While speaking at the National Press Club in Washington, the World Bank president cited Pakistan as 'an example for cutting the cost of trade and time' (9th December).
In the first place, it is hard to understand as to why the WB chief picked Pakistan as an example. Was it out of genuine sympathy or was it as an expression of dismay?
The WB chief stated that Pakistan lost four to six percent of its GDP per annum due to 'poor infrastructure, regulatory obstacles and informal barriers'. He went on to say that the goods produced in Lahore, otherwise competitive for the world market, lost their competitiveness drastically on their way from Lahore to Karachi due to the high cost of transport, insurance and related services which, in his opinion, were three to four times higher than those in Europe. He disclosed that 95 percent of the external trade of Pakistan passed through the Lahore-Karachi corridor.
It is so painful to learn from outsiders what is wrong with us. "Why can't we find out what others learn about us?" is a question for our government to answer. Will someone in Islamabad stand up and tell us the truth?
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