We have a saying in Urdu 'Khao, Piyo aur Raj Karo'. In English it is, Do as the Romans does. The British Raj, which ruled over us, the subjects, for two hundred years left us while leaving their legacy behind to be followed by our rulers post the era of the Quaid-i-Azam and Shaheed-i-Millat Liaquat Ali Khan.
The newly Prime Minister hosted a dinner to feast the freshly elected parliamentarians. The figure of the guests must be around 425 including the members of the senate. The cost to the public exchequer could be a guess.
We saw the photographs of gleeful parliamentarians specially that of our MMA leader hand in hand with the Prime Minister with a big smile over his sparkling face, while keeping a tightened belt around our belly (bellies) under KESC gift of load shedding.
The ex-speaker of the National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain had divulged during his tenure that per minute expenses of the NA had been Rupees fifty five thousand as such the one hour cost of the parliament had been Rupees thirty three lacs.
The five years cost for 130 days session in a year would jump out of the calculator. It would run into billions from the tax payers both money with no objective purposes served by both the lower and the upper houses. Our worthy Prime Minster had talked about use of small cars by the ministers and the parliamentarians stressing on the need to impose austerity.
This is the old prescription introduced by late Zial-ul-Haq and Muhammad Khan Junejo with no results. So another bonanza fair has begun and as had been pertinently said by the Business Recorder in editorial dated March 29 in respect of Ex-CJP'S call on Zardari that meanwhile, we may put up with what the Chinese call 'interesting times'.