annual level in at least 11 years; with food, fuel and energy prices rising sharply. 

PAK Government’s stance and action

President Pervez Musharraf blamed hoarders and smugglers for the problem and said that wheat flour is being smuggled to Afghanistan, Central Asia and even Russia. Pakistan faced shortage of wheat flour, prima facie due to hoarding by elements – which are minting money at the cost of the poor consumers. Last week, the authorities deployed paramilitary troops at flour mills across the country to ensure wheat supplies to the people. The Utility Stores have been selling flour at the official rate of 18 rupees ($0.30) per kg but it is sold in market around 30 rupees per kilogram. 

Shortage in Pakistan occurred due to three reasons:

1.      Some wheat smuggled out of country, as the world faces wheat shortage.

2.      Hoarding up by Mill owners and profiteers.

3.      Panic created by the Media in general Public. Due to which, public in general ran to buy extra three months quota. Naturally, excessive buying creates shortage and raises prices. I consider the panic created by the Media as much responsible! 

Afreen Baig is an independent analyst majoring in International Relations and Economics. She can be reached at afreenbaig@gmail.com  

Related News:

THE NEWS reported on Sunday, April 27, 2008 from LAHORE: City Raiwind police have registered a case against an MNA of PML-N Mazhar Hayat Khan from NA-138 on the charges of wheat smuggling and thrashing officials of the Food Department late Saturday night. Raiwind City Circle DSP Oun Shah registered the case on the intervention of Capital City Police Officer Malik Iqbal, as the DSP had earlier refused to take action against the accused MNA and had remained in constant contact with the MNA when an application was lodged by Assistant Controller Food to assure him that no case would be registered against him. Saturday, a tractor-trolley loaded with bags of wheat was passing through the Raiwind Road.

Wheat crisis can be avoided by ‘electronic documentation’

9 June 2009: Pakistan can avoid a future wheat crisis by electronic documentation of crop production, Salim Ghauri, Chairman & CEO NetSol Technologies Ltd said. Pakistan is expected to have bumper wheat crop this year. Besides lacking the storage capacity for bumper crop, Pakistan also lacks the ability to assess the exact quantity of wheat to the last grain on ground due to the absence of technologies in rural sector.  Pakistan has already witnessed complexities arising out of such a situation back in 2007 when the government exported wheat on low price after wrong estimates by the authorities concerned and later imported on higher price. “Pakistan paid the price of its non-technological approach and this situation will continue unless we document our crop production electronically.”

Lisa Curtis, a senior Heritage Foundation analyst, reminded that Pakistan’s critical cooperation in counterterrorism has led to numerous successes in the region and also helped save American lives.

At a Washington think tank, a senior expert Flynt Leverett acknowledged Pakistan’s key efforts in the fight against terrorism and came down on critics who in their discussions keep harping on US extending 10 billion dollars in assistance to the ally. He noted that statements that the United States has provided Pakistan with $ 10 billion in assistance since Sept 11, 2001 are misleading.

“Let’s be true, more than half of that amount is not true “assistance” but rather reimbursements for costs accrued by the Pakistani military supporting US counterterrorism operations,” he said at the New American Foundation. (Source)

Further, the San Francisco Chronicle reports in their 5^th November 2007 issue, the United States has provided Pakistan with $10.59 billion in military, economic and development aid since Sept. 11, 2001. A breakdown of the assistance:

1. The majority, about 60 percent, has gone toward “Coalition Support Funds,” intended to reimburse the Pakistani military for their assistance in combating terrorism. The U.S. government considers it repayment rather than aid.
2. About 15 percent, nearly $1.6 billion, is for security assistance. The Pakistanis have spent the majority of this money on purchases of major weapons systems.
3. Another 15 percent is for general budget support for the Pakistani government.
4. Approximately 10 percent was allocated for development or humanitarian assistance, including the U.S. response to the October 2005 earthquake.

Courtesy: Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Here is Mr. Musharraf clarifying the reality related to $10 billion USA aid, on a show with Fareed Zakaria on CNN, dated 16 May 2009.

Interview given on 13th September 2009

A particular section of this interview by General Musharraf, was misquoted and misinterpreted by the international, Indian and Pakistani media. Indians including the Indian Minister for external affairs Shahsi Tharoor , accused General Musharraf and Pakistan of misusing the US aid, and cited these media reports as proof of Pakistan’s mala-fide intentions in its WoT. Please read a wonderful article and refute by Mr. Nadir Hassan below courtesy Newsline and view that particular video at YouTube.

Misquoting Musharraf

A politician claiming that his words have been taken out of context is like a schoolchild using the dog-ate-my-homework excuse. But former president Pervez Musharraf’s anger at the international media for distorting his words is, in fact, justified.

On September 13, Musharraf gave an interview to local TV station, Express News. The interviewer, Kamran Shahid, asked Musharraf if there was any truth to accusations that he had diverted aid meant to fight the Taliban for use against India. As interpreted by the international, Indian and Pakistani media, Musharraf seemed to confirm that Pakistan had misused US aid. Even Indian Minister for External Affairs Shahsi Tharoor cited these media reports as proof of Pakistan’s mala-fide intentions. Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Britain, Wajid Shamsul Hasan, without pausing to explain how this issue was a part of his job description, berated Musharraf for damaging Pakistan’s reputation.

Amidst the frenzy, no one bothered to check Musharraf’s words or the context in which he spoke.

Here is what Musharraf did say:

The interview is in Urdu so I have translated it below. Musharraf’s answer to the question about diversion of aid begins at about 3:20 in the video.

The interviewer asked the former president if there was any truth to reports coming from journalists like Ahmed Rashid that Pakistan had diverted US aid to the eastern border. Musharraf’s reply was typically bellicose.

Whoever is saying this, be it Ahmed Rashid, I would like to say this to them: “Don’t dabble in subjects which you barely understand.” Whoever has given us assistance, be it in the form of money or weapons, should know the organisation of the Pakistan Army and how it is deployed. The units and regiments in our army are rotated, at some point they could be in Kashmir, then they can go to Sindh, then Balochistan and if there is an operation in North Waziristan some will go there. Some will go to Swat, they can go anywhere. So, equipment, whether we buy it or it is given to us, they go to the units, the units hold them. We don’t just keep them in some store. Lets say there is a unit stationed in North Waziristan. Now, this unit gets American equipment. After that, no one can say that this unit has to remain in North Waziristan for a hundred years. They have a tenure of one to one-and-a-half years. I think it is one year. After one year, they have to move. Maybe they have to move to the Punjab border otherwise India might come into Lahore. This unit will take its equipment along when it goes. This equipment isn’t collected in some store room. So, whoever says this (that Pakistan has diverted military aid meant to fight terrorism) doesn’t understand how Pakistan operates. You can’t say that this is American equipment that can only be used against the Taliban and so it should be left in the mountains (when the unit moves). Units keep their equipment; wherever they go they will take the equipment with them. You can’t say that this equipment has come from America or Britain and it will be used here and that this equipment is Chinese so it will be used in such and such place. Please explain this to Ahmed Rashid for me.

The interviewer then asked Musharraf is these weapons can be used against India. Here is Musharraf’s hypothetical reply to the hypothetical question:

Absolutely. We will use these weapons wherever there is a threat to Pakistan. If there is a threat from the Taliban or Al-Qaeda we will use the weapons against them; if there is a threat from India we will use them there.

The interviewer further gpaded Musharraf into asking if we ever used these weapons against India. Musharraf never directly answered the question, preferring to ratchet up the rhetoric instead:

Whatever we did was right. We need to ensure Pakistan’s security. Wherever the threat comes from, we will use full force there

Miusharraf’s non-reply prompted the question of whether the US was upset about the use of military aid.

What do we care if America or anyone else gets upset. We have to look after our security and wherever there is a threat we have to use full force. America, in fact the whole world, should know that we will never compromise our security and whatever equipment is there, we will use it everywhere.

It is clear from this exchange that  a combination of a typically-rambling reply from Musharraf, the bellicosity that is an essential part of his character and journalistic laziness spurred this ‘controversy.’

An additional point needs to made: Even if Musharraf had revealed that weaponry given by the US was used on the Indian border, what’s all the fuss about? The US has always known and, at times, even encouraged such use. Lawrence Korb, a senior fellow at American Progress and a senior adviser to the Center for Defence Information, in his testimony to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance on December 12, 2007 gave the breakdown of US aid to Pakistan. He explained that 60% of this aid shouldn’t be considered aid at all since it went to the Coalition Support Funds to repay the Pakistan government for services rendered in the war on terror. Another 15% was in the form of direct cash transfers to stabilise Pakistan’s economy. A further 10% consisted of development and humanitarian funds. The remaining 15% of aid, which equaled $1.6 billion, was in the form of security assistance. Korb said in his testimony, “The Pakistanis have used the majority of these funds to purchase major weapons systems, such as F-16s, for possible use in a conventional war with India…” So, not only does the US know that Pakistan is using military aid against India, it has actually sold us the weapons knowing their ultimate purpose.

Despite this, the media somehow managed to make a denial of impropriety from Musharraf sound like an admission of guilt.