FOREIGN aid has proved to be a liability for Pakistan rather than an asset for the nation. It is so because we have not been able to get the maximum advantage of the aid received.

All the governments in Pakistan have failed to utilise foreign aid properly for uplifting the socioeconomic condition of the people.

Mismanagement, lack of sincerity, red-tapism, corruption, and stiff conditions attached to the given aid are some of the reasons that foreign aid has not been helpful in improving the lot of common people of this country.

Now the question is: if foreign aid has not been helpful in improving our socioeconomic condition, why then are we repeatedly approaching foreign countries and donor agencies for aid and that, too, on stiff terms?

Now it is time we stood on our own feet by adopting the policy of self reliance. For how long will we depend on foreign crutches for our development? For how long will we be denying our self-respect to keep on borrowing from others for our survival?

The need of the hour is to tap all these resources in a more sincere and efficient manner for the social uplift of our people.

ABDUL SAMAD SAMO Karachi