Typopaths at work

SPEARHEAD RESEARCH

It has been a tough year for the government so far: typographical errors have cost it more than just its credibility. The recent addition to this string of accidents is the GDP growth rate which according to the policy document submitted to the IMF was 3.3% and not 4.1% as announced earlier on the floor of the National Assembly by the Finance Minister, quoted in the Economic Survey of Pakistan as well as the SBP’s quarterly report.

The government went on to share ‘accurate’ estimates of macroeconomic trends with the donor agency all the while withholding the truth from the public and the parliament. Pakistan was finally on the path of strong recovery after a few initial hiccups—thanks to a heroic team that had put sincere effort into bringing about a dramatic economic turnaround. This was until the news of the ‘inadvertent oversight’ became public.  The government is now finding itself in an embarrassing situation: after claiming to have implemented ‘a strong economic agenda’ with utmost sincerity to achieve 4.1% growth (‘the highest in six years’), having to come out with the truth is a sobering experience—another blemish on the image of the country, another reason for the international community to shake its head in disbelief.

For a country that is finding itself surrounded by a mélange of problems that have made mere survival a challenge, it is depressing to see that the leadership is more concerned with the optics of the situation of Pakistan’s economy—that when manifestos win hearts because they promise economic growth, development, abundance of employment opportunities they must not be taken at face value. It is disappointing to see that the leadership after having asked the people to swallow the bitter pill today for a better tomorrow is keeping them in the dark about the country’s true economic progress. The PTI plans to move a privilege motion against the government for ‘concealing facts from Parliament’ and rightly so. Thoughtlessly making mistakes at a time when the country needs to be led by a team that is committed to resolve crises of gargantuan proportions will make things difficult for the country and the party in power.

If decisions are still going to be guided by the ambition to appear successful and dedicated to serving as the proverbial messiah instead of rolling up one’s sleeves and working to achieve real change, it will be equivalent to shooting one’s self in the foot in spite of repeated warnings. The key thing that the custodians of public trust need to understand right now is that the truth no matter how bitter it tastes, is liberating.