Flood politics

Politicking is not veiled in troubled times, where PML-N demanded Rs25 billion from the PPP and the latter refused.

KARACHI: The Punjab government plans to drastically slash the Annual Development Programme, among other things, in order to raise adequate funds and mobilise resources for relief efforts. The politicking is not veiled even in these troubled times though, where the PML-N demanded Rs25 billion from the Federation (PPP) and the latter refused citing the amount as overestimated.

I urge your readers to go to this website: , a video of the protocol that went with the Punjab chief minister when he visited the submerged city of Jampur. I think he was in vehicle 37, though he may have been in 15, 23 or even 45. When talking of austerity and belt tightening, these things need to be taken into account. This is what the public, and foreign investors and donors see and the expenditure of that trip could have fed over a dozen families.

This is not to single out Shahbaz Sharif though. Search for videos of the protocol afforded to his unelected brother, the president or the prime minister. It's funny when you see numerous fire trucks following them around. When I say funny, I refer to that queasy, sinking, sick feeling in my stomach I can't quite describe.

Cut wasteful expenditures like this and use the money towards relief activities. You will not only earn the goodwill of the masses but you're less likely to be loathed and cursed everywhere you go and more likely to demonstrate to donors that you're serious in your efforts. Also, you'd be less likely to have shoes thrown at you.

Dr Salim Hosein

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2010.