Illusions of economics

Pakistan has squandered many an opportunity to harness its resources and this goes on unabated. Recently in an article, a former colleague talked of agriculture productivity and the funny aspect was that while in policy-making authority with tyrannical governments he had never mentioned this aspect. And he was in power for a long time - albeit power of a subservience kind.
This reminded me of an international seminar where one of my illustrious speakers lamented about Pakistan not being able to harness these resources for productivity. Speaking after him, I mentioned that only two persons can be held responsible and the second was him (I being one of them). It did not go well with my illustrious friend for his ego is larger than his self.
The federal government has brought the 18th Amendment on itself by a simple logic of profound hate. This had to happen and it should have happened much earlier - better late than never. In fact, there are so many ossified institutions that the sooner we get rid of them and relinquish the role back to where they belong the better it will be for all and sundry in this country.
The all and sundry have received nothing except hate and deception at the hands of the policymakers. Lies abound and these lies are furthered by the interested parties. The hate lobby is almost impossible to contain as the Pakistani is willing to hear everything adverse rather than give allowances for mirch-massala added to the story [ies] that abound. Everyone is game. The President and the Prime Minister are not exempted. What this does is that it sets up a culture of abuse within the system. The integrity of time is lost. The principle is simple and what is hateful to oneself need not be passed on to the fellow men.
The country is full of Sheikh Chilly [ies] who will tell you that the future of Lahore is going to be better than that of Paris. The considered gentleman had never seen Paris till that day - subsequently he did. Well, Lahore is now Paris. Commentary upon commentary has been added on to how we can do this and that. Why do not these anchor persons and these policymakers do it? The Planning Commission tells us that projects worth so many thousands have been approved and that the future is bright.
There are no dark holes in the system. Any one familiar with the system would understand that the slips are many. Take the energy sector. Take the work of the institution. No project has ever delivered on time and no project will ever deliver in time.
An examination of the water and energy sector indicated that the overrun in time was ten years and the overrun on financial times was four times the original cost. Why this discrepancy when the supposed finest minds are involved in appraisal of these projects. The C/B ratio is always manipulated with the cost decreased and the benefits increased so that the economic and internal rate of return can be made to measure to the needs of the implementers.
Has the Planning Commission outlived its utility? Shall it not go horizontal and find itself in the graveyard? Give it a decent burial. The planners are no longer cued up to the conditions of the marginal areas of Pakistan. The snakes get to them if they have to go to an outlying area of Pakistan. If they have to go outside Pakistan well that is another matter.
The projects are so messed up that unless one finds the right options the projects would not go through. The only time I realised that the Planning Commission was working was when it had for its Chairman Sardar Assef Ahmed Ali. He brought a lot of diligence on to the thinking. The friends of powerful people seeking benefits that were not there due and who had been foiled finally got to him and had him removed.
Do you need research? Agriculture research is in a mess. Do not believe me. Go and see it for yourself. The provinces would have to learn the art of science of agriculture. Yes agriculture is more of an art and less science. Why do I say this? There are as many as 53 variables in agriculture and these are impossible to control. The West has got us to play their game. It is not necessary as China has proved it.
The wisdom of the East must prevail over the cleverness of the West. The art of agriculture in China is vastly different from that of the West. That is why the Chinese have been able to change the system and put it on its head. Nothing is taken for granted. Everything is tested and retried. The tangibles of the West have been roughed up by the intangibles of the East. The philosophy of the East seems to hold sway.
What then are some of the rules of thumb to do away with the illusions of economics and its development? The stagnation of rules is obvious. In this fast-moving world the stagnation of rules is obvious. Something has to be done about it. Business as usual is not possible. That Pakistan is exceedingly poor at incorporating change is due to its over-reliance on the West and the international agencies and as to what they desire and want.
The damage done to the management structures and the stagnation in the planning process are a few examples of how not to effect change or non-change. The destruction of the management structures was carried out under the aegis of the UNDP and the then UNDP chief explained, in an informal meeting, the compulsions for this change. It was he agreed not in the best interest of the country. All of a sudden, everything was haywire in what used to be considered as the best management services. India continues with this to date as it has not allowed the international agencies to tinker with this.
The illusions that come forward from the sector are furthered by persons that do not and have never exercised caution and the rule of truth. Half-baked answers are served as menus for the public to consume. The economic consequences from this can be measured from the fact that Pakistan has been a failure in creating and developing any product in to a marketable one. Not a single product has been developed.
Yet the policymakers keep on making illusory statements as to the future of this country. It is as if the fact and the statements are at variance. Pakistan has been and will continue to be the hub of western actions unless we put our act together. People keep on asking me about the dairy sector. Nowhere is this more false than what has been stated, illusions as to growth in the sector belies the actuality and the fact. The Musharraf government is guilty of such statements.
Pakistan's own land markets have not been allowed to develop and might is right in these places. The agrarian system was upset right from the start and people that were in the know of things were systematically targeted by the tyrannical governments that we have in position at different times. The WB with its gimmickry of development has probably been the most uninformed of the entire lot. The areas that have been most affected are the marginal areas where all kinds of interferences and asset formation have been going on. For how long one may ask should the people of Pakistan serve the needs of the elites of this country as well as the requirements of the West? Should one go in for delusions of this kind and there are many more questions of this kind to ponder? Wait a while and the delusions will be brought home to you.