Why are our politicians still nonchalant?

Mehdi Masood

Karachi

That All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has raised the alarm is a fact. According to it, the country is now on the brink of economic collapse. This fact, in my view, cannot be overemphasised, given the beleaguered shape of country’s economy. APTMA has stated that it is pushing for a consensus among all stakeholders, including the policymakers, to find a solution to the problem, recommending, among other things, that “A lack of political stability is a serious impediment to economic progress. Not only does it shorten policymakers’ horizons leading to suboptimal short-term macroeconomic policies, but it is also the cause of frequent policy U-turns and leads to non-completion of ongoing projects. Stability and consistent policy implementation are crucial for economic growth and for the export sector to thrive and contribute dollar earnings to stabilise the Balance of Payments for a sustainable economic outlook”.

All the recommendations made by APTMA (carried by media extensively) deserve attention. The present situation brooks no complacency, to say the least. One of the principal reasons behind our current economic woes is the political turmoil in the country. Efforts are needed to be made to arrest the country’s economic slide. Unfortunately, our politicians are appearing casually calm and relaxed; they are not displaying anxiety, interest or enthusiasm. In other words, they are nonchalant about people’s pain and trouble.