Pakistan

The Finance Ministry did not even bother to inform, what to talk of seeking their views, the Petroleum and Natural Resources Ministry about the imposition of carbon surcharge on motor gasoline, diesel and other POL products in the new federal budget. This is the standard of coordination at ministerial level. It speaks of the quality of governance and how the decision making is undertaken by our rulers!

Government has allocated 50 billion rupees for Benazir Income Support Program; a fund to support the poor families in Pakistan. Rs. 24.3 billion have been allocated for Education. The allocation for Benazir Income Support program is twice that of the funds allocated for Education.

The above speaks of the priorities of the government. I wish the government had instituted Benazir Education Support Program in stead of Benazir Income Support Program. Investment in education will make the people stand on their own feet and earn for themselves. Paying a paltry sum of Rs. 1000.00 to a family per month will hardly alleviate their sufferings and will also make them dependent on this charity.

In one of the TV shows, Ms Wahab representing the government was only wrong by 35% once she was asked about the rate of pulses. Isn't it better not to answer a question once you don't know the answer? In any developed country, she would not have gotten away with such lying. This speaks of the seriousness and credibility of our rulers. So, no wonder, if the budget figures, too, may be off their targets by 35%.

A large number of government officials and consultants of all ministries at federal and provincial level are supposedly busy, day in and night out, to prepare a 'poor' friendly budget, due to be announced in a few days. This is what has been happening every year since independence. Every time it is claimed to be the best possible budget, a budget better than the previous year promising alleviation of poverty, increase in health and education facilities etc, etc. However, the outcome to date has been just the opposite of the claims made.

No budget has to date taken into account two simple questions. What is the budget of a poor family of four to five persons whose bread winner is one man? Are the public and private sectors offering these heads of families the opportunity to earn their living as per the budget of the family? If the national budget is geared towards this direction, it is a good budget, otherwise, it is all nothing but jugglery of words. It is hoped against hopes that the ruling party adheres to its slogan of Roti, Kapra aur Makan (food, clothing and housing) not only by its words but also by its deeds for the common man and not for the few of its jyalays (selected followers).