The country is facing serious challenges…we have to leave egoism and sit together!

The newly elected government had to face the worst challenges as soon as it assumed power, in which political, economic and security issues are at the forefront. This series of challenges is not over yet, but every morning a new challenge is ready to welcome the government.

In difficult situations, opposition parties are also giving tough time, protest is also being done. On the other hand, the government is running to get the country out of the vortex of problems, measures are also being taken. In view of all this, a discussion was organized in the “Express Forum” in which political and economic experts were invited to review the current situation of the country, political, economic and other challenges. Discussions in the forum are open to readers.

Professor Dr. Iram Khalid

(Chairperson Department of Political Science, University of Punjab)

The members sitting on the government and opposition benches have accepted the constitutional and legal status of the assembly and the government by taking oath. This is the purpose of the oath, so now they should play their role effectively. Politicians should let the government move, if not more, wait for 3 years. The people see the representatives in the context of their performance, if the performance of the government is good then it will be elected in the future, otherwise the people will elect the opposition parties.

Public representatives sitting on the opposition benches, raise their voices on public issues. Everyone should understand that political tension will harm the country, people will not forgive anyone. The budget is coming, in such a situation the members sitting on the opposition benches should talk about the rights of the people. Keep an eye on the budget to see what is being done on the public welfare projects. Politicians should not fight among themselves.

If re-elections are held, is there any guarantee that the results will be accepted? Then someone else will raise the objection. I think we need “out of the box” solutions to the challenges facing the country. If we love the country and we are interested in it, then it is necessary to save Pakistan. Unfortunately, egoism is seen everywhere, it will sink us, so everyone has to put aside personal ego for the sake of the country. Bring everyone together by showing the greatness of the country. The opposition of our country is not recognizing itself as the opposition, which is causing problems.

It will harm the country and the economy. An all-party conference is called on political and security issues in the country, the biggest problem at this time is the economy, with which our survival is connected, so an all-party conference should be called immediately regarding the economy, all stakes for the upcoming financial budget. Holders, professors and experts should be consulted, interest rates and taxes should be reduced. Unfortunately, education is not one of the priorities. University posts are lying vacant, educational institutions are short of funds, salaries are delayed.

The opposition is also not raising its voice on this. Is there no other problem in the priorities of the politicians in the country except the acquisition of power? It is a pity that two and a half million children do not go to school, they have no happy situation. Our representatives are not worried about them? This is the future of the country. If they do not have education, how will the country develop? If we have to find a lasting solution to our problems, we have to impose an educational emergency in the country.

All over the world, professors and universities work as think tanks, but in our country, professors are worried about pension after retirement, they are not given any work. In order to correct the direction of the country, the research of the universities and the experiences of the professors should be taken advantage of in policy making. Smog, climate change and other challenges are related to the common man. Better is necessary.

The best system for public participation is that of local governments, but we do not have this system. No political party is serious about establishing it. Political parties should understand that if they want to connect with the people, they have to bring in the system of local government.

This will solve the problems of the people at the grass root level. People’s confidence in the government will increase, which will benefit the country. The current government should take tough, big, difficult and necessary decisions in the wider interest of the country. If there is a country, then we are there, at this time it is most important to save the country and get it out of the vortex of problems. All stakeholders including the government and the opposition must show responsibility.

Dr. Muhammad Arshad

(Former Regional Chairman FPCCI)

Unfortunately we are stuck in the vortex right now and no one cares. According to Iqbal:

What a failure! The caravan went on

The caravan’s heart was filled with emotion

Today there is no feeling in the conversation of any political forum, political party and leader. Until we realize, how the matter will proceed. During the previous regime of Pakistan Muslim League (N) in 2016, all international rating agencies were giving good news that if this “financial regime” continues, Pakistan’s GDP will double in 2020.

What happened after that is for everyone to see. Growth turned negative under the Tehreek-e-Insaf government, politicians kept fighting among themselves. If the same economic regime had been run for the sake of the country, the situation would have been different today. Unfortunately, we wasted 8 years and now the economic problems have become monstrous. The tax system was the best during the regime of General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. The then Chairman FBR Abdullah Yusuf himself said that taxpayers want to pay taxes. During this period changes were made regarding taxation in the edible oil sector on my suggestion.

Double tax was levied only at the time of import which was once, after which there was no issue of audit and refund. Everyone willingly paid tax and thus the tax collection was doubled but subsequent governments did not take it forward. Pakistan’s second largest import after crude oil is edible oil, if we pay attention to it, economic stability can be brought. . We are told that the IMF does not agree. Get our industry to meet the IMF, we will agree to the IMF because we don’t want tax breaks but are ready to pay double taxation.

When tax collection is done at the same time, it will also increase the tax revenue. We have very high interest rates. Banks have made profits up to 125 percent. The bankers themselves are saying to reduce the tax rate. If this is the case, small banks will disappear. Maybe this is being done with planning. At present there are trade talks with India. Interest rate in India is 3 to 6 percent. The agricultural sector is provided with free water and electricity due to which their cost of production is very low compared to ours. Therefore, there is concern in the business community.

If Indian goods come at cheap prices, the import bill will increase enormously and the business class here will starve. A clear plan is needed in this regard. More than 25% duty should be imposed on imports from India. In foreign countries, towels and other goods are found in Bangladesh. Bangladesh government gave 25% export subsidy on these items and boosted its industry and economy. We should also select some items and give subsidy on them.

India’s rice crop is 100 million tonnes while we have 8 million tonnes. We are not able to compete with it in export quantity, but it is the grace of Allah that the aroma of our kernel rice is not in Indian rice, so our demand is high. Currently, India’s smuggled rice is being sold in the country, attention must be paid to this.

India fully supports its exporters, if their money gets stuck in a country, the government does it day and night, but here exporters have to fight their own battle, there is no peace. There is a lot of potential in our agricultural sector, if decisions are made beyond politics, the country’s economy can be managed. The solution to the current problems is related to economic stability, reduction of tax rates and economic reforms.

Dr. Asimullah Baksh

(Political Analyst)

The political landscape of Pakistan is very foggy, nothing is clear. The country is under a big storm. Much is burning which is not visible but its heat is reaching. Currently, the country is facing serious internal and external challenges. We are also facing a difficult situation at the global level. As a state, we are trying to make a spectacle in the world. India’s series of targeted killings in Pakistan, admitting guilt and not apologizing, is saddening, it is having an impact on our politics, security and economy. Pakistan is also being targeted on social media.

Such trends are being driven from foreign countries due to which problems are being created here and our simple people are being victimized. It is said that Pakistan’s relations with its neighboring countries are not good, the question is whether America and India have good relations with their neighboring countries. The issues are there but they are running diplomatic issues. We are currently facing challenges on various fronts, so we have to deal with them very sensibly. There is a standby arrangement with the IMF and some structural issues that are negotiated.

Meetings have a specific agenda and business is carried forward. In the same way, if we talk about the dialogue between politicians and political parties, then who will we talk about? What will be his agenda? According to me, everyone is standing at ground zero and they have no agenda to discuss. According to the opposition, it will happen when the election is ‘in-do’.

The government will not agree to this in any way. At the moment, nobody is willing to back down, which has led to a deadlock. We have to do something to move things forward. No matter how good the intention is, if proper action is not taken, it will be of no use. If we want to strengthen Pakistan then internal problems have to be solved otherwise external powers will get volunteers from here which will cause more problems. The problems we face are not easy to solve. These include political, security, economic and other challenges.

Our interest rates are too high, many businesses have gone out of business because of it, the government itself is in trouble so we have to focus on the economy. The country situation is leading us to more challenges. At present the army, judiciary and other institutions are under the target of critics, their reputation is being affected which is sad. Constitution of Pakistan is a document which can solve all problems. If we follow the constitution and give power according to it, everything will be fine. We need to learn from our past. Now is the time, everything can be done, but if time is lost, there will be nothing but regret. The authorities have to take big and timely decisions.

The founder of Tehreek-e-Insaaf is not a traditional politician, he knows that he and his party are popular among the people, so he will not do anything that will affect his reputation. They are not ready to back down. This is the reason why everyone is at a standstill right now, so everyone has to find a middle ground in which both sides win to improve the situation and bring stability. Pakistan forces are capable and excellent but no army can fight in two places, inside and outside the country, we have to solve our internal problems and stop the external enemies. If this is the country, then we are, everyone has to come together for the sake of the country.