In his first address to the nation, Prime Minister Imran Khan laid out his roadmap for a 'New Pakistan' inspiring hopes of a better future. He dwelt on a wide range of issues affecting the lives of ordinary people such as malnutrition causing stunted growth among children, the high maternal mortality rate, and denial of basic services to the poor, as well as challenges confronting the nation as a whole. Austerity, he averred, is to be the hallmark of his government. Unlike the ostentatious living styles of his predecessors he is to reside in a three-bed house, previously occupied by the prime minister's military secretary, and retain only two cars out of a fleet of 80 that include 33 highly expensive bullet-proof vehicles, and only two helpers out of a staff of over 524 serving the Prime Minister's House. That may be of mere symbolic value, but is not without significance since the purpose is to show to the people that he is conscious of their economic hardships, and does not deem it right to be the leader of a poor country living like royalty.
Touching on the more substantive issues, the Prime Minister reiterated his campaign promise of creating a welfare state. He spelled out a long list of his reform plan: ensuring quality education in public sector education and modernizing religious seminaries' curriculums; provision of healthcare facilities to all; 10 million new jobs for the unemployed; half a million houses for the poor; extending public services to rich and poor alike; invigorating economic growth by creating ease of doing business; energizing small and medium enterprises; helping small farmers increase productivity; finding ways, in consultation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan, for the disposal of all cases within a year's time; reforming the civil service; addressing water issues and environmental challenges; and implementing the National Action Plan. Furthermore, like in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before, local governments in Punjab, now ruled by his party, the PTI, are to be empowered, and police reforms instituted so the police serve the people rather than their political masters. As desirable as all these measures are, considering the present state of the economy most of them seem to amount promising the moon.
The new Prime Minister's immediate challenge is the current economic crisis. As he pointed out, the county is faced with Rs 28,000 billion foreign debt. Although his Finance Minister Asad Umar has not ruled out seeking a bailout from the IMF, the US has already indicated its intention to resist such a request. The assistance provided by China and Saudi-dominated Islamic Development Bank can help tide over some of the short-term needs, but more creative thinking is in order. Khan spoke of some 'revolutionary' steps he intends to undertake, including cutting down on non-developmental expenditure, bridging the trade deficit gap, reforming the FBR, promoting tax culture, and encouraging Pakistanis living abroad to invest in the country. This action plan would severely test his administrative skills. Also, in line with his campaign pledge he promised to bring back billions of laundered dollars stashed away by rich and powerful of the land in foreign banks through offshore companies. That may be easier said than done, though he remains determined to make the effort. Towards that end, he said, he would set up a task force. And that he has also kept the interior ministry portfolio with himself so he can keep a check on the Federal Investigation Agency to prevent money laundering. Implementation of this ambitious agenda will be keenly watched.