ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF PAKISTAN

The enormous debt that Pakistan has taken in the past and present has not been spent on important development issues like health, education, and infrastructure, but mainly on defence. Pakistan spends less than 2 per cent of its budget on education and less than 1 per cent on health. The rest of the world by comparison spends about 20 per cent on health and education. As a result of low spending, 75 per cent of Pakistanis are illiterate and about 50 per cent do not have access to health care facilities and clean drinking water. Pakistan is ranked 116 of 127 countries in education and 100 of 127 countries in health by World Bank and IMF.
The biggest national security threat to Pakistan, in my opinion, is that of financial bankruptcy. In the worst scenario, financial bankruptcy can force government to close public schools and hospitals and temporary power shortages might become permanent. Moreover, clean drinking water might not be available to the people. Some tests conducted recently by international scientists showed that drinking water in Pakistan, in villages as well as major cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Karachi, is contaminated with bacteria, chemicals, and lead. Studies have shown that lead can cause mental abnormalities, especially in children. Also, Pakistani government might even fail to pay its own employees. This is what happened in Zaire just recently where soldiers started looting and shooting after not getting paid due to lack of funds, killing thousands including the French minister to that country.
I recognize the legitimate defence requirements of the military, however, Pakistan cannot afford to spend more than what it earns. Pakistan's defence expenditure of about 40 per cent of revenues is one of the highest in the world. The rest of the world (including India) spends less than 20 per cent of its revenues on defence. This excessive defence spending has drained Pakistan's economy and has undermined our national security. Other countries that spend a high percentage of their budget on military include the former Soviet Union, Iraq, Yugoslavia, Ethiopia, and Somalia. Their experiences prove that economic weaknesses and military adventures only result in misery and tragedy to the people and destruction to the country involved. The best defence for any country is a strong economy. In surveys undertaken in US, a majority of Americans considered Japan instead of Soviet Union as the bigger threat. Why do they fear Japan - a country with a small military force and no nuclear weapons more than the former Soviet Union - a country with the largest military force in the world and 30,000 nuclear weapons! Because they understand that in this era economic soundness can do a country far more good than a large military machine. Soviet Union used to spend about 40 per cent of its resources on military but the military failed to save a country that was economically weak.
It is time that we change our priorities from non-productive defence expenditures to productive expenditures such as health, education, infrastructure, etc. Increase in productive expenditures today will help the economy grow in the future and therefore, more revenues can be raised by the government. This will in turn allow for increase in defence spending in the future without putting undue burden on the economy.
Today Pakistan is almost bankrupt and foreign donors have also refused to provide any more aid until Pakistani government cuts its defence expenditure. If the Pakistani government decides not to cut defence expenditure then the only other option it has is to keep on printing currency which will result into even higher inflation. Inflation is running at about 20 per cent according to many estimates. And my own prediction is that inflation can reach 100 per cent a year in 2 to 3 years. This means that price of every thing will double every year. Similar excessive government spending and mismanagement has resulted in inflation rates of 1000 per cent or more in Latin American countries in the past, and former Soviet Union even today. Many people in Pakistan do not understand how inflation is going to affect them. It is the duty of the economists and journalists to provide people with information that they need to defend themselves against inflation. Here I will provide a brief overview of inflation.
Lets say you can buy a pair of shoes today for Rs. 100. Instead you feel that the government is offering you an attractive interest rate of 15 per cent and decide to invest your Rs. 100 in a bank or a government savings certificate. Your Rs. 100 will become Rs. 115 after one year. However, if inflation rate is 100 per cent, the price of that pair of shoes will be increased to Rs. 200 from Rs. 100 in the same time period. Therefore, you have actually lost a significant portion of your investment. You would have been better off buying the pair of shoes today. With 15 per cent interest rates and about 20 per cent inflation rate even today people are actually losing the value of their money in banks without even knowing it.
If you invest your Rs. 100 at 15 per cent for 5 years, it will become Rs. 200 at the end of 5 years. However, your Rs. 200 will be worthless than Rs. 10 if inflation is running at 100 per cent. Many people in Pakistan keep their money at home rather than in a bank. They will suddenly find that their money is worth only a small fraction of what it was just a year or two before. Millions of people can loose their life time savings this way in a matter of a couple of years, all because of mismanagement and excessive government spending by the bureaucrats.
There are ways an ordinary person can reduce, if not eliminate, the impact of inflation on his/her money. One way is that instead of putting money in a bank or a government savings scheme invest the money in some business. If the investor does not have the know-how or time for a business, invest in the stock market. Studies have shown that business profits do not drop significantly with inflation because firms can increase the price of their products. Another way to protect against inflation is to buy something material rather than keeping cash. Property might not be the best investment to buy as the real value of property might fall during inflationary periods. Yet another way is to keep the money in a foreign currency, say dollars instead of rupees. Today $4 is equal to Rs. 100. However, with 100 per cent inflation there is a very good possibility that $ 4 will equal Rs. 200 after a year. And a final thing that people can do, and certainly should do, is to put pressure on the government to set its priorities straight. Cut defence and civilian government spending, privatize white elephants like WAPDA, PIA, Railways etc., and use this money to pay off the huge debt Pakistan owes before it becomes too late to avoid destruction of the country.
FAIZAN HASSAN MIR
SECTION D

Revival of pakistan cinema.

LAHORE - The Pakistani cinema industry, bolstered by some quality productions in the recent past, seems to be scrambling for its revival. Cinema in Pakistan was experiencing a decline as the number of cinemas in the country fell from 700 to 150 over the decades. The abysmal quality of local movies caused cinema to deteriorate although the situation for viewers and owners was somehow elevated when the exhibition of Indian films was allowed.

Recently, however, Lollywood appears to be going through a major shift as the trend emerges of making films that dealt with different rather than conventional subjects emerged and using advanced techniques of production. 
Shoaib Mansoor dared to bring out films on sensitive topics and lately released “Bol”, which is expected to hit the Indian Cinemas on Eid-ul-Fitar. Chairman Pakistan Film Exhibitors Association Zoraiz Lashari revealed in an interview with Indian magazine that the international distribution rights of “Bol” had been sold to India’s leading film distribution company Eros International that will exhibit the movie across the border and in other parts of the region. 
The same filmmaker had released the trend-setting film “Khuda Kay Liay” in 2007 which was followed by Mehreen Jabbar’s Ramchand Pakistani. 

Moreover, young filmmakers have also emerged on the scene of filmmaking with some commendable works

Revival of mainstream cinema will take a longer time; a strategy of promoting parallel cinema should also be employed by producing short films on social issues with low budgets, Hammad recommends. He summed up his suggestions saying that hundreds of films can be produced on the stories of flood and earthquake victims in the country. 

Another objection made on the claims of revival is that the mentioned producers are famous but outsiders of Lollywood. Lollywood veterans also smell the change in the air and this Eid two Urdu movies are being released: “Love Mein Ghum” by Reema Khan and “Bhai Log” by Faisal Bukhari.

Hence, we hope that the trend would continue and big budgets films will give a boost to industry. 

The new people coming to film-making will give a boost to the industry. As more and more youth come up to produce films from film schools, the resulting combination of seniors and juniors will help to churn out more quality films.

Muhammad Tabish

To Understand what Pakistan is??

Pakistan, a country in Southern Asia, has a rich culture and heritage. Formerly, a part of 'Hindustan', Pakistan became an independent country on August 14, 1947.. The neighboring countries of Pakistan, like Iran (in the west), Afghanistan (in the northwest) and India (in the east) also influence its culture.

Language 

Although, English is widely spoken in Pakistan, Urdu is the official language. The other languages that are spoken in Pakistan are Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushto, Balochi, Saraiki, etc. 

Religion 

The majority of Pakistan's population are Muslims and they follow the Islamic religion in a strict fashion. They offer prayers five times everyday. Ramadan, the most important festival of the Muslims, is also considered as a sacred month. During this month, they fast from morning till sunset without drinking water and are strictly prohibited from smoking and consuming alcohol. The last day of Ramadan is Eid which is celebrated with great fervor with family and friends. 

Architecture

The architecture of Pakistan is miscellaneous, as every nation that invaded and settled in this country has left a mark on it. In ancient times, this Islamic country was a part of the Indus Valley Civilization and the architectures of Mohenjo Daro, Harappa, are considered as the heritage sites.

The invasion of the Mughal empire led to the development of Islamic architecture. The Shah Jahan Mosque of Thatta is the first building that was constructed according to the principles of Mughal architecture. One of the very important monuments that came up during this period is the Badshahi Mosque. It was built during the rule of Emperor Aurangzeb, and is flanked by the magnificent Alamgiri gate. 

Later, during the time of colonization, the constructions were majorly of Indo-Western style. Today, in the post-colonial era, we can see a mixture of all these styles along with the modernized structures. 

Sports

Although, field hockey is the national game of Pakistan, cricket is a game that is followed with lot of passion. In recent times, even soccer has become popular among the people. The country also internationally represents in sports like swimming, boxing, shooting and athletics.

Art and Literature

Poetry is the most important form of literature in Pakistan. One of the most known exponent of Urdu poetry is Mirza Ghalib. He has written various poems in Urdu and Persian. His poems are still read and loved by Urdu and Hindi speaking people around the globe. 

Pakistani literature is not restricted only to Urdu poetry. There is an embodiment of works written in English, Punjabi, Sindhi and Pushto languages. Also, there are Pakistani diasporic writers around the world. 

Music is a primary interest of the Pakistanis. Qawwali, which was said to have been introduced by Amir Khusrau, is one of the most traditional forms of music that exists in Pakistan. Film, Urdu and Punjabi pop music is also popular among the people. Nowadays, it is blended with western music and this amalgamation has developed into a popular music genre. 

The most popular entertainment medium in Pakistan are the television and the radio. Pakistan's film industry is referred to as Lollywood with a production of 40 motion pictures every year. Indian movies are also popular in Pakistan, although, it has been banned by the Government of Pakistan. 

Social Culture

The Pakistanis are mostly conservative in nature. They follow a strict code of conduct. They live in a patriarchal family where the eldest male member is the head of the family. The elders are given lot of respect and their opinions are regarded with utmost importance while taking important decisions. 

Although education is considered as a very important factor among the middle class people, most Pakistani women are not given the freedom to work. But nowadays, many joint families are disintegrating into nuclear families due to the social and economic limitations that are enforced by the joint family system. 

Pakistan, is a country, that adheres to its traditional beliefs, values and customs especially in matters of religion. Although, the Pakistanis are deeply rooted in their cultural values, the nation is not lagging behind, with globalization affecting every part of the world. Westernization has embarked into the Pakistani culture which has paved the way for positive development.

Bisma amjad 

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Pakistan's Cultural Heritage.....to be Saved.

Located at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, Western Asia and the Arab Gulf region, Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage is in fact both diverse and unique. It’s historical sites range from the ancient urban settlements of Mohenjo-daro from the Indus Valley civilisation of Sindh and the rich Buddhist Ghandara civilisation, to Mughal monuments, shrines of Muslim mystics, Sikh and Hindu temples and colonial period architecture, as well as numerous natural wonders.

However, at present the cultural diversity of Pakistan receive little attention in comparison to the gigantic political, social and economic problems confronting the country. It is also unfortunate that the present international image of Pakistan obscures the cultural heritage of the country, leading to its increased international isolation. In order to reverse trends, it is vital to draw attention to its unique cultural heritage and promote a more balanced picture of the country. 

In order to do so, it is necessary for relevant government institutions to make greater efforts to protect and promote the aspirations of the diverse range of ethnic and linguistic groups which reside in Pakistan. Efforts must be made to encourage increased participation of local communities, including women, in conservation and management of varied national cultural assets, including historical buildings, local literature, folklore and even music. After all, this heritage is a testament to the rich diversity of cultures and religions in this land for centuries. There is an absence of practical measures for protection, conservation and maintenance of numerous other heritage sites strewn across Pakistan. However, its low priority and the lack of sufficient resource allocation to realise this goal has resulted in attempts to promote cultural heritage, mostly in the form of renovation or preservation of a very limited number of historical sites.

Cultural tourism perhaps offers the best means to promote cultural assets, while at the same time deriving economic benefits out of them. There are many international examples from Southeast Asia, and parts of Africa and South America indicating how cultural sites can be preserved through adoption of sustainable tourism plans. Although there is huge potential for tourism in Pakistan, growing insecurity in the country must be tackled first.

Mariam Arif

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The Art Culture of Pakistan

In the decades that followed the nation’s independence, Pakistani artists adopted modernism as a metaphor for change and economic freedom.  The art world, and Pakistan itself, was evolving – no longer hindered by stereotypes.There would be challenges of transition, but Pakistan continued to educate and enrich itself.

Pakistani artists wanted to present themselves as modern according to international standards, and adopted styles popular in the United States and Europe but they also began experimenting with native traditions to see how these could be adapted. Modern art was chosen as the country’s visual language because typical traditional art seemed to be inadequate to properly express the dreams and fears of a generation aiming towards a new era of freedom.

The 1960s brought a strong American cultural impact on Pakistani urban centers.  Films and publications were shown, and media was used to promote Abstract Expressionism – the United States’ first art movement.  Through art historians and visiting exhibitions, Pakistani artists received exposure to abstract style.  Those educated in the English medium schools readily adopted western styles, valuing forward progress.

“Truck art” – LAHORE

The first artist in Pakistan to actually have an exhibition of modern paintings was a woman.  Zubeida Agha developed an approach to painting that reflected her education and experience in both Pakistan and Europe.  Today, Pakistan has an unusually high ratio of female artists due to the fact that the art industry has not traditionally been viewed as a lucrative business by men.  In the past, creatively-inclined men in Pakistan have focused more on fields of advertising or illustration, leaving the art field open to women.  Modern Pakistani female artists continue to impress not only their country, but the entire world.

Pakistan is a country rich and diverse in all forms of art and culture.  The country is home to numerous art galleries, museums, performing arts theaters, drama and dance studios, and film events.  Although Lahore is depicted as the cultural capital, all major centers – and many rural areas – have cultural events and festivals throughout the year.

Humera Usman Sheikh