Prior to entering into a detailed discussion on these matters it is important to examine whether or not the failures as identified the first part of this two-part article are presumably on account of weak political set up due on account of alleged involvement of the establishment in political spheres.
The writer is of the firm view that this conclusion is not justified. For example it cannot be said that population planning programs have been so installed. Or, the incorrect or incoherent power policies relating to Independent Power Plants (IPPs) were put in place on account of some intervention by some powerful institutions.
In short, if we examine all the 20 attributes/items given in the first schedule to this article then it transpires that it is totally a failure of politicians and the civil society. Another example can be quoted for the same. If the area under cultivation of cotton has substantially dropped and the production of cotton bales has reduced from 11 million bales to 5 million bales then it is completely a failure of the agriculture policy of the civil government, which has nothing to do with establishment.
Also read: Pakistan’s economy 2000-2025—I
The result of this discussion could be that our political segment is either insensitive or it does not possess the competence to undertake the task of managing the economy of this vast country. It is the writer’s view, after working for a year in Islamabad and forty years in practice, that there exist selfishness, insensitivity and incompetence. However, the writer feels that this is not the main problem.
The real problem is the bureaucratic system that has pervaded in ‘Islamabad’ in various forms. It is sometimes called ‘technocrats’ and ‘think tanks’. The capture of a particular mindset that survives on status quo is leading to economic upheavals in Pakistan. This is sometimes called ‘Elitism’; however, the writer is not ready to accept this term.
These are not ‘Elites’. These are ‘Brown Sahibs’. It is for this reason that it has been observed that even bureaucrats coming from remote areas with humble backgrounds have a larger feudal mindset than that of actual feudal lords. Anyone coming from the academy (CSS) considers that he or she is the only well-wisher and custodian of the well being of Pakistan and all others are ‘subjects’ not necessarily being loyal to the state.
The other and only group that they are ready to add constitutes the personnel from the forces. Since these bureaucrats are only trained to be administrators their survival lies in continuing what ‘Gora Sahib’ had been doing in the past. The best example is the Punjab Police, which has been treated as most corrupt even in the 2024 transparency survey.
Similarly, most of the so-called ‘elite businessmen’ are the product of the post-Zia period. They have been trained in an atmosphere of protectionism. The problem is not any class or group of people. The problem is the atmosphere and working style of Islamabad. The writer considers that it is wrong to state that Islamabad is controlled by Rawalpindi.
In fact, at times Islamabad stops and confuses Rawalpindi from taking decisions, which are in favour of the country. Most of the readers of this article would agree that out of 25 years examined in this article, the best period may be the first two to three years of Gen Musharraf. It was so because Rawalpindi was not taking advice from Islamabad.
The comments in the aforesaid paragraph doe not in any manner mean that supremacy of civil rule is being questioned. The observation leads to the conclusion that there is no right to rule the country if the common man is deprived. The single-party rule of Vietnam is not suggested to be enforced; however, the way it has turned Vietnam against our position cannot be fully ignored.
The answer lies in breaking the status quo in the mindset of economic managers which are ultimately the politicians. They should work, think and realise that bureaucracy is just an aide not an advisor.
Political decisions, without undue intervention of bureaucracy, are always in favour of people for the reason politicians have to face the public at the end of the day. In Pakistan, politicians have been ‘stooges’ in the hands of a system in Islamabad.
The writer has seen it personally in Islamabad in 2019. We do not understand that the Viceroys of India in Delhi and their bureaucracies were not there to serve the people of India. They were there to provide consolidation to imperial power. Is there any change in the mindset after 1947? We have further consolidated that mindset by ring-fencing them in greener pastures under the Margalla Hills of Islamabad. That safe zone has to be disturbed for the betterment of the people of Pakistan.
Firstly, it has to be realised that we have collectively failed and there is an urgent need to distort and break the status quo in Islamabad. There can be a long list of low-hanging fruits; however, some of them have been identified as under:
a. All the ‘lower courts’ to undertake their work in mother-tongue or Urdu;
b. All government schools and hospital should have cameras installed available for public view to ensure that schools or hospitals exist and are working properly;
c. Selection of Matriculation or Cambridge as the initial exam. We should not create second class person at initial state;
d. Complete transparency in all government documentations and actions. Availability of public viewership for all government offices and board rooms;
e. All property and land records are made public record. Like the UK Land Registry;
f. Complete ban on dual nationality for any government employee, including those in institutions;
g. Public dispensation of population growth district-wise through NADRA and align the same with family planning data;
h. Availability of free or subsidized-price land for establishment of manufacturing enterprises;
i. For each 2 million people, availability of at least 200 acres of land (out of government land) at free or subsidized rates for IT parks for technology and back-office workers. All entities to start within a year;
j. Survey of all market and mandi towns;
k. Heavy surcharge on cash withdrawals from banks above a certain amount;
l. Security companies are not allowed to carry cash;
m. Complete ban of sale of gold bars and blocks;
n. CNIC card for all economic transactions above Rs 200,000
o. Pakistani diaspora to be given free plots of land for establishing manufacturing and IT enterprises;
p. Redefining ‘speculation’ trading and taxing the same at the rate equal to other income;
The issue under consideration is very wide. The purpose of this discussion is only to highlight the fact that our economy is in trouble and we are the only ones who can actually resolve these issues. This discussion will be continued in subsequent articles.
(Concluded)
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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