It is when a rickshaw driver waived me down and begged for money that my eyes opened to how bleak things are in Pakistan. He said that his daily earnings are no longer sufficient to feed his children or to keep his rickshaw running, that Eid was around the corner and he needed funds for a square meal. Both the embarrassment and desperation in his eyes were visible.
I don’t normally use my wall for political or economic commentary, but as Pakistan approaches its 75th birthday, I am sure our founding fathers are turning in their graves. The precipice the country stands on is the deepest chasm of its history. To begin with, there is virtually no political leadership, no policy framework, no buffer for the plummeting Pakistan Rupee, and a mere few weeks to go before the dollars run out to support our imports. What that means is that we will run out of money to import gasoline to keep the lights on or indeed basic essentials to feed the people. In other words, we are headed toward bankruptcy.
Major institutions like the State Bank have no Governor and state machinery is moribund with a lack of capability and political infighting. The external environment adds to the pressure. Our exports are suffering and Karachi, our port city and commercial capital, is waterlogged given the virtual absence of infrastructure that can handle the torrential monsoons. Inflation last month ran at 20% and the person on the street—the rickshaw driver, the Chai Walla, and the chowkidaar— is suffering the most.
Given this backdrop, the sensible option would be to declare a state of emergency and invite a government of technocrats and experts to help the economy get back on track. That in my view is the fierce need of the hour. Our leadership-the whole lot of them- are inept and have been a wall-to-wall failure. Each one of them is without exception.
Below the Line of Poverty
It is when a rickshaw driver waived me down and begged for money that my eyes opened to how bleak things are in Pakistan. He said that his daily earnings are no longer sufficient to feed his children or to keep his rickshaw running, that Eid was around the corner and he needed funds for a square meal. Both the embarrassment and desperation in his eyes were visible.
I don’t normally use my wall for political or economic commentary, but as Pakistan approaches its 75th birthday, I am sure our founding fathers are turning in their graves. The precipice the country stands on is the deepest chasm of its history. To begin with, there is virtually no political leadership, no policy framework, no buffer for the plummeting Pakistan Rupee, and a mere few weeks to go before the dollars run out to support our imports. What that means is that we will run out of money to import gasoline to keep the lights on or indeed basic essentials to feed the people. In other words, we are headed toward bankruptcy.
Major institutions like the State Bank have no Governor and state machinery is moribund with a lack of capability and political infighting. The external environment adds to the pressure. Our exports are suffering and Karachi, our port city and commercial capital, is waterlogged given the virtual absence of infrastructure that can handle the torrential monsoons. Inflation last month ran at 20% and the person on the street—the rickshaw driver, the Chai Walla, and the chowkidaar— is suffering the most.
Given this backdrop, the sensible option would be to declare a state of emergency and invite a government of technocrats and experts to help the economy get back on track. That in my view is the fierce need of the hour. Our leadership-the whole lot of them- are inept and have been a wall-to-wall failure. Each one of them is without exception.
Another Flight
MEANDERINGS WITH MY MOTHER
The Ethereal Journey
Heritage Walk Karachi
A Requiem for Raoul’s
A Rikshaw Ride