It is high time that politics and economy are separated from each other and economic matters and issues not politicised in any manner as this hampers the process of economic growth and development. The economic policies should be continuous and consensual in the larger interests of the nation and the country.
After presenting the federal budget for financial year 2017-18, Federal Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar made the offer to the opposition parties to sit with the government and chart out, through mutual deliberations in a conducive atmosphere, economic plan and budget priorities for next five years period.
But somehow even during discussing and criticising the federal budget from their narrow-minded point of view, opposition parties have not responded to this offer in any manner. As a matter of fact, the political parties should have responded to this offer of the government in a positive manner as this is within the legal and constitutional framework.
In the past, there had been worst crisis due to lack of economic coordination and each successive government, including civilian and military set ups, kept uprooting economic policies of the preceding government and quite obviously this unhealthy and ill-advised practice had reprehensible impact on the economy of the country.
There is no time limit for responding to the government offer in this regard. Opposition parties should ponder it keeping their vested political, regional and party interests aside respond in a positive manner for determination of much desired priorities of the economic planning and the budget. This is in the national interest of the country as good, positive and uninterrupted economic planning augurs well for the welfare and well-being of the people irrespective of which political party is in the power.
AAMER A NAJMEE
Lahore
