Economic progress

Metrics show that Pakistan is making steady progress towards improving its economic conditions. Economic growth increased by a whole percentage point between fiscal year 2013 and 2016, currently at 4.7 per cent. Inflation and the budget deficit have both decreased. While indicative of growth, the quality of life has had little impact. Human development lies dormant even in the face of vast economic growth, which is bringing in higher revenue for the country. The objective of these efforts seems lost as the purpose of any investment or project is to improve the well-being of citizens. Two key areas of target in this regard are health and education. Conversely, Pakistan has seen no social progress, be it school enrolment, neonatal mortality rates, women and girls’ empowerment or employment.

Another statistic that has risen with Pakistan’s GDP is government ineffectiveness, casting doubt over whether the right leadership is in place. This is evidenced by social indicators published by The World Bank World Development Indicators 2015. In tandem, law and order and terrorism have become worse over the years, highlighting a government that is not in control of all that it should be in control of. It is time that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his team take a step back from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and reflect on whether their intended purposes are being achieved. They must question why their projects are not benefitting the 30 per cent of Pakistanis living below the poverty line. The leadership needs to assess what is lacking and how the people who were intended to benefit from CPEC and other projects can do so in the near future. We have a long, running record of governments that have come into power and acted haphazardly on their own interests, without adequate thought given to the plights of the citizens they command. Pakistan has to stop this trend and retain in power only those who will work for the people’s benefit.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2016.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.