Lecture # 28 Current Issues and Social problems of Pakistan, Part IRecap of lecture # 27Topic: Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Part II• Guiding Principles of Pakistan‘s Foreign Policy• Analysis of Guiding Principles• Important Factors of Foreign policy• Current Focusing points• Major Alliance• Major Rivalries

Cont.

• International Organizations & Foreign policy• Overview of different phases of Pakistan’s Foreign

Policy• Pak-US Relations• Pak-China Relations and foreign policy• Today’s topic: Current Issues and Problems of

Pakistan

Difference between Issues & Social Problems

• In general terms a ‘Social problem’ describe as it is moral and ethical in nature - for example: Inner-city homelessness, poverty, Child labor etc.

• ‘Issue’ can be defined as a point or matter of discussion, debate, or dispute on legal and moral basis and a matter of public concern.

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Effects of issues and Social Problems

• Social problems and issues very adversely affect our society. One of the major effects is that our harmony is distributed and it creates hostility and distrust in the society.

• These also result in large-scale social dissatisfaction and create suffering and misery.

• On the whole social problems & issues do not help at all in solving any problem but create problems of serious magnitude, which is disadvantageous to the whole society.

Cont.

• Social Problem can be defined as: “A social problem is any different behavior in a disapproved direction of such a degree that it exceeds the tolerance limit of the community”. It may also be defined as a condition, which effects large number of people in an adverse manner.

Cont.• But in this connection it may be pointed out that

‘problem’ or ‘issue’ is not an absolute term. It is only a relative term because what is problem for one society may not be problem for the other.

• Similarly ‘problem’ is not permanent and universal. What may appear problem today may not remain so tomorrow. We find that in Pakistan child marriage was problem till yesterday but today it has received universal criticism and as such is no problem at all.

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List of Current issues & Problems of Pakistan • Image of Pakistan • Human Rights violation • Social problems • Environmental Issues• Health Issues/Poor health facilities • Electricity load shedding• Educational Issues & low literacy rate• Political Issues/lack of quality leadership

Cont.• Poverty • Terrorism • Food and water crisis• Population growth • Internal and international migration• Gender discrimination• Foreign loans• Child labor• Inflation• Injustice• Smuggling • Drug abuse

Cont.• Increase in suicide attempts• Street crime • Ethnic conflicts

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Issue: Image of Pakistan

• Pakistan has occupied the center place in world politics not only because of its geographical location but also its historical background and relationship with the four other nuclear powers in the world - India, Israel, England and America. Currently Pakistan is experiencing major crisis in different fields of life.

• The present government seems to be extremely passionate of the idea of marketing a soft image of Pakistan at the global level.

• Solution: This image building exercise cannot be undertaken overnight. It has to be a sustained projection over a prolonged period.

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Issue: Human Rights violation

• Pakistan’s human rights record is generally regarded as poor by domestic and international observers.

• Many observers contend that the country’s legal code is largely concerned with crime, national security and domestic quietness, and less with the protection of individual rights.

• Pakistan have suffered for decades because here human rights have not been protected in the communities. Whether they are women or children and sometimes the rights of minorities are threatened.

Cont.• The Pakistani Constitution ensure equal rights and

freedoms to all citizens. Pakistan still struggles between the laws and traditions.

• Solution: Today we have an urgent need to eradicate human rights violations for the sovereignty and prosperity of Pakistan.

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POVERTY

• According to an analysis which shows that the poverty has increased roughly from 30% to 40% during the past decade.

• Consider that if 40%of a country’s population is earning their lives below the poverty-line in which the people are deprived of basic necessities of life such as clothing, shelter, food, education and medication, such families and their children will be forced to think of their survival only.

Cont.

• Even after decades of existence there is no equal distribution of wealth and resources. Pakistan remains a feudal society where 90% of its wealth is owned by 10% of people.

• Industrialization has suffered because of the unpredictable economy and politics.

• None of the governments, military or civil, had any effective plan of action to decrease the gap between the rich and the poor.

Cont.• Those Pakistanis who went to work in the Middle East in

1970s and 80s, and brought back foreign currency, have also created an economic imbalance and uneven social growth in the country.

• Solution: The problem has now reached a critical decision-making stage. There should be population control according to resources. State and people should seriously plan to resolve this issue without any delay.

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EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS

• Rather than increasing, in the last sixty-five years, the literacy rate has decreased as the schools have not kept up with the population explosion.

• Literacy is defined as persons aged 15 or above who can “read” and “write". According to this definition, Pakistanis officially reported to have 50% literacy rate. Which means half of its population is illiterate.

• With such family backgrounds, inflation, poverty and child labor this rate is expected to increase in future. Even for those who are termed as “Literate” are only able to read and write, which in today’s technology oriented world is still considered as illiteracy.

Cont.• Majority of the people forming the top controlling tier is

almost unaware of technologies and technical mindset. Thus, causing the country to adopt the new technologies at a snail’s speed.

• Sadly, most people in the villages cannot read or write. There is no national standardized educational system. Because of the large number of children, many poor parents, who do not practice family planning can not provide their children proper food , education and other basic facilities.

Cont.

• Education is considered as the cheapest defense of a nation The Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan says, “The state of Pakistan shall remove illiteracy and provide free and compulsory secondary education within minimum possible period.”

• Unequal education system Different medium of instruction in Public and private sector Regional disparity (standard of education varies in different provinces of Pakistan) In FATA, the literacy rate is deplorable constituting 29.5% in males and 3% in females

Cont.• Pakistan is the only country where many children do not

get their primary education in their native language. Rather than studying in Punjabi, Pushto, Balochi and Sindhi, many children are taught in Urdu, English and Arabic which are not their mother tongues.

• Solution: A uniform educational policy needs to introduce at national level addressing all the population of Pakistan and need to promote primary education in regional languages.

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HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS

• Many Pakistanis suffer from physical and emotional problems, there is no sufficient health care system in place.

• Children still suffer from malnourishment because of prevalent poverty.

• Many patients with emotional problems only see a psychiatrist when they get violent and have a nervous breakdown.

• Mental illness is still surrounded by visible stigma. Because of lack of health education there is less emphasis on prevention.

Cont.• Pakistan is facing a health crisis with rising rates of heart

disease, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). which unduly affect poor families, with possible side effects of disability and premature death, and worsening poverty as people pay for medical treatment out of their own pockets.

• Furthermore, dreaded diseases such as dengue and Congo fevers have been reported from the field, along with measles and neonatal tetanus. From Oct. 15 to 22, WHO reported about consultations for pneumonia, diarrhea, and suspected malaria.

Cont.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 4 million cases of diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, and skin illnesses that had largely resulted from the flood conditions. Cholera outbreaks have also been reported from flood-affected areas. Solution: At public level to create awareness about diseases and prevention measures while at government level seek consultation to other countries who are successfully implemented health polices and provided health services to their public.

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Energy Crisis• Electricity is the major Problem Pakistan facing today.

Electricity in Pakistan is generated, transmitted, distributed and retail supplied by two vertically integrated public sector utilities: Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) for all of Pakistan (except Karachi), and the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) for the City of Karachi and its surrounding areas.

• There are around 16 independent power producers that contributes significantly in electricity generation in Pakistan.

Cont.• For years, the matter of balancing Pakistan’s supply

against the demand for electricity has remained a largely unresolved matter. Pakistan faces a significant challenge in restoring its network responsible for the supply of electricity.

• Pakistan suffers from a massive electricity shortage. Electricity generation in Pakistan has shrunk by 50% in recent years due to an over-reliance on hydroelectric power.

Cont.• In 2008, availability of power in Pakistan falls short of the

population’s needs by 15% Pakistan was hit by its worst power crisis in 2007.

• Load Shedding have become constant problem in Pakistan in recent years. The main problem with Pakistan’s poor power generation is rising political instability, together with rising demands for power and lack of efficiency.

• Solution: To improve efficiency and to conclude advantageous and favorable contracts with power generation companies.

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Corruption

Corruption although can be classified into a thousands of categories depends on how good people manipulate things. However the basic and most common type is "bribe" which has far reaching implications towards the destruction of complete system. Any system would be declared as a complete failure once the corruption starts appearing even on the grass root level. Corruption in Pakistan is widespread at all levels .The country has had a constantly poor ranking at the Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.

Cont.• The Transparency International reveals an increase in

corruption in Pakistan, making the country to stand at 42nd position among the most corrupt countries in the world.

• Solution: First, by planning institutional checks and next by ensuring greater transparency in government and private sector as well. To begin with the standard of legislative responsibility must be raised. Ministers are trustees of public money and poverty and should be made accountable as trustees. Two more safeguards are essential. One is a right to information law. The other is a partnership between a vigilant press and an assertive public opinion.

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Political Instability • Democracy is the product of wishes of the people

and not of the desires of an elite few. But political system of Pakistan could not resulted implementing the democratic values. Illiterate voters, family ties among politicians and feudalism has constrained in application of democratic system in Pakistan. Democracy can be revived in Pakistan by taking following steps:

Cont.Solution:1. Reform the judiciary2. Creation of an independent election commission3. Internal party elections4. Strengthen the free press5. Division of provinces6. Don’t neglect provincial and local government7. Implementation of the constitutions8. Continuity of fair elections9. Protection of minorities and civil liberties

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INTERNATIONAL INTERFERENCE

• Interference in Pakistan is not new; it can be divided into different phases, mostly cold war period, Afghan Soviet Union war and current phase which started after 9/11 when America firmly believed that Al Quaida is responsible for 9/11 attacks and they are located under the security of Taliban in Afghanistan.

• Pakistan is ally of America in the war against Afghanistan as well as the victim of drone attacks. It is really necessary because they have a very odd relationship.

Cont.

• India is typically termed as a conventional enemy to Pakistan. Pakistan lost its one wing due to Indian interference.

• Solution : In India with a billion plus population has a million problems to handle. Yet the focus of India has been right and it shows in its 8% economic growth. Its time Pakistan learns this lesson and corrects its focus.

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Summary• Difference between Issues & Social Problems• Effects of issues and Social Problems• List of Current issues & Problems of Pakistan • Issue: Image of Pakistan• Issue: Human Rights violation• Poverty• Socioeconomic Problems• Educational Problems

Cont.

• Health care Problems• Energy Crisis• Corruption• Political Instability • International Interference

Quotation

Fear is the path to the Dark Side... Fear leads to anger... anger leads to hate... hate leads to suffering...

Yoda, Star Wars, Episode 1, the Phantom Menace

Thank you