Mere words

Empty rhetoric has become the hallmark of events like May Day when those who have been in power and responsible for driving state-owned enterprises to the brink of financial insolvency deliver speeches to protect the rights of laborers. The fate of the Nandipur Power Project and other such ventures was decided when inexperienced civil servants were appointed to head these projects. Should it not surprise us, that private power projects, sugar mills, cement industries etc owned by members of the ruling elite are running profitably with competent qualified specialists heading them? In a country where there is no shortage of qualified talent, it is criminal to give jobs to unqualified people with fake degrees.

The ruthless abuse of state-owned enterprises like PSM, PIA, Pakistan Railways, OGDC, etc has put at stake the livelihood of millions and has made these organisations white elephants and a burden on the state exchequer. Why could billions not have been generated from the sale of thousands of acres of land belonging to Pakistan Railways? How can illegal takeover of thousands of acres of forest land and agriculture green belts on periphery of existing cities for development of housing colonies and other commercial ventures be justified in a country with ever increasing population and shortage of electricity, water etc to support existing housing schemes? Billions have gone into these bottomless pits like PSM, PIA etc which could have been invested in providing health, education, clean drinking water to millions of people are vulnerable for recruitment by extremist and fundamentalist organisations that this country has allowed to bloom within its borders.

Malik T Ali

Lahore