Overseas Pakistanis and Pakistani politics
By Tarique Khan Javed,President,Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum
Plight of Overseas Pakistanis:
The unfortunate lot of Pakistanis which was forced to seek work outside the Country due to economic compulsion are a sorry lot. They leave delicate relations behind, and are unable to turn for years. These relationship often can not tolerate the long absence. Many of them break up in their absence. They end up loosing the very reason they went out for. Their dream that their better earnings will help their extended families survive ends up in a nightmare for themselves. Very few in the Country realize the ordeal an ordinary Overseas Pakistani goes through in his daily life in strangle and hostile environments. Yet they slog along given that few opportunity exists for them in Pakistan. They console them self by reasoning that they do bring their some money to give their dear ones a better living and also help the Country pay its foreign bills.
This sorry lot which now number some 8 million are the back bone of Pakistani economy. They send USD 12 billion every year which keeps this country afloat. Many of this unfortunate lot have given upon Pakistan and decided to settle else where like Canada, Australia,Newzealand. These countries welcome them for their education and skill and savings in hundreds of thousands of USD. These countries short of man power are happy to get trained manpower.
Creation of Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum in 1988:
However among them are some stubborn and die hand Pakistanis who insist on coming back to Pakistan and making it one of the most prosperous Countries of the World better than the options they forsake in favor of Pakistan. A Group of such die had Pakistanis decided to form Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum (OPIF) in 1988, with members across the Globe. They undertook the task of educating Overseas Pakistani that contrary to the common belief their part of the World is naturally the richest and most conducive part of the World.
while the riches of the West is based on forcefully looting of the East and their continued exploitation with the help of planted rulers. Once this exploitation is over East will become rich again while West will become poor again, as they were before the exploitation began. This crazy lot was ridicule and made fun of. But they persisted . Given the situation which prevailed in Pakistan between 1980s and 90s majority of Overseas Pakistani opted to settle in any other Country than Pakistan.
9/11 a watershed a turning point:
Then came the 9/11 and things started to change. Hostility in western Counties made Overseas Pakistani doubtful about their decision and they started of returning back to Pakistan. They started buying houses and land in the Country and the remittances started to sour. While the remittances where in the range of 2-3 billion in 1980s it reached 6-8 billion during 2000s and now have touched USD 12 billion mark.
The rising remittance are an indication of difficulty Overseas Pakistanis are facing in Western Societies,detoriating Economic Condition of the West and rising hope that like China and India Pakistan will also rise as was predicted by OPIF in 1988.
OPIF Office in Karachi:
In 2008 I was asked by Executive Committee of OPIF to leave my well paying job as a Banker and establish an OPIF Office in Karachi to advocate Policy prescription which like Overseas Chinese pave the way for return of bulk of Overseas Pakistanis home with their USD 1,000 billion savings, expertise, and connections to make Pakistan an Economic Giant as returning Overseas Workers did in SOuth Korea,Malaysia and China.
Since 2009 OPIF Office in Karachi has held many Press Conferences, participated in in hundreds of Talk shows and written extensive articles and reports on how EConomic problems of Pakistan can be fixed.
I must admit I failed in my task and am thinking of going back to my well paid job by end of next year as my 3 years tenure of Head of Mission in Pakistan ends. Let someone better than me give a try.
OPIF failure can be summed in my own failure and the conspiracy of the Ruling Elite Class of Pakistan, who successfully ensure that any new thought which may challenge the status quo does not reach the masses. Initially I wrote about the development experiences else where which could be rapidly duplicated in Pakistan in English,then I wrote and spoke along with my colleagues in URDU newspaper and talk shows. In recent times we have paid attention to You Tube, Facebook an Twitter and hundreds of our shows are uploaded. Yet we failed to reach to the people or convince the Politicians who came in our contact.
OPIF's research and recommendations:
No party including PTI, ANP, JI and MQM is ready to tackle the core problems of Pakistan like:
1. Land Reform, lack of which is responsible for 60 pc poverty in the Rural Area..Land Reforms are on hold since 1977 when it was declared unislamic and Bhotto's last Land Reform Bill of 1977 which would have brought down land Ceiling to 100 acres from 150 acres as was implemented in 1972 was put on hold. PPP is salient on the subject and does not implement an approved law. PML thinks there is no need of any Reform, PTI is also silent on the issue while ANP calls for ceiling of 50 acres per family and MQM calls for 37 acres ceiling per family.
OPIF recommends maximum ceiling of 20 acres and distribution of 2 acres to land less peasant family of five.
2. Leasing of KATCHI ABADIS which is responsible for remaining 40 pc poverty in the Country. PPP came to power on the promise of granting Lease but has kept the matter pending upto now. As the election nears one of its Leaders have promised to grant lease before 27th Feb 2012. ANP is in favor of granting lease.
OPIF recommends immediate leasing of all KATCHI ABADIS and GOTHS in URBAN areas and payment of Rs 2000 per square yard for the development work done by the residents of such Areas.
3. Printing of massive amount of Notes causing inflation in the Country which keeps pushing down economically.
OPIF recommends making SBP so independent that it can refuse Governments request to print unnecessary Notes and giving it to them as Loans. Repayment in full of Rs 1200 billion loan it has taken.
4.Regressive Tax system. Which refuses to tax the Rich and only target the salaried Class and the poor for raising tax. Any talk of progressive tax like Wealth Tax to Inheritance Tax is closed by calling it Un Islamic.
OPIF recommends adoption of Tax system of any of the following Countries: Canada, UK, France,Germany and Holland.
5. Deregulation of Oil,Power and other sectors and closing of institutions like Trading Corporation of Pakistan or Food Department responsible to recent Sugar and Atta are opposed on the Ground that certain Ministers will loose their income source.
OPIF recommends a Small government and closure of 50pc of ministries and Departments to cut cost and remove hurdles in the working of the market system and reduce corruption stemming out these so called Regulatory Authorities which in fact work as collection point of bribes.
6. Establishment of Chine style Free Trade Zones in poor Regions to help create jobs is opposed on the Ground that currently some 84 agencies of the Government who extort income from Trade and Industry are likely to loose their income.
OPIF recommends establishment of 6 FTZs immediately to attract massive investments and creation of jobs. Two in Sindh could be first in Coal rich Tharparker and second between Ghoro and Kati Bander.
7. Whole hearted implementation of SAFTA and SAARC charter and very liberal visa regime within the SAARC.
OPIF recommends fast track move on SAFTA implementation. Opening of 6 additional border posts. Granting of 5 years multiple entry Visas to deserving Indians and other SAARC country National. This will definitely be reciprocated.
8. Create Smaller Provinces to improve governance. Various excuses of ethnicity and Language are forwarded to stop the moves.OPIF recommends 3 new provinces in Baluchistan, two new in Punjab, one new province in KP and Sindh.
OPIF also recommends relocation of all new Capital in Center of each Provinces while the Country's Capital should be moved to a central point like Dera Ghazi Khan.
9. Suggestion to create alternative Courts like Nigeria to get rid of 19 lacs cases and improve property rights are ignored.
OPIF recommend 3 shift working of existing Courts and creation of Nigerian style Courts to take care of smaller cases. OPIF also wants the existing Banking Courts to take up financial dispute cases not involving Banks.
10. Teaching of Quran in Urdu and staring working day after Fajr prayer.Even religious Parties are not ready to adopt these measures as they contend that all Pakistanis should instead learn Arabic as reading Quran in Arabic is superior. Regrading starting work after Fajr they think their support bank among traders will not like it.
OPIF recommends immediate implimentation of these measures to improve Understanding the message of Islam and improving Moral base. Adoption of early working hour is not only mandated by ALLAH but can save lot of energy and improve health of the Nation.
11. Adopt Human Right policies as per UN Charter and repeal all laws which discriminates on the basis of Religion, Gender, race or caste. This is taboo subject for
Existing parties for they think that it will harm their election possibilities. They refuse to listen to the simple logic that while it may not liked by some it will be liked by others.
By Tarique Khan Javed,President,Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum
Plight of Overseas Pakistanis:
The unfortunate lot of Pakistanis which was forced to seek work outside the Country due to economic compulsion are a sorry lot. They leave delicate relations behind, and are unable to turn for years. These relationship often can not tolerate the long absence. Many of them break up in their absence. They end up loosing the very reason they went out for. Their dream that their better earnings will help their extended families survive ends up in a nightmare for themselves. Very few in the Country realize the ordeal an ordinary Overseas Pakistani goes through in his daily life in strangle and hostile environments. Yet they slog along given that few opportunity exists for them in Pakistan. They console them self by reasoning that they do bring their some money to give their dear ones a better living and also help the Country pay its foreign bills.
This sorry lot which now number some 8 million are the back bone of Pakistani economy. They send USD 12 billion every year which keeps this country afloat. Many of this unfortunate lot have given upon Pakistan and decided to settle else where like Canada, Australia,Newzealand. These countries welcome them for their education and skill and savings in hundreds of thousands of USD. These countries short of man power are happy to get trained manpower.
Creation of Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum in 1988:
However among them are some stubborn and die hand Pakistanis who insist on coming back to Pakistan and making it one of the most prosperous Countries of the World better than the options they forsake in favor of Pakistan. A Group of such die had Pakistanis decided to form Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum (OPIF) in 1988, with members across the Globe. They undertook the task of educating Overseas Pakistani that contrary to the common belief their part of the World is naturally the richest and most conducive part of the World.
while the riches of the West is based on forcefully looting of the East and their continued exploitation with the help of planted rulers. Once this exploitation is over East will become rich again while West will become poor again, as they were before the exploitation began. This crazy lot was ridicule and made fun of. But they persisted . Given the situation which prevailed in Pakistan between 1980s and 90s majority of Overseas Pakistani opted to settle in any other Country than Pakistan.
9/11 a watershed a turning point:
Then came the 9/11 and things started to change. Hostility in western Counties made Overseas Pakistani doubtful about their decision and they started of returning back to Pakistan. They started buying houses and land in the Country and the remittances started to sour. While the remittances where in the range of 2-3 billion in 1980s it reached 6-8 billion during 2000s and now have touched USD 12 billion mark.
The rising remittance are an indication of difficulty Overseas Pakistanis are facing in Western Societies,detoriating Economic Condition of the West and rising hope that like China and India Pakistan will also rise as was predicted by OPIF in 1988.
OPIF Office in Karachi:
In 2008 I was asked by Executive Committee of OPIF to leave my well paying job as a Banker and establish an OPIF Office in Karachi to advocate Policy prescription which like Overseas Chinese pave the way for return of bulk of Overseas Pakistanis home with their USD 1,000 billion savings, expertise, and connections to make Pakistan an Economic Giant as returning Overseas Workers did in SOuth Korea,Malaysia and China.
Since 2009 OPIF Office in Karachi has held many Press Conferences, participated in in hundreds of Talk shows and written extensive articles and reports on how EConomic problems of Pakistan can be fixed.
I must admit I failed in my task and am thinking of going back to my well paid job by end of next year as my 3 years tenure of Head of Mission in Pakistan ends. Let someone better than me give a try.
OPIF failure can be summed in my own failure and the conspiracy of the Ruling Elite Class of Pakistan, who successfully ensure that any new thought which may challenge the status quo does not reach the masses. Initially I wrote about the development experiences else where which could be rapidly duplicated in Pakistan in English,then I wrote and spoke along with my colleagues in URDU newspaper and talk shows. In recent times we have paid attention to You Tube, Facebook an Twitter and hundreds of our shows are uploaded. Yet we failed to reach to the people or convince the Politicians who came in our contact.
OPIF's research and recommendations:
No party including PTI, ANP, JI and MQM is ready to tackle the core problems of Pakistan like:
1. Land Reform, lack of which is responsible for 60 pc poverty in the Rural Area..Land Reforms are on hold since 1977 when it was declared unislamic and Bhotto's last Land Reform Bill of 1977 which would have brought down land Ceiling to 100 acres from 150 acres as was implemented in 1972 was put on hold. PPP is salient on the subject and does not implement an approved law. PML thinks there is no need of any Reform, PTI is also silent on the issue while ANP calls for ceiling of 50 acres per family and MQM calls for 37 acres ceiling per family.
OPIF recommends maximum ceiling of 20 acres and distribution of 2 acres to land less peasant family of five.
2. Leasing of KATCHI ABADIS which is responsible for remaining 40 pc poverty in the Country. PPP came to power on the promise of granting Lease but has kept the matter pending upto now. As the election nears one of its Leaders have promised to grant lease before 27th Feb 2012. ANP is in favor of granting lease.
OPIF recommends immediate leasing of all KATCHI ABADIS and GOTHS in URBAN areas and payment of Rs 2000 per square yard for the development work done by the residents of such Areas.
3. Printing of massive amount of Notes causing inflation in the Country which keeps pushing down economically.
OPIF recommends making SBP so independent that it can refuse Governments request to print unnecessary Notes and giving it to them as Loans. Repayment in full of Rs 1200 billion loan it has taken.
4.Regressive Tax system. Which refuses to tax the Rich and only target the salaried Class and the poor for raising tax. Any talk of progressive tax like Wealth Tax to Inheritance Tax is closed by calling it Un Islamic.
OPIF recommends adoption of Tax system of any of the following Countries: Canada, UK, France,Germany and Holland.
5. Deregulation of Oil,Power and other sectors and closing of institutions like Trading Corporation of Pakistan or Food Department responsible to recent Sugar and Atta are opposed on the Ground that certain Ministers will loose their income source.
OPIF recommends a Small government and closure of 50pc of ministries and Departments to cut cost and remove hurdles in the working of the market system and reduce corruption stemming out these so called Regulatory Authorities which in fact work as collection point of bribes.
6. Establishment of Chine style Free Trade Zones in poor Regions to help create jobs is opposed on the Ground that currently some 84 agencies of the Government who extort income from Trade and Industry are likely to loose their income.
OPIF recommends establishment of 6 FTZs immediately to attract massive investments and creation of jobs. Two in Sindh could be first in Coal rich Tharparker and second between Ghoro and Kati Bander.
7. Whole hearted implementation of SAFTA and SAARC charter and very liberal visa regime within the SAARC.
OPIF recommends fast track move on SAFTA implementation. Opening of 6 additional border posts. Granting of 5 years multiple entry Visas to deserving Indians and other SAARC country National. This will definitely be reciprocated.
8. Create Smaller Provinces to improve governance. Various excuses of ethnicity and Language are forwarded to stop the moves.OPIF recommends 3 new provinces in Baluchistan, two new in Punjab, one new province in KP and Sindh.
OPIF also recommends relocation of all new Capital in Center of each Provinces while the Country's Capital should be moved to a central point like Dera Ghazi Khan.
9. Suggestion to create alternative Courts like Nigeria to get rid of 19 lacs cases and improve property rights are ignored.
OPIF recommend 3 shift working of existing Courts and creation of Nigerian style Courts to take care of smaller cases. OPIF also wants the existing Banking Courts to take up financial dispute cases not involving Banks.
10. Teaching of Quran in Urdu and staring working day after Fajr prayer.Even religious Parties are not ready to adopt these measures as they contend that all Pakistanis should instead learn Arabic as reading Quran in Arabic is superior. Regrading starting work after Fajr they think their support bank among traders will not like it.
OPIF recommends immediate implimentation of these measures to improve Understanding the message of Islam and improving Moral base. Adoption of early working hour is not only mandated by ALLAH but can save lot of energy and improve health of the Nation.
11. Adopt Human Right policies as per UN Charter and repeal all laws which discriminates on the basis of Religion, Gender, race or caste. This is taboo subject for
Existing parties for they think that it will harm their election possibilities. They refuse to listen to the simple logic that while it may not liked by some it will be liked by others.
OPIF recommends full implimentation of Human Right Charter of UN which we have signed to remove existing torture of weaker sections of the Society.
Convert OPIF into Reform Party of Pakistan.
Before the end of my tenure in Karachi Office in Dec 2012, I wish
To give our efforts a last major push by creating a new Political party with above 11 points as it's Manifesto. I would also like to create an Internet Channel on You Tube in which the proposed Party views are aired. The aim of such Party which may be named Reform Pakistan Party (RPP) would be initially to put pressure on existing parties to adopt some points of Manifesto in theirs. Even adoption of few of the Reforms by main stream established party may be considered sufficient achievement from our point of view. We may consider taking part in election in 2018.
Convert OPIF into Reform Party of Pakistan.
Before the end of my tenure in Karachi Office in Dec 2012, I wish
To give our efforts a last major push by creating a new Political party with above 11 points as it's Manifesto. I would also like to create an Internet Channel on You Tube in which the proposed Party views are aired. The aim of such Party which may be named Reform Pakistan Party (RPP) would be initially to put pressure on existing parties to adopt some points of Manifesto in theirs. Even adoption of few of the Reforms by main stream established party may be considered sufficient achievement from our point of view. We may consider taking part in election in 2018.
This article was published as a Leading article in the The Leader on 20th Dec 2010
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