PRELIMINARY SUGGESTIONS:

When the Population reaches critical mass and living conditions reach deprivation on a
large enough scale, something is bound to give! The Media revolution and resultant instant
access to information will leverage this reaction and intensify emotions very swiftly. It is not
necessary to dwell over long on the negative aspects of the State of Society! Rather a suggested
adequate response to 21st Century AD challenges and opportunities is being presented.
The World is beset by a number of problems, not the least of which are:
Hunger.
Extreme poverty.
Malnourishment.
Illiteracy.
Poor health and sanitary conditions.
Degraded Ecosystems.
Burgeoning populations.
Dwindling and degraded Natural Resources.
Vanishing Biodiversity.
Deforestation.
Global Warming/ Climate Crash.
Gross pollution of the Atmosphere and Ground Water.
Crime and desperation.
Aggressive and vigorous action needs to be taken at all levels in order to ward off the
great dangers that we are faced with.
The state of affairs in the Green Sector is positively not sustainable! At the present rate
we will have completely degraded and/ or exhausted our Renewable Natural Resources within a
matter of a decade or two. The tremendous population pressure that we are exerting will soon
reach crisis proportions. It is a great shame that when there is plenty of scope for improvement
and enhancement, we are forced to face a situation of need and scarcity. It is not my intention to
expose our National Dirty Linen in Public. The tale is too well known to bear repeating. The
causes of this situation are myriad and are beyond the scope of the present effort. However, the
cures to some of the physical manifestations are presented for consideration. No claims to
excellence are made; rather, an effort has been made to gather a bouquet of treatment.

The effort towards Devolution is a step in the right direction and should be supported to
its logical conclusion. True Representation; True democracy or the rule of the maximum number
of the populace is not served by eliminating those who garner less support than others. Does this
not signify the disenfranchisement of large chunks of the populace? This leads to disaffection on
the part of those who fail to achieve representation. For example in a population of 10,000 souls
we witness the following results. Come election time only 4,000 people cast their votes. These
cast say 1,000 vote for the leading candidate, 800 vote for the second place and 700 for the third
candidate. The rest are divided in small numbers. Do we mean to say that the candidate
supported by 10 % of the populace is a true representative of the area and the rest have to remain
unrepresented? Can we establish Local Self-Governance at the Grass roots level that is the
Village or Mohallah and not only the Union and District Council level? In order to avoid
replicating the divisive and competitive system of first past the post rule of the largest minority
as a practical result of the democracy as practiced by us that is a masquerade for oligarchy or the
rule of the rich, with Page-Rank Algorithm Social Network analysis that uncovers the nexus of
trust by highlighting the flow-betweeness of individuals within a social network. Here nobody
standsfor elections rather the entire micro community (village/ ward) selects five individuals
from amongst the voter lists. The results are rankedthrough the page-rank Algorithm which in
turn is displayed as a social network. The central five are selected to form the executive council
of the village/ ward whit the center most or nexus of trust of the entire network as the
chairperson. This would quite easily avoid the self aggrandizement, abhorrent to the principles of
Islam, with a rehabilitated and rationalized, egalitarian Panchayat/ Jirga system whose leaders
are replaced by more deeply representative members who do not compete or vie for leadership?
Does this not eschew the violence and divisiveness of society as we are witnessing even today?
Can we engage in a dialogue to weigh the pros and cons of an alternate system that seeks to
replace the exploitive structure with a truly participative and empowered local self-reliance?
Given a workable mechanism and framework can we rethink our Taqleedi development with
rational measures in consonance with our peculiar circumstances, culture, identity and history?
Can we not establish a response to current challenges and imperatives based upon a rational
development of Islamic society that would have been emplaced if it was not subverted by
opportunists, plagues and external forces? Do we have to go through the rigors of re-evolving a
modern society by repeating the mistakes of others? Do we change the system or just the faces?

An appeal is made to all right thinking individuals to cast aside the veils of prejudice and
self-interest and take into account the sorry state of the environment and the fact that over 30 %
of our population is faced with malnutrition! If this was a condition that was inescapable, it could
be borne with resignation. When there is plenty of room for improvement and only a matter of
getting our act together under visionary leadership, it is a crying shame.
A serious attempt to make a diagnosis in order to arrive at a cure is definitely the first step
towards recovery. Therefore, in order to achieve complete recovery the diagnosis must surely
itself be complete and the prescription offered must be effective.
Take into account the fact that despite being guilty of self inflicted wounds, our society is
never the less subject to innumerable conspiracies that take advantage of our weakness and herd
us towards situations that are in consonance with the designs and aims of these conspirators. As
such they cannot be discounted but rather have to be included in our diagnosis. Is it not possible,
as held by some responsible members of society, that due to the long history of dictatorships,
we have developed a strong culture for conspiracy theories can read that as a result of long
history of conspiracy, we have developed a strong culture for dictatorship!
It is important to first reveal as to who is referred to as we. Which part or whole of our
society can be included in this mythical proactive we? Do we include the dispossessed;
marginalized and exploited yet silent majority, desperate for some small modicum of relief in the
never ending battle for survival and subsistence? Is the we all inclusive or is it the exclusive
and elitist few that are the real actors who determine the course that is set for the Nation to steer
by?
Is it not possible that the root cause rests upon the failure to establish or rebuild a vibrant
and homemade ethos that would drive us towards progress? If we are to fix responsibility and
understand why we are where we are it is important to first understand where we are in the
first place! The social order of yesteryear consisted of the degenerated remnants of feudal
imperialism subject to colonialism whose successors, the economic neo-colonial imperialists,
won the Second World War. The evolved social context was that of rigidly stratified yet self
reliant microcosms existing within a survival of the strongest and most ruthless milieu. With
increasing awareness and the opening out of economic opportunities, this framework broke down
to create a disjointed free for all attempting to attain personal self-reliance. In order to attain
some form of a harmonious whole we turned towards the model of British parliamentary system

at National and Provincial levels. With failure to attain National or Provincial self-reliance the
experiment of Local Bodies was tried out twice and on both occasions on the behest of Military
Leaders trying for some semblance of National cohesion, ostensibly to devolve governance to
local self-governance, surely a contradiction in terms! The truism that any system is as good or
as bad as the people who run it, overwhelms the intrinsic efficacy or otherwise of any system.
I strongly believe that the best leaders are those who after they depart the people say we
did it, the it being progress and prosperity. This transient personality and dynasty based
leadership, subject to delusional visions and messiah complexes on the part of leadership can
only serve or disserve in accordance with their inherent ability or lack thereof. True development
can only come about if the skill and drive of the people is tapped and channelized in accordance
with a vision that is mutually acceptable by all involved or affected.
The promise of freedom, democracy, prosperity, and social justice in accordance with
the principles of Islam that galvanized the Muslims of South Asia to launch (the) Pakistan
movement followed by strong civil and military bureaucracy hijacked the state as political
institutions were weak and in early formative stage.
In order to attain the promise and eschew hijacking, which must include corrupt
politicians, we need to consider the following. Should we not resolve the choice between
westernized elitism and traditional culture? Will this step not include the vast majority of our
populace who may have better leadership; vision; solutions etc. that could be tapped to achieve
progress and prosperity?

The impotent efforts on the behalf of the Ecological Preservation

proponents are not enough to stem the tide of oblivion that threatens to engulf the sordid remains
of what is a noble attempt on the part of Nature to bring Order to Chaos. What can an ordinary
Citizen do in the face of Vested short-term interests and pressure groups fuelled by black money
often made by the immoral proceeds of activities that are directly contributing to the very
problems enlisted above?
Over the years Governments and Politicians have contributed in well intentioned schemes
that have failed to have maximum impact and have resulted in a great deal of waste and
indebtedness. More emphasis has been placed upon infrastructure than economy generation.
Opportunities and jobs have not been created. Resources have been over-exploited.
It might be pertinent to enlist the underlying problem areas that have to be concentrated
upon in order to overcome the very real threat of Eco Disaster!

Subsistence, non-irrigated agriculture is the rule rather than exception.

Use of unstabalized fertilizers in inefficient manner is causing atmospheric pollution, below
grade water pollution and raising soil pH, thereby restricting available nutrient uptake by the
plants
Soils are depleted and yields are low.
Poor cultural practices and lack of storm water drainage contribute to loss of precious topsoil
in large quantities every year.
Forests are heavily exploited and not sustainable at less than 5% of the area.
Infrastructure in the shape of roads is less than sufficient and usually in a state of disrepair.
Water supply is mostly self-arranged; this is usually a burdensome task. A few schemes in the
area provide water to the doorsteps of about 30 % of the inhabitants. Springs and running
streams are available but highly polluted. Recharging of shallow aquifers is slow and
restricted. The area is increasingly facing water scarce months and lower rainfall in one of
the two seasons that formerly prevailed, i.e. delayed winter rains.
Electricity is practically unavailable to most households due to load-shedding and line losses/
inefficiency/dishonesty.
Sanitation if present though not hooked up to central or efficient systems even in Islamabad.
Solid and liquid waste is a major pollutant.
Poor maintenance standards of vehicles available to commuters are causing air pollution by
emission of toxic fumes.
Schools and Basic Health Units are lacking in facilities and under-staffed, both in qualitative
and quantitative terms.
Livestock is poor in quality and exerts pressure upon the existing resources. Local inhabitants
resort to clearing of trees and burning of grass at particular seasons, to ensure more
availability of grass to their ruminants. This grass is usually harvested in winter to supply
winter-feed.
Thus, overall, rural infrastructure is poor. However, rudimentary infrastructure does exist but
is poorly maintained and grossly under-utilized.
The above factors need elaboration to bring home their importance.
The Petro-Based Economy seems to be the root cause of many of our problems.
Degradation of the Eco-System; Global Warming and Pollution of the Atmosphere and possibly

Climate Crash leading to a return of the Ice Age can be directly attributed to the Petro-based
Economy. The Geo Strategic maneuvering of the 21 st Century is very much hinged upon the
control of dwindling Oil Resources. The ugly faces of religious differences and racialism are
mere window dressing to the actual reasons of conflict in the Middle East, Iran, Pakistan,
Afghanistan and soon Central Asia. Much desperation and suffering results from the callous
pursuit of materialism that reaps a bonanza of material returns by fuelling the Armaments
industry, that most criminal of human activities. A small fraction of the expense undertaken at
preserving their hold upon Oil Sources would adequately pay by seeking breakthroughs in Solar,
Fuel cell, Ethanol, Methane, Thermal and other sources of low-cost power.
Water, the most precious resource is estimated to be short by 40% by the year 2025 as,
according to the UN, 3 billion people or 40% of the Worlds projected population will be facing
acute and chronic water shortages. Recycling; Desalination; Water Harvesting; Aquifer
Recharging; Lined Channels and Drains; Conservation Irrigation and a host of other measures
will have to be taken in order to curtail the deleterious effects of water shortages.
Food is yet another source for major concern. As according to the World Bank, per capita
acreage of cultivated land supporting food production dropped by almost 50% between 1961 and
1997. It is projected that by the year 2050 this figure will fall further by 40% or more. Already
around 800 hundred million people go hungry every day with more than half of them severely
malnourished. Intensive food production with higher and better quality produce is the only
recourse for a hungry and desperate world. The Bio-Technology revolution, with stringent
checks and balances, is more than likely to provide a solution to this critical problem. That is
provided that rationalism and egaletarism prevail over materialism, whether dialectic or
otherwise.
Sanitation is essential to continued and healthy existence. What manner of civilization
will tolerate the constant degradation of its biome? Solid and Liquid Waste can be readily treated
by the Biotechnology Tools at our command today. It is imperative that resources and
technologies are marshaled in order to stop further befouling of the nest that supports our
existence.
Bioenvironmental Management, the absence of which is deemed a problem, is itself
capable of providing an amazing range of solutions to most of these problems. Hunger; Extreme
Poverty; Malnourishment; Poor Health and Sanitary Conditions; Degraded Ecosystems;

Dwindling Natural Resources; Vanishing Biodiversity; Deforestation; Global Warming; and

Gross pollution of the Atmosphere and Ground Water.
Population Control is obviously a number one priority for any rational human being. The
proponents of religious intervention with claims of divine intervention are simply too absurd to
be considered as a barrier to achieving some semblance of control over a problem that eats into
whatever advances are made to support its growing demands by rapidly increasing that demand
to outstrip supply. As the Holy Quran states They are themselves the perpetuators and yet they
say the Allah (SWT) has done it! And Allah (SWT) is swift in Punishment (Sareeh ul Iqab)!
Health is obviously a highly prized and valued adjunct to life itself. Bio Medical and
Natural remedies to old and new man made problems in the health field are very much a
possibility.
Literacy is so basically important for fulfilling the inherent talents and latent possibilities
within humanity that it should be a crime to deprive anyone the right to a basic education. We
must not abandon our own Culture and traditions and Divine Guidance! What we have emplaced
is a system that is unaware of the latent potential inherent within Mankind!
Equal Opportunities are vital to a healthy and thriving society. No social system can bear
the strains of bondage and slavery for too long a period without crashing down upon the heads of
unjust and exploitative society. The very secret to dynamism is upwards mobility and equal
opportunities afforded to most of the population.
Justice is perhaps the single most important factor that needs urgent consideration and
constant attention. It is justice to Nature to institute Bioenvironmental Management; it is justice
to provide equal opportunities and a share of essential commodities to each and every living
organism that inhabits the Globe. It is justice that fuels and propels humanity towards excellence
and prosperity. Exploitation and deprivation must be made things of a shameful past that needs to
be buried before it buries humanity.
Converting Adversity to Opportunity
Problems are structural; good people even with adequate resources are unable to produce
favorable outcomes working within such an environment. The point that emerges is that
technical solutions cannot, on their own, solve what are essentially failures in policy.

Finally we must learn to nurture nature in order to ensure that nature continues to Nurture
us and live in harmony with nature by creating vibrant, dynamic and locally self-sufficient
communities.