Salahuddin Haider
AT a time when debt trap has made lives miserable, and pandemic covid-19 has been an additional burden, government must resort to revolutionary measures, including some serious austerity drive to steer past the country from stormy waters. Government in last month’s budget reduced cabinet members salaries by 10 percent, and even defence expenditures frozen at their last year’s levels.
But that is not enough. Much more than that is required to be done to ease the budgetary gap which has already reached horrendous proportions. Parliamentarians too should voluntarily sacrifice, agree to reduce their perks and privileges. A national. assembly member drawing Rs 3,50,000 per months senators Rs 4,00,000 should agree to lesser emoluments , atleast by 20 to 25 percent . In a poor country, beset with problems, such a gesture would indeed be lauded. Also, the 20 business class tickets of airlines to each parliamentarians must be reduced by half.
The government has chosen to cut down on advertisements, and stopped payment of government advertisements issued in the past for political gains. Press is in difficulties and needs settlemtn of outstanding dues. Ways have to be found to solve the issue. Calculated roughly, the exchequer has to bear the burden Rs 85 billion, is President’s and speaker of the national assembly and senate chairman perks and privileges are also accounted for. Sacrifice at this time ought to be the watch word from top to bottom. Two glaring examples can be the pathway at this time.
First Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had ordered his ministers to travel in economy class. Upper class travels for them were banned. Secondly, steps taken by the little known Mohammad Khan Junejo could be another major guidelines. Although he was handpicked prime minister of General Ziaul Haq, he showed tremendous insight, proved himself man of integrity, and drastically overhauled the budget present ed by his finance minister Yasin Watoo. He ordered 1300 cc cars from President of Pakistan to foreign minister, himself and his cabinet ministers to cut down on fuel costs.
The present government, facing opposition onslaught for many a minuses, will have to take drastic measures to enhance its public image No escape was possible is that time. A penny saved, would mean saving many a pounds in cash. After all the government has finally come down heavily on K-Electric because of the mounting agitation from its own party members, as well from those in the opposition. The utility has been issued notice by the federal ministry to come upto public expectations, and fulfill its promise of investment as well as utilize the extra generation capacity.
That alone can stop public hue and cry in this long .hot summer. Instances can indeed be relevant here of Prince Harry and Princess Meghan, tired of royal restrictions on their private lives, decided to disconnect with Royalty, but faced problems as perks and privileges were withdrawn, and the couple of moved to Canada and from there to America. But found themselves in mess. Thanks to a private limited company which hired Prince Harry, son of Lady Diana, to deliver lectures for a million pound deal. Surely it was a huge relief.
Where there is will there is way. Imran Khan himself has portrayed himself a role model for others, living in own house, and meeting expenses from his personal pocket, except for security and protocol on which he has obviously no control. But others too should be follow him to lessen the massive burden on him of State governance. Yet another high to his credit has been cutting down the bank rates from 8 to 7 percent and for industry down to 5 percent, which the business circles have welcomed and got themselves busy in repairing the damage done so far because of the high monetary rate of 13 percent at one time, and closure of their factories because of corona virus.
