Burden on the masses, pleasure on the elite

Tremolo: Mian Nadeem Ahmed “Contacts”

The people of Pakistan are once again ready to sweat in the budget mill. Like every year, the budget this year too was declared to be people-friendly, balanced and progressive, but the ground realities tell a different story. The common man's pocket is already empty, but the ruling classes and economic planners may still see more room in it. The country's laborers, farmers, government employees, pensioners and daily wage earners are constantly suffering from inflation. Prices of flour, sugar, ghee, pulses, vegetables, electricity, gas and petrol are testing people's patience. Education of children and treatment of the sick is becoming a dream for the middle class. The hearths of the homes are cooling down, but the claims of development and economic stability are still hot in the halls of government. The saddest part is that the people who are charged with solving the problems of the people are the ones who seem to be most active in increasing their salaries and benefits. Assemblies may differ on public issues, but when it comes to extending privileges, political parties often seem to be on the same page. This attitude is like sprinkling salt on the wounds of the people. The question is, are there only people left to sacrifice in the country? Is the entire burden of economic hardship to be borne only by the salaried class, traders, laborers and farmers? Aren't the aristocracy, the bureaucracy and the people sitting in the halls of power part of this country? If the country is going through difficult situations, why sacrifice does not start from the top? Pakistan's history is a witness that every government has taught the people patience, tolerance and sacrifice, but the ruling class itself has often been safe from this test. The protocols have not decreased, the government expenditure has not decreased, there has been no major change in the luxurious lifestyle, but the problems of the people are definitely increasing. Today, the biggest tragedy of Pakistan is not only inflation but also the feeling of injustice. People are more distressed that on the one hand they have to take loans to pay the electricity bills and on the other hand new chapters of luxuries are being monetized on public resources. A labourer's child drops out of school due to lack of fees while new facilities are announced for the privileged class. This contradiction creates anxiety and mistrust in the public. The claims of development are certainly recorded in the budget documents, but the question is, whose development is being done? If the purchasing power of the common man is continuously decreasing, unemployment is increasing, businesses are closing down and the youth are frustrated, then what are the growth figures for? Another harsh reality is that the influence of external debt and international financial institutions on Pakistan's economic policies cannot be denied. When the bulk of the budget goes to debt and interest payments, public welfare projects become secondary. This is the reason why the public is seriously asking whether we are really economically independent or are we still arranging our future on the terms of others? The textile industry, which forms the backbone of Pakistan's exports, is in dire straits. Many factories have closed down or are forced to reduce their production due to increase in electricity, gas and production costs. Faisalabad, known as the Manchester of Pakistan, has seen thousands of workers lose their jobs. The closure of the industry does not mean the closure of just one factory, but the cooling of the hearths of hundreds of families. The business community is also complaining of difficulties. Small and medium-sized businesses are facing difficulties due to rising costs and declining purchasing power. Markets are becoming less vibrant, shoppers are making thoughtful purchases and many businesses are on the verge of closing down due to losses. Meanwhile, various development and sanitation projects are being discussed by the government. For example ”Beautiful Punjab” Such projects are ostensibly for public welfare, but the question arises, what are the real and lasting results of these projects? If on the one hand, the people are not able to have two meals a day, the youth are struggling to find employment, the industries are closing down and the economy is suffering from slowness, then can only demonstration measures be the solution to public problems? Cleanliness and beauty are certainly important, but so are priorities. Can an indebted country, burdened with billions of dollars in debt, afford projects whose viability is in question? Isn't it better that the bulk of the resources are spent on education, health, industry, employment and the provision of basic amenities? The path to true independence is not through further debt burden but through national self-reliance. The country needs economic policies that increase productivity, strengthen industry, increase exports and provide employment to the youth. Instead of putting the tax burden on the people, it should also be passed on to those sections who have been benefiting under the shadow of the system for decades. People are not asking why there are economic problems, people are asking why sacrifice is being asked only from them. If the ruling class really stands with the people, it should set an example by reducing its expenses, privileges and lavish lifestyles. The people of Pakistan have always made sacrifices for the country. Be it war, flood, earthquake or economic crisis, people have supported the state in every difficult time. Now the time has come for the state to support the people. Because the real strength of any country is not its palaces, protocols or government vehicles, but its contented, prosperous and respectable citizens. If the purpose of the budget is only to balance the figures, then it may be considered a success, but if the purpose is to give relief to the people, make their lives easier and secure their future, then there is still a lot of work to be done. The silence of the people should not be taken as consent, because when the problems go beyond the limit, the questions also start to be raised. And today, every citizen of Pakistan is asking the same question, why is it always the common man who has to sacrifice in this country?
The real problem of the people is that their income is not increasing while the expenditure is continuously increasing. The prices of flour, ghee, sugar, electricity, gas and petrol are getting out of reach of the common man. A laborer or a middle-class person budgeting his household is worried about how to meet the education, medical and daily needs of children. Pakistan does not lack resources, it only lacks priorities and effective governance. If wasteful expenditure is reduced, tax burden is distributed in a fair manner, industries are facilitated, business environment is improved and the elite also share the sacrifice with the people, then the economic direction of the country can improve. Today, the need is that the government and policy makers take into account the ground realities. People want improvement in their lives, not just statistics. They need jobs, cheap electricity, quality education, better healthcare and relief from inflation. The real standard of development is not lofty projects but the prosperity that reaches the common man's house. If the majority of the nation is worried, the bread is not enough, the industries are closing down and the youth are disappointed about the future, then the claims of development are just words for the people. The need of the hour is to go beyond showmanship measures and adopt economic policies that guarantee public welfare, industrial growth and national sovereignty. Otherwise, the impression will be strengthened that in this country the burden is on the people and the pleasures are only for the elite.