The New Year’s national resolve
No country has prospered primarily on the prescriptions of global financial institutions
The writer is a retired lieutenant general of the Pakistan Army and a former federal secretary. He has also served as chairman of the Pakistan Ordnance Factories Board
The New Year’s resolve should be that 2020 and the coming decade should be transformational for Pakistan. It should set the tone for a genuine Naya Pakistan where the collective will of the nation aspires for being part of a modern progressive state. This is an ambitious goal and may appear highly idealistic. But nations are not destined to remain backward and a vast majority of its people deprived of basic necessities of life. After all the very nations that rank among the highest per capita income were several decades or centuries back, very poor. This includes European and West Asian countries including Britain, Japan and South Korea. The latest example of a phenomenal transformation from poverty to a middle-income country and continuously on the rise is China. Of course, it did not come easy and required successive leadership of a high order and commitment to its people.
Drawing from other’s experience where relevant, and our own, we have to prioritise universal education with appropriate emphasis on science and technology. A country that has over two million children out of school can never dream of a great future. So let this be the nation’s top priority and its primary commitment now and for the coming decade.
This year the economy remained in intense care while the annual inflation rate climbed to over 12% in November 2019. The poor and the lower middle classes were hit the hardest with basic commodities getting out of their reach. The PM and Finance Minister kept harping of better times to follow but with less than 3% annual growth, no one was prepared to believe them. The promise of building thousands of houses for the poor also remained only a slogan with nothing substantive to show on ground.
Clearly, the challenges PM Imran Khan and his government inherited were herculean in all major areas of governance. And no one expected miracles or major improvements within a year. But the disappointment was that in several areas, especially the economy, even minimum aspirations of the poor were not met. Hopefully, in the coming years inflation would remain within manageable limits providing relief to the lower income groups. Current efforts at widening the tax net should continue despite major hurdles. The government and private enterprise should work together where feasible, in partnership or individually, to build the economy.
No country has prospered primarily on the prescriptions of global financial institutions. True, in relative terms we have come a long way from where we started in 1947, but we cannot remain resigned to be a country that is dependent and in the lower strata of world economies.
The media’s role has been significant in shaping perceptions and it keeps growing. The talk shows on occasions have turned into feuds. It is important they promote programmes that are a source of information and objectivity. Widespread popularity of social media has revolutionised the way people think and act. The element of fake news is, however, troubling.
In Pakistan 2019 was a year generally of tall claims and empty rhetoric by political leaders. It was a year of acute confrontation and polarisation between the government and opposition. Democracy that is already weak suffered as affairs of parliament were relegated and the PM took the course of relying on the establishment rather than drawing support from democratic institutions.
The opposition’s role was no better as its involvement and commitment in legislative affairs was nominal. Its conduct betrayed frustration and anguish for the maltreatment of its leaders by the PTI government and NAB. It maintains that the NAB is leaning heavily on it and sparing the politicians in power. Only history would be a better judge but general perceptions validate the opposition’s claims that there is an element of prejudice in NAB’s dealings with its leadership. The government’s two hurried ordinances to curb NAB’s powers give an impression that they want to shield their self and that the focus has now turned on them.
The opposition is weak and fractured, burdened by its problems of a sick and ageing leadership that refuses to relinquish power to the next generation. There is always a right time to quit and pass the baton to the younger generation. There is considerable talent and energy in the young leadership of both the main opposition parties. Using them merely as a front for too long with real power in the hands of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari may not be a good strategy. Besides, the PML-N and PPP have several leaders of high calibre whose capabilities can only be fully utilised if there is greater internal democracy.
Imran Khan had become the PM riding a populist wave. People, especially his young constituency see him as a transformational leader, someone they have waited for years. His support has dwindled especially in the political heartland of Punjab and Karachi as the economy falters and governance remains problematic. The best course for the PM and his core cabinet is to review the government’s performance dispassionately and take corrective measures where necessary.
What were the foundations of the Naya or New Pakistan that he had visualised? His ideal seems to be the state of Medina. It is one thing to idealise the glory and achievements of Muslim rulers centuries ago but to transplant them in a completely transformed world with different set of challenges and on a magnified scale may not offer a pragmatic solution.
The prevailing confrontational politics will add to Pakistan’s woes and serve no one’s interest. It is a state of mind and attitude, a major weakness that surely needs to be overcome. A new direction is needed on the political front. Tempering of hostility, a more assuaging approach and toning down of rhetoric could be the first steps. This would greatly facilitate governance and legislative business. The lead for a conciliatory environment should come from the PM and leaders of the opposition parties. The PM has taken several about-turns and this one would be the most welcome and transformational.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2020.
Drawing from other’s experience where relevant, and our own, we have to prioritise universal education with appropriate emphasis on science and technology. A country that has over two million children out of school can never dream of a great future. So let this be the nation’s top priority and its primary commitment now and for the coming decade.
This year the economy remained in intense care while the annual inflation rate climbed to over 12% in November 2019. The poor and the lower middle classes were hit the hardest with basic commodities getting out of their reach. The PM and Finance Minister kept harping of better times to follow but with less than 3% annual growth, no one was prepared to believe them. The promise of building thousands of houses for the poor also remained only a slogan with nothing substantive to show on ground.
Clearly, the challenges PM Imran Khan and his government inherited were herculean in all major areas of governance. And no one expected miracles or major improvements within a year. But the disappointment was that in several areas, especially the economy, even minimum aspirations of the poor were not met. Hopefully, in the coming years inflation would remain within manageable limits providing relief to the lower income groups. Current efforts at widening the tax net should continue despite major hurdles. The government and private enterprise should work together where feasible, in partnership or individually, to build the economy.
No country has prospered primarily on the prescriptions of global financial institutions. True, in relative terms we have come a long way from where we started in 1947, but we cannot remain resigned to be a country that is dependent and in the lower strata of world economies.
The media’s role has been significant in shaping perceptions and it keeps growing. The talk shows on occasions have turned into feuds. It is important they promote programmes that are a source of information and objectivity. Widespread popularity of social media has revolutionised the way people think and act. The element of fake news is, however, troubling.
In Pakistan 2019 was a year generally of tall claims and empty rhetoric by political leaders. It was a year of acute confrontation and polarisation between the government and opposition. Democracy that is already weak suffered as affairs of parliament were relegated and the PM took the course of relying on the establishment rather than drawing support from democratic institutions.
The opposition’s role was no better as its involvement and commitment in legislative affairs was nominal. Its conduct betrayed frustration and anguish for the maltreatment of its leaders by the PTI government and NAB. It maintains that the NAB is leaning heavily on it and sparing the politicians in power. Only history would be a better judge but general perceptions validate the opposition’s claims that there is an element of prejudice in NAB’s dealings with its leadership. The government’s two hurried ordinances to curb NAB’s powers give an impression that they want to shield their self and that the focus has now turned on them.
The opposition is weak and fractured, burdened by its problems of a sick and ageing leadership that refuses to relinquish power to the next generation. There is always a right time to quit and pass the baton to the younger generation. There is considerable talent and energy in the young leadership of both the main opposition parties. Using them merely as a front for too long with real power in the hands of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari may not be a good strategy. Besides, the PML-N and PPP have several leaders of high calibre whose capabilities can only be fully utilised if there is greater internal democracy.
Imran Khan had become the PM riding a populist wave. People, especially his young constituency see him as a transformational leader, someone they have waited for years. His support has dwindled especially in the political heartland of Punjab and Karachi as the economy falters and governance remains problematic. The best course for the PM and his core cabinet is to review the government’s performance dispassionately and take corrective measures where necessary.
What were the foundations of the Naya or New Pakistan that he had visualised? His ideal seems to be the state of Medina. It is one thing to idealise the glory and achievements of Muslim rulers centuries ago but to transplant them in a completely transformed world with different set of challenges and on a magnified scale may not offer a pragmatic solution.
The prevailing confrontational politics will add to Pakistan’s woes and serve no one’s interest. It is a state of mind and attitude, a major weakness that surely needs to be overcome. A new direction is needed on the political front. Tempering of hostility, a more assuaging approach and toning down of rhetoric could be the first steps. This would greatly facilitate governance and legislative business. The lead for a conciliatory environment should come from the PM and leaders of the opposition parties. The PM has taken several about-turns and this one would be the most welcome and transformational.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2020.