This is with regards to the feature, ‘Followers are not LEADERS’, published yesterday. For the past decade or so, we have developed this dogma of believing that we are the best. We lean against our roots, culture and religion, to support this belief of ours. This acts against our learning ability i.e. we can constantly shift blame and not learn from more successful nations. If we look at the stats, we see that Pakistan has progressed, but not on a massive level. With technological advancements, aid, trade and several other developments over past 50 years, we are expected to see progress at a much higher rate. Since the feature talked about poverty, so I’ll keep my discussion limited to that. If we compare most of the stats with India, GDP of Pakistan is approximately $1100 per capita which is about $400 lower than that in India. In 2010, inflation in Pakistan was 15.5 per cent whereas 9.5 per cent in India. So now you see what 27 per cent of our population faces everyday? That’s more than one in four people. Above all, sitting on a computer with high-speed internet as sip on a cappuccino, it is very difficult to even imagine what life in poverty is. Pakistan is my home and I want best for it, but I don’t overestimate its achievements and underestimate its shortfalls.
Muhammad Usman
Lahore