The mother of all administrative gaffes

I often watch National Assembly sessions when they appear on the telly, especially as the parliamentarians appear to have grown in texture and temperament. I marvel at the way some politicians are banning extremist outfits that have been banned before and are likely to be banned again. One must admire their consistency, resolve and determination. They are the spokespeople for our collective hysteria. I also marvel at the way some of the legal-minded chaps enjoy tinkering with the Constitution, and are forever proposing and passing fresh amendments. One is touched by their single-mindedness of purpose and patriotism — even though most people with whom I discussed the revisions and modifications didn’t really give a damn... But when there was a sudden shortage of petrol all hell broke loose. It was a national disaster. Life came to a standstill. People were enraged at what they saw as government incompetence. How the hell can there be a shortage of gasoline when almost every other country was enjoying the lowest fuel prices in years?

Predictably, the blame game went into high gear. The ball was hit on both sides of the net and sometimes sideways. In the past, when disaster struck in one form or another and nobody was willing to take the rap, one usually blamed the Hidden Hand. This was some kind of sinister fictional force which was lurking in the shadows and was always ready to pounce and destabilise the system. After a good deal of buck-passing, a task force set up by the prime minister who had to cut short his private visit to Saudi Arabia, pointed accusing fingers at the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra). One explanation that was put forward was that there was an unprecedented demand for petrol in January, possibly caused by the reduction in the price. The other is that the lads just didn’t have the cash. What had really happened was that the financial experts in the government and the regulation authority were caught off guard. They just didn’t have enough gasoline in reserve. And even though they have now taken temporary measures to stem the tide, after three months the government is again likely to face a crisis.

Ogra is not the only body that has been caught unaware. The list is long and varied. There is gross inefficiency in almost every department of government and the private sector, even the professions. Pakistan must be holding some kind of unofficial record in incompetence and mediocrity in almost all fields of activity. Everywhere one goes there appears to be a hard core of employees who in the fullness of time have developed the pulse of hibernating frogs. That is why I am not at all surprised at what had happened. Today it is petrol. Tomorrow it might be sugar or wheat or life-saving drugs. Something is always in short supply in the country.



The Ogra lads are currently in the doghouse for causing the worst fuel shortage in memory; and if there is evidence of financial impropriety the culprits should be severely punished. If for no other reason, then for forcing the authorities to suspend ambulance services. The episode has pointed to numerous flaws in Nawaz Sharif’s style of management which focuses on centralised decision-making. A three-person panel entrusted with the task of ensuring that items on the priority list are not in short supply would be a help, instead of relying on power centres with overlapping responsibilities. It’s not too late for the prime minister to take a little advice. It might help him to finish his term.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2015.

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