KARACHI:
To achieve financial discipline and austerity, the leadership of three constitutional institutions i.e., executive, parliament and judiciary must enforce it on themselves, which should be strictly followed by all state-funded departments. We can emulate strict financial discipline and austerity measures adopted by Quaid, or teachings of Holy Prophet PBUH and his close disciples, or those adopted by the US president instead of choosing to lead a lifestyle of reckless monarchs.
It is shocking to see the casual misuse of state resources by powerful stakeholders and public officeholders even with the threat of looming financial bankruptcy. It is not just the lifestyle of elected executives and public office holders, but the paid civil servants, which has become a burden for the country. Over 30 million citizens were displaced by floods and billions have been deprived of a single meal due to crippling inflation and food shortages. Yet, every public officeholder wants to have a private executive jet and helicopter for transportation, even if the intended journey is for personal reasons, political campaigns etc.
Instead of curtailing such practices and abuse of power, these gross irregularities are being regularised in violation of all norms, ethics, and morality. The precedent for such abuses started decades ago, which has continued unabated thereafter and has now assumed the status of a perk and privilege of power by all individuals who have held public offices. The country has been embarrassed by Toshakhana Gifts time and again. Those gifts should have been deposited with the state instead of being taken away at a fraction of market value by different public officeholders. Unfortunately, these gifts are being sold without any shame or remorse.
Malik Tariq Ali
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2022.
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