AS the year 2020 comes to a close and we are about to step into the new year, it is time to have a cursory glance over what happened during the outgoing year and how we fared as a nation in addressing various challenges. A dispassionate analysis of the internal and external developments during the year by all those who matter can help improve strategies and take the country forward in different respects.
2020 has been a game-changing year for almost all individuals and all nations in that the Covid-19 pandemic drastically affected their individual and collective lives in different ways. As globalization emerged as an essential mechanism of disease transmission, restrictions on travel and trade changed the entire socio-economic landscape of the world with varying degrees of impact on each country. It was, indeed, a nightmare for resource starved third world countries like Pakistan to cope with the virus and its effects on different walks of life but credit must be given to the government for handling the crisis deftly and that is why Pakistanis are not as badly affected as are people in some parts of the globe. The challenge is still there as we are in the midst of the second wave and a new variant of the virus, which has reportedly reached Pakistan as well, is also compounding the situation and, therefore, there is need for constant vigilance on the part of the authorities concerned and cooperation on the part of each and every citizen in terms of observance of SOPs. It is a matter of concern for every patriotic Pakistani that political and economic instability is still haunting the country even after 73 years of independence mainly because rules of the games are not followed by the players. There was some respite in political tension during the height of Coronavirus but with the return of somewhat normalcy the political confrontation is once again approaching its peak. Both the government and the opposition claim to be championing the cause of democracy but they are not on speaking terms and speak only through the media. As had been the case in the past, the incumbent opposition too is in a hurry to throw out the elected government and assume power through fair and unfair means. The alleged electoral fraud is bone of contention and raison d’être of the vicious cycle of destabilization but Parliament miserably failed to play its due role in reforming the electoral system and as a result people witnessed once again hurling of accusations of rigging in GB elections. Suggestions for national dialogue were floated by important personalities during the year but they were confined just to media and the opposing sides are constantly engaged in war of words and are using every conceivable tactic to counter each other’s move. There are ultimatums about long march and resignations from the assemblies and the government is apparently provoking the opposition to do so. The opposition is alleging that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has become a tool in the hands of the government to victimize its political opponents and the impression strengthened during the year as most of the influential leaders of the opposition were put behind bars on the plea of accountability, Khawaja Asif of PML(N) becomes the latest addition to the list. The impression of one-sided accountability has to be cleared besides grievance of the civil bureaucracy that they were unable to take risks due to undue interference by NAB. The year witnessed unprecedented hike in inflation especially those of food items, as their prices have almost doubled due to inability of the authorities concerned to take timely decisions and effective action against different mafias that continue to rule the country. People, crying under the pressure of a hundred percent rise in prices of wheat flour and sugar, were waiting for relief but their woes have compounded due to unjustified hike in prices of vegetable oil, chicken and eggs. Pakistan is an agrarian country but shamefully it has to import both wheat and sugar besides cotton bales worth billions of dollars due to ad-hoc policies and lack of focus on agriculture. The PTI Government launched a number of new initiatives during the year with potential to accelerate the pace of economic growth and relief for the people but their trickledown effect of most of them is yet to be seen. India continued to hurl threats but national resolve of the country and preparedness of the defence forces has so far prevented any major conflict. Pakistan took practical steps to expose India’s state-sponsored terrorism by preparing and handing over to the UN and important world capitals dossiers on the issue. There were some positive moves on Afghan and CPEC fronts but some miscalculations triggered misunderstanding with some of the staunchest allies of the country. A correction is needed.
