Investment ties

LAHORE: The ruling elite are depending on billions of dollars in investment promised by Gulf countries, but they must understand that the investment is linked to our comfortable engagement with the IMF. This would require a shift from consumerism to reforms.

Currently, the stubbornly high inflation should be the concern of the economic planners. Inflation will continue to stay put if the power and gas rates are increased.

These are economic realities. We can nullify the impact of inflation by reducing expenditure wherever possible. Reducing the presidential and prime minister’s budgets by 50 percent would help, as would the reduction of undue perks on petrol, mobile phones, and electricity allowances provided to numerous officials.

The withdrawal of perks and security for the former chief minister in KPK is a good step that should be emulated properly through provincial and national assemblies for all former Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers.

The new federal cabinet will have to act prudently and ensure that all unnecessary expenses are immediately stopped and the reform process accelerated. Planners know which reforms are needed.

Enough time has been wasted on keeping these reforms wrapped under bureaucratic procedures. This is done to keep vested interests happy. Pakistan simply cannot afford to delay reforms. All exemptions must go forthwith. All discretions should be abolished. Let the influential operate on a level playing field. They are used to special concessions not available to ordinary citizens. This is the high time they try their luck without any special support.

Reforms that are needed in Pakistan are not Pakistan-specific. These reforms are in vogue in all countries that are flourishing. Talent is not restricted to rich or influential families, but we restrict entry to rich or influential individuals who are not more than 10 percent of the population. Thereby, we deny 90 percent of the population the chance to try and show off their talent. Pakistan is a poor country because 90 percent of its population is denied the right to participate in all spheres of life.

In education, the teaching of A or O level courses (where exams are conducted in foreign countries that charge high examination fees) has given rich students an advantage. This type of education is closed to all poor children. They cannot simply afford the expenses.

Why can't we introduce the same syllabus in all our schools to ensure that the same knowledge is imparted to all children? The students in government schools will have to appear in locally managed exams, but at least they will have received the same education and could compete with those who passed O or A level exams from foreign countries. Planners would have to go for out-of-the-box solutions to close the knowledge gap that we currently see among affluent and poor children.

It is time that we start giving importance to the downtrodden. The poor are living on the edge. Their tolerance for injustices being committed against them is waning. We must remove their grievances before they take the law into their own hands. If that happens, it would be a sad day for Pakistan.