PAKISTAN is rich in natural resources but poor in managing them. Despite having such a large empire, Hazrat Omar used to state: “If a dog dies near the river Euphrates, Omar will be responsible on the Day of Judgment.” The words of Hazrat Omar clearly define the criterion for a responsible management. Pakistan has the seventh largest coal reserves in the world, but cannot exploit them properly to overcome the energy crisis in the country.

Pakistan has plenty of water resources but cannot avert the water crisis. Pakistan has many untapped mineral resources but cannot make use of them. Pakistan has huge gas and oil reserves but cannot do away with gas and oil shortages. The current crisis shows a gloomy picture of poor or inefficient management. There are numerous causes of poor management. These include corruption, lack of technical expertise and political will, and interprovincial conflicts. There is a dire need to revisit the policies made by our previous leaders and there should be an across-the-board accountability in the country.

It should critically evaluate all those grey areas which ultimately indicate poor management of natural resources. If the government takes effective measures to root out these evils from its machinery, it would ultimately lead to a prosperous and crisis-free Pakistan.

ARIF ALI LAGHARI Karachi