AT the beginning of the new year, let us all pray and hope that the year 2021 brings good tidings for the people of Pakistan and those who hold public office may finally start upholding in letter and in spirit their oath to the Constitution.

I pray to the Almighty for divine intervention to eradicate Covid-19 pandemic. It is time that elected and public officeholders started delivering to the people what the Quaid had promised; a modern democratic welfare state where the will of people would not be held hostage to the greed and ambitions of a few.

Perhaps it is time to curtail this practice of giving subsidies to fertiliser, sugar and real estate mafias, and, for a change, focus on the welfare of the citizens by ensuring that the prices of essential basic food items are not escalated through hoarding, black marketing and smuggling. Subsidies should be given to provide health, education and security of life and property to the most deprived sections of society.

Ali M.T.

Lahore

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2021