PAKISTAN AS A RENTIRE STATE: PHENOMENON OF RESOURCE CURSE, ECONOMIC CURSE, AND GEOSTRATIGIC CURSE

Abstract

The focus of this research is on economic aid to Pakistan and its repercussions on the socio economic and political development of the country. Since Pakistan’s economy is largely dependent on external assistance, the country fails to establish industrial and institutional reforms and economic development. Pakistan’s geostrategic importance earns billions of dollars of external aid and the country serves to full fill the strategic objectives of the external powers this phenomenon made Pakistan as a rentier state. Historically, the regional environment of South Asian region and the elite’s control of power structure of the state of Pakistan enhance the rentier   mentality. A cursory look on the historic decisions taken in foreign policy of Pakistan by the military governments of Ziaul Haque in 1979 and General retired Pervaiz Musharraf after the 9/11, first during Afghan occupation by the then Soviet Union and second on the eve of the tragic event of 9/11 have made the state of Pakistan a rentier state. Critics of Pakistan’s foreign policy are of view that Pakistan is warrior state and a client state. The country uses its geography for sell, and when the interests of super powers are served the importance country’s geography become less    termed as geostrategic curse. In this research focus is also on aid to Pakistan and its impact on the economic and institutional development of the country. It is critically analyzed in this research the comparative development of aid to European and Far Eastern nations who have developed their economies through aid and why Pakistan become fail to ameliorate its economy? The answer lies in the phenomenon of aid curse.