KARACHI:
The Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s decision to suspend four CM offices in a bid to reduce government expenditure is worth applauding and shows some sane decision-making amid the dire economic situation. It is pertinent to mention here that the interim chief minister has also announced that he himself will bear his personal and staff expenses. Considering that we rarely come across such austerity among our leadership, these actions deserve praise.
The culture of luxury and extravagance is not only common among public-office holders but in our society as a whole. However, the government is the custodian of the country, and it should not be wasting public resources. Around the world, political leadership lead by example to promote tolerance, austerity and harmony in society. Unfortunately, our political leaders have played havoc with the country, which has led to the prevailing economic situation.
We are quickly heading towards an economic meltdown as inflation is constantly rising and growth remains low. The rupee is depreciating against the dollar and the country is running out of foreign exchange reserves. Yet, our political leaders are not willing to give up on their luxuries or political gimmicks. Sanity must prevail among our leadership; they should follow the steps of the interim Punjab Chief Minister to reduce government expenditure and save funds and resources.
Syed Ali Qasim
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, January 31st, 2023.
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