FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

It is assumed that corruption is, perhaps, the most serious problem the governance system of our country is grappling with. No country in this world could claim to be corruption-free. But, Pakistan's case, in this regard, is taken seriously these days as the government has launched an offensive against the militants and the country has returned to what is generally called full democracy.
Democracy and its functioning in this country are always judged through corruption index. This index becomes more important when the PPP makes it to the corridors of powers. Last week, we heard from Transparency International (TI) about corruption and corrupt practices currently prevalent in Pakistan. It gave detail about the sharp increase of 400 percent in the total volume of money involved.
This is very disturbing report, but the present government took it not so seriously. The rulers would say that TI report is nothing new as we hear such things from international organisations from time to time.
As that clarification of the government about the TI report is still awaited, a treasury MNA Noor Alam from the PPP stirred the already troubled water for the government with revelation that "for the last one year, the commission mafia has been active in almost every department of the government." Throughout his speech in National Assembly on Monday, he set his gun against the NWFP government. But this does not absolve the political system as the PPP and the ANP are the coalition partners in the provincial government as they are at center.
This is the state of affairs in the country, which is said to be at the most critical juncture of its history. This state could be the result of perceived misconceptions, but the reality is that the government does not come clear on the issue.
The TI report and the Noor Alam statement he made in the National Assembly are indicating a serious matter in the view of Pakistan dependence on the international community, donor agencies and international lenders who are expected to forward their much-needed assistance to bridge the budget, current account deficits and to enable Pakistan carry forward its over Rs 600 billion development programme.
The troubled Pakistani nation took a sigh of relief when the Pakistan cricket team bounced back in T Twenty World Cup and won the tournament for the country which is currently seen only in the context of militancy globally. On Sunday, the Younis Khan squad proved that Pakistan is not home to the militants. The MNAs paid rich tributes to the national cricket team that won a major event after 1992 world cup victory.
At times I felt that the victory achieved by the Pakistan cricket team was really made some charged MNAs. Winning world cup is a big achievement, but Pakistan is in the dire need to win a war against illiteracy, poverty, corruption and social injustices. This will be victory which winning the world cup for all the time.
The day, the budget debate ended, the house was echoed with accusations of less allocation for education and health. In the budget allocation, the primary, secondary and higher secondary education were ignored. There are hefty allocations for universities of which some are purely running commercial basis in the private sector. Similarly, the allocation for health sector will have to be substantially increased.
This will ensure medical facility is provided to the poor and the needy at every government hospital. The poor will not die in hospitals only for want of money. This will be more than winning a world cup in cricket or any other game. In early to mid 1990s decade, Pakistan was once the champion of four games including cricket, hockey, squash and snooker. Now is the time that Pakistan should become champion in campaign against illiteracy, poverty, corruption and social injustices.
A very good practice of the present government that most of the times it changes its course of action when media suggest so. There were calls for withdrawing the imposition of carbon tax on CNG. The government withdrew it. There were call to withdraw the levying of additional tax on SMSs, the rulers brought that change. Similarly the raise in the salaries of government employees (grade 1 to 16) would be 20 percent instead of 15 percent originally proposed in the budget, 2009-10.
We will have to give a credit to the present PPP government, which has opted for taking unpopular decisions. Former dictator, General (Retd) Musharraf could not deliver on military front as he could do it easily because he was not having the vote power.
There is need to give this government a good breathing space because ruling the country at this critical juncture is, after all, a commendable job to be done. There is a complete economic meltdown in country. The government has to fight on both political as well as economic front. Democracy will win if the present government steered the country out of present crises.