IMF Review Mission in Pakistan | Inflation of Ghee in Pakistan | Divorce & Khula/ Separation on the Rise | IA Hashmi

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is determined to pull Pakistan out of the economic crisis it is facing. In order to save the sinking economy and put it on the path of development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made estimates a year ago, keeping in mind the opinions of his political and government colleagues and economic experts, and requested a bailout package of seven billion dollars from the IMF to repay the debts owed to the country with interest and to manage the foreign exchange reserves that had fallen to an extreme level. However, obtaining its approval has become the biggest challenge compared to the past and the government of Pakistan is very seriously implementing some of its conditions to be fulfilled during the specified period. If the economic problems are resolved, there is no doubt that the national economy will be free from all shortcomings, but will be built on very strong foundations. Without a doubt, the priceless natural resources available to the country will prove to be helpful in cultivating it. Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb had indicated in the past that the IMF mission will provide seven billion dollars. The IMF will visit Pakistan in February for the first review of the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program. 

However, the three-member delegation, which arrived in Islamabad on Sunday, has a mixed agenda. According to the delegation, it will review poor governance and corruption in six sectors of Pakistan during its visit. The mission will make recommendations on financial management, supervision of related sectors, market reforms, rule of law, anti-money laundering measures and anti-terrorism laws, which will help the government of Pakistan promote transparency and increase institutional capacity. The delegation’s homework during its stay includes reviewing alleged corruption found in various departments, appointment of judges and integrity of the judiciary. The members of the IMF delegation will meet with officials of about 20 institutions, ministries and departments, including the Judicial Commission, Ministry of Finance, Law and Justice, Election Commission of Pakistan, FBR and State Bank. According to the explanatory statement issued by the Ministry of Finance confirming the arrival of the IMF review mission to Pakistan, the government Pakistan will help in examining key governance and its shortcomings and assessing corruption. In this regard, structural reforms will be identified going forward, which is also the government’s own priority. 

The Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment Report will be published regularly. If the challenges facing the country’s economy are examined in the context of the arrival of the IMF review mission and its agenda, all those shortcomings and their underlying motivations come to light, which have already been mentioned by economic experts, however, political expediencies are getting in the way. After spending one year of the current government on preparing the economic reform framework, starting its implementation and preparing the agenda that follows it, and in light of this, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is optimistic about the future of the economy, the initial results of which have emerged from the country in the form of reducing inflation and reducing interest rates. However, PIA, Pakistan Steel Mill and other loss-making institutions and departments still remain a challenge. On which the government has to spend billions of rupees annually without any output.

As Ramadan approaches, the activities of the profiteering mafia are also increasing. Along with the unjustified increase in the price of sugar, other food items are also becoming the target of this nefarious practice of profiteers, the consumption of which increases significantly during Ramadan. Banaspati ghee is at the top of these items because it is used in dishes prepared for iftar and sehri. According to a report, despite the decline in palm oil prices in the global market, grade I and grade II ghee have become expensive by up to Rs 6 per kg in the country and the possibility of further increase in the coming days is very clear. Due to this increase, grade I ghee has become Rs 595 and grade II ghee has become Rs 540 per kg in wholesale. Some grade II brands are also being sold for Rs 550 per kg.

It is quite possible that the prices will be reduced slightly due to public pressure by increasing the prices further before Ramadan so that additional profits can be earned and the consumers can also be satisfied. To permanently prevent illegal profiteering, the provincial and local governments should devise an effective monitoring system that is always active. In addition, instead of spending four to five billion dollars of foreign exchange every year on the import of edible oil, the country should implement the projects of palm oil cultivation in the country. The coastal areas covering millions of acres are very suitable for palm plantation. Its experiments have been very successful, especially in Sindh. However, the vested interests mafia has not allowed this trend to go ahead. The need of the hour is to start palm plantation without delay and not only save foreign exchange by producing cheap edible oil and ghee within the country, but also earn huge foreign exchange by exporting the excess palm oil.

Divorce & Khula / Separation

The alarmingly high rate of divorce and khula in Pakistan requires that an atmosphere of justice be created at the domestic level in society through which the chances of family breakdown can be reduced and children affected by the separation of husband and wife can be protected from economic, psychological, and emotional insecurity to the extent possible. According to a report, the rate of divorce and khula in Pakistan has increased by 35 percent in the last five years, while the number of khula cases in the country’s largest city, Karachi, has doubled in the last four years. More than 11,000 cases were filed in Karachi’s family courts last year to end marital relations. In 2020, the number of such cases filed in family courts was 5,800. According to the Bureau of Statistics, the number of divorced women in the country was recorded at 499,000. Experts say that the increasing number of divorces and khula reflects a weak family system. 

Two out of every five respondents to a Gallup Pakistan survey believe that unnecessary desires and intolerance are the main reasons for the increase in divorce and khula cases. Regardless of the details of the breakdown of the family system in the Western world and its spread to other parts of the planet, divorce and khula are permitted in Islam. Divorce is not a commendable thing, but it is provided for to avoid cruelty to wives. Efforts have been made to create an environment of justice in the society in the form of laws of Pakistan, court decisions and activities of social associations, while the need for such legislation is always present so that measures for the life, financial and social protection of the weaker sections of the society can be made more effective. In this regard, increasing the number of family courts and arranging for the speedy disposal of cases is particularly necessary.