GSP+ compliance calls for good governance

The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Pakistan, Karoblis Raimundas, has indicated that the trade relationship with Pakistan is at a critical juncture. Measurable progress is required in several areas, such as human rights, labour rights, environmental commitments and good governance. In the future, the GSP+ facility will be linked to compliance in all these areas.
Islamabad should take the hint and prepare seriously to meet the minimum standards set by the EU. Human rights and good governance are two major areas that require urgent review and correction.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has indicated its willingness to fund the ML-1 (Main Line-1) project for Pakistan Railways (PR), provided organisational strengthening is carried out. Business as usual is no longer acceptable to our trading partners or international financial institutions. Major housecleaning is required for any meaningful progress.
All is not well in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The message is becoming increasingly clear: the system is not functioning effectively. Pakistan desperately needs an upgrade of its railway tracks and infrastructure. The ADB may be willing to help, but not with a collapsed and non-performing system in place.
Even a cover-up has its limitations.
I remember that when I first landed in Bombay, the main city of shining India, I was overwhelmed by the slums and the hordes of homeless people living on the streets. A vast population lived and died on the pavements. Every morning, the municipality carried out a clean-up. The dead were removed and cremated.
After the official business was over, I asked my hosts why they were unable to hide these dreadful and inhuman sights from visitors. The reply shocked me: it was simply too large a problem to cover up.
He was right. The threshold had been crossed in Bombay, although I was told that Delhi was better. The principle that “what cannot be cured must be endured” appeared to be in practice.
Amartya Sen, the famous Indian Nobel laureate, once said: “A country with a democratic government and a free press has never experienced famine.”
India, its people and its democracy have survived despite a rapidly growing population. With a population of around 1.48 billion, it is now the world’s most populous country, ahead of China, which has a population of approximately 1.41 billion.
Through good governance, China has significantly reduced poverty, although human rights issues remain in the People’s Republic. India, meanwhile, has developed a large and growing middle class that continues to thrive under its Westminster-style democratic system. The two countries represent contrasting models of development.
Pakistan’s case is unique. Experimentation continues unabated in the land of the pure, with few lessons apparently learnt from the failures of the past. Perhaps Pakistan is the only country in the world that has had to formulate four constitutions — in 1956, 1962, 1972 and 1973 — while also experiencing several periods of martial law.
After all, GSP+ status was originally awarded on the basis of compliance with certain international standards. Now that the extension of this facility may be at stake, serious soul-searching is required before it is too late.
The rule of law is essential for the protection of human rights, while good governance requires major restructuring of the administrative system. Monitoring and accountability must be introduced at all levels.
So far, half-hearted attempts at course correction have failed. Reforms have not been effective. In fact, the results have often been the opposite, and the downward slide continues.
The unbundling of WAPDA has been disastrous. The increasing use of roads for the movement of goods has also damaged Pakistan Railways, which remained profitable until the 1970s.
The education and health sectors remain in disarray. The Lahore Omnibus Service (LOS) and the tram system in Karachi are still greatly missed by city residents.
Only solid performance on the ground can change the perception of Pakistan among its business partners and international lenders. The voices of reason coming from the EU and the ADB should be heard, understood and acted upon if economic progress is truly desired.
Pakistan must come first.
In the 21st century, a cover-up is almost impossible. Isolation no longer works. As Steve Jobs, one of the greatest technologists of our time, famously said: “Either deliver or get out of the way.”
The world continues to move forward and advance. Those who fail to move are left behind. The time to catch up has arrived.
Please, no more dropped catches.