Direction Setting Initiatives

While media and the opposition parties in a democratic dispensation are supposed to act as a watchdog against the incumbent government, which requires an honest and objective evaluation of the policies and constructive criticism aimed at path-correcting, it is an irrefutable reality that both of them relish the prospect of having incessant dig at the government. Sometimes it even descends into the realm of cynicism. This phenomenon called disadvantage of incumbency is more pronounced and well-entrenched in the less developed countries like Pakistan which lack healthy political culture stemming from the internationally recognised norms of democratic behaviour. Opposition is for the sake of opposition. Similarly bulk of the media enjoys focus on negativity rather than presenting a balanced view of the ground realities immersed in objectivity. The situation becomes even more worrying when the media is also highly polarised.

Hardly one month has passed since the PTI assumed power but the opposition parties and the media have already shifted to cynical mode of scathing criticism on peripheral and frivolous issues which have no relevance to the challenges confronting the country and the way forward to winch the country out of them. In view of the prevailing circumstances both the opposition and media must be playing a constructive role in promoting the national interests and warding off the dangers lurking on the horizon. Granted that under no circumstances they can be denied their right to criticise the government for its wrong policies and helping it to stay on course but that criticism needs to be wedded to the national interests instead of politics of self-aggrandizement. Media which is a representative of the society and a fourth pillar of the state is particularly under obligation to pass on authentic information to the people regarding the unfolding events and educating them on the issues of national importance in an impartial way.

One month is too short a time to judge the performance of an incumbent government which has inherited formidable challenges in the domain of economy, security and governance. The PTI has been mandated to rule the country for five years to tackles all those challenges and give the country a system of governance geared to serving the people and doing away with the archaic colonial governing arrangement that promoted culture of graft, entitlement and corruption.

If at all a judgment on the performance of the government is considered indispensable even for a period of one month, then one has to look at the measures unleashed by the government to meet the confronting challenges and the direction-setting initiatives which will produce results in due course of time. The critics must bear in mind that there are no quick-fix solutions available to the permeating situation. Minor hic-ups here and there are always a possibility in a situation like ours where people expect miracles and the incumbent government feels the heat in regards to fulfilling its pledges and promises. What really matters is the commitment and sincerity of purpose to deliver to the masses.

Judged on the foregoing touchstone the PTI government can rightly boast of setting the ball rolling in regards to correcting the maladies afflicting the body politics, economy and governance besides unfurling new initiatives in regards to relations with other countries dictated by the short and long-term strategic interest of the county.

No anodyne observer and analyst can fail to notice, acknowledge and appreciate what the PTI government has done in the first one month in regards to unlashing a process which will eventually lead to the fulfillment of all its pledges within the envisaged time-frame. Perhaps it would be pertinent to recount them for the benefit of all those who are interested in them for any reason as well as the masses who have voted the PTI into power. These initiatives include abolition of discretionary funds at the disposal of the prime minister and the federal ministers; formation of 15 task forces to implement meaningful reforms in the system of governance, civil services and setting up of Economic Advisory Council charged with the responsibility to come up with concrete and credible steps to revive the economy; measures to fast-track the implementation of FATA’s merger with KPK; kick-starting a process of amendments in accountability and civil laws as well as adopting a strategy for the creation of 10 million jobs and construction of five million new houses over a period of five years; allowing import of one hundred thousand tons of urea for providing it to the farmers on subsidised rates for Rabi crop; constitution of Assets Recovery Unit to locate and repatriate the illegal money and assets stashed abroad and announcement of justice and accountability initiative to tackle scourge of corruption, money laundering and repatriation of assets in collaboration with UK; ending censorship on government media; initiation of country wide drive to plant ten billion trees; amending National Assembly rules for introduction of PM Question Hour where PM will answer questions on performance of the government and policy issues which represent significant break from the past that strengthens the democratic norms; introduction of changes in the budget presented by the PML (N) government that aims at broadening the tax base, reduction in the current account deficit, keeping the budget deficit in check and reliance on direct taxation which does not affect lower strata of the society.

The prime minister during his first visit to Karachi promised to come up with the first ever master plan for the port city. He also committed to extend all possible help to the Sind government for carrying out development projects besides ordering completion of K-IV and Green Line projects on priority basis besides resolving the issue of scarcity of water.

With a view to improve governance the prime minister has ordered the introduction of a new local government system that ensures devolution of powers to the grass-root level in consonance with the constitution which was hitherto neglected by the previous governments.

The government took a very firm stance on the proposed competition of blasphemous caricatures by a Dutch legislator and as a result of its diplomatic engagement with the government of Holland, had it cancelled. It was a laudable diplomatic triumph of the government which also indicated its responsiveness to the sensitivities of the people.

The prime minister embarked on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia and UAE which has opened up the possibilities of Saudi Arabia joining CPEC, a development which has also been welcomed by China. The prime minister is scheduled to visit China in the near future which is likely to further boost cooperation between the two countries. As a result of engagement of the PTI government with the Chinese authorities, China has already agreed to make CPEC a demand-driven programme instead of supply-driven venture accommodating Islamabad’s priorities and demands. Vibes received from Beijing suggest that China was all set to extend unilateral concessions for correcting the trade imbalance between the two countries. China reportedly has also agreed to accord special status to Pakistan at all its import export events and extend help in introducing Pakistani products to eminent international buyers.

The country has also been visited by US Secretary of State, UK Home Secretary, Turkish Foreign Minister, Chinese Foreign Minister, Iranian Foreign Minister, Saudi Arabian Information Minister and other important dignitaries and held wide ranging discussions on matters of bilateral importance with the new Pakistani leadership.

The foregoing developments are quite encouraging and are likely to have positive impact on Pakistan’s capacity to deal with its challenges. They represent first steps in the right direction. There is no reason or justification for spreading despondency.

(Published in Monthly Tribute International on 01-10-2018)