Recent Leaders who changed the fate of their nations.
By: Tarique Khan Javed
President, Overseas Pakistani Investors Forum.

__________________________________________________________________________Dated: 22 Dec 2008
Leader is one who has enormous energy, courage, long-term vision and deep love for his people. He is ready to sacrifice his life for the welfare of his people. He is ready to face criticism and ridicule for his ideas but does not back down from his mission.

In recent history we have number of such leaders among them my favorite five are: Deng Xiaoping of China, Sheikh Issa of Bahrain, Mahathir Mohammed of Malaysia, Makhtom brothers of Dubai  and Hamid Al Thani of Qatar. These Leaders against stiff opposition steered their nation to a path which bought prosperity while the popular will wanted to move to a path which would have bought immediate disaster.

1. Deng Xiaoping of China:
Little helmsman as this short stature supreme leader was known survived three political purges under Mao and ultimately succeed him. An ageing and pragmatic Deng used more guile than strategy as he unleashed the nation’s energies, opened it to the world and pulled it out of dire poverty. Three decades later, the success of his market reforms has bought China into ranks of the worlds most powerful nations. Currently China has the largest forex reserves in the world.

This dire hard communist realized that their hard fought Revolution did bring justice and equality in the country but killed enterprise and motivation for hard work and plunged country into severe poverty. Thinking the unthinkable at that time; he advocated unbridled capitalism on Hong Kong model, in pockets of China, to attract investment and employment for his people. Such thinking was heresy at that time because the Communist Party was sworn enemy of capitalism and exploitation of the workers.

In Dec 1978,  Deng announced start of the market based reforms and in May 1980 he designated Shenzhen as first Special Economic Zone (SEZ). This was followed by opening of Zhuhai in the same year and Xiamen in 1981, Shantou in 82,Hainan in 1988 and Shanghia (Pudong) in 93.  In November 1990 Shanghai  Stock Exchange was re-established for first time since 1949, this was followed by opening of Shehzhen Stock Exchange a month later. By 1992 there were wide spread protest against the policy but Deng stood firm and visited Shenzhen SEC to show support. During mid 90s major state-owned enterprises were closed or restructured leading to many job losses. In 2001 China joined WTO and in 2005 delinked Yuan from US dollar and it gradually gained strength.

Now as USA  with USD 10 trillion debt faces credit crunch along with Europe; China is sitting on reserve of USD 1.8 trillion. What a wonderful and unbelievable change thanks to the leadership of a truly revered and sincere man.
 
Amir Sheikh Issa  bin Khalifa of Bahrain:
Sheikh Issa once again was a very short man with a mighty will power and clear vision. After the exhaustion of Oil; Bahrain faced a survival challenge with a population of 400,000 and no resources to support them.  He opted to make Bahrain the Regional service center of Gulf in 1970s to compete with Beirut. This entailed providing similar environment and facilities like Beirut. He knew this will be bitterly opposed by his conservative nation but he went ahead. By mid 1980s there were 110 Offshore Banks and numerous other Regional Offices operating in Bahrain providing very well paid jobs to Bahrainis. Despite lack of Oil, the per capita income of Bahrain was better then neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia by 1990.

In early 1980s, Sheikh Issa tried to bring Democracy in the country and an Elected Assembly came to being. The first and only resolution passed by this Assembly called for expulsion of all foreigners from the country. If the policy was adopted that would have meant starvation for the Bahraini yet this resolution was passed. This  was rejected by Sheikh Issa and he disbanded the short sighted and immature assembly.

Now challenged by even more open Dubai, Bahrain struggles but it still remains a location of choice of many multinational cos. Bahrain now is a Kingdom ruled by Sheikh Hamed bin Issa who has followed his fathers footsteps. He has introduced a limited democracy and in the Assembly day in and day out debate goes on the merit and demerit of having foreigner and the hedonistic culture they bring along.  But they never pass a resolution for their expulsion now, as mature Assembly they agree that Issa was a Great leader who choice the right path for the country.  

Mahathir Mohammed of Malaysia:
As specter of a bloody civil war between Chinese and Indian population of Malaysia on one side and indigenous Malays on the other, loomed very close, the visionary Mahathir emerged as Leader and led the nation to the path of glory. Dr. Mahathir, honest and sincere Malay urged his people not to be jealous of success and wealth of others rather follow their traits and become rich and successful themselves. He convinced them that with internal harmony and unity of purpose this could be done with the help of Multinational Cos.

Sony agreed to make all their TVs in Malaysia and generated a large number of employments. Other Japanese, US and European Cos followed raising the demand for labour. With well paid jobs the tensions eased off. Now Malaysia makes its own brand of cars (Proton) and is consider a rich country with labour shortage. Many Pakistani workers are eager and proud to be working in Malaysia.

Now Mahathir has step down but is deeply respected by all communities. His successors have followed his policy of welcoming multinationals with open arm and not interfere in the working of a free and transparent market economy. Malaysia has become an example of rapid economic transformation which other country are trying to copy.

Makhtom brothers of Dubai 
With little Oil reserve and no other resource, in the most hostile desert track sons of Sheikh Rashid bin Makhtom, resolved to turn Dubai into a Regional service center like Bahrain. Like Bahrain they knew what kind of resistance they will face but they went on with their plans and invited multinationals to set up offices, factories and take part in building projects. Like Bahrain they adopted policies to provide entertainment and fun for a multi cultural work force. They adopted simply laws governing business transactions. A flat custom duty of 4% was imposed and one window operation for industrial estates like Jabel Ali Free Zone. With no income tax and excellent infrastructure and fool proof security system people stormed on Dubai and its real estate sky rocketed. Westerns found Dubai to be a suitable place

to retire and this created a large market for high class real estate development. Reclaimed islands became choice location for housing projects.  Some of the largest shopping malls and tallest building in the world are coming up in Dubai. All this would not have happened without the visionary and courageous leadership of Makhtom brothers who have managed to make their country man one of the most proud and prosperous in the world. All this happened in a short span of 20 years.

 Sheikh Hamid Al Thani of Qatar:
Contrary to the very conservative and protectionist policies of his father Sheikh Hamid decided to open up the country and lead the nation to a path of rapid progress. He lacked resources to tap the world’s second largest Gas reserve, so he approached Banks for loans. At one point the loans become so large that Banks worried about repayment, as the cash flow from gas projects got delayed.

USA needed to relocate its Air Force base from Saudi Arabia after the Ist Gulf war. Qatar offered its territory and promised to bring in necessary reforms to make the forces stay comfortable. So a bill was introduce in the “Majlis a Shura” to allow open sale and consumption of Alcohol in the country and the bill was passed. This paved the way for opening of a huge base in Qatar which became the center of action in the 2nd Gulf war. The move strengthen the country against Bahrain which had successfully taken away Hawar Island located just miles away from Qatar. The additional revenue from USA bases helped Qatar finances and the country started to develop rapidly. With Gas income now on steam the country is center of World attention. It is venue of International conferences and sports events like Asian game.

During the last 10 years Qatar has changed beyond recognition thanks to the honest, pragmatic and visionary leadership of very tall and well built Sheikh Hamid.

Can President Zardari join the rank?
After steering in the eyes of death for 11 years during political imprisonment and extended exile; Zardari’s cry, against the will of the crowd he was addressing “ PAKISTAN KHAPAY”, while burying his wife, gives me lot of hope for the future.

 Zardari has shown that he has the will power and wisdom to do what is right for the nation, not worrying about what short sighted popular will may be asking.  This quality has the potential to make him a great leader worthy of joining the ranks of leaders mentioned above.

His firm action in FATA and extraordinary peace initiatives with India and his calm against all Indian provocation, after Mumbai attack, points to a better future of Pakistan.

We all know what is needed to be done to make Pakistan better, however most of the actions required, involve unpopular and unconventional decisions that only a real leader can take. The way Zardari has assembled all political forces around him points to the tough and difficult decisions, he proposes to take like the disbanding of NSC.  Gaining full control over army and secret services is not an easy task and all political forces must be together to do so. Similarly adoption of a foreign policy which will entail complete non interference in neighboring countries affairs; to save money and energy for use on our poor is also not an easy task. Yet it need to done and only a democratic government can do it.  

Distribution of land, complete curb on deficit financing, cutting all government expenses, taxing the rich and sparing the poor are all very thorny issues and only a man of iron resolve and will, can take them up. I hope Zardari will take them up and change the fate of our nation.