AT the completion of three years in power, the track record of the ruling PTI government does not match the promises it had made.

The party manifesto is an ambitious document that contains commitments that, if fulfilled, would make for significant reform of the system. No political party is expected to achieve all that it promises, and the PTI should also not be an exception. Many campaign promises are just that. However, every government also needs to have some substantive deliverables under its belt at the end of its mandated tenure so that it can seek re-election on that basis. On this count, the PTI may need to fast-track its governance process in order to rack up some performance points.

Read: Tracking Naya Pakistan — Three years into power, here's where PTI stands on some of its promises

Time is short. Much of it was wasted because the PTI’s inexperience of handling power forced it to play catch-up from day one in office. It was fairly obvious that the party was not prepared for the harsh reality of governing Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan and his ministers had to stumble through phases to get clarity about the inner workings of the government and the pulls and pressures that come with them. However, three years on, the party appears more confident and at greater ease with the burden of power.

There are a number of major and minor successes to its credit. The government has handled the Covid-19 challenge ably so far and garnered well-deserved praise. It has also done well to expand the Ehsaas programme and provide cash assistance to the needy and deserving across the country. This programme has helped a large number of families to cope with the adverse effects of the pandemic and lockdowns. The health insurance card is also a much-needed initiative and will go a long way in easing the burden of healthcare on those who are surviving at the subsistence level. The government has also succeeded in stimulating the pandemic-affected economy through massive injections in the construction industry leading to a surprisingly robust growth rate. The focus on tree plantation and the environment is also an appreciable priority that will benefit future generations of Pakistanis.

Read: '3 years of Naya Pakistan': PM Imran briefs nation on PTI's performance so far

However, the negatives are also fairly comprehensive. Despite its tall claims, the PTI government has failed in its much-touted accountability drive. It may now blame organisations like NAB for a low conviction rate, but the fact is that under the PTI’s watch, the accountability process has been reduced to a witch-hunt. This is exacerbated by the extremely polarised political environment that is a direct by-product of the government’s attitude towards the opposition. The lack of a working relationship is evident in the running of parliament, which itself has become ineffective during the PTI’s tenure. These are weighty problems and the government has two years to resolve them. The gap between its promises and delivery remains a wide one.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2021