PM’s ‘all well’ reading

PRIME Minister Imran Khan might have genuine reasons to believe that all economic indicators were positive and that the opposition was just spreading propaganda about price-hike and shortage of food items but the ground reality was quite different from ‘all well’ reading of the situation by the chief executive. Chairing a meeting on Monday to review the political situation in the country and the Government’s media strategy, he directed the economic team to highlight achievements of the Government in the media.
It would be unfair not to acknowledge the steps taken by the Government in a bid to improving the economic and fiscal health of the country as well as measures aimed at curbing the rising inflation as well as artificial shortages being created by mafias and the vested interests. It is due to these efforts that the current account deficit is shrinking continuously, there is an increase in home remittances by Overseas Pakistanis and more and more investors are coming to Pakistan to undertake ventures in different sectors of the economy. Latest reports also speak of the rupee gaining strength against the dollar as it was trading at an 8-month high of Rs.158.91 making it the third best Asian currency. The Prime Minister has a vision to make Pakistan stand on its own feet economically and in line with this policy he approved a number of tough measures that a democratically elected Government can hardly afford to take. However, he did all this sincerely thinking that these were in the long-term interest of the country. The present Government also initiated some of the historic steps in the housing sector besides a number of other initiatives with prospects of changing the ground situation. However, the fact remains that the trickledown effect of all these policies and programmes is not visible so far. Instead what people experience is superflation and shortage of commodities due to failure of the Government to assess the situation appropriately in time and take measures to improve it. There is no doubt that the opposition is exploiting the issue of price-hike as it directly impacts upon the life of the masses. The Prime Minister himself repeatedly acknowledged that price-hike and shortage of essential food items was the prime concern of the Government and he presided over dozens of meetings on the subject which is a clear proof that the issue was there and cannot be termed as imaginary. Practical steps to reverse the trend are needed as in the absence of any improvement on ground people would not buy attempts to spin the issue through the media alone.