Naureen Talha. Jinnah's Role in Strengthening Pakistan's Economy (1947-48).

Anwar, Saba

Naureen Talha. Jinnah's Role in Strengthening Pakistan's Economy (1947-48). Islamabad: National Institute of Pakistan Studies, Quaid-i-Azam University, 2008. 252 pages. Hardbound. Rs 250.00.

The book is focused on the economic management of Pakistan during the short rule of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah as the governor-general and the preparatory work that he had initiated well before the independence of Pakistan. After the introduction, the first chapter outlines the post Mughal economic condition of the Indian Muslims. According to the author, the Muslims had realised that given the western education acquired by Hindus and Parsis, the Muslims would be at a perpetual disadvantage economically. The author argues that such economic factors had contributed as much to the Pakistan Movement, as the political ideology did. Therefore, under the leadership of Mr Jinnah, the establishment of Muslim businesses and commercial organisations became a core objective of the All India Muslim League. The committed Muslim businessmen and industrialists invested their money and effort to achieve the objective.

The second chapter looks at Mr Jinnah's efforts in setting up of the Planning Committee in 1944. The very fact that Jinnah thought of setting up such a committee as early as 1944 speaks of his acumen, the committee was asked to survey the economic conditions of the Muslims and prepare them to participate in commercial activities, agricultural expansion and industrialisation. The committee submitted its report in 1945, giving adequate attention to all sectors of the economy.

The third chapter provides detail of the business bodies and enterprises established before the Partition by the Muslims on Mr Jinnah's persuasion. These included the Federation of Muslim Chambers of Commerce and Industry in 1944, commercial banks and newspaper network, including Pakistan Times, Morning News, Dawn and Star of India.

Chapter 4 furnishes detail of the suggestions put up by Mr Jinnah's industrialist friends for industrialisation of Pakistan. The suggestions included establishment of factories for manufacturing automobiles, radio and electrical goods, cement and textiles. In the services sector, the group recommended setting up facilities for banking and insurance, transport and technical education.

Chapter 5 recounts the response of the Muslims to the propaganda against the economic viability of Pakistan. Other issues, like division of assets between Pakistan and India and setting up of the central government have also been discussed in this chapter.

The last chapter of the book segregates the post-independence economic achievements of the Quaid into two parts. Part 1 is devoted to the economic achievements during the first four months of Mr Jinnah's rule while his accomplishments from January to September 1948 have been discussed in the second part. The first four months saw the establishment of the first textile mill in Karachi, Karanphuli hydro electric power plant in the then East Pakistan and four polytechnic institutes. To overcome the financial crunch, Mr Jinnah also asked the Nizam of the State of Hyderabad and the United States to not only lend to the infant country but also and invest in it. The second part outlines the commercial, industrial, aviation and employment policies laid down by him. However, the most important economic achievement under his leadership was the establishment of the country's central bank--the State Bank of Pakistan. To conclude the economic management of the country under the visionary leadership of the Quaid was full of promise for a nascent economy that had only begun to toddle.