INFLATED electricity bills proved to be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Electric bills have resulted in an avalanche of public anger and indignation. This discontent had been brewing underground for quite some time but now it has exploded into country wide protests and anger on the rising costs of living and the unbearable burden that the common man is bearing. The public is now on the streets and this time without any political leader or party spearheading the protest march, this time it is really and truly a public movement and now it is the caretaker govt. that has to face the music and the mounting wrath of the citizens. The previous regime of the PTI or the next Govt. of PDM cannot be held solely responsible for this growing crisis it is the result of short sighted and flawed policies of many governments during the last two or three decades.
The present caretaker Govt. has very few options to defuse the situation and provide some relief to the suffering masses. Any stop gap arrangement will not work this crisis needs a massive systemic reform and this is not within the capability of the caretaker govt. Over seven different taxes or surcharges levied on the electricity bills is not only cruel but has become a form of extortion by a govt. incapable of collecting taxes from the politically powerful business houses and the landed elite of the country and shifting the burden to the already overtaxed salaried class that includes the lower and middle class community.
The present situation is extremely volatile and combustible compounded by the uncertain political situation. Public anger and the seething tensions in the country could turn into a mass movement and topple the existing system in the country. Anger against the powerful and privileged elite minority is now at its peak and the slogans of the angry protestors are a clear sign that we are heading for a dangerous political and economic crisis of monumental proportions that could result in the collapse of the state.
Alarmed by the gathering of huge protesting crowds all over the country the caretaker PM Anwar-ul- Haque Kakar hurriedly called for emergency meetings of his advisors and energy experts to suggest ways and means to provide relief to the protesting masses and to bring an end to this protest movement. The monumental increase in electricity tariff is now actually beyond the means of the common man Pakistani authorities have placed the onus upon the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for slapping harsh conditions including higher electricity tariffs in return for a $3 billion loan agreed this year to avert a national economic crisis. The fact of the matter is that we cannot get away by placing the entire blame on the IMF. The entire economy is rotting as a result of a long term neglect, short sighted policies and political considerations.
The power sector is the most neglected and mismanaged sector where the powers that be just had their heads in the sand and simply failed to correct the problem when it was not so huge and could be managed easily. By now the problem of circular debt, theft, line losses and corruption has aggravated the problem to an unmanageable status. The show of public anger and resentment is just the tip of the iceberg the problem is far serious and deeper. The steep rise in the cost of living has pushed millions of people below the poverty line and the frightening increase in the figures of unemployment present a really frightening picture. The collapsing economy and the growing political instability pose a serious threat to national security. The situation is far direr than the dark and dismal days of 1971 when we lost half the country. The very thought of the country collapsing with an implosion of its own making is simply horrifying and frightening.
Ironically the political elite of the country appears to be totally oblivious to the imminent danger of the country rushing headlong towards a disaster. They appear to be busy with their own political agenda. Hurling abuses at each other and there appears to be no end to the blame game and their antics have further destabilized the political situation, the present scenario has never been seen in the past. Politics has become big business in this country. The political elite and their cronies manage to get away without paying taxes and the politically powerful landed class are totally exempted from all taxes and enjoy perks like free electricity and gas.
The salaried classis taxed mercilessly while the robber barons and the filthy rich classes are allowed to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth and their dirty money well beyond their known means of income.
If this country has to survive we needto tax the elite class of well-endowed and powerful individuals of society. We need to end the culture of perks and privileges like free electricity, gas and petrol. Massive crack down on habitual tax evaders and corrupt tax collectors is now not only necessary but it has now become imperative for national survival.
—The writer is Professor of History, based in Islamabad.
Email: tariq.aqil@headstart.edu.pk
