The coalition government, led by PPP, has formed a Commission for Human Resource Development. It is a brilliant idea, only if this body does not behave like Placement Bureau, and ensures that all appointments are made on merit, qualifications, relevant experience and suitability and not on political affiliations alone.
In all democratic societies elected governments appoint their own people to implement policies as per their plan and strategy. However, these appointments are always based on merit, with an eye on the persons' political affiliations only to the extent that he does not create impediments in any development that the party intends to achieve.
Success can only be achieved if a party in power puts together the best team of professionals with highest qualifications instead of minimum laid down criterion. Unfortunately some of the initial appointments made by this regime in key state owned organisations point out to gross irregularities with the appointee involved in scandalous misadventures and a history of wrong doings.
Recent appointments in the national airline, regulatory bodies and their respective governing board of directors are key examples of mistakes made by PPP, which cast doubts on the intent for forming the Commission for HR Development.
Pakistan needs to emulate examples of friends and adversaries in the region, who in last two decades have made rapid progress and put together a solid infrastructure for development. Countries in the region being China, India and Malaysia.
Even Iran has survived and managed to achieve self-sufficiency in spite of sanctions. What Pakistan needs is honesty of purpose, a government committed to promote education and to provide jobs solely on merit. This government needs to put emphasis on provision of health and clean drinking water. Mere rhetoric and slogans alone will not achieve any results.