“So one billion dollars for a membership at the Peace Board.”
“Right, but it won’t be like getting a golden visa I reckon – you have to be invited first to become a member and then…”
“But even for a golden visa you may decide to apply, but the country that will give the visa will undertake due diligence…”
“Right, not like the construction of buildings that are okayed by the relevant departments.”
“I was listening to Karachi’s mayor, and he said that his job was to undertake a study of all at risk buildings, which he did and implementation was not part of his job and…”
“He should be promoted to represent the people in the national assembly – our representatives formulate the best laws, up to international standards, but then zero implementation.”
“Why not set up a department titled Implementation of laws and another implementation of research/studies approved by the peoples’ representatives.”
“And I bet you, those who man these two departments are going to become one of the richest people in this country in time.”
“Man these departments! I mean, where is your gender neutrality?”
“OK so woman these departments, is that OK?”
“No silly, you should replace the word man with staffed. Anyway, once they become rich then how long will it take them to pay the membership fees to become a member of the Board of Peace?”
“Depends on how proactive they are? Speaking of proactive Ishaq Dar, the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), remained in the news, he talked to foreign ministers of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, while the Prime Minister remained out of the news while the two men are in Davos Switzerland.”
“So what would you have Shehbaz Sharif do?”
“Take away the D from the DPM.”
“Aha! That leaves PM and that may well be mission accomplished.”
“I didn’t see that one through, did I! OK take away the P.”
“How about giving the one billion dollars to President Trump to make the DPM a Board member and…”
“Interesting that way, as we say in Urdu saanp bhi mar giya or lathi bhi na tooti – the snake was killed and the club did not break either. One question: where will we get the money?”
“Money is fungible and the IMF next tranche…”
“Don’t be facetious.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026