Limited economic options

Pakistan’s economy has limited options. The statements made by the Board of Investment not withstanding there is no foreign company coming to Pakistan. Why are we such a pariahs that no one is coming to our country? The answer is complex and the ability to see through an issue very limited of not non-existent. This was mentioned when Shaukat Aziz was here and this was mentioned when the last Chairman was in position. Merely being someone’s crony is not the answer to getting top jobs. The old constraining forces are still with us. Technology, social conflicts and caste and baradari system not to mention tribal affiliations are still with us. Pakistan’s social system has not come to terms with this social system. At one time when the pressures were not so great the social system was an insurance against pestilence and death. Not so now. The scope of individual choices has not broadened as they have in the West. Industry choices were there some time ago when Shaheed ZAB was in position but all that has now vanished. The extraordinary choice of manipulating a system lies with the power block. The recent episode of bifurcation of a plot of land in Chak Shahzad area is one recent incident regarding the misuse of power by a politician. The junior officer who was transferred should count himself lucky that he was not arrested and bullied through the law and order agency. Had the politician been a Kashmiri that would have followed as a matter of routine.

What happens when a favoured group has this extraordinary ability to break and bend the rules is that there is exacerbation and increase in tension in the social system. The same rules do not apply to the others less fortunate. Equity takes huge kick in the backside. For the powerful and the affluent the possibilities are unprecedented in Pakistan. How many DHA and Bahria plots do the powerful need? The problem and the issues that crop up because of real estate is that they eat into the resources that could be used by the entrepreneur. Those entrepreneurs that are risk-oriented and that serve the nation with their blood and sweat. The bureaucracy is left high and dry before the onslaught of the politician and whether they are right or wrong the blame goes on the job workers rather than the policy makers. I recently had a look at the limitless assets of the politicians that they had given to the Election Commission and I found surprisingly that these people still are not happy. Some of them have even violated the rules of appropriate behaviour. Limitless options therefore do not seem to be as blissful as they seem. The downsize is that the power of the ordinary person is sapped when he has to use his energy for mundane factors that are his basic and essential requirements. We are short on anything and everything. In the 21st century we have yet to provide the essential not the necessary ones. Urbanisation has helped a few and created a mess for the poor. Which economist took a consultancy from the WB to suggest that urbanisation is the way forward? We are sold to the west for a few trinkets. Is this all we have to show for courage and abilities? Our tragedy is limitless poverty of thought and poverty of actions. We are not there. The management of such areas now is creating a powerful backlash on the law and order agencies. As an urban member of the bureaucracy I had suggested way back in the 1970s that urbanisation will not hold and when the opportunity provided itself we tried to create satellite towns and satellite villages in the Punjab. Governor Punjab of the time was on board and encouraging. He did realise that life will be difficult unless we created villages that were in tandem with satellite towns.

The ideas that are generated by our electronic media just does not reflect the complexity of ideas that are prevalent in our society. Since all these personnel are egoists who is to tell them the consequences of their action. Self-justification and rationalisation of any activity is part of the human fallacies that have to be corrected. The cure is no where in sight.

The gravest issue that faces us is from the lackadaisical polices from the macro economic policies of the present government. What have they done to curb inflation? What have they done to curb unemployment? Failure of these two policies can be a powder keg that might explode any time. Serenely the PM’s expenditure is according to the electronic media of about Rs 3.2 crores in a month. Vow? What are they doing – eating pearls!!! This was up from Rs 1.9 crores. That was bad enough but the new raise (due inflation!!!) is totally unacceptable. This from a democratic government!

I have always maintained that what is best governed is best. Forget democracy and in doing away with dictatorship have we not gone towards totalitarianism? Totalitarianism is dictatorship in a civilian form. It is visible when the people espouse everything in the name of the civilian totalitarians. Where are all those democratic traditions-where is freedom to do what you want? How are institutions being manipulated? Where is the ability to diagnose and then prescribe? The tragedy with the others is that the ability to handle the situations is non-existent. Sweep things under the carpet and it will correct itself. Well it won’t? We are undergoing such turmoil everywhere in the world that no one wants to take us seriously.

Why are we unwilling to face these and other dilemmas? Is Cicero correct in saying that we obey laws so that we are no longer in bondage? Do our laws allow us the unfettered right to live? I do not think for the laws of this country have been made for the powerful and the rich. There is nothing in it for the poor. If this is going to heighten your disbelief then go to the lower courts and see what kind of justice is being dispensed. There is no law of torts and even if there were one its implementation is that much more difficult. Legislation in Pakistan like all public aspects is never implemented. So why the creation of new laws? Does it satisfy?

Any one’s ego as to being a nation of law abiding citizens?

The interaction of all policies will lead to a harmonious society. If the laws are not there then there is a missing link. But life must go on not with the amount of jerks. Economic activity is necessary if the youths of this country are to have a future. In the absence of this there will always be turmoil. These words have not been heard otherwise Karachi would not be where it is at the moment. Youths and families that have nothing to fall back upon will take to the streets and vandalise the town and eventually the crimes will be against body. The progression of crimes has been from bhatta khori to threats to the body. The unselfishness of the rich is not visible anywhere. Where the poor realise that richness has been without hard work there these issues will emerge. Keep on paying the debt to society. The cognitive aspects are totally missing. The perceptions and the extrapolations into the future are not visible. So if the policy makers are going to be myopic why are we blaming the poor for the same disease?

The only option is to get these unemployed youths to be employed. There has been too much of shenanigans in public policy with the elected representatives not responsible for anything.