Punjab’s businesses want a speedy end to election ‘drama’

Would like nothing better than to see a peaceful transition – soon.

LAHORE: The business lobbies of Punjab, which has been transitioning through a particularly troubled period, are unhappy with the way politicians have been behaving on deciding on the interim setup and have termed the bickering harmful for the already embattled economy.

Political parties have so far failed to reach a consensus over who the interim prime minister will be, which has frustrated businesspersons. They say that indecision on part of the government and its opposition is highly juvenile, as it has shifted focus to one issue and led to the neglect of the economy.

“This is totally a non-issue, which has been made an issue by both our politicians and the media. Meanwhile, all economic activities, renewal of SROs, upcoming contracts and work on ongoing contracts is at a halt, as there is no government to take decisions,” complained Shahzad Ali Khan, chairman of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, Punjab Chapter.



For Khan, the situation is disappointing as he believes that there is no need to set up an interim government in the presence of an independent election commission, which has been chosen by political parties. “When the outgoing government can act as an interim government in the rest of the world, why can’t our nation do so as well,” Khan asked. “We only need a strict code of conduct for the elections,” he added.

Most businesspersons have very few hopes from the interim setup. They only want the interim setup to disclose the irregularities which the Pakistan Peoples Party government made during its tenure, so that the upcoming government knows what is being handed over to it.

They also want the interim government to act equivocally and focus on free and fair elections, as that will provide a positive picture of Pakistan to international stakeholders and act as an energy boost to the economy of Pakistan.

“The road towards democracy is important, but a quick and peaceful transition is more important, as we believe that a delay in this process is harmful due to the fact that the interim setup will not be able to take any bold steps for the economy,” said Ramzan Sheikh, a Punjab-based industrialist.

“A delay in elections will also be dangerous because Pakistan is negotiating for an International Monetary Fund loan programme, and we expect the interim setup will not take any decision and let the upcoming government take a stance on this crucial issue,” he added.

The most important issue for Punjab’s businessmen right now is the execution of the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project, whose future still hangs in the balance despite high-level assurances. “We are worried that the last date for bidding for the project will pass on March 31, and it seems that is no one is thinking about this. The interim setup will be for 50 days only, then why is there so much fuss about it?” he asked.

“No important decision, except the implementation of the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline, has been taken to strengthen the economy since December last year, since when the interim setup became such a hot topic,” he continued. “Till the peaceful transition of power, the government is bound to mismanage affairs as it has done so far. I believe that too much time has been wasted over the issue, which is not at all a positive sign for the economy.”

Punjab’s industrialists believe that Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (PML-N), which has been ruling the province, is already in a position to form a government at the centre. Therefore, they stress that the PML-N leadership show some flexibility over the interim setup issue, as they believe that not doing so would hurt the economy and make it harder for them to manage affairs if they come into power after the general elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2013.

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