The world has gone more complex than ever before.
Events and Changes are more rapid.
We face them everyday.
The result is that we have become crisis managers and forgotten strategic management.
This is not happening only in our personal lives but we have lost track of strategic management in our official work, national policies and trans-national conduct.
countries and states which lack strategic visions are becoming playground for other strategic players.
countries don’t grow and wont grow if they don’t conduct strategic management.
Pakistan is no exception.
In the comity of nations we have only traversed for half a century and have faced diverse challenges from Regional Conflicts to Social Disintegration.
The Fall of Dhaka was one big blow to the spirit of Islam and Pakistan and we have still not recovered from the loss of it. The uneasy situation with India and the feudalist mind sets all across Pakistan have lead to more difficult situation.
But the worst is that of strategic management.
Every Government is trying to work on Projects not on Institutions or Long Term Strategic Moves.
Here I would take example of few strategic steps that shaped present glory and gratification of Pakistan
1. Mr Ayub Khan was the first Strategic Team Leader that we had, though many of us take him as a Dictator. Here I am not commenting on his conduct as anti-democrat but only as Statesman and Strategic Manager.
a. 70-80% of the Dams that Pakistan have today are those built by Ayub Khan and whatever fruits we are reaping from these Dams are due to Ayub Khan’s Strategic move.
b. 90% of Canal Irrigation System that Pakistan has today is the same planned and incorporated by Ayub Khan.
c. The only agreement that allows flow of water into Pakistan from the rivers originating from India was signed in 1960 through strategic involvement of World Bank perused by Ayub Khan.
d. The Only State Planned City of Pakistan, Islamabad was envisaged and transformed into reality by Ayub Khan.
e. Nationalist Leaders Like Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Heroic Scientists Like Abdul Qadeer Khan & World Accredited Economists like Dr. Mahboob-ul-Haq were actually trained and nurtured under the Visionary umbrella of Ayub Khan.
2. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is the second person who had the potential to perform as strategic change manager for Pakistan. I have no doubts that he was the one more responsible for the fall of Bengal but here once again my focus would be few of the historic and strategic moves that he made. Or the moves that carry an influence/impact even today.
a. The 1973 Constitution is one of the First and Last Comprehensive set of rules that laid the foundation stone for democratic influences and governance in Pakistan. Even Today despite 8 amendments’ the constitution of 1973 is considered comprehensive enough to deal with the democratic do’s.
b. The loss of Bengal was unbearable, in my personal opinion Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had that guilt feeling somewhere deep inside. He wanted to go for some strategic face saving or comeback. It was he who gathered Rulers of the Muslim Countries from all over the world in Lahore, Pakistan by hosting Organisation of Islamic Countries conference. Despite many NO’s in the start he was able to collect the top Muslim leadership and than raise the flag of Islamic Uma. The west was baffled, the East got concerned. It was this Conference when probably Muslim countries welcomed Pakistan as the Fort of Islam. So much so UAE, Gulf States, KSA & Libya opened the doors for Pakistanis whole heartedly and the result was millions of Pakistanis rushed into the oil rich Arab World. And even today the third generation of Pakistani’s is drawing benefits from these countries. Interestingly Bhutto only arranged a Strategic Meeting of OIC, declared Qadazafi Stadium after Libyan Ruler, Shahra-e-Faisal & Faisal Mosque after Saudi King,
c. The Third significant and strategic step in the History of Pakistan was the initiation of Nuclear Program that was actually envisaged by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and that provides us as the nuclear deterrent against our enemies.
Some people might proclaim Nationalisation to be one more step by Bhutto for good of Pakistan but unfortunately it did not because even today organisations like PIA, Pakistan Steel and Pakistan Railways have become politically influenced and economically mismanaged to the level of unease and poor public image.
3. Pervez Musharaf. Lot of people might disagree but to be honest he did strategic wonders in very little time. On the way he managed Dr. Afia’s Case, Drone Attacks, Bugti, Judges and Lal Masjid there are mixed feelings and millions of Pakistanis feel he followed US interest. Many of us still do not know the actual or factual stories behind the scenes. however we are only going to focus on some of the strategic and positives that would go long way in history.
a. He was one strategic town planner. He opened the congestion of almost every big city of Pakistan to a great extent. Moving out Sabzi Mandi from Karachi, Truck Addas from Lyari, Bus Stands from Gilgit, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and many other metropolis towns was never easy, he crafted roads like the one that joins National Highway and Superhighway at many points. He Turned Railway stations into more organised and managed bodies. we shall continue to reap benefits from all such moves which could not have been possible without strategic vision and nationalist resolve.
b. For the first time in History of Pakistan Media and journalism was given independence under Musaraf. Today Pakistani Media is almost pacing with India and the rest of the world only because Musharaf Gave licences to more than tens of new media channels. millions of Pakistanis got jobs in journalism and art. The change not only impacted Pakistan’s image but ahs begun to expose corruption, nepotism, barbarism and racialism of our society in manner that the over all realisation to do away with all of these isms have started pouring in.
c. The fact that Musharaf introduced graduation as mandatory for parliamentarians brought comparatively more educated ministers into assemblies and we have some significantly strategic visionaries present in assemblies now. thought they still do not have first line role to play but still they are on the track and a decade from now this change will show more value. In addition to the academic restrictions the increase in the number of women seats have lead to more vibrant and moderate image of Pakistan across world. Even the women participation has increased in parliament helping to make men ministers slightly more respectful.
d. Musharaf was the first to decrease distances between FANA, FATA & Federation. He gave enough space to people of FANA, FATA & Baluchistan in Military, Establishment and Government. Northern Light Infantry Regiments were moved from Mountains to Plains and Towns. Gilgit University started its operations. The increased investment and ownership of these areas have now been followed by all governments after him leading to positive changes.
e. Creation of Regulatory Bodies like NEPRA, NAB, PEMRA, PTA, NESPAK, NESCOM and reorganising many of them that already existed was starting point towards good governance. Though many of them are facing political hijacks but as the time moves on they would serve as sources of change.
f. The Gawader Port was envisaged and transformed into reality by Musharaf. Today CPEC happens to be the outcome of Gawader Drive. This would serve as one big transformation agent to the future of Pakistan.
4. Nawaz Sharif. Its difficult for me to call Nawaz Sharif as Strategic Leader because whatever strategy took course during his previous regimes or present regimes could be attributed to the needs or drives emerging out of extrovert opportunities. however some of the steps that he took were strategic as well.
a. For Instance Motorway concept has begun to connect some of the far furlong areas into web of business activity leading to infrastructural development in many small towns and regions. People have begun to acknowledge motorways and metro services and it definetly has helped in more speedy commutations.
b. The massive growth of Power Sector and the number of power plants now under construction in Pakistan would surely change and transform future of Pakistan this change would always be attributed as strategic step by the Sharif government.
5. Raheel Sharif. He was never the ruler but someone who actually transformed the future leadership pattern of Pakistan. The Ex Army Chief was not less than any dynamic leader by any definition of leadership. He also proved to be a strategic Manager
a. The way he managed Terrorism, RAW, political influences and US are finest examples of strategic management. Infact we are now on track while dealing with all these influencers in and outside Pakistan. He has set the precedence, the pattern and the art of dealing with above. For future leaders in Pakistan his resolve would serve as source of guidance.
b. The way China Moved on CPEC was only possible due to strategic moves by General Raheel Sharif to ensure security of the route and stability of the region.
In nut shell all the above steps were probably few steps that have actually kept Pakistan intact today and we actually need leaders who learn the art of Strategic Management before getting to the responsibility chair.
Written by Captain Zahid Faqir (Retired) MSPS MSIR PhD researcher in International Relations. I would welcome inputs, comments and advice from anyone and everyone, however please do not restrict to some of the bads that these strategic managers might have done in your opinion. Try to focus on Strategic Management needs in Pakistan.
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