Lest We Forget

[Panther 57]

Like any human being, President Musharraf too made some mistakes, the major one relating to the National Reconciliation Ordinance. The period from 2000 to 2008 was also full of certain outstanding achievements.

Let us take the economy first. Pakistan was financially in a very difficult position in October 1999. By 2008 it was included in the N-11 (Next 11) group of countries that were predicted to join the most powerful economies of the world. During 2000-2008, the GDP grew from $63 billion to $170 billion, and there was an annual GDP growth of about seven percent, better than most economies of the world.

Per capita income increased from $430 to about $1000, and the foreign exchange reserves that had slid to $0.5 billion in 1999 grew to $16.5 billion by 2008. The revenue generation grew from Rs. 308 billion in 1999 to about Rs.1 trillion in 2008. The debt-to-GDP ratio improved from 102 percent to 53 percent. The exports grew from $7.8 billion to $17.5 billion. Foreign direct investments increased from $400 million to $8.4 billion.

The Karachi Stock Exchange Index shot up from about 950 points to 16,500 points. The annual development budget increased from Rs90 billion in 1999 to Rs520 billion in 2008, while poverty was reduced from 34 percent to 17 percent. The dollar value was maintained at about Rs60, thereby controlling the rate of inflation.

The communication infra-structure also saw a rapid improvement. The major new roads built in this period were: Coastal Highway Karachi–Gwadar 700KMs, (M1) Peshawar to Islamabad Motorway, (M3) Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad Motorway, (M4) Faisalabad to Multan Motorway, National Highway (N5) dualised Karachi to Peshawar, Quetta-Zhob-D I Khan road, Quetta–Loralai-D G Khan Road, Gwadar–Turbat-Rato Dero road, Chitral linking with Gilgit over Shandur Pass, Gilgit linked with Skardu via Astore – Chillum–Deosai Plains, Lowari Tunnel linking KPK to Chitral, Kaghan Valley linked with KKH at Chilas over Babusar Pass, Kohat Tunnel, Lahore-Sialkot Road, Lahore-Faisalabad Road, Karachi-Lyari Expressway, Karachi Northern Bypass, and Lahore Ring Road.

The strategically significant Gwadar Port was developed with Chinese assistance. A number of airports were developed and expanded. The Lahore airport was completed, the new Islamabad airport was started, the new Sambrial (Sialkot) airport was built, the Multan airport was expanded, the Gwadar airport was developed and the Quetta airport was expanded.

In the agricultural sector a number of important irrigation projects were initiated. The Diamer Bhasha Dam was launched. The Mangla Dam was raised by 30 feet increasing 2.9 maf water storage capacity and 100MW electricity. A number of new dams and canals were built (Mirani Dam for Balochistan, Subukzai Dam for Balochistan and Gomal Zam Dam for KP; Kachi Canal from Taunsa to Dera Bugti and Jhal Magsi to irrigate 713,000 acres of barren cotton producing land, the Thal Canal for Punjab, Rainee Canal for Sindh).

Overall three million acres of barren land were brought under cultivation. The Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) was constructed through Sindh, thereby saving Indus River and Manchar Lake (Sind) from pollution. The steps taken led to an increase in wheat production from 14 million tons to 22 million tons, and increase in cotton production from nine million bales to 13 million bales.

Price control was exercised on essential items. The prices of edible household items (flour, naan, milk, tea, sugar, meat, vegetable oil etc) have tripled or quadrupled in the last five years. A rotational loan system was introduced through banks for poor farmers and loan facility for farmers increased from Rs35 billion through ZTBL only, to Rs160 billion from all other private banks.

Overall 2900MW of electricity was added to national generation capacity. The new energy projects initiated included the Ghazi Barotha hydro electricity project (1600MW), the Chashma-II nuclear electricity plant (300MW). The Neelum-Jhelum hydroelectricity project was initiated (1800 MW), the Satpara Power project in Skardu, and the Naltar power project in Gilgit.

A true revolution was brought about in the telecommunications sector. The number of mobile phones increased from 600,000 in the year 2000 to over 7 crore in 2006. Tele-density was increased from 2.9 percent to over 70 percent, and millions of jobs were created in the telecom sector. The IT sector also saw a phenomenal growth with internet connectivity spreading rapidly, particularly during 2000-2003 from 40 cities to over 2000 towns of Pakistan.

Fibre optic connectivity increased from 30 cities to over 1500 towns of Pakistan in the same period. The bandwidth cost of two megabytes was reduced sharply from $86,000 to $3,000 per month. Pakistan’s first satellite PakSat 1 was placed in space. Industry prospered as never before and industrial growth was in double figures throughout the nine-year period.

A revolution was brought about in the higher education sector with the establishment of the Higher Education Commission. The annual allocation for higher education was increased from only Rs500 million in 2000 to Rs28 billion in 2008, thereby laying the foundations of the development of a strong knowledge economy. Student enrolment in universities increased from 270,000 to 900,000 and the number of universities and degree awarding institutes increased from 57 in 2000 to 137 by 2008.

This rapid transformation deeply worried India and a detailed presentation was given to the Indian prime minister on July 22 about the dramatic progress in Pakistan.

A number of steps were taken to strengthen democracy at the grassroots. A large number of new TV channels were allowed and the media given full freedom. The local government system was launched to empower the people through a third tier of government. Women were empowered politically through reserved seats at all tiers of government. Minorities were provided with the system of joint electorate.

In the field of defence, the production of Al Khalid tanks for the army and JF 17 Thunder Fighter jets for PAF was carried out. All missiles were tested and proven for nuclear capability and our nuclear arsenal was strengthened and protected through an impenetrable command and control system. The Army Strategic Force Command was created to protect these strategic assets.

The position of president is purely ceremonial. The power lies entirely with the prime minister. The president can only act on the written ‘advice’ of the prime minister. He acted on the advice of the PM and only after wide consultations with his cabinet colleagues and the corp commanders. The guilt, if any, lies with all of them.

The writer is the president of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and former chairman of the HEC.

Email: ibne_sina@hotmail.com
@batmannow

 

[Kompromat]

very informative indeed. Musharraf did transform Pakistan in ways that the shiny tinds can't reverse now. These are the same people who never showed their face to the people. Now they are on their toes working their arse off to match the performance of Musharraf.

I sometimes wish that PPP hadn't ruled for the past five years, or Musharraf had been the president instead of Bemari....we would have been in a different shape.

 

[Panther 57]

very informative indeed. Musharraf did transform Pakistan in ways that the shiny tinds can't reverse now. These are the same people who never showed their face to the people. Now they are on their toes working their arse off to match the performance of Musharraf.

I sometimes wish that PPP hadn't ruled for the past five years, or Musharraf had been the president instead of Bemari....we would have been in a different shape.

Rightly said. In my opinion instead of NRO he should have declared that he will not contest elections for the president and should have arranged for a free (in all respect) general elections before presidential elections. He would then had an assembly which would be free of these culprits. He could then have become king maker to contest presidential elections of 2013. He would have certainly made it.

 

[CrazyPaki]

his biggest without a doubt was NRO

 

[MastanKhan]

The nation ---- the pakistanis as usual failed to see the good things that were happening---their greed, their ignorance, their arrogance, got the better of them.

The pakistanis feel to the rightful place that they belonged----. That period of welbeing was an ANAMOLY.

 

[rajjad]

It's interesting that how the author has swiftly moved away from the fact that Mr. Musharaf brought terrorism right on our door steps. It gets more interesting when the author brags about progressive financial condition during the Musharaf regime completely ignoring that Oil prices were linked with Dollar rates under his rule, which would probably stay like this forever. Author talks about Mega Projects which underwent during his regime but he ignores that there was massive shortage of electricity, wheat, rice and sugar during 2008 elections.

Author mentions numerous projects where were enhanced during his rule but fails to mentions even a single project which was initiated by his Government.

Musharaf might have been a Good General but he turned out to be a very weak politician who had no support in general public and had to rely on foreign powers by pleasing them.

 

[niaz]

Unless one has divine guidance, no one can be totally good and similarly no one can be totally bad. Heroes of today can be villains of tomorrow and vice versa. It all depends upon who is judging. In my life time I have seen large scale street agitation against Z A Bhutto, now even PML-N leaders call him Shaheed.

One must judge the person on the sum total of his actions. I would therefore agree with Dr Ata ur Rahman, that Musharraf era was far better for Pakistan & Pakistanis than democratic rule after 2008.

Pakistani public in particular has very short memory. Additionally, the media (GEO Group in particular) is dominated by right wing Taliban loving columnists/anchors such as Ansar Abbasi and Hamid Mir. These are the opinion makers and spin the news to their view point.

Musharraf has no doubt illegally taken over the country on Oct 12, 1999 and by all means try him and all those who aided and abetted him. However I am and against trying to single out Musharraf and commit a ‘Judicial farce' of a trial by handpicked biased judges. That is why men of honour such as Dr Ata ur Rahman are forced to come out in his defence. Here is a factual article about how right wing media twist the facts.

Of holy lies and Lal Masjid – The Express Tribune

 

[Panther 57]

thor talks about Mega Projects which underwent during his regime but he ignores that there was massive shortage of electricity, wheat, rice and sugar during 2008 elections.

In 2008 he was not the one. It was AZ and his cronies. What little time he had in 2008 he was not driving an policy.

 

[third eye]

Dictatorship is quite administering a does of steroids.

In the short term, it gives a feeling of well being and instant relief but has long term permanent damage.

Erosion of national institutions is just one of them.

He remained the Chief of Army too, I wonder how he handed any case of insubordination or violation of the Army act when he himself did the same in '99 !

 

[rajjad]

In 2008 he was not the one. It was AZ and his cronies. What little time he had in 2008 he was not driving an policy.

Exactly, thank you for reinforcing my opinion. If he had taken over the country with force then i am sure he could handled his own team by force No??

 

[Panther 57]

Exactly, thank you for reinforcing my opinion. If he had taken over the country with force then i am sure he could handled his own team by force No??

Yes had he taken over by force and a real force (12 Cot) these cronies would not have been there at all to create all this mess.

 

[rajjad]

But at the end you have reason to believe that sitting judges are "Biased", and if i may ask under what credible information you have formulated such opinion? or is it just "hearsay"??. the thing is if you claim that he should be "Tried by all means" then first thing he has to do is to appear in the Court Room, it is irrelevant to talk about who supported him and who did not. He first has to appear in front of the Judges then such questions will certainly follow up in the trial.

Pakistani Memory and Media are not the driving factor here, its just that the History of the World which has proven again and again that Military Rule is No Rule. Whether was it Oliver Cormwell of England who signed Death warrants of Charles I or Napoleon Bonaparte of France, all of them vanished in sheer disgrace at the end.

A political government no matter how corrupt it would be is better than a Military rule. Dr. Atta Ur Rahman has served in several Ministeries during Musharraf rule and one shouldn't be surprised if he writes in favor of Musharraf, which off course hampers the credibility of his opinion.

 

[rajjad]

Yes had he taken over by force and a real force (12 Cot) these cronies would not have been there at all to create all this mess.

A military rulers lacks support in General Public and eventually he would lose support among its citizen, in reality he holds no force, he is always destined to go down and thats why he requires strong foreign allies. This principle has been understood by the western world long time ago but i think it would take more time in our part of the world until we get our thinking straight.

 

[Panther 57]

A military rulers lacks support in General Public and eventually he would lose support among its citizen, in reality he holds no force, he is always destined to go down and thats why he requires strong foreign allies. This principle has been understood by the western world long time ago but i think it would take more time in our part of the world until we get our thinking straight.

This holds good for everyone in power. To every dawn there is dusk. And history is witness that most of the great civilisations were lead by generals and later the general was betrayed. This is called cycle of nature.

 

[rajjad]

This holds good for everyone in power. To every dawn there is dusk. And history is witness that most of the great civilisations were lead by generals and later the general was betrayed. This is called cycle of nature.

Apparently, we just need a person and a system to run this country, we do not require a General to lead us or conquer land. World has moved on from the idea of heroic leader in a shinny armor and has been long forgotten. Time of Muhammad Bin Qasim or Sher shah suri...etc is done and dusted. In the modern world, powers collide with each depending on their political stability. So anyone damaging our system is against our future stability. "Btw it would be such a disgrace to those history making Generals with Musharaf considering how he brought deaths on our doorsteps."

A political leader has to go back in the public to win support while a General probably would require a Foreign super power to keep his rival away.

A political government no matter how bad it could be would be critically evaluated during elections but a General does not need an election. A good example would be that during Zardari regime which was full of corruption and scandals led to the formation of another political party Therik - e - Insaf which won a whole province in its first ever attempt. This was due to only one reason that we let the system work last time.