"Ahsan Iqbal says the Planning Commission will be restructured and..."
"Will it have the authority to allocate funds?"
"The Planning Ministry will recommend projects and associated annual financing requirements and the Finance Ministry will deny or approve the funds in any given year."
"So no change then!"
"The Planning Ministry is to be renamed Ministry of Planning and Development and Reforms."
"Don't you think too many 'ands' spoil the broth."
"I thought too many cooks spoiled the broth!"
"Don't be facetious. The fact remains that the addition of and reforms is hardly likely to make you and me more content with the performance of the Ministry."
"And let's be fair to former Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Nadeemul Haq, he did propose several reforms in several ministries without the 'and reforms' title in the Planning Commission but the problem was implementation of his proposed reforms identified in several researched papers, he also formulated a succinct growth strategy and..."
"So on a scale of one to ten how would you rate Dr Nadeemul Haq?"
"If you acknowledge a fact namely that research papers as well as training the next batch of economists is the major objective then I would rate him close to 10."
"And Ahsan Iqbal?"
"Too early to tell but even if he does come up with a five-year plan as he has proudly announced, I would have to say I would not be impressed as these plans may theoretically lay the road map for the next five years but given the fact that the economy is in deep do-do, I can't see any of his plans being anything more than a wish list."
"Just like the PML (N) manifesto, if one compares it to the budget 2013-14."
"The entire cabinet is on the same page."
"Sorry?"
"High ideals as contained in the manifesto and their plans but rather low on actual deliveries in terms of policy announcements."
"Such is the politics of a debt ridden nation my friend."