Pakistan is facing serious existential problems with an economy in dire straits and all macroeconomic indicators at their worst, resulting in large segments of the population living below the poverty line. The economic situation could not have been worse and any chance of economic revival looks grim. The government does not have writ over large parts of the country and people are being killed with impunity. As a result of this inaction, minorities have come under extreme pressure in recent months. Add to this, the sectarian violence and the total collapse of the state machinery is evident.
In such a scenario, the forthcoming elections are extremely crucial and the choice that Pakistanis make will ultimately determine whether Pakistan comes out of this malaise or sinks further. Pakistan has a complex set-up, where talk of military intervention impedes progress. However, chances of that happening are very slim, considering the statement from the Supreme Court declaring that no unconstitutional intervention will be accepted. More importantly, there is a general consensus that General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is not interested in such a venture.
Thus, with the PPP out of contention because of its poor performance, the other political option is the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). It seemed for a while that the PTI would emerge as a reasonable third option but the blunders committed by Imran Khan and PTI leadership have greatly undermined its appeal. In any case, Imran Khan has no solutions for the very complex challenges confronting Pakistan, so clearly the PTI is not an option and Pakistan can ill-afford an experiment.
That just leaves the PML-N. When given a chance in the 1990s to govern Pakistan, it more than delivered on all fronts. Major reforms took place in the banking sector, taxation, foreign exchange regulations, the telecom sector, import and export, aviation industry and other segments of business saw unprecedented growth. There was a major thrust on privatisation and deregulation. As a result of this, the economy boomed with a GDP growth of eight per cent in 1992 — the highest for any civilian government since independence.
Although taxes were lowered for all segments, including the corporate sector, by 1999, Pakistan had achieved a tax-to-GDP ratio of 13.4 per cent, which has now fallen to just nine per cent and is a major stumbling block towards investment in social sectors as well as infrastructure projects. On the foreign relations front, major policy initiatives were undertaken, including the peace process with India, culminating in Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to Pakistan in February 1999 and the signing of the Lahore Declaration. If the Kargil adventure had not taken place, the Lahore Declaration would have enabled Pakistan and India to forge closer trade and economic relationships with millions on both sides of the border benefiting from the economic boom.
Pakistan faces enormous challenges today, but there is also an opportunity as we look forward to the 2013 elections. If Pakistanis make the right choice, which we are sure they will, it could mean the beginning of recovery in all areas. With the right focus from the leadership, clearly defined goals and objectives and a highly professional team, the PML-N is determined to bring about fundamental and far-reaching changes in the economic and political landscape of Pakistan. We need to complete the process of change that was started by the PML-N leadership in the 1990s.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2012.
COMMENTS (40)
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The PML-N deserves our vote in the upcoming elections for their firm stance on the restoration of Judiciary which in the long run ensured the Democracy to remain intact and keep it from getting derailed. The credit of the sustaninace of democracy in Pakistan goes to PML-N. Other parties, including the PPP, have been directly or indirectly trying to wrap-up the decrocratic process.
Nawaz sharif can bring in 100 Bln dollar investment from china .the chinese only trust nawaz and shahbaz sharif
My vote and my entire vote is for PML-N!!!
"If the Kargil adventure had not taken place, ..." And Nawaz Sharif was totally unaware of Kargil incident. Funny :)
The people who are commenting against this article should bring something valid and with proof. The author is former CFO of IBM, pay some respect.
No doubt PMLN has delivered in Lahore at the cost of remaining Punjab develpment.Excellent show.
@ Mohammad Zubair Please explain what blunders are committed by Imran Khan and PTI leadership & please also explain what visions does PML-N have? my whole family was a voter of PML-N but they have done nothing but destroyed pakistan and you still think that they will make pakistan better you are sadly mistakenly.
Yeah right. The worst thing in history. The 3 party leadership party can never be successful when the military is ultimately in power and control. It would in fact get worse with Nawaz Shariff in power as he is highly religiously conservative. You will find the nation in a worse condition because we know he supports Sharia law and then where will the nation end up. Also, the males in this party is as old as the nation is at 60+ years and haven't accomplished much.
Writer is promising on behalf of PML(N) a turn around for Pakistan as if its earlier terms have already brought streams of milk and honey for the poor people. 60 percent of the population in Punjab is starkly aware of the dreadful law and order topped with police Gardi. Colonial era's explotative, thoroughly corrupt revenue system and its infamous patwari is still ruling the roost. Mal governance in the shape of deadly infernos and building colapses due to corruption and apathy of local administration is a daily occurence. Scenes of state failure at public hospitals are pathetic to say the least. Still the writer wants us to believe that PML(N) this time will somehow bring that long awaited change.
PML-N is at best a regional party that prides itself on its punjabi vote bank, hardly garnering any support from the multi-cultural vote bank that other parties (including JI and PTI) can get. it will be doomed, based on its performance in punjab alone, where the previous PML-Q government left it with a budget surplus, and now faces a budget deficit. a microcosm of what people will face if they (unlikely) win.
I think Nawaz Sharif is exaggerating his past achievements. He left the country close to bankruptcy. I still remember the fiasco with the foreign currency accounts. Luckily I decided against opening an account at the last minute otherwise I would lose a huge amount of money. Now let us talk about the present and future policies. PMLN has been in power for four and half years and its achievements are zilch. All social and economic indicators show that Punjab is going downhill for the last four and half years.
@zahid: saying that sharif brothers are coz of PPP government means, IK needs them on their side to topple to government. now this means that IK himself cant do it which automatically negates his hypothesis of being tsunami. Tsunami needs NS to help it to change the government. NS has done this make or break politics when imran khan was playing cricket. wht imran khan is trying to do today is wht NS did in 1990. NS learnt his lesson and respected mandate of people.btw... if NS is supporting the government, wht are MQM and ANP doing? nobody talks about them
why not if PML N have good example from Past , my vote is for PML N
why not if PML n have good example from Past work , my vote for PML n
There is no doubt in my mond that PML (N) leadership is the only one which can deliver according to the expectation of people of pakistan, It has bright past due to its performance as explaines in the article and is only hope with trust for pakistanis for future as well.
Totally biased article. In simple two sentences, root out PTI possibility. fed up to listen to such arguments. Not biased because it has been written in favor of PML N but just for a simple reason that the author's arguments are not on a sound footing.
All democratic forces, including PPP should join hands against elites and establishment backed parties like PTI and Imran khan. Enough is enough we can't let this go on for ever!! People like Imran khan have fooled as long enough! there is always a new way and trick by the establishment to keep the status quo and derail a working system, which needs time to mature, this time they are using Imran and he is more then happy to do anything for them just for personal glory!. It is the so called educated people like Imran khan who have ruined pakistan for the last 65 years!
pmln da only hope
Good article and agreed.
PML-N is party which can save Pakistan from this difficult situation, they all know it is difficult but not possible, Shahbaz Shrif also working very hard and proving, he know the root cause of the problems. But the whole system is corrupt and not willing to change himself.
Main thing is that we have to change himself if we want to change the system, but no one is willing to change himself and only blaming others, this is not good as nation we have to change himself.
One comment for the PTI supporters, IK and party still have to prove himself before proven they are nothing (other the establishment made party).
so PMLN need people to write in their defence...... this clearly shows how popular this party is...
Nicely,written article. PML-N is the only party which can save Pakistan.True
Great Article.. Strongly agree.. PML-N is the tested & tried.. No need to experiment any more.. DO NOT go for test, vote for the best.. & the best is PML-N
Your reference to why pti has no policy is a letter to the editor! Meanwhile pti keep publishing policy paper after policy paper. No doubt you are reading them all to get some ideas for your manifesto. Maybe in the next article you can explain how main sahib plans to take Pakistan economy into the world top 10 economy I.e. bigger then Canada...as he stated in a press conference before eid?
PML(N) : who can make this country ASIAN TIGER Because in previous regime, there was neither loadshedding nor there was shortage of anything or terrorism and extremism. “Today the country is in the grip of terrorism while the tariff of electricity has been increased from four rupees per unit to 18 rupees per unit, unemployment and inflation are at their peak.
Clearly Mr. Mohammad Zubair still living in 90s thinks that opinion of a biased journalist that used be considered scared truth by our parents still has the same impact on people. Sir here is news flash for you. People don’t trust media, politicians & democracy and don’t vote is because of people like you and your paymaster politicians. Period
well said. PML-N is better than else.
People of Pakistan has experienced PML(N) and why can't PTI be given a chance Anti Establishment factors will reduce the seats of PML (N) as well as PPP In a triangle fight the party who succeeds in arresting the slide of their vote bank will win. PTI appears to be in a better position. Even the right wing minds will be inclined to vote PTI. However, organisational set up at lowest level is highly necessary to bring their voters to the booth, a must to succeed. If the public continue to vote on the lines of ethnicity, provincialism and other narrow factors there will be hung assemblies and the Parties will have to learn to live with coalition which too will help to some extent in check and balance. Democracy is a number game which every party understands.
I hope Pakistanis make the right choice this time for better future of Pakistan and dont vote for politicians that play dirty politics and are in politics to make money through dirty power. We all know what the right choice is and NO, its not Sharif brothers. Hail to IK, the only politician that we trust and is not in politics to get filthy rich like others.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Have you been living under rocks for the past few years? Sharif brothers are the reason why PPP government lasted so long. Do you read anything or simply praising Sharif brothers because of your political affiliation with them? PTI wants elections ASAP.
E.T. where do you find these people? Can anyon take PML-N seriously anymore? Their play was simple, wait for 5 years, and then in election year start chanting: 'We have been cheated, PPP is to blame, give us a chance we will do better
Well they had 5 years in Punjab to 'do better', the results are in front of us. Yes Pakistanis are fools but we are not such big fools as to not see what the PML-N play is.
The writer is PMLN guy itself explain this write up. Highly bias and presented PMLN as having panacea for all maladies with out any strong backing and strong argument. We know PMLN from its two last terms. Its performance was dismal. People were dancing on street when they went away. We know vision of Sharifs that starts and stops at Raiwand.
Wow what a genius .. This guy think that 10 million members of PTI are just bunch of fools? Or may be he think that they are just on paper and in real they don't exist. One thing is for sure Imran khan can never satisfy such ppl first they said PTI don't have electable then they said all electable are lota's then they saying y electables are leaving .. I have just one thing to say .. First they ignore u . Then they laugh at u . Then they fight u and then u win .. .. They been ignoring and laughing and now fighting .. Lets see who wins
100% agreed with your well written article. PML(N) is the only party which is demanding fresh elections as soon as possible whereas PTI on the hand wants to delay them for a very long time. It needs time for its young voters to attain voting rights.