Waiting for Superman

This letter refers to the article ‘Resizing the bureaucracy’ (August 21, 2024) by Iftekhar A Khan. Based on the contents of this article, it seems quite appropriate for the government to join hands with the opposition and come up with a new policy for closing down, right sizing, optimizing, and privatizing state enterprises and organizations on a case-by-case basis. The world has embraced modernity and here we are still embracing our public-sector enterprises and government departments and organizations, many of which contribute next to nothing to the nation’s economy.

Japan, Germany, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and other economic giants did not just attain this status overnight. They built up a capable and thriving private sector and restricted the public sector to dealing with legislation, law and order, and general administrative rules and regulations. We need to work along these lines. But where is the individual or entity that will help us reorient Pakistan towards efficiency, capability, innovation, and hard-work?

Abbas R Siddiqi

Lahore