WITH elections on the horizon, there has been an upsurge in political activity, marked by relentless campaigning through power shows and big speeches. Out of curiosity, we decided to analyse the content of some of the speeches to understand what is being promised this time round.

For what they’re worth, the speeches are rife with promises, making abundant references to legacy yet notably missing talk of action. The PML-N’s persistent emphasis on hard infrastructure for a country grappling with inequality and a human capital crisis is a point of concern; the PPP’s commitment to increasing social spending in the absence of sufficient resources seems hollow; and the PTI’s sole focus on mobilising the youth through the politics of revenge carries the risk of further escalating intolerance in an already polarised society.

Every election cycle unfolds with a familiar script: politicians make grand promises, assume power, and then cite resource constraints as the reason for their lack of performance, attributing the blame to the preceding government(s).

It’s crucial for political agendas to shift towards practical solutions and effective governance to tackle the economic challenges the country faces. This time round, the country is on the verge of default, and........

© Dawn