And mistakes that caused them
Yet another day passes with the government unable to do much about the fuel crisis except hold meetings, form committees, and promise action “soon”. At least the petroleum minister finally admitted there was a problem. It took him a week to budge from the excuse that the price fall, and hence increased demand, was responsible. But then the realisation must have come that the price collapse is an international phenomenon, and Pakistan is the only country with this problem at a time of a supply glut. But even now, when there is agreement that there was negligence (at least), nobody in the government seems to know where exactly the system broke down.
The finance minister denies responsibility, even though he oversees PSO, which is at the centre of the circular debt problem. Khaqan Abbasi says he won’t resign till proven guilty, even though the system falling down like this – again, at a time of spare supply – is proof enough of negligence, if not more. And Ch Nisar, so behind the curve in matters of internal security, is upset and apparently pretty sure there is negligence, and perhaps more. Still, a full week into this unnecessary crisis, Nawaz Sharif is unable to ascertain the point of negligence, or more.
Word has started leaking, though, of this being ‘just another example’ of the kind of politics the Sharif brothers like to play. Despite repeated lessons, they prefer to stick to their highly centralised style of leadership. Everything important goes to the family, which is also the chief decision making circle, regardless of which ministry which decision might concern. And they rely on the bureaucracy – through control over transfers and postings – to do their ground work. Party big-shots, despite their public bravado, are not very significant where it matters. In that regard the petroleum minister might be right, since he apparently has very little say in ministry matters. If such is their style, then the Sharifs must also take responsibility for the results. First they were unable to arrest the electricity crisis, then the gas crisis grew out of hand, and now fuel shortage has caused immeasurable hardships to the people of Punjab. If PML-N leaders still don’t learn their lesson, they should at least prepare themselves to face a sharp rebuke from the people.