A Country or a Thug Territory?

It would not be wrong to introduce Pakistan as the land of the mafia, considering the mafia-style business modes robbing the people of their scant, hard-earned money. The Pakistan government believes it cannot sell cheap petroleum because it is primarily sourced from other countries at international prices and imported into the country at whatever cost. Be that as it may, sugar, a homegrown commodity, is currently available at Rs. 215 per kilogram in Pakistan. In marked contrast, the international price of sugar is Rs. 105 per kilogram. This suggests it does not make a difference for the government if the prices of basic food items keep soaring for cash-strapped populations, half of whom are reeling below the poverty line. To be very honest, the long-sought-after dream of making Pakistan a welfare state has literally come true, but only for the most influential sugar mill owners, hoarders, importers, and exporters, since for all of them, this welfare state is nothing more than a thug territory without any consequences.

A Family Enterprise

Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province, has become a family enterprise headed by Nawaz Sharif, the country’s three-time prime minister. As things currently stand in the province, every next development project, old or new, is being named and renamed after Nawaz Sharif or his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, the province’s chief minister. On top of that, a large-scale publicity and promotion drive is in full swing, featuring life-sized pictures of Maryam Nawaz and her beloved father, Nawaz Sharif. Not to mention the fact that such extensive marketing is being carried out at government expense, what else can we expect from the filthy-rich Sharif family ruling the roost in a province housing the country’s largest chunk of poor population?

A Mystery Called Malala

Malala Yousafzai needs no introduction. She is the world’s youngest Nobel Laureate from Pakistan, globally known for advocating female education. However, despite an over-decade-long massive PR drive at the international level, the people of Pakistan find it difficult to digest everything that projects Malala in the most favourable light. On that account, Malala, a mystery for all reasons, should now be considered for another Nobel Prize to make her an acceptable figure, at least for the people of her own country.

Grapevine