Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday, while condemning the plight of Muslims prevented from entering the United States (US) under US President Donald Trump’s immigration ban, expressed hope that the ban is extended to Pakistanis.
“I want to tell all Pakistanis today, I pray that Trump bans Pakistani visas so that we can focus on fixing our country,” Khan told a rally in Sahiwal. (Source: Dawn Newspaper, 30/1/2017)
Comment:
Pakistan has large gold/copper ore deposits at Saindak, large deposits of rock salt in the Pothohar Plateau, reserves of gypsum, limestone, chromites, iron ore, rock salt, silver, precious stones, gems, marbles, tiles, sulfur, fire clay, and silica sand.
In world rankings for agriculture, Pakistan ranks high in production of Chickpea (3rd), Apricot (6th), Cotton (4th), Milk (5th), Date Palm (5th), Sugarcane (5th), Onion (7th), Kinnow, mandarin oranges, clementine (6th), Mango (4th), Wheat (7th) and Rice (4th).
Pakistan’s livestock produces 29.472 million tons of milk, 1.115 million tons of beef, 0.740 million tons of mutton, 0.416 million tons of poultry meat, 8.528 billion eggs, 40.2 thousand tons of wool, 21.5 thousand tons of hair and 51.2 million skins and hides.
Despite all of these natural resources and wealth, the PML-N government announced that 60 million Pakistanis are living below the poverty line, in 2016. There are many health related issues, social problems, problems in the education system, corruption and so on.
Imran Khan’s statement suggests the solution for Pakistanis’ woes lies in its people staying put and fixing things. According to the Pakistani Government, around 8 million Pakistani people live abroad and most are in the Middle East. Despite moving abroad, overseas Pakistanis sent remittances amounting to $18.4 billion in 2014-15, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). (The Express Tribune, July 14, 2015.)
All of the statistics show that Pakistan really should not be such a mess but it is and the primary reason is not that people are not hardworking or willing to fix things but they actually cannot! The same man made system Imran Khan is so keen on fixing in Pakistan, namely western imposed Capitalist Democracy is the very reason why Pakistan is in its current state. And it is the same system that allowed Donald Trump to ban people on a list made by his predecessor, Obama. This list identifies what the US deem to be terrorist countries and this is actually the same view that they have of Pakistan already! As foreign operatives and mercenaries live and work in Pakistan causing all kinds of fitna in the name of War on Terror the politicians are blaming the people!
Would Imran Khan boldly step up and challenge US foreign policy that has caused decades of fighting and instability in the region? Would he mention the US economic policies that on a daily basis strangle the masses? Can he speak about the US trade deals that are designed to weaken Pakistan further? Can he mention all the policies and practices of Capitalism that make it impossible for the majority of the world to live in any sort of peace and harmony?!
It is a fanciful dream to think that the presence of people is going to make a difference and to never question policies that crush and paralyze the masses. Imran Khan makes reference to how he will not allow Pakistan to be subservient to the IMF, World Bank and so on but if he were to come to power, he like Trump will continue with policies of his predecessor which are also man-made and can never ensure harmony or stability.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى sent us with clear guidance that can elevate us in our individual and societal lives and leaving that we are as we are, unable to realize that potential despite all the wealth we may possess-whether natural resources or man power. People can only be a true asset when their relationships are regulated correctly.
Allah سبحانه وتعالى warns us very clearly:
وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَى
“And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.”
(Surah Ta-Ha: 124)
Nazia Rehman