No lessons learnt
Most, if not all, of the government’s problems are either self-created or result from misgovernance. The recent fuel crisis is the perfect example. Despite many days of shortage, and investigations, there is little progress on ground. Both petroleum and finance ministers refused to take responsibility, and blaming it ultimately on Ogra found few takers. The party’s senior ministers, usually very vocal, suddenly find it difficult to explain their failure at basic governance. It was not surprising, therefore, to hear Ishaq Dar speak of “deep conspiracies” against the government. What sort of conspiracy, after all, could cause fuel shortage when Brent crude is at record low?
The government’s failure is now leading people to question the effectiveness of democracy in conditions like Pakistan’s, where people are unable to hold leaders accountable. Not long ago, the N-league postured as if it were the embodiment of democracy, equating attack against it with an assault on representative politics. Yet not many people agree with this line anymore. A democracy that is unable to provide basic necessities – like electricity, gas and, remarkably, fuel – does not impress the common man. He has seen far too many dishonoured promises to believe in anything less than action.
Rather than resort to talk of conspiracies, etc, the government should concentrate on doing its job. Dar sb should explain just where and why the circular debt broke down again, not the least because dolling out an unaudited Rs500 billion to clear it was one of his quicker decisions. And the petroleum minister should understand, like everybody else, that his ministry is concerned when oil is mysteriously unavailable. They should then make sure such problems are not repeated. The prime minister, too, does not improve his fortunes by holding long meetings, making tall promises, yet delivering nothing time and again. The N-league is in a bind, but that is because it has not learnt its lessons.