MODERNISATION is often considered synonymous with Westernisation. This is absurd, though understandable. Since what is considered ‘modernisation’ (actually it was technological advancement) began in Europe, it has often become difficult to separate the two concepts.

As Japan’s example shows, the Japanese people live in a highly modern and technologically advanced state and society. But they have not become ‘Western’ because they have not abandoned their values. In fact, Japanese are a very proud people and take legitimate pride in their culture. In fact, they consider other cultures inferior.

Some other Far Eastern and South-East Asian countries too have achieved a high level of modernisation — Singapore and South Korea — and others are developing fast: Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

China, however, is in a class by itself. Given the size of its territory and population, it is modernising at a fantastic speed, if modernisation means, as it should mean, scientific and technological progress, all-round infrastructure development and the special attention paid to its human resources.

Pakistan is nowhere in the picture. Heavy defence expenditure is only one of the reasons; the other reasons include a stupefying failure to spread literacy, lack of focus on the development of science and technology, and the refusal to part with anachronistic values.

Unfortunately, some of these traditional values are considered part of religion. Add to this the religious lobby’s hostility to the very idea of women’s participation in all aspects of life and you get an idea of why we have failed to progress. Other reasons include the feudal lords’ control of parliament and government. This automatically means a continued subjugation of landless peasants. Because by virtue of their control of parliament they also control the bureaucracy, the policies they make safeguard their class interests instead of focusing on the people’s welfare.

There is one question, however, that begs an answer. Why has Pakistan failed to industrialise? There was rapid industrialisation during the Ayub era, but since his departure Pakistan has made no worthwhile industrial progress. Surely, industrialisation doesn’t hurt the feudals. So why has Pakistan’s ruling feudal class paid no attention to industry?

Finally you have to admit events beyond our control. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, 9/11 and the wave of terrorism have all combined to stymie foreign investment and discouraged Pakistan’s own business entrepreneurs from investing in industry. The political change after last year’s general election hasn’t led to an economic revival, much less to a new era of industrial growth. The religious lobby’s hold too continues unabated. In fact, in certain respect it has increased.

This lack of modernisation is witnessed by us daily at bank counters, information desks, and at airports and railway stations.

Junaid Lateefi

Quetta

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2019