"Lavish Levy"

Pakistan, a country of approximately 190 million inhabitants today, faces tough days with shortage of all utilities namely; gas, electricity, water diminishing before our eyes. With no planning up their sleeves the present Government of rulers remains effortless in finding a way out for the suffering of the citizens.

With harsh winter days, supply of gas either is nonexistent in some areas of the country and others who are fortunate get it only in Lilliputian amounts. Cuts in electric supplies too have become aggressive from the month of December 2011. Price hikes in petrol, every now and then increases the value of every consumer item in the country which in turn further burdens the crumbled back of the people of Pakistan. This causes a loss of purchasing power in many unfortunate souls who are below the poverty line.

One of the reasons of this entire rise is the imposition of federal taxes which were levied in Budget 2011-2012. The CPI (Consumer Price Index) is the main measure of price changes at the retail level. It indicates the cost of purchasing a representative fixed basket of goods and services consumed by private households. In Pakistan, the CPI covers the retail prices of 374 items in 35 major cities and reflects roughly the changes in the cost of living of urban areas. Budget this year was more Government friendly than citizen cordial! With 15% increase in Government employees salaries (15-20% increase in pension), the cabinet of ministers were well thought of in advance: Huge perks, salaries, foreign and domestic tours.

Pakistan Jeevay Muqami Hakoomat (JPJM) chairman Daniyal Aziz said on Thursday that the present Government was busy raising prices everywhere whereas on its own account their own expenditure had not come down. In a statement issued to the media, Aziz condemned the federal government for keeping a cabinet of 96 ministers and advisors. He said, “While Pakistan was a poor country, its federal government had spent Rs90.7 billion on its cabinet over four years.” He said, “Similarly provincial cabinets included ministers in excess of the number required for administration, so far 2,070 air tickets had been issued to the federal ministers and advisors.” This number of 96 ministers is ludicrous to hold for even in the most stable economies.

If one compares the above figure of 96 ministers/advisors to other countries one would be shocked to notice the average number of ministers running a country;  France 21 ministers, Norway 19 ministers, Iran 18, Canada 37, India 32, United States 14, China 14 Ministers, and Turkey 22 Ministers. Pakistan is a sure-shot deserving case for Guinness Book of World Records with 96 ministers! Now if one compares the performance of almost 100 cabinet members to other countries, ours start and finish on a zero. Accountability; zero! Responsibility; zero! Targets; zero! Planning; zero! Foresight; zero! On what credibility are they even staying in the office that they hold? One really wonders on their mulish behavior.

The Governments Expenses on social security and welfare dropped to Rs17.5 billion against Rs20.3 billion in the previous year. Population planning was slashed by over one-third and stood at Rs4.6 billion. The biggest reduction in terms of percentage was on low-cost housing. Total spending was Rs373 million, compared to Rs1.83 billion last year – a decline of 80%. The federal government took Rs50,000 advances from many federal employees to provide low-cost housing, but is now apparently earning profit on this money, as it has not yet finalized the scheme.

Rs. 260 million spent on the renovation of President’s Kitchen (soon to be approved), in a country where people cannot afford one decent meal. Where every expense starting from the President to Prime Minister to ministers/advisors is done on the governments exchequer, and who pays for that? The people of Pakistan through their taxes, for all their foreign trips, medical visits, motorcades, lavish parties, Salaries, even the clothes that they wear. Hopes and wishes that these individuals could enjoy all this from their own pockets rather than the poor citizens of this country.

Nobody has ever stopped the civilian democratically elected government to work for the welfare of this country and its inhabitants. Rs. 1,300,000/- is the daily kitchen expense of the President House whereas Rs. 1, 400, 000/- is the kitchen expense of Prime Minister House. A simple math done by individuals can estimate and add up the amount of money spent in a year. Just imagine the amount of welfare work that could have been done in such a steep price that the citizens of this country pay for.

Pakistan needs good honest leaders who can feel the pain and hurt of billions of its inhabitants.  A sheer waste of the country’s national resources cannot be overlooked. Instead of becoming lavish offenders, the PM, President and their cabinets ministers/advisors should adopt austerity.  Is this Democracy or Plunderocracy?

As father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah rightly put: “The Story of Pakistan, its struggle and its achievement, is the story of great human ideals, struggling to survive in the face of great odds and difficulties.”

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