Uphill task awaits Punjab’s chief minister-elect

PML-N will have to immediately address the plight of the common man

LAHORE:

Juggling allies, tackling inflation, and preparing for an election will be at the forefront of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz’s (PML-N) mind as it looks set to take hold of the Chief Minister’s office.

With the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) almost ousted from power in Punjab and now looking to showcase its street power to force early elections, the onus of delivery on the Hamza Shahbaz led new provincial government will increase ten-fold.

Whether the pressure will result in the PML-N folding or actually delivering is dependent on the team that will be assembled by the Chief Minister-elect but political experts question that with a diverse coalition and many hopefuls for ministerial slots would efficient delivery be even possible.

Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, of the PML-N, believes so, stating: “The party will fight hard to deliver.”Political analyst, Hassan Askari, on the other hand is of the view that the situation was not black and white rather it would require herculean efforts.

“The incoming government will have to put a lid on the rising inflation but with the federal government looking to resume talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which will lead to the petrol subsidy band-aid being ripped off, controlling commodity prices will be tough.”

Askari said that if the inflation challenge alone was not enough, for Hamza Shahbaz to keep his allies happy would require careful maneuvering. “However, the biggest issue is time.

To maintain the coalition and then to deliver as well, all in a matter of months seems difficult.

The PML-N has backed itself into a corner where failure will translate into a blood-bath in the upcoming elections.” Khan, who is also the spokesperson for the new Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, is still optimistic though, stating that they had a plan in mind and that the “people would soon see positive results.”

The people, residents of Lahore in particular, are not yet sold on the supposed plan.

Muhammad Sajid, a resident of the city, while talking to The Express Tribune said that they could care less who was in power all that mattered was that inflation was breaking their backs and it was about time someone addressed it.

Similarly, another local, Asim Mahmood, while raising his concerns about the double-digit inflation, said, “how would a government, which is only here for the short-term, provide relief to the people? All parties are already in election mode, I doubt anything will improve for the common man.”

While some experts suggest that Hamza Shahbaz should take a leaf out of his father’s book and make good bureaucratic appointments that can help increase delivery, Dr Qais Aslam, an economist based in Lahore, was of the view that only meaningful policies could help the incoming government.

“Apart from giving relief to the people, perhaps they should consider giving relief to the industrial sector so that it can increase its productivity,” Dr Asalm suggested while talking to The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2022.