T HE US administration recently approved military assistance worth $800m to Pakistan but the US Congress conditioned this onPakistan takingcertain actions.The $800m amount is a peanut which Pakistan should politely turn down as a selfrespecting nation. There is no reason why the country cannot do without it. The amount can be generated by reversing the declining exports and restricting import of non-essential and luxury goods. The latter alone can save up to $2bn if we have the will to implement austerity measures.
The US Congress also blocl We should divert our resources to producing locally an upgraded version of JF-17 Thunder aircraft in collaboration with China which can compete with F-16. We should also consider collaboration with Russia in the area of defence equipment.
The need is to harness technology both inT HE US administration recently approved military assistance worth $800m to Pakistan but the US Congress conditioned this onPakistan takingcertain actions.The $800m amount is a peanut which Pakistan should politely turn down as a selfrespecting nation. There is no reason why the country cannot do without it. The amount can be generated by reversing the declining exports and restricting import of non-essential and luxury goods. The latter alone can save up to $2bn if we have the will to implement austerity measures.
The US Congress also blocl We should divert our resources to producing locally an upgraded version of JF-17 Thunder aircraft in collaboration with China which can compete with F-16. We should also consider collaboration with Russia in the area of defence equipment.
The need is to harness technology both indefence and civilian fields as this alone can guarantee an impregnable defence and a strong economy. We should spend 10pc of the national budget on research and development activity. Centres of excellence in science and technology should be established in the country on the pattern of MIT. These will serve as a nursery for producing highly qualified scientists, engineers and innovators.
