Insurgency dampens hopes for economic revival
October 20, 2009
Terror attacks across Punjab and NWFP have created uncertainty in the business community and dampened hopes of any fresh industrial investment in Pakistan.
The traders in upper Sindh were expecting an upswing in the economy of the rural Sindh following recent parleys of the provincial government with major local and foreign investors to set up cement factories, fertiliser plants, date processing industry and cotton ginning.
The provincial govt had presented the Sukkur city as hub for intra city trade due to its location in the middle of the port city of Karachi and the upcountry urban centres.The spate of terrorism has dashed any hope of industrial activity and job creation in upper Sindh. The economy is likely to stay as dull as ever and there seems to be no let up in the mundane rural life.
The reign of terror has triggered hoarding of essential commodities. Though the upper Sindh is still far from the ravages of terror attacks, the fear factor has led to panic psyche of, “anything can happen.” As such every trader is piling up commodities as per his holding power. The citizens, as always are ready to face crisis after crisis without any valour to challenge the exploitation.
Representatives of civil society say poverty fosters terrorism, therefore the government has to encourage industrialisation and trade activities to provide meaningful employment to the masses.
Regarding the hype over the Kerry Lugar Bill the intelligentsia of Khairpur believes that our rulers lack sincerity. Pakistan is ruled by people who are not sincere with it, these rulers cannot use the resources of the country in a competent manner, then how would this country benefit from any foreign resource, it is said.
The income support programmes are politically motivated, the food subsidies become political advertisements, relief operations are not duties but media campaigns, the civil society members say.
As per local enomic experts, the country would be far better is its agricultural resources were promoted and the agri sector was aptly supported in shape of low mark up loans and subsidy on the inputs.
imtiaz.hussain@thenews.com.pk
The traders in upper Sindh were expecting an upswing in the economy of the rural Sindh following recent parleys of the provincial government with major local and foreign investors to set up cement factories, fertiliser plants, date processing industry and cotton ginning.
The provincial govt had presented the Sukkur city as hub for intra city trade due to its location in the middle of the port city of Karachi and the upcountry urban centres.The spate of terrorism has dashed any hope of industrial activity and job creation in upper Sindh. The economy is likely to stay as dull as ever and there seems to be no let up in the mundane rural life.
The reign of terror has triggered hoarding of essential commodities. Though the upper Sindh is still far from the ravages of terror attacks, the fear factor has led to panic psyche of, “anything can happen.” As such every trader is piling up commodities as per his holding power. The citizens, as always are ready to face crisis after crisis without any valour to challenge the exploitation.
Representatives of civil society say poverty fosters terrorism, therefore the government has to encourage industrialisation and trade activities to provide meaningful employment to the masses.
Regarding the hype over the Kerry Lugar Bill the intelligentsia of Khairpur believes that our rulers lack sincerity. Pakistan is ruled by people who are not sincere with it, these rulers cannot use the resources of the country in a competent manner, then how would this country benefit from any foreign resource, it is said.
The income support programmes are politically motivated, the food subsidies become political advertisements, relief operations are not duties but media campaigns, the civil society members say.
As per local enomic experts, the country would be far better is its agricultural resources were promoted and the agri sector was aptly supported in shape of low mark up loans and subsidy on the inputs.
imtiaz.hussain@thenews.com.pk
