Outline
1-
Introduction
2-
2- Natural Resources and their management
3-
3- Richness / abundance of natural resources in
Pakistan
4-
4- Pakistan's natural resources and their
mismanagement
a) Energy resources i- Nonrenewable energy resources
a. Oil and Gas reserves b. Coal reserves
ii- Renewable energy resources a. Wind and alternative
energy b. Hydropower
b) Agricultural resources i- Irrigation Network ii- Fertile
Land iii- form of Crops iv- farming v- Fishing
c) Mineral Ore Resources i. Copper and gold resources. ii.
Salt mines and other minerals
d) Human resources i. Sixth Largest Population within the
World ii. Youth comprising major chuck
5- Factors resulting in poor management / Governance a)
Political instability/ rivalry, b) Lack of vision and planning, c) Flawed
policies, d) Bureaucratic bottlenecks and corruption, e) Worsened Law and order
situation,
5-
Implications of mismanagement of natural
resources
6-
7- Way forward
7-
8- Conclusion
Pakistan is one amongst the richest countries within the
world in terms of natural resources but also one in all the poorest among them
in their management. The country is abundant within the vital
resources including that of energy, agriculture, minerals,
population, and geography, but unlike the developed countries, these haven't
been properly exploited thanks to poor management. This dismayed situation is
caused because of several, both chronic and acute, flaws which have led to poor
governance of country since its inception except some brief spells of economic
prosperity. Prevalent political rivalry and instability, worsening law and
order and rampant corruption have catalyzed the case to resource development
impasse. Contrary to economic potential of its natural resources, Pakistan may
be a looking on aid and debt, it's facing deficit in trade, acute energy crisis
to run industry, and water stress for agriculture, to call some challenges.
However, the daunting challenges and therefore the mounting
public pressure caused because of awareness of civil society are increasingly
influencing the political deciding. Eventually, there's sign of hope for
devising effective strategy to take advantage of the resource wealth of the
country for its self-sufficiency and viable economic development. it's sufficed
to mention that the correct exploitation of this wealth would cause the
prosperity of this nation.
Before discussing what, natural resources Pakistan
possesses, it's important to grasp what constitutes natural resources. These
occur naturally within environments characterized by amounts of biodiversity
and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems. Some resources like water and
agriculture are essential for survival of inhabitants while others like energy
and minerals are secondary in nature but essential for economic development.
However, efficient management of those resources is significant to attain
prosperity of nation. natural resources management may be a discipline with a
selected specialize in how management affects the standard of life for both
present and future generations. it's interrelated with the concept of
sustainable development. Pakistan is blessed huge quantity of resources but lags
in management.
Being situated at one amongst the most effective geographic
and geostrategic locations on the map of world, Pakistan is affluent within the
natural resources. it's enormous energy surplus resource potential of both
renewable and nonrenewable, which is bigger than that of oil rich countries of
Gulf. Among the world's 200 plus countries it's the second largest salt mines,
second largest coal reserves, fifth largest copper and gold reserves, seventh
largest wheat and rice production capacity. it's the sixth most populous
country within the world having large share of young population. Had these
resources been properly managed, this country would be one in every of the
richest economies of world. The detailed account of the natural wealth of Pakistan
shows how such great potential has been untapped thanks to mismanagement.
There are many nonrenewable energy resources like oil, gas
and coal in Pakistan. it's quite 436.2 million barrels of oil, in line with CIA
World Fact Book, and 31.3 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves. the
present production is 65,997 barrels per day while gas production is 4 billion
cubic feet per day. Though it's not enough to fulfill the requirements, it can
save considerable outflow of currency. Moreover, there's resource potential of
27 billion Barrels of Oil and 282 TCF of gas reserves within the country which
has not been explored thanks to lack of vision and flawed policies.
Pakistan has world's second largest coal deposits of 185
billion tons. These are estimated to be cherish 618 billion barrels of fossil
oil. this is often over twice if we compare it with oil reserves of Saudi
Arabia. If it's converted into oil by gasification, it'll generate 650 barrels
of oil which at a mean market rate of eighty dollars per barrel, would generate
5.2 trillion dollars. But the political affairs elite of the country has not
only been oblivious to the potential but also indifferent to the slow pace of
efforts to harness this source for energy production and exports. The energy
deficit is badly affecting the industry in country but no any serious
initiative is taken for electricity production from coal. China imports its 65
percent of coal requirements but despite being 'all weather friend', this giant
energy importing economy doesn't import coal from Pakistan.
Besides, the geography of Pakistan enriches it with the
renewable energy resources. Wind and alternative energy are other unused
lifelines of Pakistan. 1046 km long coastal line gives potential of 40000 MW of
electricity. The vast lands of Baluchistan are utilized for solar electricity
generation. But unfortunately, these resources have barely been used because of
technological backwardness and lack of innovative policies.
The hydropower potential of the country is additionally
enough to satisfy the wants of energy. Only 33 percent of around 20,000 MW
generation capacity is produced from this resource which has the potential of
manufacturing 40,000 MW. No concrete steps are taken to harness this resource
mainly thanks to political differences and distrust prevailing within the
country.
The lack of vision and policy planning in utilization of
water resource is additionally severely affecting agriculture. Despite having
one in all the most important irrigation systems of the planet, Pakistan is
facing water scarcity for crops. Storage capacity of water reservoirs is
quickly depleting due to annual sediment inflow and a considerable quantum of
accessible water is lost in seepage because the canals haven't been cemented.
Out of 77 million acres cultivable area, only 55.5 million acres are ploughed.
The country is blessed four seasons and form of crops but because of lack of
research the productivity remains low.
In addition, being an agricultural country, it possesses
tremendous scope of agriculture. Pakistan's breeds of cow like Sahiwal cow are
the simplest breeds of world. charge to the current area can cause bulk of
exports in dairy products. On other hand, fishing industry has a very important
role to play in economy of Pakistan. The coast line of 814 km provides ample
opportunity to boost this industry, but poor performance and poor presentation
of our cause in WTO have put this industry at the verge of destruction.
The minerals are vital natural resources available in
profusion. Pakistan has fifth largest copper and gold reserves within the
world. The Riko deq project, copper and gold reservoir, are estimated to be
worth of 260 billion dollars, which is ten times the all aid received from USA
in last sixty year. But rather than exploiting own resources for economic
independence, country has been addicted to aid. How rich Pakistan is, and the
way poor Pakistanis are! There are other partially untapped resources of rock
salts, Gypsum, lime stone, iron, marble, and silica sand in large quantities.
These resources haven't been exploited thanks to corruption and bottlenecks in
political and bureaucratic culture.
The most important of the natural resources during this
globalized world is human resource. Pakistan is that the sixth most populous
country within the world having large share of 'young population' i.e. 63
percent below age of 25 years, in keeping with international organization
Development Programmed. But the failed policies have caused mounting
unemployment of 15 percent. The resource which may be wont to enhance the
economic activity is left to no use which is adding to the rise in poverty. the
dearth of opportunities resulting in the drain of talented minds has further
worsened matters.
The above analysis reveals that Pakistan isn't poor, but
poorly managed country. The factors which have caused the poor management of
natural resources include political instability, political indecision making /
divergence, lack of vision and planning, flawed policies, bureaucratic
bottlenecks and corruption, lack of human resource development, worsened law
and order situation. These factors have led not only to the poor management of
natural resources but also to the poor governance of country.
The political instability has been the most reason behind
such mayhem. Since the independence, no political group in Pakistan has been
given enough time to be mature. The military interference in politics and
rivalry among political stakeholders are the key features of brief history of
this country. This inconsistency has kept the exploitation of natural wealth
unattended. The divergence of opinion on construction of water resources has
deprived the country of storing the excess water for agriculture and
electricity generation. However, this might be overcome by vision and planning,
which may be a scarce commodity here. rather than controversial big dams
several small reservoirs may well be constructed, had a realistic approach
prevailed among the choice making machinery.
Coupled with this, the flawed policies of successive
governments have caused tremendous problems despite availability of adequate
resources. The energy sector may be a vivid example of such poor management.
the foremost chunk of the electricity is produced through thermal generation
that almost 80 percent of oil is imported. Whereas the second largest treasure
of coal within the world is left unexplored because it contributes only 2
percent of electricity generation. Countries like US, China and India generate
electricity by almost 60 percent from coal because of its lower cost. This
shows how other countries take cost of electricity generation into serious
consideration.
However, it might be unfair to place all the burden of poor
resource management on the political factors. The bureaucratic bottlenecks and
corruption are equally answerable for this undesirable scenario. Several hydro
power projects, Thar coal project, and oil exploration projects are in doldrums
because of bureaucratic bottlenecks. there's no headway in solar and wind energy
projects planned by energy Development Board. Similarly, corruption has also
been extremely detrimental. The standstill within the Riko deq project is an
example of this case. Pakistan is ranked at 34 in Corruption Perception Index
2010 by Transparency International, which may be a discouraging factor for
foreign direct investment.
In addition, the worsened law and order situation has caused
severe blow to the economy generally and resource management specifically. The
volatile situation in Baluchistan.
is harmful to the exploitation of resources. The Gwadar
port, despite being located at crucial location, has not been made fully
functional. Other projects of mineral exploration are affected. The terrorism
within the northern areas has been harmful for the potential tourism industry.
