ISLAMABAD // Having ended two years of haggling over power sharing by agreeing to sweeping constitutional reforms, Pakistan's political leaders are under growing public pressure to switch focus to the failing economy.
The reforms, passed unanimously in the National Assembly on April 8 and await passage in the Senate, the upper house of parliament, this week, aim to strengthen civilian governance by ceding key executive powers from the presidency to the prime minister.
They also devolve most powers of governance from the federal government to the administrations of Pakistan's four provinces.
Mindful of public discontent over the economy that is frequently taking the form of violent protests, politicians in government and opposition are calling for the reforms to be translated into action that benefits Pakistan's poor, who, according to political economists, make up some 75 per cent of the country's estimated population of 170 million.
The concerns were acknowledged by the president, Asif Ali Zardari, in a speech to activists of his Pakistan People's Party on April 3. "The government has spent the first two years of its tenure strengthening democracy and its institutions. We must dedicate the remaining three years to addressing the problems confronting the public."
The economic challenges facing the government are formidable.
Nadeem Malik, an Islamabad-based analyst and television programme host, said the government, elected after the December 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto, took power amid a crisis of investor confidence that, by August 2008, came close to causing a run on the rupee and leaving the country unable to pay for imported fuel and food.
"Foreign currency reserves flooded out at a billion dollars a month after the assassination of Ms Bhutto. If the IMF had not extended emergency support, our reserves would have been at zero and economic chaos would have ensued," Mr Malik said.
A shortfall in power generation, equivalent to one-third of total demand for electricity, has exacerbated the crisis by causing the closure of 35 per cent of Pakistan's factories, rendering several million industrial workers unemployed.
Pakistan's poor have been further stung by a doubling of the prices of many staple foods and utility bills since 2008. The rise is attributed to a 30 per cent slide in the value of the rupee against the US dollar, artificial shortages created by commodity speculators, and the withdrawal of government subsidies.
With the economy mired in recession and the cost of army operations against insurgents mounting, Yousaf Raza Gilani, the prime minister, announced in December that the government had halved its budgeted spending on development.
"We are caught in a vicious cycle and have not been able to find a way out of it," Mr Malik said in an interview in Islamabad recently.
The recession and the apparent slowness of the government to respond have left many sceptical about the reforms and the benefits they are supposed to herald.
"The politicians are looking at their self-interest and paying no attention to the public's problems," said Fazal Wahab, a university professor. "They make statements of intent, but nothing concrete is being done."
Workers in the city of Rawalpindi echoed his complaints. "What we need is the opportunity to make a living. Even the educated can't get a job because the opportunities that exist are given on the basis of nepotism, not merit," said Mohammed Aslam, a high school graduate who said poverty had forced him to abandon plans for a college education and to work as a building site watchman.
Analysts said impetus for economic recovery would have to come in the form of financial assistance from Pakistan's allies, primarily the US, after the IMF wraps up its emergency programme in December.
The US Congress approved more than $2 billion (Dh7.3bn) in funding for Pakistan in October, but money has been slow to arrive, partly because of concerns it will be siphoned off by corrupt politicians and civil servants, but also because of interference by Pakistan's powerful military, which complained bitterly about clauses of the bill that require the US state department to certify that the military was not secretly colluding with the Afghan Taliban.
Mistrust between the governments has since been reduced and, after a "strategic dialogue" in Washington in March, the US has committed to helping the government overcome the power crisis and ease access to its markets for Pakistani exports.
"It's been two years since the public voted against military dictatorship and in favour of the two major political parties, but Pakistan is still having policy dictated to it" by the US, said Raja Ashfaq, a wedding hall proprietor. "Meanwhile, the cost of a meal has quadrupled."
@Email:thussain@thenational.ae
AT%20A%20GLANCE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
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- 600-seat auditorium
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- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Arabian Gulf Cup FINAL
Al Nasr 2
(Negredo 1, Tozo 50)
Shabab Al Ahli 1
(Jaber 13)
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The five pillars of Islam
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Of Love & War'
Lynsey Addario, Penguin Press
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
THE SPECS
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
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Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
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Price: Dh898,000
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The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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RESULTS
2.30pm Jaguar I-Pace – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt)
1,600m
Winner Namrood, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi
(trainer)
3.05pm Land Rover Defender – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D)
1,400m
Winner Shadzadi, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar
3.40pm Jaguar F-Type – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Tahdeed, Fernando Jara, Nicholas Bachalard
4.15pm New Range Rover – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner Shanty Star, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
4.50pm Land Rover – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Autumn Pride, Bernardo Pinheiro, Helal Al Alawi
5.25pm Al Tayer Motor – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 T) 1,000m
Winner Dahawi, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
6pm Jaguar F-Pace SVR – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,600m
Winner Scabbard, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
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Available: Now
The%20specs
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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Takreem Awards winners 2021
Corporate Leadership: Carl Bistany (Lebanon)
Cultural Excellence: Hoor Al Qasimi (UAE)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Bkerzay (Lebanon)
Environmental Development and Sustainability: Raya Ani (Iraq)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Women’s Programs Association (Lebanon)
Humanitarian and Civic Services: Osamah Al Thini (Libya)
Excellence in Education: World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) (Qatar)
Outstanding Arab Woman: Balghis Badri (Sudan)
Scientific and Technological Achievement: Mohamed Slim Alouini (KSA)
Young Entrepreneur: Omar Itani (Lebanon)
Lifetime Achievement: Suad Al Amiry (Palestine)
Results
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Al Suhooj, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) 68,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Alla Mahlak, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m
