Pakistani economic ailments and lack of enterpenur skills

[somebozo]

Over the years I have reviewed Pakistanis as a nation living beyond means. Spirit of increasing income ails while the demans for latest and greatest always excels among Pakistani community. Many overseas Pakistanis are addicited to living beyond their means where paychecks dissapear on arrival. Credit cards and peer borrowing are order of the day. There is very little sense of community and expense pooling.

Indians and Chinese on other hand, even those we much despise for being cheap labour capitalise on their strong sense of community to make side income by micro commerce. Handicrafts and readymade garments remains the favourite goods often financed by pooling funds of few participants. The goods are sold to an organised store or traded among peers by word of mouth. And now even the power of internet is harnessed to reach wider consumer base.

The above comparision has wide implications over the community as a whole. Trading spirits naturally flow downwards into children who expedite their efforts of financial independence.

Every education system in the world pays attention on building contempry skills in youth. The Russians used this slot to advance communism the Indians use it to advance nationalism and business spirit but Pakistanis have largely exploited this to advocate jihad.

Many of our skilled youth which could capitalize on their skills are busy cracking their heels for standard 9-5 jobs. There is very little individual productivity among Pakistanis. There is a high sense of shame particularly among the degree holders that their pride is not worth less than a 9-5 steady job. A mechanical engineer is ashamed to set his foot in a auto-workshop or machining shop. An electronics enginer wont dare open a repair shop. A computer engineer thinks freelancing is for the desperate. With this mindset and Pakistani fedual system I have very little hope if we can every recover from shambles.

Prophet (SAW) said there is no shame in work.

 

[somebozo]

Self Delete..wrong thread!

 

[Tayyab1796]

our talent is second to none when it comes to corruption and dodgy dealings ... from our President ... all the way to the cricket team , we are shinning examples of 'morally devoid' beings.

 

[majesticpankaj]

inclusive growth and innovation are the only solutions. Mr. Younous from Bangladesh (Grameen Bank) is the perfect example of both. best of luck

 

[Capt.Popeye]

@ somebozo
While i can understand your unhappiness and impatience with the state of affairs that you have thought-fully described, IMHO, things are not so dark and desolate. i am convinced that there exists a very large pool of talented young people in Pakistan, and in every field.
Is it a possibility that they are a little confused about how to go about things ?
i get the impression that you live and work outside Pakistan. On your visits home, may be you could speak with younger people and share your ideas and visions for your country with them. This is not intended as any advice, since i am not qualified to advise anybody- just a thought.
When i was younger in India, there were people like that who came back home periodically and helped us to fashion our views of the world and our country's place in it. i daresay it helped us to achieve what we could.
In the 1980s, i had colleagues from Pakistan; while they happened to be reporting to me, they were less than none.
Hence my optimism. Good luck to you.

 

[gowthamraj]

@ somebozo

I also used to reading lot of articles on current economic slow down of Pakistan.



In my view it's nothing worse than what India faced on 1991. There are some fate happens like continues terror attack flood etc.


Then Good and economicaly wealthy Pakistan is i want as my neighbours

 

[somebozo]

@Capt.Popeye
@gowthamraj

This article is not about economy or slow down or Pakistani talent.
Its about an average Pakistanis total disregards of rules of economics. Seriously have one every thought by do we have rampant corruption and joblessness?? EVen by well off officals and rich people? Because they constantly want to hoard money for living beyond there means. And average person always wants to make quick cash. There is little sense about investments, savings and economics prevalent in society. Concepts of productivity and R/D are totally non-existent.

A distant releative of mine who heads a reputable trust in Pakistan with Japanese collaboration and funding undertook an experiement of micro industry in Pakistan. Under the proposed scheme intrest free loans between 1 to 3 lac were handed out to ten people for betterment of their lives with no questions asked.

Only one man out of ten turned up a sensible benefit. He happened to be one of those illegal Bangladeshi in Karachi who peddled onion and potato on infamous "thela". With 3 lac rupees loan he started buying at wholesale, purchased a handful of carts and put few useless youth to work on profit sharing. With in a year he managed to upgrade himself from cart peddler to a wholesaler with sevral "thela walas" working for him on profit sharing. A robust increase of income from mere 5000 to 30,000 montly.

The remaining nine failed to do anything business like with their loan though they submitted creditable plans but failure lay in execution.

The most absurd was a man who deposited 2lacs in the bank and took out a new vehicle on loan only to have it repossed after 2 months and lose all money like a jackass.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

@ somebozo
Probably you seem to have mis-read my post. i have not said anything about economics or any slow-down.
i have spoken about attitudinal problems which pretty much seems to synch with you have written. When people go back to their countries, after achieving some success as emigrants; they can become some kind of 'role-models'. After all they can walk the talk. That is the kind of role that you can play. You don't have to be a Dr.Abdus Salam to do that. And youngsters are still idealistic enough and impressionable enough. Share your ideas with them back home in Pakistan. Can work.