BOOK REVIEW

In the background of present day challenges of dwindled economy, bad governance and terrorism accrued from the defiant policies and wrong directions of the past governments, young Afnan Ullah Khan through this book - “Pakistan: The Way Forward” - has discussed causes of the problems and provided the mode to address this predicament in a pragmatic way and a simple language.
With deep understanding about the politics, economy and foreign policy of Pakistan, the author is presently a scholar at the University of Oxford and University of New York. He was the main author of well-known Charter of Pakistan.
The 249-page book of Afnan Ullah Khan has been published by Jamhoori Publications and carries Rs480 price.
The book is divided into chapters to cover the theme of prosperity and the confronting problems to which he has provided a “potential solution for a state rigged with conflicts, coups and corruption.”
The author has frankly laid bare contradictions that different governments in the past pursued at the cost of their set policies for progress and development. Therein he found not only factors which caused derailment of democracy but also promoted corruption and bad governance.
Taking a very optimistic approach despite heavy odds the authors has set rules of game for making all who matter to pool their efforts for a better future of the country. As first step, he stresses on political cohesion and tolerance for finding out solution to their rift through political means without involving Washington or Rawalpindi. He advocates for adopting a forward looking approach instead of wasting time in blame game over what happened in the past.
The author provides a good mode to bring all pillars together for accommodating their views for forming common policies on countering terrorism, extremism and overcome economic woes. He talks of changing mindset of the elite and encouraging the middle class educated youth which can generate change breaking the status quo.
Afnan’s focus on empowering the middle class sounds his venture to set things on right direction for opening up politics and political system to all on the basis of merit and break authority of a class from privileged background.
The book lays down the plan for policies that will enable Pakistan to emerge in the international arena as successful Modern Islamic Welfare State pursuing a vision for next 25 years.
In the book the problems are identified and policies explained which are meant to ward off past mistakes. In view of the ethnic, religious and political diversity, the author emphasises the consensus among the major power brokers on minimum common agenda and making it workable through constitutional amendment.