What a fall
October 11, 2008 60 years ago, when Pakistan emerged as the largest Muslim state on the world map, we were competitors of countries such as China, India, Malaysia and Indonesia, most of whom have since become economic tigers, with China emerging as a giant. Even after the fall of East Pakistan, our country had the potential viability to be an economic power with its vast resources and mammoth youth population. That, Pakistan has fallen by the wayside now is mostly due to its inept, corrupt and power hungry leadership.
Until recently we were fed on the lies about an economic takeoff and smashing of the begging bowl. Sadly, that bowl is out again with a flourish as we move from pillar to post in the world begging for alms in loose change to sustain our moribund economy. It is time for an independent and in-depth inquest into the real circumstances of the quagmire we are in. We owe it to our history and our future. -DR ZULFIQAR HAIDER, Lahore Cantt, via e-mail, September 26.
