President Zardari has asked investors, entrepreneurs and businessmen to, step in now to assist the government to take remedial measures. This is like bolting the stable doors after the horses have fled. Investors, entrepreneurs, and businessman have already fled to more business friendly environments to escape the populist policies of the PPP government. Even the KESC consortium has hinted at quitting if it is not allowed to act independently.
National industry is on its knees for want of power and gas. But power and gas is going towards reducing load shedding. This situation requires urgent remedial measures. Revival of industry will help the people more in the long run on a permanent basis than mere reduction in load shedding.
Shortage of water is stunting the potential of agriculture for achieving 40 percent of our exports and absorbing 40 percent of our labour force. The price hike and lack of jobs is adding to poverty. Bhasha dam will be too late and too little because by then storage capacity at Mangla and Tarbela dams will have reduced considerably.
The countrys corporations are consuming revenue instead of generating revenue. They are taking from the nation instead of giving to the nation, which is the raison d’etre of their very existence. Revival of economy is not possible in this situation.
Sustained growth is possible only when there is some growth to begin with, not when there is negative growth. What we are experiencing is not sustained growth but sustained negative growth.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
