PAKISTAN has seen ups and downs since its inception. In the early 1950s, Pakistan shipped tonnes of rice to Japan to help the latter overcome acute food shortage there. In the early 1960s, Pakistan granted a loan to what at the time was West Germany on 20-year payback terms. Hailed as one of the best airlines today, Emirates was founded with the crucial support of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the 1980s, including technical, administrative and training facilities and assistance.

Pakistan has also been supporting countries in international political and humanitarian efforts. In the early 1950s, Pakistan had issued a passport to the Moroccan freedom-fighter, Ahmed Balafrej to enable him to address the United Nations Security Council, thus significantly boosting Morocco’s independence movement.

Bilateral relations between Pakistan and China were a story of great diplomatic leverage, and Pakistani heads of govern- ment and state used to receive warm welcome whenever they sat foot on the United States soil.

Engineering students from far and wide used to visit Pakistan to see the marvel of Mangla Dam. Eminent Pakistani economist and international development theorist, Dr Mahbubul Haq, played a duly acknowledged role in influencing many countries, including South Korea.

In recent years, things have changed for the worse. We see a case study in Harvard University about Pakistan’s deteriorating condition, ongoing economic and political challenges, high inflation, external debt and political instability. We need to take concrete steps to promote an enabling environment across the board to prepare for taking a quantum leap.

Ghazala Anbreen
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2024