"Ishrat Hussain, one of the many Imran Khan special advisors, has presented a progress report on institutional reforms and austerity that he penned...."
"With or without stakeholder consultation?"
"I would assume with."
"That's good because bureaucrats, domestic or serving in international donor agencies, are typically not into stakeholder consultation."
"For your information the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, indeed all international lending agencies, are mandated to hold stakeholder consultations and..."
"That is true however while they are required to consult government and non-government entities including beneficiaries of programmes, which accounts for the end of the days of bureaucratic isolation....."
"Bureaucratic isolation or bureaucratic arrogance?"
"You say potaaato and I say potaito..."
"And neither is spelt right."
"Correct, somewhat like bureaucrats - they consult but the consultation is not binding if you know what I mean..."
"Don't be facetious besides Ishrat Hussain was an international bureaucrat a long time ago when they were not required to engage with the media at all."
"Yes but The Khan is echoing Hussain's report in his speeches - you know that National Accountability Bureau is undermining the confidence of the bureaucrats and NAB laws must be changed and...."
"Sounds pretty much like the old Pakistan - you know what Nawaz Sharif and Zardari sahib say."
"The new Pakistan is constructed from the bricks of the old Pakistan - see we have no money to buy new material so..."
"Don't be facetious anyway one question: Hussain is advisor on institutional reforms and austerity so has he made any recommendations on how to reduce the massive annual outlay on civil bureaucracy which needs to be reduced to ensure that the bureaucrats also sacrifice to bring about macroeconomic stabilization like the rest of us..."
"Ha ha in your dreams...besides the economic team has not yet focused on macroeconomic stabilization..."
"That certainly is true but Inshallah......"
"Can it my friend - give them time."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019

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