Since the birth of Pakistan our economy remained in shambles with the exception of a few early years. Our Quaid Muhammad Ali Jinnah once said that the people could make the best investment to the economy of Pakistan by inculcating a habit of saving.
People acted on his advice only in his lifetime and gave a temporary support to the crippled economy at "that time". Later policies of the two generals boosted the economy temporarily.
With the death of Quaid-e-Azam a reign of political turmoil started and still it is prevailing. Theoretically politicians wanted to build a welfare state ie provision of mental, social, physical and psychological well-being to all citizens of Pakistan, with such a condition that their vested interest could also flourish simultaneously.
They committed this big mistake. They forget that two swords cannot be placed in one cascade. The concept of a welfare state cannot be materialised without taking into consideration some of its prior essential elements, ie honest bureaucratic hierarchy, honest politicians, exploration and utilisation of local resources by the locals and people's involvement in decision-making at various levels, starting from grassroots level upto higher level, inculcating a habit of saving at personal and collective level.
Putting an example of simple living before the nation is also one of its pre-requisites. In 1960 the first salary of government officers in Grade 17 was Rs 350/-, equivalent to 4.5 grammes worth of gold. Now his first salary is Rs 7000/- is equivalent to 0.86 grammes worth of gold approximately.
As a result of saying good-bye to the habit of personal saving, Pakistan was forced to extend its arms not only to the economic aid but also for food assistance. Still the 1950's shameful event is fresh in the minds of many people.
In that year two bags of wheat were laden on the back of a camel. Inscription on the bags was thank you America for food aid for a starving nation. The camel was taken for a stroll on M.A. Jinnah Road and I.I. Chundrigar Road.
It is evident that under influence of wrong policies of bureaucrats and the politicians in the government people were "brain washed" and lost their dignity and self-respect as a nation. The governments one after another requested financial aid, assistance and loans.
There is no harm if a nation takes loans without losing its self-respect and raising its saving upto 40% or above. Now Pakistan has to pay billions of dollars loans.
And still we are looking for soft loans. We had to pay over 6.4 billion dollars interest on it.
As a nation at public and private level we have to decide and act upon the following solutions with determination.
-- Each of the us should pay government fees and taxes.
-- Develop a habit of individual saving gradually and raise it upto 50% in 4 to 10 years.
-- Adopt simple ways of living. Instead of spending on maintaining houses of senior officials. On the other hand even small single room houses have fridge and TV cables.
-- We must be honest with ourselves and others and should not waste our time in gossips. We must devote some time for meditation and creative thinking.
-- We must inculcate the habit of reading and love of books in our children and not love for fast food culture in them.
-- Provide justice to all as people suffering from social injustice become tools of anti social or anti state elements.
-- The Government should publicise the code numbers of accounts that will facilitate generous Pakistanis living in Pakistan or abroad to deposit their donations directly in those accounts.
The above steps will give us determination to live as a healthy honourable civilised and dignified nation, who do take loans for their welfare projects but return them in time from their own resources.
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