"So what do you think?"

"I think that there is a period for on the job training and..."

"I fully agree, but it's been sixteen months."

"It depends on the job. I mean to run Railways requires more than sixteen months, to improve the performance of the energy sector requires more than sixteen months..."

"Didn't you know that energy theft is down?!"

"I tried to verify that claim but I was not successful, what I am saying is that it's possible and then again it may not be the case."

"How long does it take the Adviser on Finance to run our economy?"

"That's easy, not even a month, the incumbent was appointed on 20 April and signed a detailed agreement with the International Monetary Fund on 12 May and then was the architect of the budget that was announced around one month later..."

"Don't forget this is his second stint in the position, his first stint was during the time when he was a diehard Zardi, now he is a diehard Khanzadeh..."

"Indeed; and it's those dratted Zardis who are talking of prohibitively high inflation and rising unemployment and choking off productivity and...."

"Don't be facetious; and how long does it take to run the State Bank?"

"Even less time, the present governor was appointed on 6 May and by 12 May he agreed to all IMF conditions and the following week he began to implement the instructions..."

"Hey, if you are going to only follow instructions then I guess you don't really need time to assess the state of the economy to enable yourself to consider out of the box solutions"

"I guess, how long does it take to learn the ropes as the first time prime minister?"

"Hmmm, you are putting me in a fix, I like The Khan, I think he is the only way forward, I think..."

"How long?"

"I think The Khan's problem is in his team selection and...."

"Isn't that the main responsibility of a prime minister?"

"Well, there are the coalition partners and political compulsions and..."

"Can I make a suggestion?"

"Be respectful."

"OK, my suggestion is that Dr Sania Nishtar be given the Ministry of Railways."

"Why in heaven's name! She is the only one who is qualified and has experience to run the Ehsaas programme and..."

"There you go! That is my rationale - there is no room for any ambiguities and she is the one."

"Oh stop being facetious."