STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan
Winters in Lyallpur, aka Faisalabad, were fun times after the rigors of straitlaced Burn Hall in Abbottabad. Many festivities used to happen around that time. My uncle Dr. Abdul Majeed Khan, a veterinarian, worked for Lyallpur District Council. He was in charge of the annual horse and cattle show known as “Mela Muwashian”. It used to be a power packed event lasting for a week attended by farmers from all over Punjab.
Display and trade of milking and breeding animals, horse and dog racing, tent pegging, wrestling and other contests were part of the agenda during the day. It was the culture of Punjab in its true blossom. Evening entertainment was Iranian or Russian circus and “talkies”, movies in a tent. Vending stalls selling cane and orange juices and a variety of food and sweets were dotted all around. All the cousins and close family were permitted to attend the circus. We were banned from food stalls but would surreptitiously sample the food and drinks on our meager allowances.
Being family of Dr. Khan we would enjoy the circus from the front rows. It was exciting and enjoyable watching the puppet shows, tight rope walking, acrobatic acts, jokers’ shenanigans, and animals. The highlight being “Maut ka Gola” the “Circle of Death” where motor bike riders carried out extremely dangerous acts causing our young hearts to nearly pop out. These memories of nearly six decades ago came back flooding when I saw the proceedings of our National Assembly over the last few days.
Abusive language, physical violence, atrocious and gangster like behavior were enacted on the assembly floor. They reminded me of fights amongst rival gangs during the “Mela”. Police would beat the daylights out of the perpetuators till they separated and faded away. Our elders called them “Ghundas”. However on the Parliamentary floor, the highest national forum, such disciplinary action is not possible even if it is definitely deserved by some of these “Ghundas.” It’s definitely not the culture of Punjab.
Such lowlife acts occur when the caliber of our Parliamentarians is deplorable. They may be a perfect fit for a circus but they definitely don’t fit the bill of being the representatives of the people of Pakistan. They are puppets run through remote control by a puppeteers’ trio led by Nawaz Sharif and supported by Maryam and Maulana Fazal. They are either convicted, disqualified or rejected by the people. Led by an absconder, they care two hoots for the future of Pakistan. They want to disrupt and destroy till the third party intervenes and dismantles the existing set-up.
The actions of some of the Ministers and Treasury members were equally deplorable. Jumping on the tables and hurling expletives is playing into the hands of those who seek destruction to resurrect dynastic rule to loot and plunder. They must raise the level of discourse to a sensible level rather than stoop into the gutter of filth.
In this entire hullabaloo the real reason of the Assembly session is faded into the background; a budget session that is a statutory requirement to run the country. Party hacks are blinded by hate and partisanship. It is either black or white. The Opposition sounds like prophets of doom and gloom. Everything is messed up and about to fall apart. On the other side the treasury benches project themselves as saviors. They took control of a sinking ship and turned it around. After reaching a crescendo, it took the “umpire” to give a slap across the wrist to wake both sides to find middle ground.
How do you figure out the truth in such conflicting assertions? After decades of experience I learnt one thing that has never let me down. Numbers don’t lie. Talk is cheap, especially if there are accomplished liars manufacturing falsehoods and manipulating reality. You require a soundproof environment to suss the truth. Where everybody seems to have a price, the sale comes first and the truth is always secondary.
Let us cut through the maze and rely on facts. It’s really worth a try! We are headed for better times. CPEC has attracted $25 billion in investments. IT exports have grown to $1.7 billion recording 46% growth in 10 months. Digital foot print is expanding in all fields to formalize the economy and monetize it. Progress is galloping for less expensive hydro and nuclear power. Latest financing of Balakot dam is a shot in the arm.
Stock exchange value and volume has grown. Remittances were recorded at $2.8 billion in April alone. Farm Package in this budget is worth Rs 110 billion that will bring relief to 70% of the population. The farming community has already experienced great relief after being released from the clutches of Sugar mafia and through other relief packages. Manufacturing base has seen highest growth since 2011. Northern areas are developing fast. Textile sector is booming leading to a shortage of trained labor. This budget has a sharp focus on providing skills to the youth to improve employability.
Positive things are happening all around for Pakistan, not just one party. As Pakistanis we must realize that after the sixties for the first time we getting stronger economically, gaining respect in international comity with an impregnable defense. Care for future generations is turning into a reality. Take off partisan blinkers and think of the country.
