There can be no poverty alleviation or sustainable growth unless the leadership in our country is fully and wholeheartedly committed to initiating and completing all development projects for the greater good of the country, instead of personal glorification. It is evident that nothing can be achieved with half-hearted efforts and a lack of support from the public.
Many development projects launched by the governments in the past remain incomplete. Notable among them are mega projects related to dams, mass transit, water drainage and road infrastructure. Unless such projects are well thought-out, planned, and discussed with all stakeholders, including the opposition, the half-baked rollout of mega projects are nothing more than a waste of taxpayers’ money. Unfortunately, governments, one after the other, announce very ambitious but poorly thought-out plans to strengthen the economy and instead end up ruining it further — something that eventually exacerbates poverty and adds to the misery of citizens.
The solution is to forge unity among the masses and not disintegrate them further along ethnic, religious or political lines. When people stand united and masses support the government, such projects are likely to be successful rather than become political punching bags. Our leadership must work on uniting people by convincing them to support projects that promote national interest so that we can build a strong infrastructure. Such action would not only strengthen the economy but also free us from the claws of international lending bodies.
Raja Shafaatullah
Islamabad
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2020.
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