PAKISTAN faces enormous economic hardships. Unfortunately no political party was seen raising these basic issues during their respective election campaign. Civil society and responsible individuals also failed in creating awareness amongst citizens. The media should have played a more positive role in highlighting importance of the economy, as compared to other issues. Campaign was dominated by activists of political parties in hero-worship of their leaders, almost bordering on cultism, which has no place either in a democracy nor in Islam, or Christianity.
The economy should have been a primary issue, because unless and until this is taken care of, there can be no fiscal space for welfare and subsidies of the most deprived citizens of Pakistan. Irrespective of who forms government in Islamabad, they face a formidable and uphill task to salvage the national economy from near bankruptcy. It will not be a Bed of Roses, but a challenge requiring concerted efforts by all those in power and the opposition, to forget their differences and focus on economy. Every political party, which has held power, including the paid elite, holding important public offices, are collectively responsible for the mess that this country faces and sufferings of masses.
Extravagance lifestyle of the those holding public office and numerous foreign visits on tax payer’s money, is no longer a luxury we can afford. Given the rise in those living below poverty line and the increase in illiteracy, with almost 22.8 million children denied access to school education, there is absolutely no justification for federal government, or provincial governments, to import luxury SUVs and limousines for government officials, when locally assembled cars are available, nor the use of private jets. Even the caretakers indulged in this unacceptable luxury. Pakistan ranks second in the world, after Nigeria with highest number of children, having no access to schools. These children are vulnerable as cannon fodder for extremists and child abuse.
No nation can develop, nor keep pace with rapid technological advances, so essential for progress, unless literacy rate rises. Vocational training centers in Punjab, which were working efficiently to impart skills to poor (males, females and transgenders) having minimal primary education, have fallen prey to bureaucratic intrigues and instead become dumping ground to rehabilitate retired blue-eyed officers. In the name of cost cutting measures, there has been drastic reduction in trades and skills offered, and number of trainees, whilst administrative cost has remained the same. I can state this on authority because I was involved with executive committee PVTI in Lahore. VTIs must be made functional in all provinces of Pakistan to provide semi-skilled workforce for domestic industry and overseas employment. Countries like Germany have benefitted from vocational training.
Austerity must be seen to start from the top. This practice of maintaining several camp offices for PM, President or CMs must cease forthwith, especially in cities and towns where state owned rest houses exist. Failure to do so will only increase resentment and anger amongst the poor, making them vulnerable to exploitation by anti-state elements and radicalization by fundamentalists and extremists.
Pakistan has a foreign debt of US$128.1 Billion as of September 2023. In December 2021 the total foreign debts were at an all-time of US$130.6 Billion. Pakistan is under obligation to repay $23.83Billion for the period December 2023 to November 2024. If this country fails to pay, the economy will go into a free fall and inflation will go sky high. Price escalation will rise astronomically and so will rupee devaluation. This should have been the focus of all our political parties. The media should have played its role in educating the people and stressed upon this with clarity of mind. State sovereignty and territorial sanctity is directly linked with this. As they “It is the economy Stupid”.
In countries like Argentine, consumer price inflation averaged almost 38.8%. Their total foreign debts are above $283.5Billion and National Government Debt is $406.9 Billion. Inflation is expected to rise further, because of gross financial mismanagement. Nobody benefits if Pakistan suffers and this must dawn on political parties, the establishment, bureaucracy, traders and business community. The Judiciary must remain apolitical and focus on delivering justice and rule of law. Political stability is essential for economic stabilization, national security etc. All major stakeholders of this country must accept, that the will of the people must remain supreme, and so must the sanctity of constitution. People of Pakistan have expressed their anti-establishment sentiments.
However, it must be understood that there should be no malicious campaign against security services, whose role in protecting territorial sanctity and sovereignty is very paramount. Agitational politics must be abandoned. Politicians need to be civil with their political adversaries and must respect mandate of every political party, irrespective of their differences. In the blind pursuit of Game of Thrones, red lines should never be crossed. No country in the world allows what resembles insurrection, which Black Dictionary describes as a “Violent revolt against oppressive authority. It is to be distinguished from a mob or a riot, based on organizations of an armed uprising”. Mobs and riots involved in unlawful and violent acts are guilty of criminal offence, but not necessarily insurrection.
In such a situation the State can exercise its authority through use of proportionate force to restore peace and safeguard rights and privileges of ordinary citizens, whom the constitution guarantees freedom of movement, except to places which have been declared as prohibited areas, or where entry is restricted as per laws. Democratic political parties are expected to lodge protests, without resort to violence. Right to protest guaranteed by constitution is not absolute and must be exercised as per law. Similarly, freedom of expression is also not absolute and must never be used for hate speech and abuses, but solely for constructive criticism. No political leader can assume unto himself Divine Rights to declare others evil.
—The writer is contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
