In a state of peak upheaval, where the country is facing trouble on three fronts — economic, political and terrorism-related chaos — the government announced an austerity drive aimed at reducing government expenditure by 15 per cent.
This involved requiring all federal officials to forgo salaries and privileges, and to pay their utility bills out of their own pockets. Luxury vehicles have been done away with, staying at five-star hotels has been prohibited, and the import of luxury items for government officials has been banned. Among other things, virtual meetings have been prioritised over in-person meetings that may save travelling and allied costs.
These measures are great. At least they sound logical. Having said that, are these meagre reforms a solution to the incumbent mess? This mess is the outcome of decades of faults in the system. The government should have slashed the number of officials in what happens to be the biggest cabinet ever in the history of the country, but that has not been done.
The only solution to this dilemma is basic structural economic reforms, which, unfortunately, are not on anyone’s agenda, as these will resist extravagant expenditure and ostentatious fancy lifestyles on which the taxpayers’ money is spent. The elite capture seems to be comprehensive, and it is apparently not going anywhere anytime in the near future.
GHULAM SHAH
KARACHI
