Political parties in Pakistan have always made tall promises to the electorate during the campaigns ahead of general election. Pakistan Peoples Party’s roti, kapra aur makaan was the most famous and attractive campaign promise in 1970.
In the last general elections, held in 2018, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had promised to create 10 million jobs every year and build 5 million houses for the poor in five years. Instead, job opportunities became scarce during its rule. The housing promise too remained unfulfilled.
Now that the country is passing through its worst ever economic crisis there is no dearth of tall promises by major political parties. The electorate might have believed the promises made in 1970 and 2018. However, this time around, not many people seem to be buying the narratives the political leaders are trying to sell them.
In providing subsidies some of our past rulers have indeed acted like medieval kings – arbitrarily and without due regard to the potential consequences of their actions. The beneficiaries of the largesse have included not on the extremely poor but also some well-established industries and businesses. The fact that all subsidies over the last 20 years have been financed through borrowing has not deterred them.
Three parties have ruled the country during the last two decades. Most of their leaders should therefore be aware that some of the promises being made today will never be fulfilled. They know that Pakistan is currently in a standby arrangement with International Monetary Fund. They know that once they come to power, the IMF........