Resilience paves the way to reconciliation – and Pakistan is indeed a resilient nation. Today, both economic and national security paradigms demand a grand reconciliation through a national dialogue involving all institutions and segments of society to realise the nation’s true potential.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto championed Pakistan’s progress through reconciliation and compromise, guided by broader terms of reference. President Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif also drew lessons from history and eventually aligned themselves with ground realities. Now, PTI leader Imran Khan must learn from history as well.
Compromise does not mean surrendering to the unconstitutional demands of the powerful. Rather, it requires engaging all stakeholders – including civil and military leadership – to find a viable solution. The answer lies within the corridors of power, amidst the complexities of governance. Flexibility is the need of the hour. Without flexibility and resilience, no solution is possible.
Leaders are the torchbearers of society, guiding the nation through their character and charisma. In medieval times, leadership was demonstrated through military strength, not through policies or constitutional frameworks – a distinction we must now understand and embrace. The suffering of the masses often stems from the rigid attitudes of their leaders, ultimately destabilising the entire nation. This must be avoided at all costs.
Stubbornness and inflated egos cannot coexist with long-term development and national security objectives. The nation needs flexibility from all quarters – a willingness to engage in dialogue, let go of vanity and shut the doors of darkness.
Statecraft is a comprehensive concept that involves managing the affairs of the state through dynamic institutions operating on professional lines. The state is often likened to a mother – nurturing and caring for its citizens without bias or discrimination, treating all equally and fairly. In theory, the state cannot be cruel. However, in practise, governments can sometimes adopt rules and regulations that inadvertently harm society’s healthy development. When this happens, the entire nation suffers.
Leaders must play their role in nurturing society by clearly distinguishing between statecraft and state graft. Statecraft is the art of governance through robust institutions built on merit and professionalism. In contrast, the infiltration or ‘grafting’ of such institutional setups with corruption, incompetence, or undue influence often leads to systemic collapse.
Reconciliation may not be a panacea for all ills, but it certainly offers viable solutions to many pressing problems. A brief look into Pakistan’s history reveals numerous factors contributing to its underdevelopment – chief among them being a fragile and inconsistent political system. Our political landscape has long suffered from experimentation, mismanagement and manipulation, preventing it from maturing into a stable and effective framework capable of serving the nation.
The first constitution, enacted in 1956 as a parliamentary system, lasted barely two years. In 1962, a second constitution was introduced under General Ayub Khan, replacing the parliamentary model with a presidential system. Pakistan experienced a major political rupture in 1971, and a third constitution was adopted in 1973 – once again favouring a parliamentary form. Since then, power has alternated between military and civilian leaderships, leaving the political system weak and fragile.
Globally, the political system is the foundation upon which all other systems, including the economy, are built. Modern nation-states require strong, functional political systems that deliver results at the grassroots level. While Westminster-style parliamentary democracy is widely respected, its practical application in countries like Pakistan has revealed significant limitations. Inheriting this model from the British colonial era may not have suited Pakistan’s unique socio-political realities.
There is now an urgent need to overhaul and reform our political system. This could involve transitioning to a presidential form of government through a national referendum, or alternatively, strengthening local governments to directly address the country’s widespread economic and developmental challenges.
Economically, Pakistan is burdened by low foreign direct investment (FDI), stagnant exports, unsustainable debt, ballooning circular debt, high interest rates, low GDP growth, rapid population increase, underdevelopment and scarce resources. Addressing these challenges is an enormous task that looms large over the minds of policymakers.
The time has come for those at the helm to make bold and visionary decisions – setting aside narrow personal interests for the greater good of the nation. Political stability is a critical prerequisite to unlocking economic potential and removing barriers to progress. A major national compromise is now imperative – one that puts the country’s future above all else and sets a course for lasting stability and growth.
Pakistan ranks among the lowest on the Human Development Index (HDI) and simultaneously records one of the highest Gini coefficients, as reflected by the Lorenz Curve. A closer look at the HDI reveals that illiteracy is a major driver of poverty. Education in Pakistan has long suffered due to various factors, chief among them being the security situation, which demands and consumes a significant portion of the national budget – second only to debt and debt servicing.
Healthcare is another severely affected sector. It, too, remains grossly underfunded, resulting in widespread health hazards that the population continues to endure. The persistent neglect of HDI-related sectors such as education and health is a root cause of Pakistan’s entrenched poverty, inequality, and inefficiency.
From politics to economics, the management of national affairs in Pakistan has been largely marked by adhocism. The nation’s trajectory has been shaped by a pattern of adventurism and expediency, rather than deliberate and visionary planning. Instead of crafting a robust strategic framework to reform our political and economic systems, we have repeatedly found ourselves groping in the dark.
While faith and hope are important – even vital – to begin the journey of reconciliation and resolution, hope alone is not a strategy. We must recognise that real change demands planning, commitment, and courage. A grand national jirga or national dialogue must be convened to build a national consensus. Only visionary leadership can initiate and guide such a reconciliation.
The writer is a former additional secretary and can be reached at: hassanbaig2009@gmail.com
