Pakistan PM's address to the meeting of poor countries
Muhammad Khurshid
Journalist by passion and Founder of Voice For Peace based in Bajaur Tribal District
Addressing the fifth conference of less developed countries in Qatar, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked international organizations to ease the terms of loans for poor countries. The Prime Minister said that the effects of climate change have affected less developed countries more. Poor countries make up 14 percent of the world's population but account for 1.3 percent of GDP. The Prime Minister's participation in the meeting of least developed countries in Qatar is significant in two ways.
Until a few years ago, Pakistan was one of the fastest growing countries. Brazil, India, China, South Africa and Russia are the fastest growing economies in the world. They are called BRICS countries. Pakistan was prominent among the developing countries after them. Pakistan had many foundations to develop. The rate of youth is 63% of the total population. These people in the age group of 15 to 33 years could be energetic and useful workforce of the country. Social, economic and political goals could be achieved by providing training to the youth. Youth have the power to transform a backward country into a prosperous state. Many employers in Europe import skilled workers from poor countries and offer them citizenship to fill the youth labor shortage.
Governments of Pakistan have made many policies regarding the youth. Every government announces loan scheme for youth, laptops are given and that's it. The role of youth for the development of the society could not be adapted in the modern policy. As a result, the youth now consider manual skills more important than education. Most of the youth have become so disappointed with the country's situation that they want to leave Pakistan at any cost. According to an official report, 45 lakh youths have made passports in a few months. These are the youth who are disillusioned with the development, opportunities and improvements in the country. Pakistan is an agricultural country. Agriculture thrives with good land and protection of natural resources. Absence of housing policy in the country, occupation of parliament by people connected with real estate and construction of huge housing schemes on fertile lands, land is being wasted. Its damage is beginning to show that the citizens of the self-sufficient country are struggling to get flour. Food items are being imported. When the value of the dollar rises, a storm of inflation follows. It was a very reasonable and simple thing to do to make agriculture self-sufficient.
领英推荐
The area under cultivation of crops like cotton, which provide raw material to export industries, would be increased. It is a sign of the government's seriousness that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a special package for the affected farmers after the floods. His announcement was appreciated but the Kisan package could not be implemented for six months. In January 2023, the Kisan package was terminated by giving IMF conditions. The process of development does not come from words. The nation and its leaders have to work. Health, education, infrastructure, peacekeeping, tourism, stability of democracy, agriculture, industry, energy, communication, aviation, transport, trade and production policies are made.
It is not known how the personalities who join the government make themselves stand out by using their ability that their performance is very poor. Just imagine the performance of the present government that the prime minister has given the posts of minister, advisor, special assistant, etc. to 85 people, these people are making full use of the resources. The Prime Minister has announced a few weeks ago that his ministers will not take government concessions, but everything is going on as it is, but the leaders of the parties in the government coalition who do not hold any government positions are also using the vehicles of the protocol on the public treasury. Together they move from city to city. It cannot be disputed that the Prime Minister said that international financial institutions and developed states should develop sympathy for the less developed countries. It is the discriminatory policies of the global financial system that have made the resources of poor countries the fuel for the development of big countries. Pakistan is moving from a place of development to poverty. The reason for this disorder is incompetent leadership and disempowerment of the people, but a major reason is the corruption of the powerful and influential classes. Seeing how the laws are changed for the powerful in the dear country, the hope of improvement dies. The situation has become that Pakistan waits for a natural calamity and tragedy to appeal to the world for help under its guise. If a country of 22 crore self-reliant people is trying to assert its status by participating in a conference of poor countries today, then the ruling classes must review their performance.