The state of the union and where Pakistan is at has become a moot point in discussions at diplomatic, official and commercial circles overseas. As a Pakistani it is interesting what they have to say because it brings one to focus dispassionately on the realities facing our country. Excessive defense of the indefensible creates disbelief, but there are many defensible points, incorrect perceptions depicted by international media and the actions of our very own elected representatives.
The first question asked, Is the situation in Pakistan really bad? Well to my mind it is absolutely clear that it is nowhere as bad as is believed by those who have not visited. At the start when you begin by negating this view one is met with some surprise and cross glances by your audience at each other. At the end, the questions being asked are far more in tune with reality and you can sense relief, especially when they begin to liken the negative hype created to similar situations in the past internationally.
Before castigating the international media for forming and presenting continuously a downbeat opinion we need to look within. The local press, electronic and print, has apparently decided that only sensationalism will sell. This sensationalism preys upon the emotions of the common man and is in many cases completely untrue and prejudicial to national interests.
Lack of education and resultant undisciplined thought process leads to the buildup of emotions that have hampered essential progress. Storage of water is a classic example. The country is decades behind where it ought to be in this case simply because there have been weakly substantiated arguments against implementing water storage dams. But given the big negative hype, the people will be starved of water and the like created enough pressure to stall the projects. Not that it would have made a difference during this years floods because the dams would not have been ready as yet but these floods are an example of what may possibly have been avoided.
Sticking to the local scenario, the political parties cannot escape blame for their attitude of attempting to score points over each and every action of government. For one, there is no alternate economic strategy or doctrine followed by any party in the country. There never has been except for the time during Z.A Bhuttos initial years when socialism separated the PPP from the others in the fray. By the end of the first term and the beginning of the shortened second term Mr. Bhutto too had begun to reinvigorate the feudals whom he had defeated in the 1970 polls.
For the last three decades we have seen coalition governments due to the split in the vote bank. These coalitions have been subject to huge inter and intra party blackmail resulting in weak decision-making and legislation. Apart from a couple of real issues most of these decisions are selfish to the politicians themselves and in utter disregard of people and nation. No alternatives are offered.
What people overseas read and hear is the dirty linen being washed in public and even linen that is pristine is made to appear to be dirty for the sake of doing so. Now, we have international media buzzing like bees in the Capitol and we have hundreds of politicians aching to be heard and seen on media. The net result is an analysis by a moderate to good foreign journalist punctuated with quotes from our geniasses. Not everyone comes to Pakistan; therefore you cannot blame them for believing the information available.
Management of media is no easy task in this freedom of information era. There are few ministers with the zeal, energy and commitment exhibited by Minister Kaira. However it takes more than one individual to put the act together. Illogical opposition for the sake of opposition and point scoring cannot be easily fought off but at the same time a cohesive media policy will begin to set the basis and foundations of logical analysis by presenters of electronic media and the journalists in print media. It is essential a press corps is formed and operates within the environment of the Chief Executives office as in the US.
It is so easy to misbalance the scales during a television program. You invite a minister, a loudmouth opposed to the subject, an expert opposed to it too and a senior functionary of an opposition party. With the dice so loaded you can demolish the government, creating the impression that all is not well in the Republic.
For one I feel we have far too many channels in the country. Some totally substandard. And number two, we have too many spokesmen, many of whom are equally substandard and disconnected. A constructive media policy needs immediate formulation and while that happens government should clamp down on who speaks for it and where.
The writer can be contacted at [email protected]
