Ayub Khan Reforms 1958 to 1969

Ayub Khan’s Reforms from 1958 to 1969

Constitutional Reforms

In Oct. 1959, the president Ayub Khan issued the Basic Democracies Order. It was a four- tier structure, in which people were involved in different levels of decision making. The four-tier structure would consist of a Village Council at the most basic level, a Sub-district council, a District Council and a Divisional Council. The local district magistrates and the divisional commissioners would act as chairmen of local bodies. Under this system 40,000 basic democrats were to be elected by the local bodies. It also consisted of an electoral college for the election of President and members of provincial and national assemblies. On the basis of this system, 1962 constitution was imposed. It enforced a presidential form of a govt., who was authorized to appoint governors of the provinces, who in turn would appoint the ministers of the cabinet. He was also given the power to veto the laws passed. Urdu and Bengali were recognized as the national language, and the principal of parity was implemented i.e. equal representation between EP and WP.  No doubt, they were aimed at greater participation of the local people for decision making but these reforms invited lots of criticism since they concentrated lots of power in the hands of the president. Moreover East Pakistanis too demanded greater share in the seats on the behalf of their greater population.

Industrial Reforms

Ayub’s advisors pressed for greater industrial development. For this purpose, he took support of foreign aid, especially that of UK, Germany and USA. Policies such as tax holiday, tax free dividened income upto Rs.3000 and large scale import of technology, setting up National Investment Trust(NIT) to use private savings for industrial development, as well as prize bond schemes, and defense saving certificates  were mainly introduced to encourage private industrial sector.  Moreover, a national Union, RCD was made to encourage trade. Setting up of Oil refinery on Karachi and PMDC (Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation) to explore minerals greatly boosted the economy. Production did rise rapidly and economy improved significantly which grew by 7% in 1960’s. However, it enabled the wealth to be concentrated in few hands. It was revealed that only 22 families controlled  66% of industrial assets as well as the banks and insurance companies. And, the fact that most of them were from West Pakistan was enough to ignite the spark of anger in East Pakistan. It also made the country increasingly dependent on foreign aid.

Agricultural Reforms

Ayub Khan also introduced reforms in the field of Agricultural to increase its productivity. No-one could own land holdings less than 12.5 acres or greater than 500 acres(irrigated) or 1000 acres (unirrigated). The land in excess was confiscated by the govt. and redistributed among the landless farmers. Landowners were forced to find tenets, hence the small farms were run more efficiently than large farms. Use of HYVs, use of fertilizers produced by  fertilizer industries that were recently developed, encouragement of mechanization by the way of availability of tractors and harvesters  on easy installments , installation of tube wells, better irrigational facilities due to the 3 dams built as a result of the Indus Water treaty in1960 with India which ensured constant water supply for 10 years, ensure increased crop yields. These policies brought about a green revolution and so crop yields were at an all time record. However, it lead to large scale unemployment and these facilities could not be used by poor peasants who found them too expensive. So they made rich richer and poor poorer.

Social and Educational reforms

Ayub embarked on an ambitious plan of social uplift of the country. Making primary education free and education upto 8^th class compulsory, as well as setting up of schools, colleges, technical and vocational institutes in both wings of Pakistan helped to increase the literacy rate to some extent. Moreover, vigorous family planning programmes financed  by American loans by the use of radios, cinemas, newspapers, posters and leaflets created awareness among the people regarding birth control. The policies such as prohibition of polygamy, making the registration of marriage by the govt., the acceptation of divorce by law only if the person goes through a long procedure involving the union council, were all aimed to raise the status of women.  Moreover, equal rights of inheritance were given to those grandchildren whose father/mother was not alive. However, all these efforts were in vain as they were unable to touch the surface as they were not enforced with an iron will, nor a check was kept on the workings of the reforms. Family planning programmes too were not received with expected enthusiasm as they were opposed on religious as well as traditional grounds.

Q.           Why did Ayub Khan fall from power?                                                                                                  

Ans.       Class difference created by Ayub Khan’s economic policies eventually led to his downfall. The creation of new wealth was concentrated in few hands. It was revealed that only 22 families controlled 66% of the industrial assets as well as 80% of the banking and insurance companies.  Unsurprisingly, the fact that most of these families were located in WP angered EP. So a small group of wealthy elite class had almost complete control of Pakistan’s wealth. Such economic drawbacks resulted in Ayub’s resignation.

Secondly, the celebration of Decade of development also served as an important reason for Ayub’s downfall. It provided opportunity for various disgruntled elements to rise against Ayub. Widespread protest and riots led to major political crisis for Ayub, not only students protest erupted in WP in Oct 1968, but also his visit to Peshawar was marred with assassination. This agitation in both the wings paved the way for his resignation.

Thirdly, opposition by political parties and resignation of Basic democrats led to his downfall. In Jan 1969, eight opposition parties united to form Democratic Action Committee, who demanded proper election, lifting up of emergency powers and greater provincial autonomy for EP. Though, Ayub did made attempts of negotiation and pacifying them, but he had done too little, too late. Soon, large number of Basic democrats resigned and so it was impossible to replace them. Finally, on 25 March 1969, he resigned.