What sort of governance is it, where Pakistan has a bumper wheat crop, it then exports it, only to import it, with a severe shortage crisis at a critical time of an election for presidency, parliament and the holy month of Ramazan.
The government puts the blame on hoarders and wheat smuggling to India and Afghanistan, while it remains silent on its own role. Everybody knows that the border with India is fenced with electric wires all along Punjab. Smuggling to India cannot take place without compliance of border security forces of both countries.
How can Shaukat Aziz explain his decision to export wheat valued at $98 million in 2005-06, only to import $133 million to meet local demands. The same happened in 2004-05 with exports of $91 million and imports of $93 million.
While individuals have gained, the state exchequer has lost. This year selfish lobbies within the regime, were so blinded by desire to make profits, that they were unmindful of the fact that this is the election year. President Musharraf needs to evaluate the dangers inherent in having nominated a man, without any constituency, to serve as his PM.
How can the government explain such controversies like sugar, stock exchange, steel mills and now the wheat shortage crisis. So insensitive and totally oblivious of ground realities is the regime, that the timing of artificial wheat shortage in the month of Ramazan was of no consequence.