Economic tree needs care not cursing

Enem Ali Abbas

Cursing a tree that fails to bear flowers or fruits for some reason is actually fatal for the tree – this has already been explained centuries ago. Just to recall it, IKEA, the renowned furniture brand demonstrated it earlier this year, rather re-demonstrated it to see if it still holds true. Two similar plants were subjected to different treatments by students, one was praised and other was bullied. IKEA’s idea was to depict the aftermath of bullying on a child’s life. Both the plants had similar amount of carbon dioxide to intake and same amount of water to absorb, but after some days, the plant which was being cursed started to wither away, whereas the other plant continued to grow unhurt.

This was a great way of teaching and counseling children who hurt others, their fellow students with their bullyish acts. There’s a fine line between critique, constructive criticism and mindless bullying. In an effort to stay honest and blunt, our Prime Minister has crossed that fine line and in an attempt of portraying the true picture, the country is being cursed for having all the ills that many other countries also possess but aren’t shamed by their leaders.

The constant hammering of the message of doom, destruction and complaints about the ills in the society and economy, the nation has just started to suffer inferiority complex. How does such communication impact a common man in a country?

In the morning, a newspaper headline tells us that we are to pay more on our utility expenses from now on wards, starting from gas to electricity both. As the sun sets in, Federal Information Minister or the Prime Minister grab the microphone and reveal on TV the same old problems with which they succeeded in securing our vote bank but this time the facts sound more gruesome and this burden of facts actually push the voters in a new kind of depression. Job opportunities are diminishing, utility hike will further impact vegetable, meat and milk prices, petrol prices are no relief either, on top of that our government tells us that we are destined to doom and destruction because we were infected by virus that previous leadership carried throughout. Price hike hasn’t affected a common man as much as this depression has costed us our mental peace, ultimately costing our relationships with the people around.

Just one year ago, a man who was earning forty thousand rupees was in a condition to lend someone 3 to 5 thousand rupees for a month or two. The same man still has the same amount of salary and same amount of disposable income but is unwilling to share somebody’s burden because he’s not sure if he’s going to meet his ends with his salary. This is not the price hike that has impacted his decision but it’s the depression and the pressure the government is unintentionally building on a common man. A couple who used to dine out every weekend, husbands have started to try skipping weekend dinners not because he has no money, but because he is not sure of the future. Those parents who were expecting to get their child enrolled in an expensive and high-end school with a hope that the father shall get a pay raise on year end, is not going to take risk and is preferring a routine school. Everybody who has money and is not affected by the hike, also has started to hold money, circulation of money is diminishing which further aggravates the economic crisis at micro level. This depression being drum beaten by the government is costing a common man his relationships while the hike in tariff is ruining his pocket and disposable income.

On the top of that, Prime Minister attends the investors conference in Riyyadh and tells the whole world about the corruption and graft cases openly. Unfortunately, some people are defending him for being honest but which book in the world has suggested explaining ‘Haal-e-Dil’ while seeking help or investment. When fighting for the cause of Kashmir, all political parties are supposed to be on one page, while giving a befitting reply to India against its atrocities, all political leaders find themselves on the same page, then why not while seeking investment for the country and while presenting Pakistan as one strong nation we do not put our political fights aside and debate for the common cause of interest. The way government is pleading the case, Foreign Direct Investments aside, even our local investors are reluctant to invest in a such an unfavorable environment. These are the same investors who were already aware of the corruption but had a faith in the system and were successfully managing their investments in the country.

It’s high time that government understands the difference between internal political and corruption issues and matters of global significance. As far as fight against corruption is concerned, the entire nation is standing strong against the evils/nefarious designs and corrupt elements of our politics but let’s prioritize and segment them accordingly.