A technocratic democracy

Pakistan has suffered for the last five decades from rotating democracies and martial law governments. The vision to migrate to a strong technology driven knowledge-based economy was largely missing, with the result that our economy has continued to spiral downwards.

The corrupt agendas followed by several democratic regimes have been reflected in the government contracts with IPPs that have doomed our industry and are forcing millions to go below the poverty line each year. Pakistan has essentially defaulted and is being kept on oxygen by injections of aid or rollover of loans from friendly governments.

The answer to our problems requires a radical change from our present policies. More of the same will not do. We must understand the importance of knowledge in socio-economic development in this day and age and make quality education, science, technology and innovation as the key corner-stones of our government policies. This is way beyond the competence and understanding of the self-seeking corrupt politicians that have governed Pakistan in the past and requires the installation of an honest and visionary technocrat government.

Technocratic governance can reduce the likelihood of corruption, as technocrats are selected based on expertise and merit rather than political affiliations or influence. This merit-based selection leads to more transparent and accountable governance. With a focus on expertise and technical skills, a technocrat government is better equipped to tackle complex and multifaceted problems. The presence of specialists who understand the intricacies of various issues can lead to more effective problem-solving strategies. Policies designed by experts are more likely to be feasible and well-implemented, as technocrats understand the practical aspects of policy implementation, resulting in more successful execution of government programs and initiatives.

A technocrat government may take the form of a presidential system of democracy or a parliamentary system of democracy. The important thing is to combine the principles of democracy with the expertise-driven approach of technocracy, offering a unique blend of advantages that can enhance governance and policymaking. This hybrid system prioritizes expertise and technical knowledge in its decision-making processes, ensuring that policies are designed and implemented by individuals with specialized knowledge and experience in relevant fields. This is necessary to transition to a technology -driven export-oriented high tech industrial base.

For this to occur, our federal and provincial ministers, secretaries as well as other senior bureaucrats should be top specialists in the relevant fields with clear time-bound key performance indicators designed to transform Pakistan into a leader among nations in the manufacture and export of high value-added products. It is only then that we can emulate the path of tiny Singapore that today has exports of $390 billion, as compared to the pathetic $35 billion of Pakistan, a country about 50 times the size of Singapore.

Singapore is known for its technocratic government, where most ministers and high-ranking officials have strong backgrounds in engineering, economics, and law. China serves as an excellent example how a huge nation can lift itself out of poverty within a short span of three decades and become a world leader. The country’s leadership largely comprises engineers and scientists, reflecting a technocratic approach to governance.

China’s journey towards becoming a knowledge economy has been marked by strategic initiatives and policies aimed at fostering innovation and technological advancement. This transformation has been driven by a combination of government support, massive investment in education and research, and fostering an entrepreneurial environment.

The implementation of the National Medium- and Long-Term Program for Science and Technology Development (2006-2020) set the foundation for China’s innovation-driven development strategy by identifying key areas for scientific research and technology development. Alongside this, China significantly increased its investment in R&D, growing substantially over the past few decades to become one of the top spenders globally. This financial commitment has been crucial in building a robust infrastructure for scientific research and technological innovation.

The establishment of high-tech industrial development zones across the country, such as the Zhongguancun Science Park in Beijing, serves as hubs for innovation, attracting both domestic and international technology companies and fostering a conducive environment for research and commercialization of new technologies. Concurrently, China has reformed its education system to produce a highly skilled workforce capable of driving innovation. Emphasizing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, China has nurtured a generation of engineers, scientists, and tech professionals.

The Chinese government has provided substantial support to startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through initiatives like the ‘Mass Entrepreneurship and Innovation’ campaign, promoting an entrepreneurial culture and offering financial incentives, incubator programmes, and mentorship to budding entrepreneurs. China has aggressively pursued advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, with the ‘New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan’ launched in 2017, aiming to make China a global leader in AI by 2030. This plan encompasses various aspects, from basic research to the development of AI applications across different sectors.

China has focused on the development of advanced manufacturing technologies through initiatives like ‘Made in China 2025’, which aims to upgrade the manufacturing sector by promoting the integration of digital technologies and smart manufacturing processes to enhance productivity and innovation. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has facilitated international cooperation in science and technology. By fostering partnerships with countries along the BRI route, China has expanded its innovation network, enabling technology transfer and collaborative research projects on a global scale. Special economic zones (SEZs) like Shenzhen have been instrumental in driving innovation.

The creation of national laboratories and research centres has provided a platform for cutting-edge research, focusing on critical technologies and fundamental sciences, driving innovation in various fields and contributing to China’s technological prowess. China has promoted the integration of digital technologies in traditional industries, leveraging technologies like cloud computing, blockchain, and data analytics to significantly enhance innovation and efficiency in sectors such as agriculture, finance, and healthcare.

In conclusion, enough is enough. We have almost destroyed this country through corruption and incompetence. We need to change our constitution and ensure that the country’s programmes are spear-headed by education, science, technology and innovation so that we can lift ourselves out of our present quagmire and transition to a strong technology-driven knowledge economy.

The writer is a former federal minister, Unesco science laureate and founding chairperson of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). He can be reached at: ibne_sina@hotmail.com