AJK underdevelopment

This refers to the article, ‘Underdevelopment in AJK’ (June 27) by Danish Khan. There are ground realities peculiar to the political status of AJK that need to be factored in while commenting on the politico-economic configuration of the region. Having served in the area I can vouch for the partial accuracy of the writer’s analysis. Prof Daron Acemoglu’s inclusive-extractive binary institutional model may not be very relevant to the convoluted political structure and status of AJK that is grounded in the country’s intractable conflict with India on the question of Kashmir.
The AJK economy lacks resources; in fact the government of Pakistan contributes resources to keep the regional economy afloat. AJK’s economy needs to be diversified through small-scale industrialisation and infrastructure development, which has the potential to strike a tourism goldmine. The present AJK political and administrative structure suffers from over-bureaucratisation and over-politicisation. Despite spending lavishly on health and education on paper, there is little to show in terms of quality education and healthcare on the ground. There is a dire need to eradicate corruption and politics of patronisation – the twin albatrosses around the neck of the people of AJK.
Brig (r) Raashid Wali Janjua
Rawalpindi