Neocolonialism is the dependence of a former colony on the developed world in its economic, cultural, political and other spheres. Such a development has not only manifested itself on the larger international landscape, but in a single political unit as well.
People in the marginalised regions of the country often argue that a few capitalists from the developed parts of the country grab space for their own good in the less developed areas through different tactics.
First, they buy potentially lucrative plots of land from the locals and build industrial units. Then the local population, having been left with no means of livelihood, tries to find employment in the same unit.
In the realisation of their industrial unit — be that a tourism spot, a hotel, or a factory — the owners exploit the locals in all possible senses, like cutting down forests, polluting streams of water, threatening local culture, and so on. The capitalists thus having a firm grip on the local population build their political influence in the area.
On the contrary, a school of thought argues that the neocolonisation process brings employment to remote areas. The neocolonialists build infrastructure and spend money in the area and this ultimately results in the socioeconomic uplift of the locals.
However, that could be true for the land, but not for the people. These people once enjoyed fresh water and had their distinct culture and no political oppression, but they are now deprived of everything, including their indigenous lifestyle.
Once the land and people are fully exploited, their socioeconomic life and culture stand sabotaged. Then they are compelled to migrate and leave their ancestors’ land. Such is the story of the famed northern areas of Pakistan.
USMAN TORWALI
SWAT
