A Hailing Start: Imran Khan Changes Pakistan

By Mohammad Zainal Abedin: The newly elected Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan of Pakistan initiated a hailing start that changes his country. In his maiden speech on August 19 (2018), Imran Khan urged his fellow countrymen to uplift the poor community, practice the art of austerity, uproot the crime of corruption, spend more money on health and education, end shameful dependence on the disgraceful foreign loans and turn Pakistan to a welfare state. If all these are implemented Pakistan will be a new country within a decade.

In a televised speech he urged his countrymen to adopt austerity to cure the waning economy and gradually end the dependence on foreign aid and loan what, according to him, is a shame for a nation like Pakistan. Mentionable, Pakistan now owes an amount of about $95 billion foreign debt, what is a curse for its economy. The PM expressed his dismay saying,“Today, we have to take two billion dollars every month to pay back just interest on loans obtained in the past.”

Presenting a horrifying picture of unbelievable plunder of the people’s money by the corrupt politicians and their associate bureaucrats he said, “In the history of Pakistan economic conditions were not as bad as are today. Presently, Pakistan is burdened with a loan of Rs 28000 billion, while 10 years ago, the loan of Pakistan was Rs. 6 thousand billion, that our debt in the 60 years history. Rs. 6 thousand billion increased up to Rs 15,000 billion in 2013. And today (in six year in between 2013 and 2018) this loan has reached Rs 28,000 billion. Debt of 60 years of domestic history is on one side and the last 10 years loan is on the other. InshaAllah, we will bring facts before you where that money has gone. What have been done with that money? Secondly, today we are borrowing money to pay the interest of those loans. In the last year of the previous PPP (Pakistan People’s Party) government foreign debt was $ 2 billion, in the past one year, we are borrowing $ 2 billion each month and when the Pakistan People’s Party government ended in 2013 our foreign debt went to 60 billion, which is $ 95 billion today.”   

Reiterating his pre-election crusade against corruption Imran Khan said, “I will fight the corrupt. Either this country will survive or the corrupt people”.  He, however, didn’t elaborate how he will fight against the corrupt elements or whether they would be forced to deposit the plundered money to government treasury. He declared to start progressive tax system on the rich people to procure money what will be diverted to the welfare of the needy people and malnourished children. It needs to be mentioned only one percent of the Pakistanis now pay their income tax, though according to the knowledgeable circles over 30% of them are eligible for paying income tax.

Uncovering the lavish lifestyle of the former PM he said, “—–there were 524 employees of the PM’s House, which was spread over 1100 kanals (each kanal is equal to 54,000 square feet), 80 vehicles including 33 bullet proof vehicles (price of each is more than Rs.5 crore), a helicopter and an aircraft were at the disposal of the PM House.”  Imran added, “The former prime minister incurred 650 million rupees on his foreign visits.”

He added, we have Governor Houses, Rest Houses, Chief Ministers’ Houses they have cars, Secretaries have 2/3 cars. Our D.Cs, Commissioners reside in large residences, what according to him are extravagance and misuse of public money.  

Condemning such an idiotic luxury of the so-called people’s representatives (politicians) and people’s servants (bureaucrats) is arranged at the cost of the millions of poor people. To end such plundering culture, Imran Khan declared to follow the art of austerity by himself who will live in a three-bedroom house with two cars and two servants. He vowed to sell all other cars, helicopter and plane which are kept reserved for the PM. He will turn the PM’s official monarchic residence into a university, mainly for research work.

His austerity, if he continues, will be an unprecedented example not only in the history of Pakistan, but elsewhere in the contemporary world. It will undoubtedly inspire others to follow his footstep. Such bold steps will surely impress the waning Pakistanis and dismay the corrupt and self-seeking politicians and their associate bureaucrats who suck the blood of toiling people under the cover of serving the country. Imran’s steps will bridle the future people’s representatives and the head of the governments, even the bureaucrats who misuse their power and position take to plunder and misappropriate people’s money to lead luxurious monarchic life.  

Imran’s bold step throws the corrupt politicians and bureaucrats of other South Asian counties to an awkward position. Their records of vices and virtues will one day be also disclosed once they are ousted by people’s vote or people’s revolution. They will get no place to hide, as their foreign mentors will always try to maintain congenial relations with the sitting government. The fate of the Pakistani corrupt politicians should be a lesson for those of the same kind in other South Asian countries.

Imran Khan, however, didn’t elaborate his foreign, particularly South Asian policy. It is strongly believed he will maintain a balanced, but an independent relation with the western powers and continue Pakistan’s special and deeper engagement with China. He may a take a positive and active step to develop warmer relation with the smaller nations of the region to unite them with a view to saving them from the aggressive paw of some regional bully, what is poor in reality, but extravagant in military purchase to expose its fake superpower lordship.

It goes without saying that the adversaries of Pakistan and local political foes of Imran Khan will leave no stone unturned to oust him not only from power, but also vanish him from the world. But the dream that he showed and the idea what he presented to build Pakistan will remain ever-shining in mind of the Pakistanis what can’t be nipped out. This is the unique achievement of Imran Khan what he made just after taking oath as the PM of Pakistan.

(Mohammad Zainal Abedin : Editor, Weekly Runner)