When it comes to investments, I think I know a thing or two. So here is some advice to Pakistan to increase investment.
Dear Imran Khan,
Investment into your country will create jobs. This is a good thing. It will help development and create peace too. It will mitigate the need for you to sell your country to China. So here are some top tips for encouraging investment.
Look around at your nearest economic mighty neighbors – perhaps India and reach out to them. You may not like this, but your country needs trade and investment. Even the UK trades with Russia. Your people need it. Build schools, not missiles.
For investment you need an open economy with free movement of people and where all can invest. Take Kashmir for example. Here, people from all of wealthy India can invest, create jobs, reap the benefits for the community of tourism and agriculture and local skilled labour. This will uplift the people. You could learn a lot from Kashmir.
Once someone invests in a territory, which they will only do if it is peaceful and secure, then young people get jobs and do not turn to terror and violence. Pakistan has a young population and a problem with terrorism.
So to help the youth, do open up your country to youth employment instead of as in your Tweets encouraging terrorism and militancy. I am speaking about the one on August 16th. Yes, I was surprised too that you encouraged anti-India hatred. If you have a strong economy, like say in India, then you don’t need to divert the attention of your people.
Another important thing for investment is to learn from neighbours and what they have done, especially if culturally they are similar. After all they can teach the most. For you this is not Afghanistan, Russia or China.
Reaching out to your diaspora, sadly, will not work. It is too small and not wealthy enough. You will have to encourage and take investment lead from home. To do this, you will need to reorganize your budget. You have some expensive line items on there. Take your largest expense. Defense. Now with a growing economy you would not need so much spent on the Independence movement in Balochistan for instance. Or on shelling India. You could use all that money on building roads, and schools. Oh, schools. You need to plan here. Dump the Maddrassas. Not good having only one lesson on the curriculum – RE. Think about adding English and Maths too. Maybe even Geography – I can supply you some maps, you keep getting your ones wrong.
Alpesh Patel
www.trading-champions.com
