Moalims

Wednesday, May 27, 2015 - PRIME Minister Nawaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar as Finance Minister have done well so far, but far too greater challenges still lie ahead. In an Islamabad meeting Tuesday, premier approved budget strategy papers for the coming fiscal of 2015-16, laying stress on welfare for the people. His emphasis that lower slabs of levies, would yield larger revenues, indicated wisdom, and surely was reassuring.
Important thing, however, is the focus on social sectors——health and education— neglected or on backburner for long. Time has now come to work out a budget which is economically beneficial, and at the same time enhances the quality of life in a country, which instead of progressing, has persistently been on the downward slide.
Japan progressed, despite defeat in second world war, because of its undivided attention to education, and on providing better health care to its people. So did Germany, which lived on financial help from Pakistan soon after the world war humiliation. Both nations showed tremendous improvements and despite heavy losses because of their war mongering, are exemplary economic giants again.. Pakistan lost five precious years from 2008 to 2013 of PPP rule because of unexplained indifference to deal with issues that invariably are considered as pillars of strength for any nation.
For the present government, a menacing situation, horrendous in fact, lay bare before it, demanding urgent attention to uplift a sinking economy , abysmal health and education facilities. People groping in dark, depressed and disappointed. Nawaz and Ishaq Dar worked hard to win appreciation both from within and outside the country for their economic philosophies..
However challenges like demands from smaller provinces for development funds, and the dispute over Chinese economic corridor, plus the yearning for larger share of budget on education and health, are all now facing straight in the face of the government. It needs to show its maturity to deal with a situation which is stark reality, cannot and need not be brushed aside or swept under the carpet. Such an attitude would generate bitter controversies, which if allowed to spread may prove ominous in the end.
If the Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali charges the planners of changing the route of the economic corridor, Tehrik I insaf Chief Imran Khan moans about depleting strength of Lowari Tunnel in his KPK province. He feels that while KPK and Balochistan were ignored in vital projects, Lahore never was part of the Chinese corridor. Whether true or false, the real pictue must be brought forth.
The PTI leader went on to charge that 50 percent of the country’s budget is spent on Punjab, and KPK was given just 20 percent of its share so far. Provincial chief minister Pervez Khattak is even terse on his criticism of the federal administration.
Imran Khan too has been on record that original route of the economic corridor was yet to be shown to people.
Balochistan chief minister Dr Abdul Malik is bitter for not being shown the original or the amended route for the Gwadar-China economic route. He, despite being a Nawaz ally, wants bigger share for the backward south-western province. His bitterness against the federal government is too vivid to ignore. These are no ordinary demands. These are much greater challenges than the government, in power for two years, has begun to face now. Efforts should concentrate now on removing the misgivings of the smaller provinces. The Chinese economic corridor project, so vital and fruitful for years to come , not only for Pakistan, but for the entire region, ought to be saved from becoming controversial like the Kalabagh Dam.
The Prime Minister and his finance minister have been overworked from day one, trying to lift the country from the morass it was found at the time of their coming into power. Complaints about particular region receiving little or less attention are also not entirely correct. Nawaz has been trying to remove the apprehension or the misconceptions of the people from Gilgit to Karachi. Yet the complaints keep mounting. He therefore needs to change strategy now, and spend more time—atleast a week or more in each of the sensitive places like the southern Punjab, KPK, Balochistan, and Karachi to meet leaders, have in depth discussion with them, and look for solutions that yield better results.
Federal ministers have shown a total lack of capability in touring the country. Their concentration in Islamabad shows immaturity for they are ministers for the entire country, and cannot just relax in luxury of Islamabad alone. The prime Minister must order them to pull up their socks. He should also monitor their reports weekly or on fortnightly basis.
The government in the eyes of some analysts have lost touch with the people. Shahbaz Sharif has done a yeomen job, but his efforts have often been mirrored differently by people and leaders of other areas. That impression needs to be removed now. The prime minister can do that with a bit of little more energy.
In last many years, new colleges and universities, have almost ceased to open in State sector. Similarly, hospitals and medical care hardly has received the attention it required. Health care and education services need greater allocation in the new budget. Ishaq Dar is on trial now. He has to rise from the level of being downgraded as a mere accountant, to becoming a real economist. Budgetary figures won’t satisfy the countrymen. They want solid evidence of government efforts on the ground. New health and education projects should be absorbed in the new budget, due next month, or else the government will be in considerable crisis, in fact much graver than it has faced so far.