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58 years on, Indian Punjab way ahead of its Pakistani cousin Amritsar | January 21, 2006 3:17:25 PM IST Punjab was one of the two states in British India that was divided between India and Pakistan at the time of Partition in 1947. India got only a mere 38 percent of Punjab, also known as East Punjab, with the remaining 62 percent and the greater part (predominantly Muslim) going to Pakistan. It's been 58 years since Partition and the progress made by the two sides is conspicuous. Mattewal Village in Punjab's Amritsar district is a model village with a revolution in telecom, solar power, agriculture and infrastructure, making it a role model for other villages. This is what Punjab gained in the last 58 years, after the end of British rule in 1947. Every one, from the lowly to the mighty, enjoys equal right and status. Mattewal is just an example to witness the emerging growth and development in Punjab. Almost every village has an agricultural background and has worked hard to make it a model village. The look on the other side of the border is completely different. Rural development in Pakistan Punjab has practically come to a stand still. People living in mud-built houses lack elementary infrastructural development and progress in agriculture. If someone wants to know what Punjab was before Independence, one only has to make a trip to Pakistan Punjab. Although many may wonder why is there such a stark difference between the two Punjab's the answer is more than evident. "The economy of Pakistan is dependent on America's policy, and America was never concerned on building any industry and developing the agricultural sector, which is the backbone of Pakistan. America had kept the country dependent. The educated people in Pakistan now realise why Pakistan did not develop in the last 58 years. This is the reason why Pakistan has no major industries," said Harchand Singh Barsat, Political and International Affairs Expert. "With a lack of industries, the country has failed to provide enough employment opportunities. The Punjab Province of Pakistan has lagged behind 35 years as compared to Indian Punjab," he added. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian and Pakistani sides, but while the Indian farmer has stepped ahead because of modern technology and diversification of crops, farmers in Pakistani Punjab, has stuck to ancient methods of farming and cultivate routine crops as their major source of wealth. In Punjab, the state has a large network of colleges and schools built over a period of time. Sadly, education is till date a dream for a majority of children in the rural parts of Pakistan Punjab. "When I visited Lahore, I admired the city. The roads were quite good. But when I travelled from Lahore to Kasoor, a small town, I found the villages in deplorable condition. There was no education and poverty was present all around. People there had no clothes to wear and were dependent on dairy farming. At that time of the season when the paddy crop was as its peak in Indian Punjab, the farmers there were growing crops to feed their animals. When I reached the town and tried to talk with the locals, I found the level of education very poor," said Amrish Yadav, President, Folklore Academy, Amritsar. Pakistan's manufacturing sector accounts for about 24 per cent of the GDP, but infrastructure remains the major supply constraint in Industrial growth. There are no major industries in the region, and the net foreign investment in the entire industry is static at 0.5 per cent of the GDP. The country lacks a democratic set up and is dependent on aid from the western world. And if the military regime continues to rule, the path of progress will remain dark and dismal. (ANI) -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England
