This document discusses the differences between old and new Pakistan across several areas such as roads, communication, internet, education, bookstores, banking, television, and transportation. It provides examples of the improvements Pakistan has seen over the past few decades, such as the transition from single-lane roads to motorways, the introduction of broadband internet, an expansion of educational and banking options, and a proliferation of television channels and cars on the roads. The overall message is that Pakistan has developed significantly in terms of infrastructure and access to services and technology.
4. Maybe you have your own stories, your own
inspirations, your own rays of hope that keep you
going ; these are mine. And I want to share them with
the hope that they will help someone else break out
of the circle of pessimism.
5. Here we discuss some points on which we can differentiate the old
Pakistan and New PakistanâŚ!!!
ďRoads
ďCommunication
ďInternet
ďEducation
ďBookstores
ďForeign Currency Regulation
ďBanks
ďConsumer Choice
ďPetrol Pumps
ďTelevision/Information
ďTransportation
6. ďąRoads
In 1989, driving from Lahore to Islamabad was an ordeal on the
mostly single-lane, badly maintained GT road.
In 2010, driving from Lahore to Islamabad is a pleasure on the
motorway. And it is not just this one road, a lot of roads have
been added to a network or improved. The people who are at
big business level they routinely drive to Karachi with their
families on vacations. We need many more roads but we have
certainly not sitting idle.
7. ďą Communication
1989; calling from Islamabad to Lahore meant going
to a market to a PCO, telling the guy to book a 3
minute call and waiting around till it got connected.
Even if you had an STD line at home, your fingers
were likely to get sore from dialing before you get
connected. And once the call was connected you
watched the clock like a hawk as it was so
expensiveâŚ.!!!
8. ďą Internet
In 1995 : the wonders of E.mail was introduced. It was an offline
store and forward system. If you sent a mail in the morning, it
reached in the evening when your Email provider called USA on a
direct line to forward it.
In 2010; broad band, DSL, WIMAX, DIALUP, Cable-instant,
connectivity for every one . I went through thinking that cellular
phones would never take off here â but I was wrong; that interne
would remain a nice â I was wrong; that broadbank would never
take off here â I was wrong; that Blackberry would never be
adoped â I was wrong. Here I speak that the fact is that Pakistan
and Pakistanis love technology and are eager to adopt and adapt
the latest technologies as soon as they become available.
9. ďąEducation
In 1980s ; the system of education was not good. Career
choices were limited. You could either be a doctor or an
engineer or you could join the army or the civil service. And
once you decided to be, say, an engineer, choices were
limited to practically one or two government universities in
your region, MBA was still a somewhat rare phenomena and
there was only one well known business school IBA in Karachi.
As in 2000s you may see that the system of education is
totally changed.
Now you have many choices and many fields to get in them.
Now there are many schools, colleges and universities in
which you can easily step in these institutions and study in
them.
10. ďą Book stores
There were few decent bookstores in Islamabad and
Lahore. Finding books â even prescribed books for
professional education was hard.
Now in the present dayz there are many big Libraries in
every city and there are thousands of books in the
Libraries of every departments.
11. ďą Foreign Currency Regulation
Better regulations, credit cards and foreign exchange
dealers mean you can make such payments instantly.
In general, financial regulations since the early
nineties have been more or less consistent. While
each successive likes to blame the last one for all ills.
12. ďąBanks
In 1990s ; Cashing a cheque from a bank, or paying a bill for that
matter, routinely meant long queues, helpful clerks, long waits and
this was at the larger banks in big cities.
In 2000s ; the peoples hardly go to the banks, thanks to the ATMS,
bills are payable at more banks than ever and the staff is better
trained than before.
There are several private banks today with a healthy competition
that makes them invest in better infrastructures, improved
technology, and innovation. Consumer finance products which
were largely unknown twenty years ago are everywhereâŚ.!!!
13. ďąPetrol pumps
Old PALISTAN NEW PAKISTAN
Smelly Modern
Dirty places Clean
Few choices Efficient places
Mostly government owned Plenty of choices
14. ďą Television/ Information
In 1990s : You had exactly one government run
channel. There was no concept of foreign channels.
Listening to BBC meant turning in to their radio
services.
In 2000s : channel, channel and more channels. Local,
foreign, sports, news, kids ,its up to you to take your
pick.
HaTe them or LoVe them they do inform and do give
you more choices.
15. ď Transport
In 1990s ; Buying a car meant years of saving and then buying a beat-
up second hand car which would break down more often than
notâŚâŚ!!!
On the other hand in 2000s ; more leasing options, more models,
more cars on the road. People who have always had cars often treat
this proliferation of cars on the road as a negative. But ask the man
who buys/ leases his family and takes them out for the first day of
entertainmentâŚ..!!!
16. ďą What difference you will notice in old and new Pakistan
In older days there were not more facilities
and ease as compared today. Now we have to
make our dreams true by following the Islamic
rules.