Adequacy of Rhetoric: Effective Measures (Ishraq Ahmed Hashmi)

 

In order to save the country from the economic crisis, among other measures, the elimination of all unnecessary government expenditure is also indispensable. The need for progress in this direction has been clear for decades, but practical steps have been lacking. During the PDM era, a committee was formed to devise austerity measures, but no significant action was taken on its recommendations. However, according to informed sources, a seven-member committee has been formed, headed by Deputy Chairman Planning, while its members include Secretary Finance, Secretary Cabinet Division, Secretary Industry and Production. Economics and finance experts Qaiser Bengali, Dr. Farrukh Saleem and Mohammad Naveed Iftikhar are included. The current committee, carrying out its detailed work on the recommendations of the 2023 committee, has announced a set of cost-cutting measures as part of the upcoming budget. Among other measures, these include the elimination of 70 thousand posts in grades one to 16 that have been lying vacant for the past several years.

Overhauling, merger or elimination of more than 80 institutions of the federal government has also been recommended. It should be noted that the previous austerity committee had suggested such comprehensive measures that could save more than 10 trillion rupees annually, but most of the recommendations of this committee were ignored in the previous period. Comprehensive measures were recommended which, if implemented, would be Rs 200 billion for compensation, Rs 200 billion for development works, Rs 55 billion for civil government expenditure, Rs 60 to 70 billion for creating a treasury account for environmental protection. 100 billion rupees, 174 billion rupees in state-controlled enterprises and 15 billion rupees in non-war defense expenditure could have been saved.

The current committee has stated in its findings that the report of the previous committee was only partially implemented and most of the recommendations were ignored. It is clear from this detail how carelessly our ruling classes continue to use the limited financial resources of this country trapped in debt while their love for the country and their duties require that every single penny of the nation be spent properly. should be used and should not be wasted at any level. If this responsible attitude had been adopted in the past, the national economy would have stood on its own feet today. However, at least now every possible measure to save financial resources should be taken so that the situation can be improved as soon as possible. It is hoped that the recommendations of the former and the present committee formed by the Prime Minister will fully help in achieving this goal and will be fully implemented. It is not clear from the report under review that these recommendations include free petrol, electricity, gas, telephone, vehicles and employees in the form of government officials and senior civil and military and judicial officers to end such benefits totaling billions of rupees. including or not which are not provided to the authorities even in the richest countries. If this is not the case, then the present committee should include this issue in its recommendations and suggest effective measures to eradicate corruption because our economic and socialThe biggest cause of corruption is the disease of corruption.