By Samia Altaf
A chat over tea at a government office in Islamabad reveals why billions in aid have done so little for Pakistan’s poor…
The article can be accessed at the Wilson Quarterly (Winter 2008) using the link below:
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=wq.essay&essay_id=363029
Samia Altaf is the 2007-2008 Pakistan Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC.
Tags: Development, Foreign Aid, Governance, Health, Nursing, Pakistan, Samia Altaf
January 17, 2008 at 7:13 am |
A fascinating article, which broadly highlights the roots leading to the mentality issue that persist in pakistan, regardless of the sector in question. At some level, all sectors are plagued by this mentality virus stemming from the colonial years.
However the real question is, whether to purely criticize it from a radical view, or to move towards a second best mentality framework- second best institution rather than a radical shift to a first best system, which is not and will not be a easy transition and does not seem to be plausible the near future- as it is cultural issue!
The preference of a second best institution is based on a recent essay by Dani rodrik.
On the other hand, packaging aid from training to payment of workers seems like a progressive strategy to break this mindset, which for instance can be taken as the example of the radio ‘fm’ industry in pakistan. Employees of FM 89 got paid very well- which somehow automatically provides respect to the profession and a break away from the stereotype and influx of the elite!- get the big boys involved.
Loooking forward to your book.