Globalization for Pakistan...

In my opinion, globalization is one of those phenomenons which can be experienced but not adequately defined in words. We all have a general idea that globalization is happening but explaining what that means becomes sort of complicated. One of the most important phenomenon of globalization is the shortening of time required (for literally anything).

Whether globalization is good for Pakistan or not will not be an easy question to answer at any level in any aspect. We can simply realize that globalization has both pros and cons for a country like Pakistan. Pakistan, at the time of its inception and for quite a large period afterwards, was an agriculture based country. While the western countries benefited from industrialization, Pakistan was stuck in discussing how should the land be utilized “best” for agriculture. But then soon enough, in a matter of decades, foreign industries began helping Pakistan get the wheels of industrialization oiled (previously they were stuck because of the lack of professional “oiling”). Finance, skills and culture; everything that Pakistan didn’t have, began to flow into the country. Oops did I say culture? I meant “respectable” culture. Or “follow able” culture. Or “something to be proud of” culture. Yeah these types of cultures began to flow in along with the paisa and the technical skills. These helped in improving the standard of living of the Pakistani people (?) and provided them with a better lifestyle (previously they had a “butter” lifestyle). Hmm along with this, a “few” luxury goods also began to be introduced in the country. But whether that was beneficial for Pakistan or not depends on whether you could afford them or not.

Globalization also affected the sovereignty of the Pakistani state. Super powers of the world do not need to be in the country any more (like the poor British had to be) to control the country. Well they don’t control the whole country; they just control the political, economical and social aspects of the country and leave the rest for the local “government”. In all the other aspects, the Pakistani government and the people are completely free to live their lives as they want. No (international) restrictions whatsoever.

Due to globalization, the foreign industries and financers blessed Pakistan with some portion of their hard earned wealth (because Pakistan is so cute!) and this generated employment and thus rozi for the Pakistani people (something that the government had forever been unable to do for undefined reasons). But since our local “industries” weren’t prepared for this foreign disguised attack; the local industries began to close down and thus balanced the employed and the unemployed. The huge industries set up by skilled foreigners (and later by the Pakistani people) produced pollution which affected the natural balance of the country. The fishes complained of dirty water in both the rivers and the seas and began to threaten the people with poisonous food supplies. But pollution wasn’t a problem for the people as such. Why? Well because the educated people of the country feel that pollution is a personal matter and should not be discussed at a societal or state level (so the next time you are bothered by the smoking area anywhere; feel free to stay in your smoke free home!)

While globalization helped in transferring technology in the country, the brain to understand the technology was either kept out of the country (if it was already out of it) or was attracted (through huge money and men/women magnets) out of the country. Also it is becoming an established fact that the “worthy” technology has to be stolen (with northern help preferably) rather than waiting for it to be “gifted” because then it is usually delayed (by only 10 years or so).

But the biggest advantage that globalization has had for Pakistan is the identity crisis! How so? Well because now we at least realize that we do have an identity crisis and that (may be) we want to have an identity!