FINANCE Minister Shaukat Tarin has said he is ready to negotiate a charter of economy with the opposition.
In a comprehensive briefing to the NA Standing Committee on Finance on Thursday, he dilated upon the challenges facing the economy and the country’s relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The proposal for a charter of democracy has been there for the last many years and the leadership of the successive governments expressed willingness to discuss it with the opposition.
Interestingly, the opposition too has not been opposed to the idea but there is no practical move towards that cherished goal.
There are no two opinions that most of the economic woes of the country stem from lack of clarity and continuation of economic policies and programmes.
Policies formulated and programmes/projects initiated by the one Government are discarded by its successor not on merit but on political considerations and malice.
All political parties and stakeholders claim to be championing the cause of the people of Pakistan, therefore, there should be no harm or hurdle in forging consensus on an economic roadmap that is followed strictly by every government to accelerate the pace of socio-economic progress of the people.
One would welcome the pronouncement of the Finance Minister but mere expression of readiness is not enough.
Mr Tarin, because of his professionalism, enjoys respect across the entire political spectrum and he should use his good offices to create consensus on the issue.
Such an arrangement would give much-needed peace of mind to every Government to pursue the economic agenda and deliver as per expectations of the masses.
