THE nationalisation policies of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto still come under criticism after almost five decades. His socialist policies were aimed at reducing inequality, protecting workers’ rights and strengthening the industrial sector. The outcome of these guidelines, unfortunately, did not meet his expectations. The point is that if Bhutto actually failed, what about the governments that followed from July 1977 to date? Why is the economy still in a shambles? Was it not the responsibility of his successors to set things right? What about their failure?

There is no point blaming what happened in the distant past. The economic situation, the international political scenario, and the social circumstances have dramatically changed. Modern economic crises require modern solutions.

We, as a country, have to move forward. We have to frame modern policies and contemporary agendas if we are to progress. And that can happen only if we give up the habit of trivial point-scoring criticism.

Ali Afzal Wassan
Khairpur Mirs

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2020