The meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan held on Friday with a group of TV anchors was notable for the patience with which he fielded hard questions, such as his choice of Punjab Chief Minister, the provincial Information and Culture Minister's uncivilized remarks, selection of bureaucrats for senior positions, his own use of helicopter to commute from the PM's House to his private Banigala residence, and the summary transfer of Pakpattan DPO following an argument with the First Lady's former husband. The event can be taken as an important indication that he is not to rely on 'yes' men and women who usually tend to surround the leader, but wants to have first hand information about how the government policies are perceived by the media and the people. He made it clear he is open to media criticism of government policies, saying it, in fact, that helps resolve issues. None of the appointments, he assured his audience, were permanent; those who fail to perform would go. And of course, he reiterated his campaign pledge to conduct indiscriminate accountability, taking action even against members of his own government if found involved in corruption.
Given his promises of 'change' and the high hopes they engendered, even his critics are willing to give his government a chance, though not time. The PTI has been in power for just two weeks, which included two Eid and two weekly holidays. It is still early days. Some have already started to take it to task, contending it has failed to set the direction of its economic policy. The PM asked the media to give him three months "to see the direction" of the PTI governments at the Centre and in the provinces, adding that the country has been handed to him in a very difficult state "like it is on the ventilator." The last part of his statement may be arguable, but few quarrel with the fact that the economy is in dire straits with $2.2 million monthly current account deficit, exports at a five-year low, power sector circular debt at a whopping Rs 1.178 trillion, and external debt soaring to a record $91.8 billion. Finance Minister Asad Umar told the Senate the same day as the PM's interaction with media persons that the government needs $9 billion to meet its running expenses. There is no easy answer as to where that money is to come from. Although he has not ruled out seeking another loan from the IMF, the US has threatened it could block any bailout from the IMF. Meanwhile, expert opinion is divided on whether the government needs to go back to the IMF or the assistance offered by China and the Islamic Development Fund can provide it with breathing space until the other measures, it says are in the works, accrue desired results.
Considering the internal and external challenges, it should not be surprising if the minister is taking his time to come up with an action plan for grappling with a whole host of pressing issues. He also told the Senate, "We are trying to address the root cause that compels us to borrow these loans," promising to present a comprehensive economic revival plan before Parliament for discussion and debate. It would be only fair to allow him just three months for that.
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