THE announcement by Nawaz Sharif not to use the PM House, reduce the protocol and do away with some of the VIP culture is the first breath of fresh air after a very long time in Pakistan.

I am sure it will not stop here as not using the PM House does not cut the expenses in totality. Most importantly, it has to be brought into use. Given the pristine location and the lavish layout, the business-friendly new government can surely come up with options that can very well bring in much needed revenues to the government’s diminishing coffers.

Keeping up with the spirit of freeing Pakistan from colonial legacies, it is expected that the federal government will take similar steps for its lavish governor houses, other palatial government properties and the VIP culture in the four provinces.

All these steps will set examples for the provinces to follow, particularly Sindh and Balochistan. I also appeal to the media to join in this long-awaited change by highlighting the dire need of doing away with the VIP mindset in all walks of society and all pillars of governance, be it civil and military bureaucracy or the judiciary.

It has to highlight all the discretionary powers that still exist, the SOEs that are fiscal vampires, the lifelong emoluments provided to the handful few and similar fiscal distortions that continue to suck our economy.

All these permanent ills have to be diagnosed on a war footing as they are among the main causes of our fiscal decay. Pakistan can no more afford to continue living in legacies of the past, it has to move on.

This will not only help bring our economy out of a sharp nosedive, it will greatly help in restoring our long-lost national dignity and identity.

SOHAIL MAQBOOL
Islamabad

Shahbaz’s emotions

PREVIOUSLY, Shahbaz Sharif said that loadshedding in our country would be finished within two years, every citizen will get respect, etc.

And now his elder brother, our future prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, says that whatever his brother said was because he was overwhelmed with emotions. Are we still going to be fooled again and again by these politicians or we do have some hope for a little betterment in this country?

M. SHOAIB
Lahore

Charity begins at home

ACCORDING to media reports, former Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif went to London for his medical checkup. This clearly shows that even after five years of enjoying power in the most populated province, none of the hospitals in Punjab is able to examine its former chief minister’s health.

When the elite class of this country will send their children to public-sector schools and get treatment from public hospitals, I am quite sure no one can stop the real change in Pakistan.

KHURSHEED MEMON
Karachi

Appointing advisers

BEING a legitimate voter and patriotic Pakistani, I will request the upcoming ruling parties not to assign any ministerial or advisory portfolios to the holders of reserved seats or any other person who has been defeated in the recently-held general elections.

They should not even be made special assistants or advisers. Only elected representatives should be made ministers and advisers.

K.T.H. Karachi

PPP’s fall: bad governance

PRESIDENT Asif Ali Zardari has said the PPP fell victim to a national and international conspiracy in the recent general elections.

Bad governance, running the party from the rat-hole and the PPP chairman’s reluctance to come in public are some of the causes. Surely, suffering from illusions and refusing to learn from one’s follies has no remedy.

DR IRFAN ZAFAR Islamabad