Rizwan Ghani
PM’s address to the nation including five-
point plan against Corona Virus has been
termed as disappointment. The government is already being criticised for its slow response, which resulted in spread of virus. The delay in coordination among federal and provincial governments is also a factor because health is now a provincial subject. It is hoped that with army coming to assist the corona virus fight these teething issues will be over and country will work in unison to beat the challenge. National armies are already helping in many countries in Europe and America to fight against the virus. Imran shared his frustration about increase in food prices and warned profiteers and hoarders of stern action for overcharging. The best way to enforce this warning is to restore magistracy system with police under the district magistrate. They in turn be backed by judicial oversight and supported by armed forces. Corruption, mismanagement and waste cannot be ruled out in use of international funds for fighting the corona virus. The US Department of Justice issued warning to protect consumers from price gouging and ensuring American consumers have access to critical products at affordable prices.
Bilawal has already extended full cooperation to the government. This is yet another offer from the opposition parties which should not go waste because cooperation is need of the hour. Without wasting any more time, Imran should personally invite heads of all political parties to workout skeleton outlines of the important issues such as lockdown (or not), supporting daily wageworkers, protecting health professionals, making 2020 budget, sustaining the economy and providing equipment to health setups. It would be lot easier to agree at the leadership level, then all political parties can take their voters into confidence and the government can tele-call the parliament and senate to pass the laws and in this way government of the day lead the country through the corona virus challenge. If Imran manages to act as PM of the country instead of party leader, the system of parliamentary form of government is very much there to bring the desired results. Democratic cooperation can always beat the top down iron curtain approach. Our people are very wise and they will cooperate so there is no need for any drastic measures.
In terms of lockdown, latest report shows that asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic transmission are a major factor in transmission for corona virus (CNN, 19 March 2020). So based on what we know and don’t, ask the heads of the concerned health sciences setups to Twitter, e-mail their for or against lockdown positions so that federal government can give a clear policy because the bird flu is already in progress in our neighbourhood and country can’t be put on indefinite hold. Similarly, our education and manufacturing setups should be called to reverse engineer the respirators, corona virus kits and other allied equipment. Initially our media showed reports where a local scientist developed a under $5 corona virus testing kit. Biotechnologists can design primers to sequence the corona virus. International breakthroughs have already brought down the time from 4 days to 4 hours. PCR is a 35 years old technique and first cardio respirator was introduced in 1970 and if our universities, industry, scientists, pharmacists (anti corona drug). So our experts and concerned ministries should join hands to provide needed equipment, medicines and kits.
In terms of supporting the workers, Denmark has decided to give 75% their salary to the workers who cannot work due to corona virus. Pakistan has enough funds to protect the workers, vulnerable and weak provided Imran is ready to take a stand. For example, the allocation of funds to the MNAs and MPAs can be reduced by 75 percent and freed billions should be enough to address the issue for next five months. Now it is job of the party leaders convince their lawmakers. We should not follow UK or USA blindly in this regard. Johnson is being criticized for abandoning vulnerable, children. British employees are facing financial ruin (18 March 2020, the Guardian). Trump is only giving $1000 to $2000 to each household from his election year $1tn package, which is too little for those who have lost jobs while allocating $300bn to businesses. In 2007-8 financial crisis also, big corporates were saved at cost of taxpayers with trillions of dollars bailout from their taxes both in America and in Britain. Things will not be very different this time too.
The simplest and quickest way to improve economy is to cut fuel prices and levy by 40 percent, lower utility rates by 50 percent, impose 7 percent direct income tax on all incomes including social safety networks, help improve self assessment taxes to end corruption, cut interest rates to 7 percent (UK0.1%, USA almost zero), separate investment and retail banking, increase National Saving Schemes deposit interest rates to attract funding for public projects, use retired military and civil people with integrity to run sick state owned setups as privatization has miserably failed in UK. These steps in combination with pro-public, business, manufacturing, agriculture and renewable energy 2020 budget can improve our economy by 5-7 per cent. Domestic consumption based economy is best model due to corona virus global lockdown. Government can earn more revenue in taxes as compared to its current controversial policies. Ed Miliband has already supported for out of box budgets to face corona virus.
—The writer is senior political analyst based in Islamabad.
