Storm in a teacup
Or beginning of the end?
FEDERAL Planning Minister Asad Umar has called the opposition’s protests against rising prices and high unemployment a storm in the teacup. Ministers and the government’s hired spokesmen continue to transfer the blame for the government’s failed economic policies to the previous government. This was easier to sell for a while after the PTI came to power. But parroting the same excuse after having been in power for three years sounds hollow even to several PTI lawmakers, who have told the party leadership that they can no more face their voters with the explanation. In the national Assembly debate on Friday the opposition held the government’s imprudent fiscal policies responsible for the swelling external debt and the historic decline in the rupee-dollar parity. The SBP Governor was taken to task over his unconscionable statement regarding exchange rate depreciation having benefited overseas Pakistanis. It was asked if it was wise to sacrifice the welfare of 220 million Pakistanis to benefit seven million expatriates.
The government has itself raised the expectations of the common people by telling them not to worry as good times were coming while the fall of the rupee was a temporary affair. Despite the assurances, the plight of the common man has continued to worsen. The opposition’s protests could turn out to be a storm in the teacup if the government had any realistic plan up its sleeve to stem the worsening economic conditions. The PM had little to tell the Punjab Chief Minister beside activating Price Control Committees and cracking down against profiteers and hoarders. The playbook tricks have been tried several times and found to be ineffective. What is exasperating is that promises continue to be made without a follow-up, the latest being a petroleum subsidy for motorcyclists and rickshaw drivers.
It would have been a storm in the teacup if the opposition had remained divided over what to do next. But all the opposition parties are agitating against the government’s failure to bring down prices. Despite their several dissensions they are vying against one another on mobilising the people against the government. Meanwhile the government has alienated its protectors also. The protests on Friday held in all major towns of the country could thus turn out to be the beginning of the government’s end provided the opposition not only builds up anti-government momentum but also maintains it.