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Dear All,Thanks a lot for the quick response on the topic of ISI and Politics. Please give me two minutes and read what I want to say: I am Business Professor in the USA for the last 20 years, and Chairman of Marketing, Management & Information System Department as well. I was born and raised in small town of Punjab and had Law Degree before coming to the USA on scholarship. Since 1995; my research has focused on third world economic development. In the beginning Pakistan was my focus of hypothesis. Then it was picked up by US Department of Agriculture and I was selected to lectured and be member Trade & Investment Mission in Eastern Europe and Africa. I also lectured in summers in China from 2004-2006.

My business teaching experience in China led me to develop this new model for Pakistan which I experienced in China teaching Small Business Development, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship in Beijing and Guilin. My focus of research was Agriculture Process Technology with Marketing Potential in which Pakistan is the best model and country. To be more on practical side; I now own my own company and with the help of American Government we offer same technology in Africa and E. Europe. Based on my teaching business in four continents, I can very confidently say that Pakistan does have great potential but our leadership lacks “Economic Vision”. Pakistan Development Project is a Think Tank based in the USA.

Being in American academia, I have no personal business or financial goals from anyone but I do want to lead and direct our young people to take charge and create opportunities themselves which do exist but our governments and politicians have failed to identify or deliver. In today’s global economy Politics and Economics go hand in hand. What I have experienced in Pakistan and have learned that British democracy has not given anything to Pakistan but protecting “Family Based Corrupt Politics”.

My argument is not about promoting Army, as Business Professor and Practitioner I will be the last one to do that. But Pakistan’s Geo-political situation will always have Army involved in domestic and international politics. This reality can not be changed because of Pakistan’s geography: India and Afghanistan. We can change friends but can not change neighbors. Every democratic or authoritarian government will need the support of Defence Forces. Therefore I have following political and economic arguments and recommendations to change the system:

1: Pakistan does not need enemies as enemy is inside. We need a very targeted and concentrated effort to save Pakistan. Few honest visionaries are required urgently.

2: This British like democratic system has not developed any Muslim Country at all. Rather look at Kenya and Bangladesh. For the last 60 years this British democratic system off and on in Pakistan has promoted and protected all corrupt and looters and corrupt politicians in Pakistan. To hide their incompetence, corruption, and loot they blame Army. I strongly believe in a “Partnership” between civil society and defence forces for economic benefit, while political forces can grow as well.

3: In modern history China has emerged as “New Economic Powerhouse” with more than $1 Trillion in surplus globally. All this started after 1984, when China declared “One Country Two Systems”. Look at the progress China has made by combining Armed Forces and Civil Society together, where Army develops infrastructure while small, medium, & large businesses develop and grow economy for the betterment of common citizen. Politics is all local and Strong Center does not allow anyone to talk against State or System. Same thing is applied in the USA. In Pakistan we can create the same model by having decentralised democracy electing locals to solve local educational, social, political, and economic problems.

4: Initial focus on Economic Development has to be on Agro Based Processing where Pakistan is very rich in Raw Material, Skilled labor, Young Educated and Motivated Entrepreneurs as Managers, and Some Infrastructure. But we can use Army to develop infrastructure and use western technology and know how for economic development. This activity can create 150+ smaller scale processing, production, logistics, and marketing units in each district. This model has been successfully implemented in the USA, EU, and even in China. Pakistan has all the ingredients but lacks concrete steps and leadership to implement them.

In Pakistan; every elected or non-elected politician and anchors in media talks about break-up of Pakistan. I am shocked how our top Civil, Judicial, and Military brace tolerates this. China’s stability, growth and economic development have lot to do with the system China adopted in 1984. The respect China has earned globally is worth following. In Pakistan we can adopt the same model as well. To implement that model Pakistan needs few honest visionaries. If China can grow with little English, Pakistan is in better position to develop. Pakistan’s decentralized system at Tehsil level is great and with more training and education it could be used to achieve economic goals. I do not see that current group of leaders and rulers have any capability. Come on “visionaries”. Let’s join hands to bring a lasting change.

Please comment and let’s take something out of this with focused and directed approach to solve problems. In Africa these models are creating industry run by generators. Same can be adopted in Pakistan. Political and economic reforms have to take place simultaneously.

Dr. Zafar A. Bokhari