The following was given as a presentation by the author on 8th November 2022 at the Austrian Parliament.
Socio-economic development means the improvement of people’s lifestyles through improved education, incomes, skills development and employment. It is the process of economic and social transformation based on cultural and environmental factors. Socio-economic development is the process of social and economic development in a society, it plays a significant role in order to fulfil the needs of society.
It is measured with indicators, such as gross domestic product (GDP), life expectancy, literacy, and levels of employment. For a better understanding of socio-economic development, we may understand the meaning of social and economic development separately. Social development is a process that results in the transformation of social institutions in a manner that improves the capacity of the society to fulfil its aspirations. Social development is a process that involves all levels of institutions, from national governments to diverse civil society organisations, to build an equitable and just society through the apportion of economic opportunities and social services while addressing power imbalance.
It implies a qualitative change in the way the society shapes itself and carries out its activities, such as through more progressive attitudes and behaviour by the population, the adoption of more effective processes, or more advanced technology. Economic development is the development of the economic wealth of countries or regions for the well-being of their inhabitants. Economic growth is often assumed to indicate the level of economic development. The term “economic growth” refers to the increase (or growth) of specific measures such as real national income, gross domestic product, or per capita income. The term economic development, on the other hand, implies much more. It is the process by which a nation improves the economic, political, and social wellbeing of its people.
Socio-economic development, thus, is a process of improvement in a variety of ways. It has to influence all aspects of human life in a country. This is why a new concept of human development is being used. It is focused on the overall quality of life that people enjoy in a country, the opportunities they have, and the freedoms they enjoy.
From the perspective of human development people’s possibilities to choose extend in three important areas: the duration of life, level of education, access to economic resources needed for a decent living. In our vision, human development represents a concept linked in a manner that is consistent and complementary to human rights, that is the general concept of economic development. If human development affects extending possibilities and freedoms enjoyed by members of a community, human rights is an initiative to improve the social structures that facilitate or provide these possibilities and freedoms.
Also, we think all these are necessary for the constant improvement of the quality of life, to ensure a high level of Welfare, for that human development is the development of people, for people and by people. The people are the real Wealth of the nation. Economic growth is focused exclusively on extending a single possibility, to obtain revenue, but human development requires a consolidation of all opportunities – economic, social, cultural or political, so that income is a means to human development, but not the only one.
Therefore, economic growth is a necessary condition but not enough for human development. According to the Human Development Report, for human development matters, in the first place the economic growth. Thus, if human development process is one of success, “people can highlight their creativity and can really enjoy their proactive involvements in activities which they appreciate and which gives a social status and personal desired.”
The socio-economic development of so called Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan (GB) are conspicuous due to its absence in AJK & GB. The socio-economic processes in AJK & Gilgit Baltistan are against the backdrop of broader structural forces. The socio economic development of these areas are continuously & consistently neglected since 1947. The purpose of my speech is not just academic but to initiate a broader dialogue on a way forward so that AJK & GB can get on the path of inclusive and sustainable Socio economic development. Access to decent employment opportunities is one of the core indicators of gauging the health of an economy. So it is imperative to start with employment indicators.
The overall Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit & Baltistan and whole Jammu Kashmir unemployment reached at 32.75% percent which is almost high in the region. It is important to point out that female labor force participation rate of Pakistan is one of the lowest in South Asia. But the situation in AJK is extremely gloomy as female labour force participation rate is only 7.9 percent as compared to Pakistan’s average of 23 percent.
Huge gender disparity in terms of labor force participation rate reflects underlying gender hierarchies and gender-based discrimination in AJK. Similarly, unemployment rate has been consistently high in AJK. According to official estimates, unemployment rate stands at 11 percent which which is twice of Pakistan’s national average. Official unemployment rate does not tell us the full gravity of the situation in AJK, in particular the issue of underemployment.
Moreover, despite the low female labor force participation rate, female unemployment rate is 23 percent. Similarly, youth (15-29 years old) unemployment rate is 27 percent. Our youth has been socially and economic marginalised since 1947 and force to migrate across the world for employment.
Young people believe that the region has the potential to change the economic fortune of the whole Jammu & Kashmir, however they feel economically deprived and politically alienated. They relate their economic problems linked to the larger conflict of Jammu & Kashmir. They believe that the status of the disputed territory of Jammu & Kashmir and their respective governments failed from designing policies on their economic needs and potential. Consequently, this has resulted in deep rooted poverty, with scarce and limited economic opportunities.
One of the biggest potentials of the AJK is its tourism sector. It can generate new jobs and economic activity in the region. But the tourism sector on average has received only 0.27 percent of the total budget in the past twenty years, and this explains why tourism in AJK is ‘under-developed’ There is a crisis of unemployment in AJK. While, middle and old age men have been moving overseas to find employment, whereas, women and young people of AJK are stuck at home without decent employment opportunities. This situation of young unemployed peoples are likely to grow at a higher rate in coming years. To state the obvious, it can have a devastating impact on the socioeconomic fabric of the society as overseas employment, especially in Gulf countries.
The So called Azad Kashmir and Gilgit & Baltistan are the historical part of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir which came into being on 16th March 1846 under the treaty of Amritsar. Pakistan has violated the standstill agreement and attacked on our sovereignty and invaded the State of Jammu and Kashmir on 22nd October 1947.The most important factor in socio economic development is decision making but in case of Jammu & Kashmir which is current under the illegal occupation of Pakistan since 1947.
The whole system is being controlled by the Federal Government at Islamabad, where people have no rights and even control on their own resources. The electoral laws undermine the basic political rights of Kashmiris by barring them from seeking office if they oppose Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. The assemblies and rulers of both regions are powerless. The whole power is at the hands of the lent officers imposed from Pakistan.
No one from state subject has to contest election or to get a job or register a political party without signing the affidavit of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. The electoral repressive colonial laws are undemocratic and unjustified. Pakistani Political Parties and Ban outfits can register their organizations in POJK but Nationalists are not allowed to take part in the election or register their political organization.
The local bodies’ elections are going to be held on 27th November 2022 this month after 31 years. They have introduced new discriminatory clause that “I will bear true fait and allegiance to Pakistan and uphold the sovereignty and integrity of azad Jammu and Kashmir/Pakistan and I will strive to preserve the Islamic ideology which the basis for creation of Pakistan”. On the basis of this clause the nomination papers of Zulfiqar Haidher Raja from Bagh POK for local bodies’ election were rejected. Nationalist have been kept out of the local bodied election in AJK under a conspiracy by imposing these discriminatory clauses on the basis of their political beliefs.
Pakistan’s Army has forcefully captured Gojra Fort, Saryan Top, followed by Sri Kot, and now Peer Chinasi. Pakistan has violated the Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of human rights. Pakistan should respect the Truce Agreement under UN Security Council Resolution of 13 August 1948 in which she agreed to withdraw its troops from that State. The presence of military officials in the Tourism Development Authority violates the United Nations’ mission. The planned Tourism Development Authority structure and the 15th or 16th amendment in AJK Act 74 in Jammu and Kashmir governed by Pakistan are unacceptable.
We have repeatedly pleaded with the international world to recognize and address the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (POJK), Therefore the Austrian Parliament should send a fact-finding mission to Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, and request that Pakistan respect human rights and guarantee basic freedoms including freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of movement including the right to life and socio economic development.
Therefore, withdrawal of security force and lent officers according to UN resolution is required to transform the socioeconomic landscape of AJK and Gilgit & Baltistan.
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