It seems the government dose not subscribe to the ‘prevention is better than cure’ doctrine, at least not with regard to energy concerns. Despite repeated warnings, relevant authorities have been unable, rather unwilling, to forestall imminent gas shortage even as fertiliser companies cried hoarse about shortage and subsequent hike in food prices. So as winter sets in, we can expect savage gas cuts to domestic and commercial concerns, compromising agriculture production and stoking food inflation. Coming at the heels of severe electricity shortage that dilapidated industry, production and households, continued power shortage, in this case embodied by unaffordable food, has serious implications for the ruling elite.
One, it simply reflects poor planning and poorer governance. Two, it calls the role of market regulators into question. As observed earlier in this space, if the urea price debate centred around official concerns of market manipulation and cartelisation by fertiliser companies, then the regulator should have undertaken serious investigation and subsequent action prior to winter setting in. Three, it doesn’t reflect too well on the government’s political acumen, with the landed aristocracy comprising its largest support base now increasingly agitated due to official neglect of the agri-sector. Four, agriculture has not received due attention since the 18th amendment devolved decision-making and revenue collection to the provinces, leaving the entire sector in limbo. Five, and most importantly, despite the centrality of the energy narrative, there is still no concrete action plan to ensure adequate supplies in future.
Strangely, Islamabad also seems isolated from global social currents. Popular frustration embodied in the so-called Arab Spring was actually triggered by people’s marginalisation, with respective official machineries more interested in running governments than countries. At the heart of Tahrir Square was ag-flation, the phenomenon of unwarranted increase in food prices. Once popular discontent snowballs into mass mobilisation, governments find even their staunchest aid-dispensing patrons reluctant to continue interaction. For its own sake, as much as the people’s, Islamabad would do well to heed people’s concerns.
