The Poverty of Imagination: Mainstream Economics and Our Unending Economic Crisis | Dr. Aqdas Afzal
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- Over the past few months, Pakistan’s dire economic situation has garnered considerable attention in the political, media and intellectual mainstream. Back-breaking inflation, record unemployment and a plunging rupee have been accompanied by desperation to acquire more loans from external creditors, most notably the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
After many months, the IMF’s decision to lend Pakistan a paltry US$3 billion - total external debt is more than US$120 billion - was met with widespread jubilation. There has been almost no introspection about the conditionalities attached to IMF money, or the deeply entrenched political-economic structures that keep the Pakistani state indebted, and society badly divided along class, ethnic-national and gendered lines.
All mainstream parties and the military establishment are more interested in taking and holding on to power rather than resolving the deep structural issues that afflict Pakistan’s economy, and, therefore, its youthful masses. Indeed, economic woes are borne by workers, peasants, women, ethnic and religious minorities - not by ruling class landlords, real estate moguls, generals, judges, big industrialists, traders, and, global creditors/investors.
How do we devise an economic programme that speaks to the needs of the working masses beyond the poverty of imagination of mainstream economics? Join us for this conversation between two heterodox economic thinkers, Aasim Sajjad & Aqdas Afzal.
![[LIVE] MCHOICE & MINT AWARDS 2024 at TRUE ICON HALL, ICONSIAM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wMewUeT5nbY/mqdefault.jpg)
Impressed with Dr. Afzal. He is very grounded and absolutely right about " economists" who are trained abroad and come back and try to install the system they studied and operated to the country whose existing social and other structures are different. Yes, you need exposure to other forms and systems but blindly applying foreign systems is like organ transplant- put a pig's liver in a camel's body.
Yes, Dr Pervez is right there is no Hinduism study in schools, just civic study courses in middle schools. I was shocked that the Pakistan parliament a few months ago unanimously passed a law that even in medical colleges now the medicos need to study the Koran every year. Shocking.
The lady asked why not have an “educational emergency for a period of time” - this is the most brilliant suggestion I’ve heard from the intellectuals - so far !!!
It’s the addiction of free money and boredom of wealth that Pakistan is suffering
Excellent views of Dr. Aqdas Afzal sahb. Such academic discussions should be shown in our colleges and universities. So glad to see our youth so attentive during the discussion. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Aasim Sajjad and Pep Guardiola are twins who got lost in the Kumbh mela .One became a football manager and the other a professor
Dr Hoodbhoy is spot on. We’re stuck in rote learning as a sacred duty while the world is galloping past us. Reason? Our leaders are either delusional or coward or both. The problem lies in our roots, starting with the reaction to MacCauley recommendations in the 19th century British India. The most popular leader at the moment, Imran khan, is equally guilty.😢
" We are not poor but we have been kept poor" - Dr Akhter. Sorry to say that Pakistan could not produce from 25 crore peoples experts who can construct by their own a modern, coal fired or oil fired, power plants, for which they have to hire, at very high costs, Chinese experts.
Parvez Shahab is correct; in Indian schools, we have no religious education, the schools may have less facilities but curriculums are almost same is all schools and all systems.
Parvez Hoodboy hit the nail on the head about education.
Few more unpopular topics to cover:
1. Religion versus Nationalism
2. Adopting ideas from ancient civilizations such as Indus Valley.
3. Invite intellectuals from minority communities for talk to cover wider view and more perspectives
4. Talks on various issues such as animal rights, vegan diet, explore why Veganism ( not Vegetarianism ) statistically produced more geniuses, etc.
Dr Aqdas Afzal is v well informed n the delivery of speech is Awesome.
Excellent
جناب احباب کو سلام :
سوال بھی ہو اور بحث و مباحثہ بھی ہو :چند لوگ ملک پہ قابض ہیں
کچھ dulls کچھ duffers:دبئی ناشتہ کرتے ہیں لندن آرام :
جناب پروفیسر صاحب نے زبردست :روشنی دی ہے :
Excellent Pro Pakistani ideas.
good conversation
1. Pakistan ke 95% population, maulvies, diplomats, officers, professors/teachers, parents, media persons, old people, children ko majahabi churan permanent hi de diya gaya hai, jo har cheej aur har jagah islaamik touch dene mein lage rahte hain.
2. Lecture sunne walon se tarif ke liye, har jagah kon kitna islamic bol sakta hai, es baat ka competition chal raha hai.
3. Es churan/islamic touch and hindu/yaahudi/Israel/America naphrat ne aapke mulk ka social, educational, scientific, technological development and economy development ko puri tarah barbad ker diya hai. Dosto ye ek khaternak bimari hai. Religion ko sirf apna family matter rakho.
4. Ye gahri sajish/virus Pakistan mein aapki Army, ISI, martial law ke orders par 1947 se hi, moulvis, madrasses, political takreer, lectures, school syllaybus ke jariye chal rahi hai. Nahi toh aapke Army, moulvis and VIPs ko kon puchega.
5. Phoot dalo, raj karo wali policy hai. Nahi toh, sab VIPs bhook se marenge.
6. Koi bhi political party Govt mai better perform nahi ker sakti, because uska next tenure sure nahi hai. Next Govt Pak Army hi decide karegi.
7. Aapka mulk kabhi bhi es bimari se bahar nahi aa sakata.
7. Es bimari ko ab theek kerne ke liye Pakistan ko lakho dollar chahiye, jo aapke pas nahi hai. Maulvis and radicalised group hone bhi nahi denge.
8. Bus ab 7th century ke maje lete raho ya sab milkar Inquillab karo road mai. Army ka political interference accept mat karo.
Only in the end that too without being direct you are accepting what your real problem is namely Army, the tax holiday on things they are involved in (and they are involved in largest sectors of the economy)..the FRB is your next most sinful organization..that knowing fully well what to do doesn't do it. Blaming it all on foreign economic institutions and their regime is to deny the fact that problem is in you.. within your constraints that are stated above, they are giving you prescriptions..that are applicable only to you. Reasonably balancing books (revenue vs expenditure) is all that they ask you to do.. you have built a consumption based economy so they ask you to free things up..there is so much talk about IITs in India..the number of students coming out from IIT is miniscule compared to other Engineering, Medical, Polytechnic etc and Universities and Colleges. Pak people are talking enough and more but don't follow up with constructive and decisive actions in the genuine interest of nation. Your assemblies and parliament makes laws for themselves the rulers and elite. There is no law being made for the benefit of people.. relatively speaking.. Rape of people of Pakistan is institutionalized by Army and Establishment. Unless you change it you can't question them and therefore there can be no accountability and change possible.
Quite informative debate
Brilliant discussion! The closest philosophy that aligns with developing the human capital is Riasat e Madeena and the man who is championing that philosophy is languishing in prison inside a death cell. We are coming out on the streets to protest higher electric bills but we have done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to fight for the greatest Pakistani leader in our lifetime.
Brief and logical debate.
Dr. Aqdas Afzal, the problem you are identifying in the Anglo Saxon system is actually the root feature of Capitalism and Communism. One or the other take actions to dominate the world in any ways possible. Why there is no way in between. If there is, why is it difficult to implement?
The worlds largest irrigation system that ia referred to was built by the hated Anglo Saxons 😂
The discussion is more about anglo saxon, capitalism and other nations, rather than about the problems in Pakistan.
Improving tax/GDP ratio by taxing the rich, taxes on properties and reducing Black Economy seem such obvious baby steps.
If country is not working for common people, it is worthless.
A great discussion indeed. I agree with both doctors. We need to rethink and it has to be local. Survival of the fittest and free markets concepts have failed the humans! How satisfied are the people of a country? That should be the first yardstick, not what’s the GDP.. Anyway it’s a long topic. Thanks for such a great talk - surely a treat!
To Hoodbhoy’s point, I somewhat agree with you sir (on content of religious education).
But what are we losing or have lost, if religious studies was made a part of education? Do you really think that all this mess in Pakistan is because of the deen’s knowledge/education that people carried? Not really, it’s the opposite!! Rather, deen education should be focused on building “character”. Most of the problems we are facing are because of ill-characters we have developed (won’t be fixed by science, economics or capitalism).
The Anglo Saxons are from Germany and not natives of Britain.
Which is why till today there's tension between the native Scots, Welsh and Irish with the immigrant Anglo Saxons.
I can imagine the reaction every time Mr Imran Bajwa introduces himself 😊
Good. Now just act on it.
Good discussion, but what should be the Pakistan's economic policy?
I'm interested in such type of discussion then please tell me that who I can reach there and where it is happening.Will be very thankful to you all,who want to give me an information about this sessions.
Anglo Saxon! Anglo Saxon! Anglo Saxon!!!🙈🙈
All thw Gwadhar revenues are going elsewhere? Tragedy for the poor people of Balochistan
Fukuyama's book THE END OF HISTORY AND THE LAST MAN was published in 1992.
Why hardly any WOMEN in Blackhole hall audience in almost all shows? I have never seen even 10% women ever in these shows!!
جی، اینگلو سیکسن کا کامیابی کا راز dynamism ہے
Fristly,
Is interest eligible and Halal in your culture ,
because religion and religious things are coming on top priority,
Pl elaborate in next section 🤘
Most of the Indians here are here trolling or being sarcastic….. India isn’t problem free and we all know that…
The current regime in India if anything unfortunately is going the same direction as Pak did in their last 70 years
Listen to this episode but replace the IMF with your religion. And see how things become similar and then impossible to agree.
Mifta Ismail jo batt 2 min may bata dayta hay app log 2 hours may bhee na bata sakay :)
❤
zaberdust police hee khatam kar dain app kee farmaish per :)) sir reforms karway reforms ke baat karay such to bolay batay Army parallel economic chala rahee hay mulk kay lya kuch chorti hee nahee batay elite cult kya kar rha hay rebates kay nam per kuch bhee such nahee boltay app log
9
جی، وزارت تجارت کے ایک سینئیر افسر نے باہر چکر لگانے کے شوق میں سارے فری ٹریڈ ایگریمنٹ بلا روک ٹوک اور بغیر سوچے سمجھے بھاگ بھاگ کر ہر ملک سے سائیں لۓ اور ہمارا ستیاناس کر دیا
The Dr Afzal's opening statement was boring and useless as hell
😢what about no communist partynin Pakistan , where as your all weather friend is ruled by communist party
آپ غلط ہیں۰ مشرف کی اکنامی اجھی تھی۰ تاریخ میں پہلی دفع پیٹرول ۱۵۰ ڈالر کا بیرل ہوا جس سے امپورٹ بل ڈبل سے زیادہ ہو گیا۰ مشرف کو الزام نہ لگائیں۰