LAHORE: Joint efforts are needed to overcome economic crisis. Economic revival is the biggest challenge. Politics of reconciliation is necessary. Harmony in institutions is a must to steer the country towards progress and prosperity.
These views were expressed by the speakers at Jang Economic Session on ‘How political leadership can develop consensus on political and economic reconciliation formula’. The panellists were Jaweria Qaias, Agha Saidien, Prof Mubshar Munawar, Rana Sajjad and Sameer Ahmed while the session was moderated by Sikindar Lodhi.
Jaweria Qaias said the government has come into being. All political parties should let it work. The performance of the government will evident at domestic and foreign levels to everyone. The government should take all political parties together in policy making, decision making and legislation. The government should solve political issues immediately and alleviate poverty and improve health, education and industries, she added.
Agha Saidien said reconciliation is not possible with pressure and coercion. The method adopted for reconciliation is negative. There is a need to follow the path of truth for reconciliation. Everyone is aware of the recent elections. Public decisions should have been accepted, he said.
Prof Mubshar Munawar said the real challenge of the country is economic recovery. Poverty, inflation, unemployment, debt burden are the basic issues. There is no problem in reconciliation. The situation of businesses is the worst. Upper class has become the middle and the middle lower class. Industry is paralysed due to high cost of production and depending on China. There is a need to revive local industry to reduce current deficit, he said.
Rana Sajjad said interference of various institutions for reconciliation was unnecessary. There is a need to take all stakeholders into confidence on reconciliation. The opposition and the government should resolve all issues by consensus. Long-term reforms in judiciary are needed. Political parties should determine the role of all institutions so that each institution could play its role, he said.
Sameer Ahmed said the recent election results were very clear. Change is the need of the hour not the reconciliation. There has been a lot of analysis on the national economy, but the basic issues are still in place. The national agenda needs to be put before people. No work is possible without political passion. Principles shall not be compromised for reconciliation.