Kashaf Aslam & Filza Asif
As we are going towards the end of 2018 and PTI government has completed its first 50 days, we are about to compare the second half of this year with the first half of 2013 just to compare the two different governments of Pakistan in their early days. The comparison about to happen would be between the first 50 days of the both governments after winning general elections in initiatives that they launched and reforms they undertook.
When Pakistan people`s party was about to complete its 5 years period as the rulers of country, Pakistan was at the verge of crisis as the economy was in really bad state due to shortage of electricity and the other major problems. When PPP did complete its 5 years period there were two political parties PMLN and PTI well known in the Pakistan. The general elections were around and as the govt. of PPP had disappointed the nation they did not stand a chance to rule the country again.
On the other hand, PMLN was very popular for their economic progress and infrastructural development for the country in the past. The National highway, Metro bus project and the road building in Punjab by PMLN were the major and enough facts to make them victors in the general elections.
Compared to this,PTI leader Imran khan was the favorite leader among the youth of the nation and was well known and well respected because of his reputation in cricket he was a respectable person these aren’t the facts he was going to stand a chance against PMLN but the fact is he was struggling for 17 years making a political party and he did it. At that time PTI was looking as good as PMLN and the competition was growing stronger and stronger day by day before the general elections occurred.
In the end the work and progress won. PMLN won the elections 2013 with a major lead but PTI also got successful making government in KPK.
First 50 days of PML-N
1) Federal Budget:
The budget was presented by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on 12 June 2013 during a session of the National Assembly. This was the first federal budget presented during the tenure of newly elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his cabinet since the change of government following the nationwide general elections held in 2013. The new budget has an outlay of ₨. 3.51 trillion And is designed to achieve a 4.4% growth rate in the economy over the next fiscal year. The budget seeks to address the country’s energy crisis, reduce non-development expenditures and bring about a range of new economic policies of the elected government. The government has termed the budget as “an investment and business friendly budget.
2) National power policy 2013:
Back in 2013, the government of Pakistan developed an energy policy – the “National Power Policy” (NPP) – which was as ambitious as Nawaz’s recent claim. The report’s vision stated: “Pakistan will develop the most efficient and consumer centric power generation, transmission, and distribution system that meets the needs of its population and boosts its economy in a sustainable and affordable manner”. The report also presented a vague set of goals which included such statements as “create a culture of energy conservation and responsibility”, “promote world class efficiency in power generation” and “build a power generation capacity that can meet Pakistan’s energy needs in a sustainable manner”, and “create a cutting edge transmission network”
3) More power projects including water crisis:
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has initiated as many as eight power sector projects including the construction of small dams in current financial year 2013-14 while most of the ongoing power projects initiated by the previous PPP government are being supported.
According to data available on the official website of the Planning Commission, the PML-N government has launched the following power projects: (i) Conversion of FO/Gas Fired Boilers to Coal of 1,350 MW Units 1-6 Thermal Power Station, Muzaffargarh (with Asian Development Bank support); (ii) Conversion of FO / Gas Fired Boilers to Coal of 450 MW Units 1&2 Thermal Power Station, Jamshoro (ADB); (iii) Installation of New Coal Fired Power Plants having Capacity 2×660 MW at Jamshoro (ADB) and five projects relating to construction of dams, (iv) Construction of 8 Small/Medium Dams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; (v) Construction of Small Dam at Torewary District Hangu; (vi) Detailed Eng. Design for Hingol Dam, Labella Baluchistan; (vii) Feasibility Study for Water Resources Development with Construction of Small Dams in Balochistan (All over Balochistan); and (viii) Resettlement of Extended Families of Mangla Dam Raising Project in current financial year-2013-14.
First 50 Days of PTI:
1) Austerity measures
After winning the general elections new selected PM Imran Khan said that PTI government would pursue austerity and cut spending in any way possible. He vowed not to stay in PM house and auctioned away all luxury of PM house.
2) Increased taxes
As the PTI government took over when the country was under the high pressure of loans and other major crisis, the government put taxes on the retail and other goods to increase govt revenue. This led to public complaints and rise in inflation.
3) IMF bailout
During the election campaign Imran Khan said that he would rather commit suicide than take loan from IMF but after getting in the charge and looking at the economy he decided to take U-turn and went to IMF for bailout package. This has lead people to doubt the intentions and the qualities of the new government that they were adopting same old policies despite publicly opposing them in past.
Conclusion
No doubt PML-N left Pakistan in terrible state but if we are comparing the first 50 days of both the governments then PML-N is far ahead in the race than PTI.
