Nawaz Sharif outlines economic recovery, foreign relations as priorities
Once upon a time, a decade and a half ago to this day, premier-in-waiting Nawaz Sharif was reported to have pressed the buttons of Pakistan’s first nuclear tests at Chaghai. Since then the matter has become one of great pomp and show, celebrated in the form of the Youm-e-Takbir. This Youm-e-Takbir, Sharif dropped one bomb and promised to drop another. Sharif’s admission that there is no ‘quick fix’ to the electricity crisis may have disappointed many, but it is only realistic. His ability to deliver on the electricity front shall be tested over the electricity situation a year from now, but one wonders how his promised ‘economic bomb’ can be delivered without resolving the ‘electricity bombshell’? His outlined three-point agenda: the economy, load-shedding and improving relations with India is, however, a welcome one.
“It’s a tragedy that a country with atomic weapons is deprived of electricity and has no electricity for even 20 hours a day. How can a country develop in such a situation?” is the question Nawaz Sharif asked at a ceremony held to celebrate the 1998 nuclear tests. Surely, the tests themselves show how the priorities of his previous governments have been different from delivering necessary services to people. Asking for ‘patience’, Sharif has however promised to improve the situation “within days, not months or years.” Ensuring that a basic load-shedding schedule is followed should be the first step towards economic recovery. The PML-N chief outlined that his priority was to open up the economy for overseas Pakistanis and foreign investors, whom would be allowed ‘to repatriate profits’. This does not mark a change from either the previous government’s paradigm nor does it reflect a change from the policy during the N-leagues short-lived 1997 tenure. Arguably, the power sector is beset with more structural problems, than a lack of generation capacity.
Nonetheless, Sharif appears to exude the cautioned confidence required in the next premier. Sharif spoke of how an economic recovery programme had been chalked out with the Chinese premier during his recent visit. With Sharif yet to take office, he already appears like a man on a mission. The braver move appears to be Sharif’s decision not to appoint defence and foreign ministers in the cabinet. The move suggests Nawaz wants to “get to grips with the government’s relationship with the army.” The consequences of it shall be discovered but they do show a supremely confident Sharif, willing to assert himself on both the economy and foreign relations. Sharif appears like a man conscious of the problems faced by people, with an idea of what the solutions are, but not making promises beyond the attainable. The fact that his government has a clear mandate means Sharif could implement his programme. Nonetheless, too much arrogance will not do him well. The entire National Assembly and the people will need to be taken in confidence as he moves.