APROPOS reports that the prime minister has ordered that the Murree Government House be renovated at a cost of over Rs430m in view of the likelihood of the South Asian Association of Regional Countries’ (Saarc) leaders staying there. As a taxpaying voter, it is my right to know why we give preference to such lopsided priorities.

It would not impress any Saarc leader that Pakistan’s ruling elite has a lifestyle that matches those of oil-rich countries. It would certainly not be a matter of pride that Pakistan, which in 1947 had some of the best state-owned educational institutions in Souh Asia, does not have today a single university or hospital that can make it to the top 500 in the world.

The cancer of corruption continues to haunt India and other Saarc countries, but once caught for tax evasion, money laundering or kickbacks, no Indian politician or public office-holder can evade accountability or claim immunity from prosecution.

Ali Malik Tariq

Lahore

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2016