PRIME Minister Imran Khan kept his election pledge of not staying in the PM House as an austerity measure. I am, however, somewhat skeptical about the use of the PM House and governor house buildings to be used as a seat of higher education and museums respectively.

The PM House building will be spoiled if it is used as an educational institution while the gubernatorial lodges may not be able to generate enough revenues needed for their upkeep.

I visited Chatsworth Estate in Derbyshire UK, home to the 12th Duke of Devonshire, turned museum, where 95 per cent of 5.5 million pounds operational cost is generated by the half a million tourists visiting the place. The duke stays in the estate for only a couple of months during the ‘off season’.

Is it possible that this suggestion is given due consideration and the buildings under discussion put to better use without causing any damage to their grandeur? Similarly, the palaces of the Nawab of Bahawalpur should be put to the same use.

Dr Shahid Qayyum
Lahore

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This is apropos the editorial ‘Austerity or folly?’ (Sept 15). This appears to be a step taken in haste. One hopes the government has a comprehensive plan to complete its initiative.

What can be said in its defence is that at least this time it is not playing to the gallery. The question is how positively this PTI initiative trickles down to all government servants.

T his country needed a fresh start, and self-discipline should start from the top. Owing to the decades-old decadence, the country needs a philanthropist-style democratic set-up which should serve the people and not rule them.

Once a solid set of rules is established it should be mandatory that it be adhered to by following governments. Once this process is mature, a day will come when equality will prevail in Pakistan.

Anas A Khan
Edmonton, Canada

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2018