After the series of protests against excessive increase in electricity tariff, the caretaker Prime Minister has allowed the people to deposit the bills in installments, but this is not the solution of the problem being faced by the people in this regard.
As the people will deposit the bill in installments, then the next bill would come and the following month they would have to pay double the amount including the bill and the previous months’ remaining portion.
Government should reduce unnecessary taxes from the electricity bills including radio and television fees, if they are serious in resolving the problems of the people. Making the installments of electricity bills is just a joke with the people and the government should take care of the miseries of already inflation trodden people.
As a matter of fact, though the caretaker government is at the helm of all affairs, it has the mandate of holding timely, free, fair and transparent elections. But here arises a question whether it has the mandate to put the economy on track or not.
Who is responsible for the severe economic crises as Pakistan is currently going through extremely sensitive circumstances. On one hand, the rising inflation and the prices of electricity and petrol have made life nearly impossible for the people. On the other hand, the security situation is also challenging for the national institutions as well as the caretaker government.
The situation is so critical at the moment, but unluckily there is not any elected government in the country that can be held responsible for the deteriorating financial condition.
The past governments are busy blaming each other instead of addressing the crisis. Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance has covered its mistakes by putting all the debris on PTI during their 16 months’ tenure in power. AS it dissolved the assembly a little while ago and took a back seat quietly. Whereas the PTI government, during its tenure, has run its affairs by taking retaliatory actions against the opposition.
The last five years only gave the country an economic crunch and administrative turmoil, while resolving the problems faced by the people of Pakistan were not at the priority of both the governments in that period.
Now, in a situation where the entire Pakistan is protesting on the streets voicing their helplessness for the past week against the inflated electricity bills, power outages and high price of petroleum products, However, putting all the burden on the current caretaker government would be a hyperbole because this government hasn’t even completed even a month in office.
In this hard test for the interim government where the whole country is struggling with skyrocketing electricity bills and the recent surge in petroleum product prices, decisions can be made by keeping in view the harsh economic circumstances and the tough conditions of the IMF.
If the caretakers would go after the streamlining the economy, then the definitely the general elections could not be held within the constitutional limit of 90 days, and if the government would opt to hold elections according to their mandate, then the economy would be further worsened and the next government would have to work hard for the financial stability otherwise the country would default within next two years or so.