THIS is with reference to the report ‘PM Shehbaz forms committee to curtail government expenses’ (March 14), according to which, the prime minister has constituted a seven-member committee to come up with a practical plan for reduction in government expenditure. This appears to be a sincere effort to help the dwindling economy. The question, however, is: do these committees and commissions have any utility? Did our rulers in the past ever accept and put into practice recommendations of any committee for the general good of the country and its people? The bitter answer is in the negative. It is the sole discretion and selective power of the rulers to decide in their infinite wisdom about what needs to be done in the light of collective wisdom of experienced brains.

For example, many commissions, committees and studies (about 20) in the past were established or conducted for reforms in bureaucracy. However, their recommendations have never been implemented in the right spirit. I am afraid that the committee formed by the prime minister may meet the same fate, and its conclusions may not see the light of the day. As usual, the committee is likely to fall victim to red-tapism, and its recommendations will end up in office files.

This I say keeping in view an experience in the recent past wherein comprehensive and workable suggestions of a powerful 15-member committee headed by a competent and upright retired bureaucrat constituted by the same prime minister under the previous coalition government could not be implemented.

Most of its recommendations, aimed at saving billions of rupees per annum, were only partially implemented. Now we once again hear of cutting down the size of the government, doing away with unnecessary departments, reducing salaries and allowances of parliamenta-rians, cutting down non-combat defence expenditure, banning the import of luxury items, including new and luxury vehicles, and imposing drastic cuts on wasteful administrative expenses and discretionary funds.

Unfortunately, most of the suggested reforms remain unimplemented because of political reasons and powerful rulers’ unwillingness to embrace necessary shake-up and meaningful changes aimed at institutional reforms.

Our past experience shows we are not willing to learn any lesson from history. We know our weaknesses and grey areas, and also know how to bring practical reforms and a tangible change to improve infrastructure and important public delivery systems. But political expediency, temptations and petty interests stand in our way.

All reforms are and will always remain dependant on our ability to reform ourselves. If the government is serious and sincere in bringing about changes and improving governance, it can do it simply and swiftly by issuing executive orders, or through parliamentary legislation. Easier said than done, though, because the resistance from influential elements within parliament, coalition-related expediencies, and bureaucratic bottlenecks will be too much to handle for the government. The easier thing to do is to form committees.

These committees and commissions are merely political gimmicks and a waste of public funds and time. Charity begins at home. Let the rulers lead us and voluntarily curtail at least 30pc expenditure of all the symbols of power.

Qamer Soomro
Shikarpur

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2024