Economic sickness

This refers to the letter, ‘Metro analysis’ by Huma Arif (February 19). Given that the metro-bus project suffers a loss of Rs3-4 billion per year, we have invested Rs50 billion to incur a further loss of Rs3-4 billion per year. Is this development or a deterioration of the economy? The shining metro project is a sign of distorted priorities, a disconnect between poor people and rulers, and the incompetency of our planners to conceive viable projects.

This is a sign of the economic sickness of our rulers and planners. This is why our per capita income is $1,316, whereas South Korea, which was on par with Pakistan in 1960, has $28,000. Unproductive and loss-making projects being implemented by the present government will not let our per capita income grow for decades.

Abdul Majeed

Islamabad