Daily Archives: July 25, 2023

Regional Connectivity: Key To Prosperity For The Region

FARZANA SHAH

Regional connectivity refers to the infrastructure and networks that connect different regions within a country or between neighbouring countries. It encompasses various modes of transportation, such as roads, railways, airports, seaports, and telecommunications. Regional connectivity plays a crucial role in the development and prosperity of regional states for several reasons. Pakistan’s geographical location makes it a natural hub between the most populated regions of the world that can play a pivotal role in regional connectivity between Central Asia, India, China, and the Middle East. Central Asian states are landlocked geographies without any seaport. Pakistan offers land-bridge for these states connecting these to the Arabian Sea through Gwadar and Karachi ports.

Unfortunately, due to various geopolitical reasons, Pakistan is yet to capitalise on its naturally gifted geography. Prolonged conflict in Afghanistan, issues like Kashmir, border tensions between India and China, and meddling of foreign powers have kept the entire region hostage to territorial conflicts and mutual mistrust among regional states.

For Pakistan, regional connectivity is the key to geo-economic transformation, which is long overdue and perhaps is the only option for the country to turn around its economy. The need for regional connectivity is already there in the region but there is no solid unified plan to reap its benefits.

Before addressing how to overcome these challenges, let’s take a look at how regional connectivity can enhance the prospects of common development and growth across the region and how Pakistan can benefit from it specifically.

Economic Growth: Enhanced regional connectivity facilitates the movement of goods, services, and people, which boosts trade and commerce. It creates opportunities for businesses to expand their markets, access raw materials and resources, and establish efficient supply chains. Improved connectivity stimulates economic growth, generates employment, and attracts investments, thereby improving the overall prosperity of the regional states.

Pakistan’s regional connectivity initiatives, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), aim to enhance economic integration between Pakistan and its neighbouring countries. CPEC, a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by China, involves the development of infrastructure, energy, and trade corridors, connecting the deep-sea Gwadar Port in Pakistan to China’s northwestern region. This connectivity brings enormous economic opportunities, including trade facilitation, industrial development, investment inflows, and job creation.

Trade and Investment: Efficient regional connectivity enables seamless trade and investment flows. It reduces transportation costs, transit times, and trade barriers, making it easier for businesses to engage in cross-border trade. Regional states can leverage their geographical proximity to establish economic corridors and special economic zones, attracting multinational corporations and promoting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).   Improved regional connectivity would allow Pakistan to expand its trade opportunities and gain better market access. With efficient road and rail networks linking Pakistan to China, Central Asia, and beyond, the country can tap into new markets and establish stronger trade relationships. Reduced transportation costs and transit times will make Pakistani products more competitive in regional and international markets.

Energy Security: Energy security is a growing strategic concern for every state today. Regional connectivity also offers energy security by opening new options for energy imports for states facing energy crises.

Regional connectivity projects, particularly those related to energy infrastructure, are contributing to Pakistan’s energy security. CPEC includes the development of power plants, transmission lines, and energy corridors, addressing Pakistan’s energy deficit. These projects aim to overcome energy shortages, diversify the energy mix, and enhance energy connectivity with neighbouring countries, ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy supply.

Tourism and Cultural Exchange: Accessible regional connectivity encourages tourism and cultural exchange. Well-connected transportation networks facilitate the movement of tourists between different regions, enabling them to explore diverse attractions and experience various cultural traditions. This promotes tourism development, generates revenue, and fosters cultural understanding and appreciation among regional states.

Pakistan possesses diverse landscapes, historical sites, and cultural heritage. Enhancing regional connectivity can boost tourism, attracting domestic and international visitors to explore the country’s scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage. Easy access to neighbouring countries can also promote cultural exchange, tourism cooperation, and people-to-people interactions, fostering greater understanding and appreciation among different nations.

Social Integration and Connectivity: Regional connectivity strengthens social ties and promotes integration among regional states. Efficient transportation networks allow people to connect, communicate, and interact more easily, fostering social cohesion and cultural exchange. It facilitates the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and expertise, leading to collaborative efforts in areas such as education, healthcare, and research.

Regional connectivity has the potential to uplift Pakistan’s socio-economic conditions. Improved transportation networks connect remote and underdeveloped regions to major economic centres, enabling the flow of investments, resources, and opportunities. This can help bridge development gaps, reduce regional disparities, and uplift the quality of life for people in previously marginalized areas.

Disaster Management and Emergency Response: In times of emergencies or natural disasters, regional connectivity plays a vital role in facilitating rapid response and relief efforts. Well-established transportation and communication networks enable the efficient movement of emergency personnel, supplies, and resources to affected regions. Effective coordination and information sharing are critical in mitigating the impact of disasters and ensuring the safety and well-being of the affected population.

Pakistan is located in a region most affected by climate change and the adverse impact on its local infrastructure. Regional connectivity can help reduce the impact of climate change-induced disasters like floods where roads get damaged and people become stranded particularly in the northern regions. In such a scenario, road networks running through neighbouring countries like Afghanistan can provide an alternative to flood-affected people.

Regional Security and Stability: Robust regional connectivity can contribute to enhanced security and stability. Well-connected regions promote closer cooperation and coordination in areas such as border control, intelligence sharing, and law enforcement. Improved connectivity can help address security challenges, such as the movement of illicit goods, human trafficking, and cross-border crimes.    Strengthening regional connectivity can contribute to stability and peace in the region. Enhanced economic integration and connectivity foster closer ties between countries, leading to improved cooperation, mutual understanding, and shared interests. By promoting economic interdependence, regional connectivity initiatives can potentially reduce tensions and conflicts, promoting a more peaceful and stable environment.

Pakistan can bring peace to its restive northern border through large-scale regional connectivity initiatives with Iran and Afghanistan. Opening trade and humanitarian corridors with India can play a vital role in developing peace on the eastern border as well. Kartarpur corridor opening was a right step in this direction. Other opportunities must be explored by the government of Pakistan.

Infrastructure Development: Regional connectivity investments not only improve transportation networks but also stimulate infrastructure development and construction activities, creating employment opportunities and boosting the local economy.

Pakistan’s geographical location makes it a potential transit and transport hub between South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. By improving regional connectivity, Pakistan can establish efficient transportation corridors, including road, rail, and air routes, facilitating the movement of goods and people. Challenges and Way Forward

This opens up opportunities for transit trade, transshipment, and logistics services, bringing economic benefits and positioning Pakistan as a key regional player. But without proper planning, long-term political ownership, and confidence-building measures with India, the larger dream of regional connectivity will remain a distant dream.

CPEC/BRI are great regional connectivity initiative by China and Pakistan which has attracted regional countries as well but at the same time, these initiatives have been seen through a geopolitical lens in certain capitals; hence were declared as threats. China, India and Pakistan are all part of the SCO organization which can serve as the best platform for Islamabad to initiate diplomatic overtures on the regional level for a greater regional connectivity network to promote and reap all the above-mentioned benefits for all regional states. The foundation for such diplomacy will demand every state to withdraw from hard positions, at least on diplomatic levels, so that progress can be made on regional connectivity initiatives which can bring a complete socio-economic turnaround in the subcontinent where the largest portion of the global population is living below the poverty lines.

In summary, regional connectivity is of great significance to Pakistan as it offers substantial economic benefits, enhances trade and market access, ensures energy security, establishes Pakistan as a transit hub, promotes regional stability, drives socio-economic development, and boosts tourism and cultural exchange. These factors highlight the critical role of regional connectivity in shaping Pakistan’s and the region’s future growth and prosperity.

SALMAN AHMAD

Populism, a political ideology fueled by people’s antagonism against elites and their perceived corruption, has emerged as a significant phenomenon in several countries, Pakistan included. Populism emphasizes the interests of the common people over the corrupt elites, based on the distinction between two groups in a society: the poor and the corrupt elites. Populist leaders often appeal to the emotions and sentiments of the public by promising to address their grievances and solve their problems. History bears testimony to the fact that these appeals often lack rationale and facts.

The emergence of populist politics can be traced back to the Farmers Alliance of the 1840s in the United States and to Latin American populism in the mid-20th century.  The great recession of 2008 is considered a catalyst for sparking populism in Europe and America. Prominent populist figures in recent history across the world include USA’s Donald Trump, Turkiye’s Recep Tayyab Erdogan, Italy’s Matteo Salvini, Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, France’s Marine Le Pen, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Philippines’ Rodrigo Duterte.

Populism in South Asian countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India is somehow different from that of Europe and America. The issues concerning populism in Asia are countering elites, poverty, corruption and minority-related issues. In the Pakistani context, family dynasties in politics i.e., Bhutto and Sharif families, remained the main targets of populism. Populism remained a prominent feature of Pakistan’s politics since its inception in 1947. Several politicians such as Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, his Daughter Benazir Bhutto, and recently Imran Khan employed populist rhetoric and familiarised populist policies to get the masses’ support for ruling the country.

In recent years, Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, emerged as a prominent populist leader. He rose to power in 2018 utilising populist rhetoric of anti-corruption and economic reforms, and a promise to create “Naya (New) Pakistan” that would be free from the influence of the country’s traditional political elites. Using populist rhetoric Imran Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), won most of the National Assembly (NA) seats allowing him to become the prime minister of the country. Being a marginal player in the country’s politics, it was a significant achievement for him. However, questions raised over the fairness and transparency of the elections.

Social scientists and scholars have highlighted a number of characteristics of populism and a populist leader. Most of the scholars criticised the populist ideology and some termed it as a potential challenge for real democracy. Populist leaders create a narrative that the earlier power elites only served their own interests and never actually represent the people. And the people will rule the country if that populist leader was chosen to rule.  Populist leaders around the world possess common attributes and characteristics; some of these characteristics are briefly discussed and the conduct of Imran Khan as a populist leader has been analysed in light of these characteristics.

“We are the pure people; they are the corrupt leaders”; is the universal catch-phrase being used by populists implying that the populist leader and his followers are the embodiment of the true will and interest of the people portraying the established power elites as corrupt, self-serving and disconnected from the needs and concerns of the common people.  By doing so, they seek to delegitimise the existing elites and present themselves as a viable alternative. In Imran Khan’s discourse, the root cause of all the problems in Pakistan is corruption within the ruling elites (hidden from the eyes of common people) which has led to economic downfall and resulted in unemployment, inflation, and foreign debt.

Populist leaders exacerbate polarisation anddivision within the society, institutions and media, framing the political debate as ‘us’ (populists) versus ‘them’ (opposition). They foster an “either with us or against us” mentality making it difficult for constructive dialogue and pluralism. This polarisation often led to conflict within the society and institutions destined for anarchy and chaos. Imran Khan’s populist program was also based on polarisation and confrontational rhetoric which contributed to the political instability and chaos in the country. PTI-led government remained in unprecedented confrontation with the opposition throughout his tenure as prime minister of the country.

Populist leaders tend to manipulate liberal democratic institutions and processes i.e., elections, to gain power and legitimise their rule. They try to undermine and often weaken democratic institutions by eroding the independence and credibility of these institutions. Constitutional and valued neutrality of democratic institutions often remains suspended under a populist leader. Imran Khan undermined the authority of the constitutional institutions including the Election Commission, judiciary, and law enforcement agencies during his tenure as prime minister of the country. As a populist leader, he pressurised institutions for personal and political gains. Imran Khan’s victory in the 2018 General Elections was subjected to controversy and allegations of fraud. Analysts and critics argue that the lack of transparency and fairness in the electoral process has damaged the credibility of Pakistan’s democratic institutions under Khan’s rule.    Populist leaders often demonstrate a reluctance to acknowledge or value the significance of opposition within a democratic system. They attempt to discredit opposition by questioning their legitimacy, portraying them as part of corrupt elites and labelling them as enemies of the people. They use derogatory language and dismiss opposing voices terming them as irrelevant. The Khan-led previous government used all its might to suppress opposition by putting almost all key opposition leaders in jails. It took extreme measures to suppress opposition voices within the politicians, civil society and media. The accusations of influencing the judiciary were levelled against Imran Khan for gaining an advantage over his political opponents. He created an uneven playing field for the opposition and undermined the fairness of the country’s democratic process.

Another key characteristic of populist leaders or governments is targeting the independence of media and suppression of critical voices. They tend to attack journalists and media organisations labeling them asenemies or opponents while undermining their credibility.

Through media management and control, populist leaders attempt to shape public narratives, restrict access to alternative viewpoints and limit media’s ability to hold them accountable.  Media in Pakistan under Imran Khan was subjected to the worst kind of persecution in the democratic history of the country. Journalists were pressurised and maltreated, and media organisations were forced to remove those who were critical to the government.  During the Imran Khan era, civil society organisations including NGOs, advocacy forums and human rights organisations were also discredited. Intimidation tactics were used by the government to restrict activities of civil society, limited their funding and shrunk enabling environment for the activists.

Some populist leaders have also known to exhibit a tendency to challenge and undermine checks and balances which are the significant aspects of a democratic system. By reducing checks and balances (imposed by the state institutions) the populist leaders exert control over the decision-making process and limit accountability. Populist leaders deny the balance of power because they usually don’t believe in accountability and think that they are always right. Imran Khan also exerted the same tendency during his regime. He targeted accountability organisations, pressurised courts and attacked the credibility of the organisations responsible for accountability.    Populist leaders tend to make decisions based on personal or narrow interests rather than following an established democratic process or consulting a diverse range of stockholders. They also try to present unrealistic and over-simplistic solutions to the most complex issues aimed at appeasing the voters. Policies driven by unrealistic expectations most of the time have potentially harmful consequences and do not adequately address the root causes of the problems.  Khan’s populist policies were the establishment of a welfare state, the provision of millions of Jobs and houses for the poor and the introduction of bizarre business models. These promises seem very attractive on their face but materializing them requires the capacity lacking by the then government.

The current political turmoil in Pakistan, which is the result of various factors including Imran Khan’s populist politics, has significant impacts on the lives of ordinary Pakistanis. These impacts include economic instability, social unrest, and political polarisation, which all have negative consequences for people’s well-being and quality of life. Pakistani people cannot afford this political turmoil anymore. This country needs stable and effective governance to address challenges and promote the well-being of all of its citizens.