The rulers of Pakistan are indebted, not the citizens of Pakistan!
It is often heard and read that Pakistan has accumulated so much foreign debt.
Every Pakistani owes this much loan.
Well, did any citizen of Pakistan ever say to take the loan?
Whatever foreign and domestic debt there is,
it was taken by the governments of politicians or military governments,
it will be paid from the pockets of whichever political or military governments took these loans.
Straight and simple!…
What animal is the Ashrafiya called?
If you want to understand the phenomenon of the Ashrafiya in Pakistan —
whether it is the state or the government, politics or the economy,
the judiciary or the bureaucracy, any institution attached to the state and government,
or any privileged position and status — just focus on one question.
Who was where in the recent past, and where has he reached today?
And how did he reach where he is today?
In other words, keep an eye on the process.…
The limits of culture
The intellectuals of Sindh have made their culture a justification
for their narrow-mindedness and narrow vision.
And they are also misleading people.
The reality is that people do not remain attached for long to a culture
that prevents them from making their lives prosperous and better.…
Basant and the bureaucracy’s stunts
The “khoh khata” [bottomless account] of field visits for the registration of kite and string makers is now open.
The person assigned to do the field visit of an area will go and sit at one place.
From there, he will call the applicants of that area to come to him.
The field visit is also done and the fee is also collected.
This is the standard and the modus operandi of the bureaucracy and the politicians.
Do them a favor too. And fill your own house too.…
Iran’s Punjabi films made in Pakistan
Nowadays, the “Zafar Ali Khani Media” i.e.,
Pakistani newspapers, are dominated by Iran.
That is, Iran’s Punjabi film-style blusters and threats — Made in Pakistan.…
Basant and the Tentacles of Bureaucracy
Registration of kite makers and sellers is being done.
While there is no need for it!
Government registration fee is 1000 rupees.
Along with that, a “field visit” loophole has also been added.
Which means an unofficial fee.
The PML-N has become a party that squeezes money out of people’s pockets.…
معاشی اصلاحات کی رفتار
ایک گھونگا کچھوے پر سوار ہے اور اس سے کہہ رہا ہے کہ آہستہ چلو۔
پاکستان کی معیشت میں اصلاحات کے عمل کا بھی یہی حال ہے۔…
Further reflections on Ashrafiya, Riyasati Ashrafiya, and Danishwar Ashrafiya
Sometimes something sets a train of thought in motion. The same happened today in a WhatsApp group.
Someone shared the following news item with a comment on it.
Source: The Express Tribune:
$200m more approved for FBR
Rs57.1b TADRA project recommended; total foreign loans for tax system reach $4.9b
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2628843/200m-more-approved-for-fbr
Comment: FBR trans-fooling plan.
I expressed my frustration thus:
Dr Khalil: Doing economics in Pakistan is an endless and useless struggle!
Someone else: Multiple entities working on developing their own version of economic reforms. Not even one being implemented in totality.
Shahid Mehmood (An economist):
A primary reason for this state of affairs is the non-interest of our people in econ issues. They have all the time in the world for politics, theatricalities and needless gossip. In the US, elections are decided on the programs and vision both parties present in terms of the economy. Here, I’ve rarely heard any …
Half of Karachi’s Full Mayor
Murtaza Wahab, Mayor of Karachi, says:
“I am not the Mayor of all of Karachi!”
But you took the oath as the Mayor of all of Karachi.
The responsibility is yours.
Either do the job, or resign and tell the truth to everyone.
Plain and simple.…
The Bureaucratization of Basant
Basant has been handed over to the bureaucracy.
Kite makers and sellers are being registered.
Money is being extracted.
The truly hazardous item is a specific type of string.
Instead of registering those who manufacture, import, and sell the string,
the bureaucracy is subjecting everyone to registration without any justification.
This is what happens under a government blind to reason.
And on top of that, they parade it as a favor.…
The False and Misleading Narrative of the Hybrid System
Those who propagate the narrative of a “hybrid system” are in fact guilty of misleading the people.
At present, whatever is happening at the federal and provincial levels,
the responsibility for it at the center,
according to the Constitution and the law, lies with the PML-N and the PPP.
And in the provinces, it lies with the parties governing there.
Plain and simple.…
New Provinces or Focus on Governance
The fault lines over new provinces are now coming into focus.
It is increasingly evident who stands where, and with whom.
The intentionally fragmented camp of the state aristocracy is now coalescing.
It will soon be apparent who truly represents the citizens and who does not.
In other words, those who oppose the creation of new provinces and
those who advocate for focus on governance will be the ones speaking for the citizens.…
Hacking at the Roots : Uprooting the Roots
Farooq Qaiser created two characters:
“Jarr Wadh” — the one who cuts the roots, and
“Jarr Putt” — the one who pulls the roots out.
It appears that these are the very two characters who are still running the State of Pakistan!…
An Even Bigger Deception Than Loadshedding: A Unilateral Agreement
An Even Bigger Deception Than Loadshedding: A Unilateral Agreement
The core issue is that electricity is being sold at an arbitrarily dictated price. The government’s proxy, “NEPRA,” merely echoes the government’s position. The government’s “appendages” — the DISCOs — function as outlets for fleecing citizens.
What is urgently and immediately required is a Bilateral Agreement between electricity consumers and electricity suppliers. For example, if loadshedding occurs, or if excessive voltage damages consumers’ appliances, the supplier must be held liable to provide compensation. Khalil…
سیاسی جماعتیں ہی مسئلہ ہیں
موجود سیاسی جماعتوں میں سے کوئی بھی جماعت حل نہیں۔
یہ سب کی سب مسئلہ ہیں۔…
The Ashrafiya Parliament
The Ashrafiya Parliament
This Parliament House was clearly not built
for representatives of the people to safeguard their rights.
It looks more like a palace for the Political Ashrafiya (سیاسی اشرافیہ)
to safeguard their own interests.…
PIMS Tragedy – Dead Governance
If a fire breaks out in the children’s ward / nursery of a hospital,
and children are killed and injured,
while the Prime Minister’s House does not catch fire,
and the Chief Ministers’ Houses in all four provinces do not catch fire,
then this is not merely dead governance,
but rather deliberately negative governance.…
Divide Islamabad into 52 provinces
Minced Reasoning…
To improve governance, Islamabad should also be divided into 52 provinces!
PIMS Tragedy – Dead Governance…
The State and the Citizens: The Right to Record Video
Citizens should have the right to record video in every government office and building, including police stations, courts, hospitals, and other public-dealing institutions, as required.
This would be a critically important step toward improving governance.
This right is also essential because the entire state apparatus is funded by taxpayers’ money and is accountable to them.
It must be noted that this does not refer to self-styled journalists, but to granting this right to affected citizens.…
Journalism and the Murder of Common Sense
According to a report in Jang (August 25), a new feat of the bureaucracy has come to light: 33 retired officials are receiving their pensions in foreign currency after relocating abroad.
How is this a feat of the bureaucracy?
This is, in fact, the doing of the political aristocracy (ریاستی اشرافیہ) that runs the affairs of government and that has granted these officials pensions in foreign currency.
Journalism has also kicked “common sense” to the curb.…