KARACHI, Feb 23: Though somewhat doubtful and hesitant, an overwhelming majority of the businessmen is convinced that a national government at this juncture will create space for growth of the real economy rather than speculative trading that has been the hallmark of economic policies over the past eight years.
“Only a national consensus government will be able to decide on prices of oil, commodities and certain services,” a former chairman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) said here on Saturday. But he has his own reservations on formation of such a national coalition because the PPPP and PML-N, two major component parties, have conflicting views on restoration of the judiciary.
The PML-N is committed to restoring the structure of superior judiciary as it was on November 2, 2007 and struck down all constitutional aberrations done after November 3 in the name of emergency. “The PPPP appears to be soft on this issue,” he said. This has created doubts and scepticism about a national consensus.
The Aptma leader said a coalition government of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarian (PPPP), Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Awami National Party (ANP) and Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) at the federal and provincial levels would create an ideal environment for trade and industry.
“The will to enter into dialogue on all issues is an encouraging factor that gives hope for future,’’ he remarked.
“Only a national government is capable of taking unpopular decisions,” Mr Ahsan Iqbal of PML-N said in a private channel discussion the other day. Nisar Khurro of PPPP was hopeful of reaching consensus with almost all the relevant political parties. The formation of a new National Finance Commission (NFC) is a constitutional obligation that has to be done by every government. “We hope to do it amicably this time,” he said while answering that the main bickering point was population which was declared the only criterion for distribution of resources and jobs among the provinces.
“But in the last NFC it was decided in principle that national resources will be distributed on more than one criterion,’’ a leader of Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q) involved in the deliberations of last NFC meeting reminded. “A consensus NFC award by the next government will create a lot of confidence among the businessmen of all provinces,’’ he added.
The PML-Q government had created a provincial coordination department at the federal and provincial levels to bring harmony among the provinces. “But apparently, the system did not work because of mistrust among the provinces despite the fact that the party was one,” he recalled.
However, many political and human right activists at the financial and industrial nerve centre are convinced that there is now immense pressure on top political leadership to show accommodation for each other and work jointly for collective interests.
“Apparently these are pious hopes which can take shape of political forces if top leaders let down their voters and followers,” a political worker said.
Zia Banday, a business analyst who is now joining an international development bank, was hopeful of top political leadership coming to some understanding for a sustainable relationship. “No doubt Benazir Bhutto was a battle hardened leader who was most experienced and mature with qualities of forgiving,” he said, while terming her assassination a big national loss.
Businessmen consider emergence of ANP as a political force as another positive factor that will play a key role in restoring peace and order in NWFP and also in Balochistan.
What is a matter of concern for many businessmen is the overactive role of US diplomats in process of Pakistan’s government formation. “How many US diplomats met Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Vajpayee or other leaders at the time of elections or after announcement of results?” a former president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry questioned.
But businessmen are convinced that a political government enjoying support of all big parties will be able to divert successfully international trade to South Asia, East Asia and other parts of the world from the US and Europe. At present more than 60 per cent of Pakistan’s exports are absorbed in the EU and the US making the country vulnerable to any shocks in the domestic markets of the US and Europe.