The state of any country’s economic growth and development generally heavily relies on the strength of its infrastructure, whether that is in its energy, telecommunications, water and sanitation, transport or education sector.
After the 1947 partition of British India, the development of infrastructure in Pakistan grew and has made steady progress in the last five decades. According to the World Bank Group, however, this rate of improvement has also been “among the slowest for the majority of public infrastructure sectors.” Further, this rate of improvement has failed to ameliorate infrastructure conditions for Pakistani citizens and disproportionately hurt the poor in the country.
In the mid-1950s, investments in infrastructure and heavy industry were accompanied by an agricultural revolution in a fertile Pakistan that even a richer India could not surpass. Despite being a nascent state, Pakistan successfully created its state institutions and industries from scratch. This was done against the specter of a well-off India with a greater share of urban population and established infrastructure. For a variety of social reasons combined with political turmoil, the economic tides soon took a turn for the worse as income contracted, inequality rose and inflation swallowed the most vulnerable – the poor – in Pakistan.
Today, Pakistan is a low-middle-income country with about 188 million people that not only places abysmally in the human development index (ranking 147th out of 188 in one U.N. report) but also faces both rural and urban disparities in poverty, income and development infrastructure.
Moreover, the government of Pakistan has faced international criticism for a surplus of development projects when existing infrastructure in Pakistan is fully capable of meeting the transportation demands of the country, leading to the envisioning or establishment of so-called white elephant projects costing billions of dollars that have been accused of largely benefiting the rich minority able to afford cars. One of these was the toll-spotted M2 Motorway connecting the capital city of Islamabad to Lahore, dubbed a “motorway for the privileged.”
By 2030, more than half of Pakistan’s projected 250 million citizens are expected to live in cities, making it crucial for the country’s economic and infrastructure growth to keep pace with its urban development. The pressure for urbanization, spawned largely by high birth rates and increasing rural migration, has caused Pakistan’s fast-growing cities to struggle in delivering basic public services and provide jobs for residents. The situation is so dire that, according to the World Bank, one in eight urban dwellers live below the national poverty line. When impoverished people from the country’s rural areas migrated to cities in hopes of a better life or were forced out due to climate change, this is not something they imagined facing.
The $56 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project has spurred Chinese investments in Pakistan’s energy and transport infrastructure. Observers in Pakistan have urged the government to observe caution and not saddle itself with debt that may trigger a financial crisis in the future. An infrastructure boom accompanied by lucrative megaprojects increase both public and foreign debt and may not necessarily be offset by the anticipated revenues of CPEC upon completion.
The CPEC partnership is not only paving the way for Pakistan to establish itself as Beijing’s closest strategic partner against India but also to link China directly to the Arabian Sea in order to protect China’s economic interests.
Pakistan’s own economic development, however, is still predicted to be just as fragile due to increasing debt, falling exports and dwindling remittance flow from overseas Pakistanis. Due to stagnant growth at home, which translates to not enough jobs for young Pakistanis, an entire generation faces an uncertain and perhaps unstable future, despite the entrepreneurial spirit pervading big cities like Lahore and Karachi and even some expanding provincial towns.
The government of Pakistan has gradually stressed the importance of public-private partnerships (PPP) over purely debt-based financial projects in order to fill the investment gap for infrastructure development. PPP arrangements have the added benefit of spurring the country’s economic growth by producing more jobs and minimizing the burden of government subsidies. To make life better for Pakistani citizens, the private sector in Pakistan will need further empowerment and involvement in sustaining the country’s infrastructure and helping Pakistanis take control over their country’s internal development.
Integrated water resource management, a transition from the present fossil fuel-based energy system to more cleaner and permanent options such as solar-hydrogen energy systems, the provision of quality education to all children of any gender within the framework of a nuanced policy in the education sector, and improving utilization of basic public healthcare facilities for both rural and urban populations (including immunizations) are all ways Pakistan can resurrect the gains it steadily made after its creation 70 years ago.
With the pressures of a rising population, stability and sustainability in Pakistan remain an integral part of the country’s overall development. Pakistanis have withstood the many tests, trials and crises in their country with resilience and hope. Solving the many problems in Pakistan and rebuilding the country’s infrastructure requires a robust marriage of democratically-aligned civil society organizations with the private sector in ensuring equitable access to markets and jobs for all Pakistanis.
– Mohammed Khalid
Photo: Flickr
Machismo Culture and Women’s Empowerment in Nicaragua
Nicaragua is a Central American country situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It has gained popularity with tourists for its coastline and variety of landscapes but, its superficial beauty masks a larger problem with women’s equality — the machismo culture. Breaking a long-standing philosophy, such as a machismo culture, has been one of the largest barriers to women’s empowerment in Nicaragua.
Machismo Culture
In Nicaragua, machismo or “macho” is often coupled with a sexist connotation that describes “machistas” as men who objectify women. To overcome the strict gender roles established by a macho society, organizations like The Masculinity Network for Gender Equality (REDMAS), have established gender equality programs in Nicaragua to begin transforming men’s “machista” behaviors. The impact of Machismo culture takes on many forms, and changing machismo behaviors is just the beginning of supporting women’s empowerment in Nicaragua.
During a forum supported by the U.N. in Nicaragua, a member of the FEM (Fundación Entre Mujeres) noted, “money has been managed by men, the gender-based division of labor is absolutely an economic relationship because work for (women) doesn’t have the (monetary) value as it has for men.”
In some Nicaraguan households, women are expected to deposit their earnings to the family patriarch and the women make much less than men in similar positions. In these households, the machismo attitude spreads to affect economic equality for women and obstruct their financial freedom.
The Road to Female Empowerment
In 2012, to counter the machismo culture and enhance women’s empowerment, the Nicaraguan government passed a legislation that requires “50 percent of political party candidates to be women.” This legislation is a large reason Nicaragua is ranked 4th in the World Economic Forum’s political empowerment gender gap.
An article naming Nicaragua “The World’s Unlikely Champion of Gender Equality” states, women are also gaining greater access to higher paying jobs, “making up more than 40 percent of lawmakers, senior officials and managers.”
In consideration of women’s political empowerment, economic opportunity, educational attainment and health and survival, the World Economic Forum has appointed Nicaragua the 10th highest nation in the global gender gap index. The nation has made immense strides to close the gender gap and combat a machismo culture. The World Economic Forum reports that “since 2006, Nicaragua has closed approximately 19 percent of its overall gender gap—making it one of the fastest-improving countries in the world.”
Thankfully, violence against women in Nicaragua has decreased, and more women are finding higher-paying jobs. Nicaragua is also ranked higher than any other Central American country on the global gender index. Efforts to counter machismo behavior have brought more than 25,000 Nicaraguans to various gender equality programs.
Although the Machismo culture is still present, the future for women’s empowerment in Nicaragua is bright.
– Eliza Gresh
Photo: Flickr
Exploring Five Important Development Projects in Cameroon
Cameroon, or “miniature Africa” is filled with immense diversity in anthropology, history, and climate geography. Captivating in its beauty, Cameroon is striking for its undiscovered natural resources and government’s stability. Nevertheless, there are few development projects that have been “left dormant while awaiting investments in the different sectors of agro-industry, road, port and airport infrastructure, energy, real estate and urban planning, in the mining industries and new technologies.”
The April 2013 Act granted various tax and customs exemptions over a five to ten-year period. Although this act is an incentive for the private sector, the installation phases of new investors were facilitated and their production safeguarded.
With a goal to boost the economic growth rate and tap into a potential 300 million consumer market here are five development projects in Cameroon that aim to be completed by 2035.
These five development projects in Cameroon not only promote the welfare of the locals, but also create incentives for international interest. The year 2035 is a big one for Cameroon, and hopefully, funding will receive a big push so these projects can both thrive but maintain longevity.
– Tara Jackson
Photo: Flickr
Three Predominant Areas of Growth For Infrastructure in Malaysia
Malaysia has made vast improvements over recent decades in its economic development. The emphasis the Malaysian government places on developing and upgrading its infrastructure has led to Malaysia becoming one of the most well-developed nations in Asia among newly industrialized countries. The government’s 11th Malaysia Plan, published in 2015, highlighted a development goal of transforming Malaysia into a fully developed nation by 2020.
The economical influx has clearly and drastically improved and strengthened infrastructure in Malaysia as there’s been steady improvement in poverty rates, a 55.3 percent reduction in those living below the poverty line as of 2014, and an increase in the number of the population working and employed.
Some of the major projects boosting infrastructure in Malaysia include:
1. Highways
As a link to major centers like seaports and airports, improving Malaysian highway systems means more efficient transportation of goods, which is vital to the country’s economy. The Asean Rail Express (ARX) has been initiated to become the Trans-Asia Rail Link that will connect Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, and end in Kunming, China.
The Pan Borneo highway is set to be completed by 2023, which will make driving 2,000 kilometers from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu, a populated and congested area, much easier for both the population and the transportation of goods.
2. Seaports
More than 90 percent of Malaysia’s trade is by sea. With the expansion of their economy and trade, seaports have been a key focus of improving infrastructure in Malaysia. Now, two of the seven international ports have been ranked among the top 20 container ports in the world. Port Klang is now the national load and transshipment center, having grown 5.5 percent in the number of goods passing through the port from 2016 to 2017.
3. Telecommunication
With its widespread application of modern technologies such as fiber optics, wireless transmission, digitalization and satellite services, Malaysia has built one of the more advanced telecom networks in the developing world. The mobile segment continues to dominate the market, while the fixed line market is in decline.
There has been progress on expanding mobile infrastructure in Malaysia to rural areas as well. Telephone subscribers in Malaysia can choose from five network service providers for a full range of local, domestic and international services under the Equal Access Regime. There are also six internet service providers and five telcos’s supporting a full range of domestic and international services.
With a national objective to see Malaysia ranked as a developed country by the year 2020, these developments in telecommunication, seaports, and highways show great progress for the nation and its people.
– Kailey Brennan
Photo: Flickr
Infrastructure in Egypt: A Three-Line Metro System to Promote Tourism
One of the main ongoing projects in regard to infrastructure in Egypt is the building of a three-line metro system. The system’s goal is to encourage more tourists to visit the region, according to Hesham Arafat, the country’s Minister of Transport.
“These three lines are proposed for promoting tourist activity that is expected to reach more than 30 million tourists per year by 2025,” Minister Arafat said.
Speaking at Middle East Rail conference earlier at the top of this year, Minister Arafat declared that the country intends to invest in 14.4 billion euros for the brand new metro system. The ministry is also searching for an ally to control an 8,725-square-meter shopping mall that links a railway station at Alexandria port.
Costing a total of 13 billion euros, the three express rail lines will travel from Luxor to Hurghada, Alexandria to Cairo, and Luxor to Cairo.
The Three Lines
Taking approximately five years to develop a 700-kilometers line, the Cairo to Luxor line was mentioned to be one of the most significant of the three lines and is priced at 6 billion euros.
During the conference, Minister Arafat disclosed research that proved how investors would take home an internal rate of return of about 9 percent on the development as the metro system is anticipated to transport over 3 million passengers each year.
The Alexandria to Cairo line is predicted to cost 3 billion euros and will be 210 kilometers long. Over it’s lifetime, the line is projected to extend returns of 11 percent with the development is predicted to take three years from start to be finish.
Taking four years to develop, the Luxor to Hurghada line totals at 4 billion euros and will be 300 kilometers long. According to Minister Arafat, the line will transport an approximated 1.5 million passengers and render returns of 10 percent.
Other Infrastructure Developments
Other infrastructure developments in Egypt seeking funding include an 82 million euro passenger and freight line from Mansoura to Damietta, an 85 million euro freight line connecting Egypt’s largest phosphate mine site at Abu Tartur to Safaga harbor, a 275 million euro streetcar connecting smaller cities in New Cairo to the underground network, and a 934 million euro, 34 kilometer underground line in Cairo from Imbaba to the airport.
The minister made a point to note that Egypt is a “pro-business” nation that hosts a strongly funded government, and a refreshed investment law that permits total foreign possession of companies and security from seizing of earnings or mandatory pricing. With advantageous characteristics such as these, the hope for the continued improvement of infrastructure in Egypt is extremely promising.
– Jalil Perry
Photo: Flickr
Triumphant Moments Regarding Humanitarian Aid to Cuba
Spending an entire day flooding over northern regions of the island, the harshest storm since 1932 destroyed over 4,000 homes, obliterated acres of cane sugar, engulfed Havana and ravaged Cuba as well as several other Caribbean islands.
And the entire world took notice — Russian, Japanese, Bolivian and Colombian governments all sent vessels of humanitarian aid to Cuba; in fact, the United States seemed to be the only direct assistance absent. Over the years, humanitarian aid to Cuba has been mixed with a rather substantial amount of political hesitations.
For instance, the United States Agency for International Development offers humanitarian aid — such as food, vitamins, medicines and toiletries — to Cuba in regard to their families, but also to political prisoners and politically ostracized individuals.
President of Engage Cuba, James Williams, stated that “politics playing the dominant role in humanitarian relief unfortunately has been with us far too long.”
A possibility considered by members of Congress was to provide Cuba with tools and supplies to repair public infrastructure like schools, hospitals, roads, and bridges, aside from direct humanitarian aid.
“If the U.S. were to do something magnanimous like this, it would go a long way to further U.S. interests in Cuba and generally support a group of people who are in dire need of help,” said Williams.
However, this plan would also require efforts from Congress to briefly, and temporarily, remove parts of the economic ban on Cuba to allow delivery of construction material to state entities that own the roads and other infrastructure. But as of now, the ban permits such deliveries only to private parties.
While America found loopholes to support the island’s direst needs, the Russian Emergencies Ministry sent humanitarian aid to Cuba that consisted of over 1,000 tons of cargo, including construction materials and medicines.
Three aircrafts from Japan, Bolivia and Colombia delivered humanitarian aid to Cuba in the form of an eight-ton load of cargo composed of rice, water, milk, sheets and hygienic items. Along with these nations, the governments of Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, China, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, Mexico, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Venezuela and Vietnam also articulated their unity with Cuba and readiness to support their salvage.
– Jalil Perry
Photo: Flickr
Rebuilding Infrastructure in Liberia
Liberia’s civil war killed more than 270,000 people and displaced another 500,000. The war was also extremely damaging to infrastructure in Liberia. Many roads were completely destroyed during the war. Miles and miles of roads were ruined, and for 15 years, much of the country had no piped water or electricity. The devastation the conflict inflicted on Liberia’s agricultural sector also caused the supporting infrastructure to crumble. Schools and other municipal services were wiped out in many areas.
The destruction of infrastructure in Liberia had devastating effects on the economy and the country’s standard of living. The GDP fell by 85 percent from 1980 to 2003. 75 percent of Liberians live on less than $1 a day.
As thorough as the devastation of its civil war was, Liberia has made major strides since the mid-2000s. The Accra Peace Accords that ended the war and the election of a new government in 2005 brought about major change.
During this time, investors have helped Liberia rebuild a portion of its roads. The capital, Monrovia, has access to electricity and water again. Most impressively, the government did away with school fees, raising enrollment in the school system by 50 percent.
The current government and the African Development Bank recognize that rehabilitating infrastructure in Liberia is important to growing the economy and raising people out of poverty. To this end, it has developed the Agenda for Transformation, focusing on infrastructure.
The plan encourages Liberia to participate in major regional infrastructure projects promoted by the Economic Community of West African States. The government hopes to have its main roads refurbished by 2030. Ultimately, the government sees a need for increased development of rail infrastructure and other modes of transportation to facilitate growth and link the country to its neighbors. Additionally, there are still many parts of the country without power or water.
Infrastructure in Liberia will need continued rebuilding and expansion, but given the damage that almost 15 years of war wrought, it is amazing how far the country has come.
– Andrew Revord
Photo: Flickr
Women’s Empowerment in Albania Moving Forward
Domestic violence has been the most pressing issue limiting women’s empowerment in Albania, affecting women of all generations across the country. The southeastern European nation is making progress in its efforts to bring an end to domestic violence, establishing a National Center for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of the Victims of Domestic Abuse in the capital, Tirana. The center was opened by the Albanian government in cooperation with the U.N. Development Project (UNDP) and other aid organizations.
“This shelter is part of the state social service structures,” said the center’s director, Fatbardha Hoxhalli, to the UNDP. “It constitutes an important service in the overall mechanism for the coordination of work and referral of domestic violence cases set up at several municipalities throughout the country.”
Despite the progress in combating domestic abuse, the lack of developed childcare services is another obstacle to women’s empowerment in Albania. In a study published in 2013, UNICEF’s country office in Albania recommended further involvement of Albanian men in childcare and family networks to combat the persistence of Albania’s heavily patriarchal society. Further investment in childcare and early child development services would significantly contribute to women’s empowerment in Albania.
In Tirana, Albania’s bustling capital home to almost half a million people, businesses owned and run by women are thriving. Women run travel agencies, influential online newspapers and countless other enterprises, receiving support from a fund created by the city government.
Albania’s political leaders are also taking note of the gender equality gap in the country, announcing new measures to support women’s empowerment in Albania and enable more women to enter the labor market. A four-year National Strategy for Gender Equality and Action Plan, launched last year, aims to consolidate efforts across government ministries to advance gender equality in Albania by 2020.
All of these projects have been crucial steps in the process to advance women’s empowerment in Albania. By continuing to include women in all facets of the country, Albanian women’s daily lives can be greatly improved.
– Giacomo Tognini
Photo: Flickr
Economic Participation Key to Women’s Empowerment in Morocco
For example, gender equality became a huge issue in 2014 when Morocco rewrote its code of family laws. In its most recent writing, the government has yet to guarantee that a woman can receive the family inheritance instead of a man, even if he is younger or a half-sibling.
In 2004, Morocco created its original family law. Its primary iteration, however, did do away with some gender-related laws. Specifically, since 2004 Morocco has allowed divorce by mutual consent, placed limits on polygamy and raised the minimum marriage age for women to 18.
An important concept for women’s empowerment in Morocco is recognition. Specifically, certain Moroccan women are receiving international recognition, which only heightens their importance in aspects outside of the home.
For example, earlier this year a Moroccan businesswoman was selected by the World Economic Forum to co-chair its regional summit. Khadija Idrissi Janati is a PR expert and entrepreneur who is also on the board of directors for the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Morocco. As she said herself, her appointment to this position demonstrates women’s importance in economic development and that Moroccan women can be key players in the region’s future. U.S. President Barack Obama also received Janati in 2014 to commend her work on women’s empowerment in Morocco.
Similarly, from September 25-27 this year, Marrakech hosted the first annual Women in Africa Summit. The symposium, which attracted male and female attendees, provided a discussion about concrete actions to provide women with greater power and opportunities in their countries.
Certain projects have created more palpable routes for women’s empowerment in Morocco. In 2013, Naïma Fdil received the Terre de Femmes Prize for founding the organization Women’s Association of Family Development in Wadi Dadès. After studying in Marrakech, Fdil learned that roses from her birth region and valley could be harvested for cosmetic products.
She decided to return to the valley and set up an organization that taught women to distill these roses in order to produce products that could be sold at higher prices. Since then, this program has expanded the economic output of the valley and provided women the possibility to remove themselves from poverty.
Another program, created by the Association of Women for Rural Development, is called Empowering Women in Atlas. It seeks to create economic growth for women in the Atlas region of Morocco. Launched a year ago, it selected 100 female beneficiaries from marginalized areas with plans to give them workshops and training sessions to improve their economic power.
These projects have done a lot to promote women’s empowerment in Morocco, and more women are becoming involved in the economy as a result. By continuing to increase this participation and encouraging women to take on more influential roles, many women can be lifted out of poverty.
– Nick McGuire
Photo: Flickr
Many Organizations Fighting for Women’s Empowerment in Georgia
The country, though rich in ancient culture and heritage, faces gender inequality and discrimination against women. Due to its deep-rooted tradition and strong patriarchal society, women are mostly engaged in household activities with little opportunity for higher education and employment.
The rate of violence and abuse against women is also a concern. According to research funded by the U.N., one in 11 married women is the victim of violence at the hands of her husband or partner. Domestic abuse is still considered a private matter and women are hesitant to speak out. Thus, women’s empowerment in Georgia faces a major challenge.
The good news is that organizations like the United Nations, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other European associations are helping to fight the injustices that women in Georgia encounter in their everyday lives.
Contributions of the U.N. to Women’s Empowerment in Georgia
Since 2001, U.N. Women, along with Norway and the European Commission, has been working to address this issue. Their target is to reduce violence against women, provide them with peace and security, help them achieve financial independence and include them in national planning, budgeting and policymaking.
So far, U.N. Women has helped the Georgian government establish women’s shelters, launch a domestic violence helpline and promote awareness related to the rights of women, and has also provided assistance in introducing gender-inclusive policies to Parliament.
Another important focus is the support for internally displaced persons, people who were forced to flee their homes but remain within the country. With funding provided by the European Union, U.N. Women provides free legal aid, social services like daycare and economic opportunities to protect them from vulnerable conditions.
Contributions of USAID to Women’s Empowerment in Georgia
USAID has completed a three-year advocacy program to economically empower women in Georgia. The aim of the program was to mobilize women to fight for equality in the workplace. The program also provided incentives to employers to follow the existing non-discriminatory law in Georgia. They also helped to protect women’s rights in the legislature.
USAID’s other program, begun in September 2015, is the reduction of violence against women. The program, along with Georgia’s government, addresses domestic violence by establishing a national referral mechanism and promoting anti-violence education in schools, as well as using media and civic dialogue.
Although women are coming forward to fight for their rights, we still hear disturbing news of violence against women in Georgia. Hopefully, the joint effort of these organizations and their government will help them retain their self-respect and human rights.
– Mahua Mitra
Photo: Flickr
Solving the Challenges of Infrastructure in Pakistan
After the 1947 partition of British India, the development of infrastructure in Pakistan grew and has made steady progress in the last five decades. According to the World Bank Group, however, this rate of improvement has also been “among the slowest for the majority of public infrastructure sectors.” Further, this rate of improvement has failed to ameliorate infrastructure conditions for Pakistani citizens and disproportionately hurt the poor in the country.
In the mid-1950s, investments in infrastructure and heavy industry were accompanied by an agricultural revolution in a fertile Pakistan that even a richer India could not surpass. Despite being a nascent state, Pakistan successfully created its state institutions and industries from scratch. This was done against the specter of a well-off India with a greater share of urban population and established infrastructure. For a variety of social reasons combined with political turmoil, the economic tides soon took a turn for the worse as income contracted, inequality rose and inflation swallowed the most vulnerable – the poor – in Pakistan.
Today, Pakistan is a low-middle-income country with about 188 million people that not only places abysmally in the human development index (ranking 147th out of 188 in one U.N. report) but also faces both rural and urban disparities in poverty, income and development infrastructure.
Moreover, the government of Pakistan has faced international criticism for a surplus of development projects when existing infrastructure in Pakistan is fully capable of meeting the transportation demands of the country, leading to the envisioning or establishment of so-called white elephant projects costing billions of dollars that have been accused of largely benefiting the rich minority able to afford cars. One of these was the toll-spotted M2 Motorway connecting the capital city of Islamabad to Lahore, dubbed a “motorway for the privileged.”
By 2030, more than half of Pakistan’s projected 250 million citizens are expected to live in cities, making it crucial for the country’s economic and infrastructure growth to keep pace with its urban development. The pressure for urbanization, spawned largely by high birth rates and increasing rural migration, has caused Pakistan’s fast-growing cities to struggle in delivering basic public services and provide jobs for residents. The situation is so dire that, according to the World Bank, one in eight urban dwellers live below the national poverty line. When impoverished people from the country’s rural areas migrated to cities in hopes of a better life or were forced out due to climate change, this is not something they imagined facing.
The $56 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project has spurred Chinese investments in Pakistan’s energy and transport infrastructure. Observers in Pakistan have urged the government to observe caution and not saddle itself with debt that may trigger a financial crisis in the future. An infrastructure boom accompanied by lucrative megaprojects increase both public and foreign debt and may not necessarily be offset by the anticipated revenues of CPEC upon completion.
The CPEC partnership is not only paving the way for Pakistan to establish itself as Beijing’s closest strategic partner against India but also to link China directly to the Arabian Sea in order to protect China’s economic interests.
Pakistan’s own economic development, however, is still predicted to be just as fragile due to increasing debt, falling exports and dwindling remittance flow from overseas Pakistanis. Due to stagnant growth at home, which translates to not enough jobs for young Pakistanis, an entire generation faces an uncertain and perhaps unstable future, despite the entrepreneurial spirit pervading big cities like Lahore and Karachi and even some expanding provincial towns.
The government of Pakistan has gradually stressed the importance of public-private partnerships (PPP) over purely debt-based financial projects in order to fill the investment gap for infrastructure development. PPP arrangements have the added benefit of spurring the country’s economic growth by producing more jobs and minimizing the burden of government subsidies. To make life better for Pakistani citizens, the private sector in Pakistan will need further empowerment and involvement in sustaining the country’s infrastructure and helping Pakistanis take control over their country’s internal development.
Integrated water resource management, a transition from the present fossil fuel-based energy system to more cleaner and permanent options such as solar-hydrogen energy systems, the provision of quality education to all children of any gender within the framework of a nuanced policy in the education sector, and improving utilization of basic public healthcare facilities for both rural and urban populations (including immunizations) are all ways Pakistan can resurrect the gains it steadily made after its creation 70 years ago.
With the pressures of a rising population, stability and sustainability in Pakistan remain an integral part of the country’s overall development. Pakistanis have withstood the many tests, trials and crises in their country with resilience and hope. Solving the many problems in Pakistan and rebuilding the country’s infrastructure requires a robust marriage of democratically-aligned civil society organizations with the private sector in ensuring equitable access to markets and jobs for all Pakistanis.
– Mohammed Khalid
Photo: Flickr