Star-struck audience: Imran Khan’s shadow keeps economic policy in the dark
Members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) turned a talk by the economic team of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday into an unruly celeb fest, leaving little time for an informed discussion on policy matters.
The KCCI had invited Imran Khan, along with his economic policy think-tank – comprising Asad Umar and Jahangir Tarin – to present his “economic roadmap of Pakistan’s economy.” However, no meaningful exchange of economic ideas took place, as both Umar and Tarin chose to stay mute throughout the meeting.
After a painfully long and clichéd speech by former KCCI president Siraj Kassim Teli, which he ended reluctantly after loud boos from the audience, Khan took the podium and regaled attendees with anecdotes from the lives of Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad, Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan and India’s Nitish Kumar, who is said to have ended corruption from the state of Bihar in 90 days as chief minister.
“We’re going to do away with the Ministry of Railways and turn the railways into a corporation. We will also make Pakistan International Airlines a corporation by taking it away from the Ministry of Defence,” Khan thundered to the audience.
He observed that Karachi’s law and order problem could not be fixed without first de-politicising the police. “Deputing the army and rangers is not going to solve Karachi’s security problem,” he said. Saying that his economic advisers believed that the tax-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio could be increased by at least 5%, Khan added that a higher boost in revenue collection was possible given the “elaborate” plan the PTI had envisioned for the reformation of the Federal Board of Revenue and to “incentivise” the bureaucracy to work efficiently.
Khan also vowed to turn all governor houses and other palatial government-owned residences into public parks, educational institutes, libraries and museums. Pandering to right-wing sentiment, he stated he was in favour of regional trade without putting the Kashmir issue on the backburner.
After predicting that the PTI will achieve a two-thirds majority in the next general election, Khan said his party would introduce constitutional amendments that will put an end to all kinds of foreign aid. “We will make it illegal to accept foreign aid. It is the biggest curse. We will balance our budgets and become self-reliant,” he said. Khan also asked the business community to do away with its “apolitical approach,” saying every citizen was supposed to speak up against injustice in society.
Perhaps it was the non-serious atmosphere or the maybe frivolous mood of the businessmen – many of whom had brought along their families to catch a glimpse of the dashing former cricketing star – which forced Umar to simply tune out by the end of the meeting. Umar had to ask a questioner to repeat his query when the PTI chairman unexpectedly requested him to respond on his behalf. In response, Umar ducked the question, which was about the development of Pakistan’s capital markets, by saying that he knew the questioner personally and would discuss the matter with him in detail later.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2012.
COMMENTS (31)
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Imran khan is has no real plans. He is a sportman, but not real politician. People around him are either sport enthusiasts or just deserted by other political parties. This article Is Imran Khan a real alternative is eye opening piece.
I have yet to come across any human being who has stated that Imran Khan is corrupt. We all know that he has a genuine concern for Pakistan, to the point that he feels the pain of the Pakistani people - the down trodden, the destitute and those who have lost hope whilst the rich continue on their merry path. He has a good heart and if he gets over zealous and passionate about political issues thats a good thing. After all these years we have a right to demand a leader who is passionate about the country!
He may not have a long career history as a career diplomat, but neither did many of the past great leaders. What Pakistan needs right now is a charismatic leader , who is so dignified that he would die than take a rubee from anyone. Newspaper critise him because he's not prepared to pander to them or be their puppet - that is the real issue !
I don't know a party who has never been part of power is scrutinized so severely. Everybody raises the bar when it comes to PTI but all critics go deaf & dumb when it comes to any other party either in government, alliance, opposition.
PTI is at least trying to work hard and intention and direction seems to right and I hope they will perform lot better than current looters and plunderers.
@jagjit sidhoo.: yes talking today you may be right that enemy is within, specially after nuclear capabilities. but to secure the borders specially with india and afghanistan, big army is required.
It will be the last chance that the people of Pakistan will get in the next election, if they do not elect Imran Khan, they will definitely be doomed, forever.
It’s not the cricket ground; it’s the future of the nation. It does not matter for a playboy to lose anything in character but its always matters for a generation to lose its prime time that need to be used in the betterment and the service of his country.
The way Imran criticizes others seems childish, he must be prepared to listen and try accepting his own bad points. He has always been an angry man throughout his life. He has no interpersonal skills as a leader for future. He will ruin our life for his arrogance and stubbornness by passing judgment on all the people in Pakistan.
In a country where only 5,25,000 business return of income are filed, one should not even bother talking with chaber of commerce about expanding tax net. It is like a chicken wanting to go to KFC
Firstly, Imran Khan is political leader, not economics guru. He would talk more about politics and less about economics. Secondly, PTI has already explained its economic policy and is continuously improving it by taking input from various economists, businessmen, industrialists, agriculturists, traders etc.
@roadkashehzada: The enemy is within you need more police and courts and less army .
@Asad: Hahahahahaha well said!!! Rana Sanaullah & Raja Riaz intellectual brains!!! Great
No one takes what IK says seriously. That is why his own party members tune out when he starts talking.
@Mirza: when u have afghanistan on one side (only country that opposed creation of pakistan and is in war for last 30 yrs), india on other (not talking about near past shining image of india, think about 90s and before) iran and arabs playing their games, may be large army is a necessary evil.
Maybe Gen Pasha has still not chart out a policy for them.
Only one question from the economists. Is there an example of any third world country with tiny economy keeping such a huge army with drones, missiles, WMD and still take care of its civilians? We have made our choice not to put our money where our mouths are. We have agreed to keep the huge defense and eat grass!
Newspapers are supposed to report not comment on an event! (and please get over with imranphobia)
can he start respecting women at least? his new leaked video is creating a lot of buzz. is that the new pakistan or is that the respect he has for women?
No political party in Pakistan including PTI have economic policy to give to the nation which should turn the fate of the country as well as of the nation.
People of Pakistan have greate expectation from PTI but no me.
I know one thing which is very simple and straight and woluld like to explain in plain words.
No political leader or political party is sincere with the country,or with the nation.
The unity, faith and dicipline, all the three words have long been buried in the grave with Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
I don't thin that if PTI will win the general elections and will come into power, it is going to do wonders.
And the guy would contunue with the same non-seriousness, if, Allah Forbidden, he gets through the next elections.
Why does tribune has to make every thing about PTI negative. We know you hate them alraedy.
If the leadership is sincere, they will solve problem. Is lalu Prasad MBA or had past experience in railway, yet he get the job out of same railway officials. Donot ask technical questions to embarass them? When in govt you meet all groups and depts then formulate policy. I will vote for PTI due to sincerety of its leaderaship, rest will take care of itself
ET do not belittle IK remove corruption that in itself is a HUGE economic program . Without corruption 90% of your problems are solved .
nai tuh aur kia ho..plz express tribune
I think he will get one seat less than two third majority.
Hperbole, more hyperbole. Even Nitish kumar does not believe he has eliminated corruption in Bihar though they have 85% of seats now. in his first avatar ( 90 days) he ran a slim majority coalition with lots of compromises.
Somebody has to tell IK that politics is the art of possible and not sweeping promises.
Nathan
ET please hurry. We are all waiting for you to report how Imran Khan went to the washroom but forgot to wash his hands.
I feel sorry for pakistan, here you have Imran Khan who is honest pakistani leader and these so called journalist only bash him. I have yet to read a derogatory article about Nawaz Sharif or Zadari written by these journalist about them. Sometimes I just think Pakistanis are inherently corrupy bcuz this article should not have passed the editors desk.
Pandering to right-wing sentiment, he stated he was in favour of regional trade without putting the Kashmir issue on the backburner.
Why the so much hatred ET, why?
Imran Khan supporting cast are not performing well. Personally I know they have so many good new faces but they failed to highlight new talent.
Imran Khan needs to be more goal oriented and try to be less political.
I cannot say anything to media on their bias scrutiny on PTI. I haven't see media scrutiny for other political parties. Why? I can only think about one thing. They have power and wealth.
You can not expect to be given a comprehensive economic policy when the driver is not even in the car. Pti has previously explained its general policy in the past-basically give tax and bring back your money from overseas accounts. Whatever the outcome of elections the choice is clear- either change history or have another 5 years with the same corrupt and incompetent lot.
Star struck? No meaningful discussion? Suck it E.T. Ppl love imran Khan, change is what they want, change is inevitable, at least for once in these 70 years, lets move towards a better form of democracy. Biased reporting is not.going to.fool the literate crowd's opinion so easily.
In the meanwhile the intellectual brains of PPP and PML-N Raja Riaz and Rana Sana Ullah are brain sotrming a solution to all our woes shame on PTI and good work by both the ruling parties.