Pakistan is a country where the foreign investment tap is fast drying up. In these circumstances, it is alarming to note that two honourable members of the Senate of Pakistan have acted in a manner as to send negative vibes to the world about the country’s qualification or otherwise as an attractive destination for foreign investment. At least this is the signal that was sent when Senator Zahid Khan, who chairs the Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power, and Senator Shahi Syed ordered that the KESC Managing Director be arrested for failing to appear in person to answer questions of the committee.
As the requirement of the committee was to apprise itself on certain issues concerning KESC’s performance, the power utility had seen to it that senior executives were sent to the committee hearing to satisfy the honourable senators’ queries. It is therefore quite strange and rather unparliamentarily to observe that while the committee did not even have the time to hear out what the KESC team had to state before it in response to the questions that were sent to KESC management, the committee was offended that the KESC MD had not appeared in person to answer those questions and issued orders for his arrest.
The senators in their wisdom may not have realised the impact that this action on their part would have on Pakistan’s image but it would certainly negatively influence those foreign investors who may have the country on their list as an investment destination. It would serve the nation well if the honourable Chairman of the Senate as well Speaker of the National Assembly were to guide honourable members that while they make an attempt to follow house rules, they must not act in a manner that damages the country’s interests in the international arena.
