KARACHI, April 22: “Democracy was not restricted to the electorate,” said former foreign minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a speech at an evening titled 'Roadmap of Pakistan' organised in his honour on Friday. Talking about the public-politics relations, he said politics affected everybody and in turn politicians were affected by public opinion.

He said there should be an integration of public opinion and civil society to bring about a change.

He said everybody was wondering where the country's headed and remarked: “Some people can hear the bells ringing and some people can't, those who can it's their prerogative to decide whether they're prepared to act.”

He said the civil society was moving from cribbing to action-orientation.

Talking about the economic issues, the first issue Mr Qureshi touched upon was fiscal deficit and how the deficit could be financed.

He said inflation was estimated to be at 17 per cent by June 30 and 'inflation was an unjust tax on the people'.

Mr Qureshi said the Pakistan's economic growth was two to three per cent, which was relatively lower compared to India and China's growth. He then went on to discuss national debt and how it's crippling the economy and growth potential.

He said investment in Pakistan was currently at the lowest level in the country's history.

He said the problem must be addressed sooner rather than later.

Mr Qureshi said if things were to improve financial discipline from the top had to trickle down to benefit all.

“A political will is needed to be created from within Pakistan. For economic growth you had to reduce inefficiency and cost overrun,” he opined.

He said inflation had to be curtailed. “You needed to hedge oil prices and the people needed protection from high oil prices.”

Mr Qureshi said foreign aid should be replaced by trade. “Even though China was great friends with Pakistan its trade with us was worth $8billion while its trade with India exceeded 60billion dollars.”

He said democracy was not just restricted to the electorate; you needed functional democratisation of national institutions.

The former foreign minister argued that the government strategy had to change. He said, “There's no Aladdin's lamp or miracle cure. We need to start with clear intention aur daman ki safai.”