Malik Ashraf
Notwithstanding the scepticism expressed by opponents of government and cynical assertions about its achievements during the last three years, it is hard to contest the claims of the prime minister when he says that Pakistan is striding on the path of peace and prosperity, and is well poised to become the economic hub for the countries of South Asia as well as Central Asia. If we compare the overall security environment in Pakistan and the existing economic portents at the moment with the situation in 2013 when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government came into power, as well as developments in the region , the inference that can safely be drawn would not be different from what the prime minister has been repeatedly claiming.
When the PML-N government assumed power — hardly anyone would tend to disagree — the country was engulfed in an ambience of gloom. Snowballing terrorism and religious extremism posed an existentialist threat; the economy was in complete shambles marred by a debilitating energy crisis; and Karachi, the industrial capital of Pakistan and the jugular vein of the economy, was ruled by terrorists, target killers and land mafia. Balochistan was seething with insurgency and sectarian killings. These were egregious and intractable challenges that needed political will and vision to take them on to turn the despondency into a vibrant hope.
Honestly speaking, the government notwithstanding the constraints and the presence of debilitating factors, showed a remarkable commitment and courage to take on those challenges. It accorded top priority to dealing with the phenomenon of terrorism and religious extremism, and with the consent and approval of all political forces, initiated a process of dialogue with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). But when it became evident in the wake of continued acts of terrorism by the TTP and its affiliates — like the attack on the Karachi airport — government did not hesitate to launch the Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan in consultation with the military establishment. Subsequently, the National Action Plan (NAP) was also put into place to deal with the situation in the backdrop of the attack on the Army Public School, Peshawar.
While our valiant armed forces executed the operation, federal government and political parties extended national ownership and the support that it required. State institutions like parliament and the judiciary also paved the way for the establishment of military courts through the 21st amendment and its endorsement respectively, which formed the most crucial element of NAP among other variables.
Within two years from its commencement, the Operation Zarb-e-Azb has achieved its objective of clearing North Waziristan of terrorists and their infrastructure. That could not have been possible without the unflinching commitment and sacrifices rendered by our valiant soldiers, and their role in reconstructing the destroyed infrastructure and rehabilitating the internally displaced people (IDPs). During the operation, 3,500 terrorists were killed, and 992 of their hideouts were destroyed. In achieving this, 490 security personnel lost their lives, while 2,108 were injured. The nation owes unqualified gratitude and appreciation to our armed forces for what they have done to winch the country out of an extremely bad situation.
Rehabilitation of IDPs is in progress, and to help them restart their lives schools, roads and mosques are being built with the support and active participation of the troops. Army has constructed 700 kilometres of road in North Waziristan. To ensure that terrorists do not stage a comeback to the area, new wings of FC and para-military forces are being raised to man the check posts along the Pak-Afghan border to regulate the movement of people through a process of verification.
Alongside the operation in North Waziristan, army also undertook 19,347 intelligence-based operations in other parts of Pakistan to pre-empt the backlash and to eliminate sleeping cells and supporters of terrorists; in these 213 terrorists were killed. These operations have greatly helped to curtail incidents of terrorism, contributing immensely to the improvement of law and order.
Situation in Karachi has vastly improved. As a result of targeted operations, 1,203 terrorists belonging to the al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, TTP and Tehreek-e-Swat have been arrested, including 636 target killers belonging to proscribed organisations and political parties. Remnants of terrorists, though, are still carrying out sporadic attacks and target killings as a retaliatory action.
In the wake of the last terrorist attack in Quetta, government has upped the ante against terrorism by launching a countrywide combing operation and pursuing the implementation of NAP with a renewed vigour. Civil and military leadership, together, review the situation for adopting necessary and required measures to uproot the scourge of terrorism.
The economy is on the upward curve signifying the commencement of an era of sustained economic growth. The macro-economic and structural reforms have produced encouraging results. The veracity and authenticity of these claims have been endorsed by international institutions like the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), and global ranking agencies like Moody’s, as well as international media. The Transparency International in its three successive reports has indicated a dip in corruption in Pakistan.
In regard to the energy crisis, the situation has gradually improved. Nearly, 3,000MW electricity has been added to the system. A number of power projects has been initiated, including under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with a cumulative production capacity of 10,640MW, which is likely to come on stream by the end of 2018. The import of LNG from Qatar has already started creating a positive impact on the energy situation.
These verifiable facts prove that the PML-N government has been successful, to a great extent, in tackling the formidable challenges that it inherited. What was remarkable about the achievements so far is that they were accomplished in spite of diversion of enormous resources towards implementation of Zarb-e-Azb, devastating impact of floods on the economy, heavy payment of debts inherited by government, and economic losses incurred during the protest of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek in Islamabad. Gloom has surely been transformed into an abiding hope.
Implementation of CPEC is going to bring transformational change in the economic profile of Pakistan as well as the entire region. Reportedly, the ADB along with five other multilateral donors is also developing six corridors that will connect the Gawadar and Karachi ports with Central Asia and Europe via Russia. This is being done under the initiative of the Central Asia Regional Cooperation (CAREC). Ishaq Dar, Chairman, CAREC, has convened a meeting of the organisation on October 26-26 in Islamabad, and the forum is likely to discuss further avenues of regional connectivity.
As a result of these developments Pakistan is poised to become the economic hub for South Asia and Central Asia with prospects of infinite economic benefits. The future economic outlook is surely very encouraging, provided detractors of government do not succeed in rocking the boat.
