ONLY WAY TO SURVIVE
Author: M.ALI NASIR
Editor
THE ENGINEER NEWSPAPER
No doubt we got our freedom in 1947 from the British Raj, geographically, we are a sovereign state, but in reality, we are still a captive, a 76-year-old country who have all the ingredients to become one of the most economically developed countries to the face of the earth but yet we beg to international financial institutions such as IMF and ADB and also ask our friendly countries to give us few bucks so we can survive, isn’t it a shameful situation for us as a nation that we are known as beggars and remember “BEGGARS CANT BE A CHOOSERS”.
To solve any problem we should first acknowledge that there is a problem, what the problem is with Pakistan? The nations like our neighbour India who have reached the moon, do they have horns on their head? The problem with our country is very simple and easy to understand that is our wants are more but our resources are scarce and to fill this gap we heavily relied on imports that had a negative impact on our current account, in simple words what it means that to pay for all the import items we have to spend dollars that result in depletion in our foreign reserves and on the other hand the inflow of USD into our foreign reserves are by ways such as remittances by Pakistani who lives in abroad second is our very near to fewer exports and FDI (Foreign direct investment).
Reliance over import is like cancer to our economy, on paper it has shown as a very positive scenario as the sales of all those imported goods are high, resulting in employment, but deep down these import favour policies are proven to be assassins to our economic development.
SOURCE: tribune.com.pk
Pakistan imports a wide range of items to meet domestic demand and support various industries. These imports include both essential commodities and industrial goods. Here are some of the key items that Pakistan commonly imports:
Petroleum and Petroleum Products: Crude oil and refined petroleum products like gasoline and diesel are among Pakistan’s top imports. These are essential for meeting energy needs and fueling transportation.
Machinery and Mechanical Appliances: Pakistan imports machinery and equipment for various industries, including manufacturing, construction, and agriculture. This category includes heavy machinery, industrial equipment, and engines.
Electrical Machinery and Equipment: Electrical machinery imports encompass items like generators, transformers, and electrical cables, which are essential for infrastructure development and power generation.
Chemicals: Pakistan imports a variety of chemicals, including fertilizers, pesticides, pharmaceutical ingredients, and industrial chemicals.
Metals and Metal Products: Steel, iron, and aluminium are among the primary metals and metal products imported by Pakistan. These materials are used in construction, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects.
Plastic and Plastic Products: Plastic raw materials and finished products are imported to meet the demands of various industries, including packaging, construction, and consumer goods.
Mineral Fuels and Oils: Apart from crude oil, Pakistan imports natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other mineral fuels for energy production and industrial use.
Textiles and Textile Products: Despite being a major textile producer, Pakistan also imports textiles, including specialized fabrics and finished clothing items.
Food and Agriculture Products: Pakistan imports food items like edible oils, pulses, wheat, and dairy products to supplement domestic production and meet consumer demand.
Vehicles and Auto Parts: Automobiles and automotive parts are imported to cater to the growing demand for personal and commercial transportation.
Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Products: Pharmaceuticals and medical equipment are imported to support the healthcare industry and meet the medical needs of the population.
Consumer Electronics: Items like smartphones, laptops, and consumer electronics are commonly imported to meet consumer demand for tech products.
Raw Materials for Industries: Various raw materials, including chemicals, metals, and plastics, are imported to support manufacturing and production processes.
Luxury Goods: High-end consumer products, such as luxury cars and fashion items, are imported to cater to the affluent consumer segment.
It’s important to note that Pakistan’s import composition can vary over time depending on economic conditions, government policies, and global market dynamics.
Now if you see the items that we import are mostly those that we produce but on a small scale or not up to the standards, it is impossible that we stop importing these essential commodities and industrial goods to balance our trade deficit, then what is the solution? The solution is that we start producing these items on a scale that can meet our needs and also the standards and second option is to find alternatives to these items that can directly decrease the demand for these items and will effect positive on our trade balance.
The problems have been discussed thoroughly, and now let us discuss the solution, first of all, all the stakeholders such as the government, bureaucracy, military establishment, judiciary and the whole nation must acknowledge the fact that “ENGINEERS” are the only solution to this immense problem.
Until and unless we don’t invest in our engineering community we won’t be able to tackle this rock-solid problem and our economy will remain cripple.
The idea of “MAKE IN PAKISTAN” is the only way to stabilize our economy and to be a self-reliant nation, but how we can achieve this, let explore the pathway to make this idea successful.
For “MAKE IN PAKISTAN” all the stakeholders have to take serious actions on an immediate basis, take China as an example and study how in the last few decades they made it possible to be one of the giant economies around the globe, we will find two things,
- They heavily invested in their human resource, they transformed their human resource into one competent workforce that not only worked in their local manufacturing but forced international giants like APPLE INC, to come, invest and set up a manufacturing plant in China.
- They immensely focused on R&D (Research and Development) which is the reason why we see China’s excellence in almost all fields, especially Technology including military hardware such as fighter jets and naval frigates, IT and electronics field such as 5g internet and mobile phone companies, and in Space exploration.
Now the question that arises is can Pakistan also do it? And the answer is yes Pakistan can do it. Pakistan has seen many emergencies imposed by rulers for whatever reasons so why not all the stakeholders can be on the same page and impose economic and education emergencies in the country?
I would suggest that all the stakeholders should jointly make a policy:
“MAKING IN PAKISTAN: A STRATEGIC VISION FOR ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS”
To do this in an effective way, we have to get engineering education and professional organisations like PEC( Pakistan Engineering Council) and (IEEEP) and also the Chamber of Commerce onboard.
Pakistan, with its rich history, diverse culture, and talented workforce, has the potential to emerge as a significant player in the global engineering and technological product manufacturing sector. To harness this potential, the stakeholders have to initiate a comprehensive policy framework known as “Make in Pakistan”. This policy aims to bolster the domestic manufacturing industry, with a particular focus on engineering and technological products.
The “Make in Pakistan” Policy
Infrastructure Development: A critical pillar of the Make in Pakistan policy is the development and improvement of infrastructure, especially in major cities like Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta and Gwadar, this includes modernizing transportation networks, ensuring a stable supply of electricity, and upgrading industrial zones and technology parks. A robust infrastructure is essential for the growth of the manufacturing sector, as it reduces production costs and increases efficiency.
Investment in Human Resource Skill Enhancement and Education Emergency: In a nation that has more than 60% of its population as youth all we need to do is to just channel them on the right path and provide them with quick technical practical education, Strengthen engineering and technology education at all levels, from schools to universities. Promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs and create a culture of innovation and curiosity. This surely will help our youth to become one competent adaptive workforce that can compete in the global market for engineering and technological products.
Research and Development (R&D): If we go back in history to the Golden Era of Islam we will find that in that era the Muslims were busy doing Research and Development and the great Al Khwarizmi is the best example of that, now the same thing we have to do again we have to give this environment that promotes R&D. The Make in Pakistan policy must emphasize on the importance of research and development in the manufacturing sector. The government has to encourage collaboration between academia and industry to foster innovation and develop cutting-edge technologies.
PEC (Pakistan Engineering Council) and IEEEP (Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Pakistan) have to play their role as a bridge between academia and industry also I believe that PEC and IEEEP must have their own R&D departments. Government should give Tax incentives and grants are also should be provided to promote R&D activities.
PEBF (Pakistan Engineering Business Forum):
The government along with technical organizations like PEC and IEEEP must create a forum named PEBF(Pakistan Engineering Business Forum) this forum will create a supportive ecosystem for startups in engineering and technology. Also, it will play the role of bridge between academia and investors and facilitate access to venture capital and angel investors, offering financial incentives, grants, and tax benefits for tech entrepreneurs. For example, if an organization like IEEEP give the task to an engineering university to design a good electrical panel, suppose we import that electrical panel from China which puts a burden on our trade balance and now if our student successfully designed one electrical panel that is cheaper in cost and high in quality, now here PEBF will play its role on promoting that Electrical Panel at front of investors generating investments, so we could manufacture it locally, now imagine how beneficial it would be for our economy as its promoting entrepreneurship, increase in employment, decrease in import bill also it will motivate our youth to focus more on R&D and creative innovation. It’s a win-win thing for our economy.
Mining, IT /AI and FDI:
Under the “Make in Pakistan” government must give a plan for forming organizations that are responsible for the mining industry and IT/AI industry, providing ease of doing business by Streamlining bureaucratic procedures and reducing red tape must be a priority under the Make in Pakistan policy.
Mining, IT/AI, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) are interconnected aspects of economic development in Pakistan. Pakistan is rich in mineral resources, and the mining sector has significant potential for growth and can contribute to the country’s economic development and foreign exchange earnings.
The Information Technology (IT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) sectors are key drivers of innovation, economic growth, and job creation. These sectors encompass software development, data analysis, machine learning, and other technology-driven activities. Promoting IT and AI can help diversify the economy and reduce reliance on traditional sectors.
FDI is crucial for financing economic development and infrastructure projects. It also brings in expertise, technology, and access to global markets. Attracting FDI is essential for Pakistan’s growth and development.
I believe the “Make in Pakistan” policy, with its focus on engineering and technological products, holds the potential to transform Pakistan into a self-sustainable, manufacturing powerhouse and a hub for technological innovation. By investing in infrastructure, skills, research, and a conducive business environment, Pakistan will position itself for sustainable economic growth global competitiveness and reduced dependence on imports. The successful implementation of this policy will not only benefit the manufacturing sector but also contribute to the overall development of the country, improving the quality of life for its citizens.
In the end, I would like to say that we should end the differences between each other and let’s join hands to save this almost drowned economy and make it powerful once again where we can proudly give answers to all the critics and tell them “THERE IS NO POWER ON EARTH THAT CAN UNDO PAKISTAN”, we did it before when the country needs the nuclear weapon we can do it now too all we need is to be faithful with the country.
Pakistan zindabad.
