PESHAWAR: Businessmen in NWFP seem to offer little in the way of opinion or preference for a specific political system. Most favour true or controlled democracy similar to China as it provides a flexible environment to nurture trade. Traders in local markets say that more than politics, their primary concern remains business and therefore, they will always root for a system that suits business interests.

Sharafat Ali Mubarik, general secretary Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajiran NWFP, argues that traders in NWFP generally do not lean towards a particular form of government. “Many policies of dictatorial regimes are better than those of democratically elected governments,” he says.

Mubarik mentions Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s policies which were not favourable for the business sector and the commodity market of the time was gripped by a huge gap in demand and supply. “People would stand in long queues outside the officially designated ration points because the state could not maintain a balance in demand and supply. However, during General Zia’s dictatorship, there was no restriction and trade thrived.” "In our 60-year history, economic policies of both democratic and dictatorial regimes kept changing. Some were supportive, while others were destructive for business," he concludes.

Unlike the traders, industrialists in NWFP have two distinct views. On one hand, there is definite support for true democracy and on the other; there is much applause for its controlled version.

Former FPCCI President, Senator Ilyas Ahmad Bilour belongs to the more democratic side. He advocates that democratic governments protect the interests of every segment of society whereas a dictatorship or a controlled democracy does not solicit a wide participation in policy-making and promotes the interests of particular groups.

“In the last 7 years of ‘controlled democracy’, the government has mainly focused on macroeconomic development without caring for its trickle down effects,” says Bilour.

Bilour believes that there is reason for the government’s attitude. “The money generated through foreign aid and the privatisation of national assets could not be utilised for business development and that is why our rulers employ a controlled economy approach as opposed to a liberal one,” he says.

The senator cites utility stores with food items at subsidised rates as an example of control. “Open market regulations are ignored and this is harmful for the business sector as well as the general public.”

Former President of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Ghulam Sarwar Mohmand seconds Bilour and supports democracy. “Unfortunately, democracy has not been a constant in the country and so the business sector could not flourish. India is a glaring example of higher economic growth mainly because they had democracy from day one."

For Mohmand, a true democratic set up is consistent in its policies even in times of turmoil. “There are Italy and Taiwan where, despite political unrest, the economic policies remained unchanged. Since 1964, Pakistani governments have lost institutional grip over governance that is why there are crises on every front.”

However, he admits that even democratic parliaments do not always uphold national and public interests. “Sadly, genuine political leadership is unable to reach the corridors of power in the present environment,” he says.

Numan Wazir, President Industrial Association Peshawar, prefers the current system of controlled democracy. “Statistically speaking, present dispensation has proved more supportive towards business than democratic governments of the past,” he says. Wazir has fears that in a conventional democracy, industrialists are compelled to face political pressures and have to safeguard the interests of a particular group. “Nepotism and corruption restrict economic growth. Such problems are rare in a controlled democracy,” explains Wazir.

He insists that merits prevail in a controlled democracy which benefits all quarters. “During General Ayub's era, the country witnessed massive industrialisation that gave a boost to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in NWFP and our present industrial base is the result of those policies.”

Wazir also mentions China and Turkey as examples that excelled on the economic front because of controlled democracy and institutional mechanisms.

Another former SCCI president Khizar Hayat also hails controlled democracy which, for him, is vital for industrial development. He, like Wazir, asserts that economic statistics of the present regime are better than those of elected governments. “This has produced persistent stability which is visible on the trade and industry front.”