Misplaced priorities

A unique kind of atomic power

Pakistan is a major nuclear country. In a short period since 1998 when it conducted experimental explosions Pakistan has acquired the sixth largest arsenal of nuclear warheads in the world. It has also gained the ability to develop more sophisticated tactical weapons with limited fall out for use against invading enemy troops. It has not lagged behind in delivery systems either. It possesses bombers as well as missiles of various categories capable of taking the payload to any part of the enemy territory. As if this was not enough, experiments continue to be made to make the weapons more destructive and the delivery system more efficient.

Pakistan is a unique kind of atomic power. The nuclear state lacks some the most basic requirements needed for economic progress. Sixty seven years after its creation the country suffers from serious deficiencies in physical infrastructure. Load-shedding has continued sometime extending to eight hours in big cities and much longer in the rural areas. The country also suffers from gas shortages which hit the economy as well as millions of households. More than six million Pakistani children are out of primary schools, the highest number compared to any country in the world. The percentage of school going children is below some of the backward African countries. Forty per cent of all Pakistani children are underweight. Six out of 10 children are affected by what is called ‘stunting’ caused by malnutrition. One out of 10 children are affected by ‘wasting’ which is a disease causing muscle and fat wastage as a consequence of acute malnutrition. Four out of 10 Pakistanis are managing to survive below the poverty line. Meanwhile, the population time bomb continues to tick with nobody paying any heed.

The countries which fought two world wars in the 20th century are engaged today in economic and scientific cooperation and have enhanced multilateral trade. This in return has brought peace and prosperity to these countries. It is high time Pakistan reviewed its security paradigm. Cultivation of friendly relations with neighbouring countries will bring down expenditures on arms and ammunition. Regional peace would bring prosperity as a dividend. This would create a win-win-situation benefitting every country in the region. There are no doubt disputes left by history. The way to resolve them is to put the more complicated issues on the back burner for the time being, settle the easier ones first, improve economic relations and let the free flow of trade give birth to a conducive atmosphere where finally complicated issues can be taken up and resolved to every stakeholder’s satisfaction.