A centralised government system
The PML-N government has gone through a series of crises. First came several shutdowns, the last being the most devastating. This was followed by petrol crisis which was not only unprecedented but also unforeseen. Both led to the wastage of thousands, if not millions, of man hours. All this happened after the Prime Minister had held lengthy meetings to review the audit reports of last year’s performance of various ministries. The two crises exposed not only the government’s performance but also the futility of the audit exercise which had failed to bring any improvement. Now we are told that an Evaluation, Monitoring and Delivery Cell is about to be set up in the PM’s office to keep watch on the working of key ministries. If the past is any guide the cell will face the fate of the exercise in audit.
A public relations exercise was undertaken by the PM to undo the damage done by the series of crises. The PM made a well-prepared visit to Aabpara market in Islamabad. It was ensured before the visit that instead of any unpleasant slogans there would be a comforting chant of “sher aaya, sher aaya” during his presence. While the visit would reassure Nawaz Sharif that everything is hunky-dory in the country, it is not likely to fulfill the purpose for which it was undertaken.
What ails the PML-N administration can be cured neither by audit reports and Evaluation, Monitoring and Delivery Cells nor by PM’s casual tours to vegetable and fruit markets. A centralised style of governance where everything is controlled by a coterie of family members might suit a small private enterprise, it simply cannot succeed in a country with over 190 million population. The PM himself cannot efficiently run a number of portfolios, each of which requires a full time minister.
Military courts have meanwhile started functioning. Two major terrorist attacks that took place after the courts were announced indicate that unless the intelligence gathering system is improved, military courts alone would not help.
Mr. Editor, nothing is in place in Pakistan and so how to expect from a rotten system to deliver anything. Let us first have a glance in the crystal ball of Pakistan's future in a rapidly integrating and transforming geopolitical region. With China and India poised to becoming world's first and second biggest economies the old world order might soon be replaced by the new Asian giants. China has already woken up and it is thriving and bustling with its rapid economic advancements. India is soon to vault as a global player alongside China, both emerging into world's biggest ever trading block. Pakistan's future lies in this scenario as a transshipment hub with its cities of Quetta, Chaman, Peshawar and Torkham with massive flow of two-way trade to and from the opening of central Asia. Afghanistan is poised to earn hefty revenue earnings by becoming a land conduit for conveyance of trade linked with Pakistan. It is quite likely that lingering border disputes between India and China as well as the bloated Kashmir tangle between Indo-Pak might pale before new challenges and undreamed of new opportunities become bigger attractions to the trio China, India and Pakistan. Modi is likely to becoming a forerunner of one after another world class leaders in India. We re likely being trapped in our muddled quagmire and become door mats for both India and China. We have failed with our religion. Politics without democracy is s puppet show. Economy is being fleeced and looted by thugs. Most new industries that were started by favourites with politicak patronage and provided liberal bank loans flopped with lack of expertese. Over a billion bank loans were written off with State Bank's complicity. Police stations are sold and judiciary is a lame duck with witnesses that can be manipulated and bought for a few coins. Passimists in such circumstances always talk of a "Khooni Inqlab" which means chaos and a similar void as one happened in Somalia. But we can make a resounding rebound with guidance from Qur'an and Sunnah. I will come back to you with a plausible road map and a blue print.
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