No political leader or martial law can improve the system in Pakistan until we make systemic changes, former finance minister Miftah Ismail said as he reviewed the dynamics of the country of 220 million people.
As the nation continues its struggle to find a way forward, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader – in an exclusive interview – sheds light on the issues facing Pakistanis. , and suggest some possible solutions to address them. Situation
He believes that Pakistanis have either Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, his party supremo Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari or martial law. , no system will be reformed until “we govern. Systemic changes.”
Miftah, who served as finance minister for just over five months in the current coalition government, has been quite vocal about some of the party’s decisions, particularly the policies of current finance minister Ishaq Dar.
Since the former finance minister was “fired” in September because the top leadership of the Muslim League (N) wanted to bring in Dar, Miftah has not been part of the government’s economic team and has joined other political leaders in “Reimagining Pakistan”. “Heading the campaign. Efforts to create a consensus on the strategy to get the country out of crises.
During his tenure at QBlock, Miftah Ismail, who holds a PhD in economics from the Wharton School, took some important and tough decisions that convinced the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to release nearly $2 billion in aid. that were pending because of the suspended bailout program. 2019 by PTI Govt. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised his efforts in reviving the much-needed loan program.
“After I left, I had decided that I will not participate in electoral politics,” Miftah told in response to a question about his political future.
The PML-N leader also confirmed that he was not in touch with the current government.
Highlighting the problems on the political front, Miftah said that Pakistan has seen many leaders, “We have seen martial law, hybrid governments, Imran Khan, Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif but one thing we have not seen. It’s about improving the lives of real people.”
“We still have half of our school-going children out of school which means they will grow up illiterate and if half your population is illiterate I don’t care if the finance minister Who is because the economy of this country will not read. Do well,” he said, lamenting the plight of people in Pakistan who are reeling under the effects of record-breaking inflation – which he described as the country’s “worst challenge at the moment. ” declared.
Inflation based on the Consumer Price Index reached 31.5 percent last month after nearly five decades, indicating that Pakistanis are losing their purchasing power with each passing day.
‘I don’t think PML-N will clean sweep in polls’
To a question about his stance on the much-anticipated general elections, Miftah – with a hearty laugh – said he did not see any party sweeping the polls. However, the PML-N leader was confident that he “absolutely does not see the PML-N sweeping the polls.”
With a subtle smile on his face, Miftah somewhat agreed that Khan had a huge support bank and that the Muslim League (N) had shed a quarter of its voters in Punjab.
Regarding the upcoming elections in Punjab – scheduled to be held on April 30 – the former finance minister explained that the PPP is still not prominent in Punjab. However, some leaders who win certain seats win because of their reputation and name.
“[PPP] doesn’t have a foot in the door in Punjab at all, however, it has a significant following in interior Sindh,” he said, acknowledging that Karachi is once again a PTI city.
Whom will Miftah vote for?
When asked whether he would vote for PML-N or not, Miftah said he would. However, the former finance minister was ready to stay home and waste his vote if the Nawaz-led party failed to field a “suitable candidate” from his constituency.
During the interview, he was also reminded of his promise made in 2021 that if people vote for PML-N, he will make the much-loved Jelly Chilli Milli Juicer. However, he avoided the question with a laugh and muttered that people are not voting for PML-N.
‘Absolutely no competence’
Talking about the problem with all political parties, Miftah said that any political party, be it Muslim League (N), PPP or PTI, should talk to the people of Pakistan about their real problems and needs. I need to talk.
“When you listen to leaders today, you hear them say I want to be prime minister, a leader who is more in me than others, in me and more in myself but it is all about them.
No one is talking about the people of Pakistan what will happen to the 60% people whose family income is Rs 40,000 per month. What will happen to the youth who are not getting jobs? What about those living in rural areas? What about the average Pakistani child failing in science and math?
“No one is talking about the real solutions that are needed. Our politics is just a power struggle and nothing else. There are no new ideas and no talent,” he maintained.
‘Why do students fail in mathematics and science’
Stating some surprising facts and figures, the former finance minister revealed that nearly 40 percent of children in Pakistan are still stunted, 17 percent wasted and 28 percent malnourished.
He said: “Nearly 86 percent of Pakistani children are malnourished and I guarantee you that if a child is not given dinner and breakfast, no teacher in the world will teach them maths and science.” can teach, which is why the average Pakistani child fails in both subjects.
“We haven’t increased the size of the pie, so we fight – we fight on the quota system. We say that some people from certain sectors should get jobs, but the reality is that poor people in Pakistan are poor everywhere. , ditto. It doesn’t matter where you live,” he added.
“Whether you have Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif, Asif Ali Zardari or martial law, no system will improve until we make systemic changes that bring every Pakistani together and then increase the size of the pie.”
