Making of a banana republic

[Ahmed Jawad]

Human body is a complex system. A person addicted to heroin for years cannot be cured completely by the best doctors in the world, especially not without putting the patient through a few shocks and withdrawal effect. Even the most brilliant attempt is
well - just a shot - because of the chronic systematic damages afflicted to the body. If you want to resolve any challenge, there are two variables that matter the most, the complexity of the challenge and your capacity. Sometimes you might be very capable but the challenge might be just too complex.

Pakistan's economy is no different. It is a country of 220 million people. The country is as much addicted to foreign loans as a heroin addict and for 70 years. The bad national habits are the name of the country, right from population expansion, water usage and breaking signals to tax avoidance and cheating the system. The country effectively borrows money, buys every thing including weapons, cars, computers, electronics, mobiles and palm oil from it without producing anything of value. You can call it Afghanistan on Steroids after 70 years. It's traders sell these items and earn money without paying the taxes. Even the basic crops that it could produce to make some value added products , e.g. cotton have been replaced by sugar from its greedy elite. On top of that the last government took this stupidity to new height by jacking up current account deficit to 20 billion dollars from the 1.5 billions it inherited in 5 years. This deficit was around 12 times more than 5 years before. The deficit incurred did not add productivity in the system , they were just used on making roads and importing everything like hell. The story does not end with the trade, current account deficits and low productivity. The country is bound in high priced electricity and gas contracts that make the productivity even more difficult and ratchets up the fiscal deficit. If that is not enough, the criminal elite participating in corruption and mafia style market manipulation complete the making of the banana state and a death-bed economy.

The systematic damages cannot be corrected by the best of the doctors without introducing a few shocks. The current government has some of the best possible qualified economists available. Hafeez sheikh has a doctorate from Boston university, Reza Baqir has a doctorate from Berkeley, Razzak Dawood is Columbia university and Hammad Azhar has LSE background.

On top of that, these guys have been working in the field as investment advisors, IMF country heads and as industry tycoons.
When I hear a beacon house professor Hafeez Pasha trying to tell the meaning of economics to this team, I wonder what makes him more qualified to do so? May be because her wife was a minister with Shahbaz sharif? Why does not he point out the systematic damages done to the economy during the past 70 years, especially PML N government.

Anyhow, the current economics team might be the best available but it is just an attempt at saving the heroin addict. And when it introduced the first shock to the patient, that resulted in inflation. The citizens of the banana republic did not like it and got against the government. Now the government does not have enough public support to introduce another shock , neither the patient has strength to take it. The government would like to stay in the system, at least to introduce some positive changes to the system while it can. The result however will be the same. Another heroin shot (IMF package when the new government comes).

 

[Saboo]

If you want to make Pakistan a banana republic, it will be very easy .like aay, bee, cee.
Start using a banana instead of a rupee.?

 

[Zaidi Qasim]

Well written but with some usual biased. The former Government had to borrow and borrow quite a bit amount but you have to see the things in prospective . Check the state of the country, its economy, its infrastructure and its law and order situation back in 2013 and then compare it with 2018 when the new Government took over.

IK had said himself that he had every expert of its field ready to start working as soon as he would get the power. We found out later , he had no clue about anything from the policy to the economy . He had invested 22 years on Asad Umer , and within few months , he had to replace him with known Icons of IMF and its operators as their main drivers to pull the economy . Now, that is absolute incompetence if not outright criminal negligence. Just look around, how many old folks of Musharraf era is working with him in this new setup and then you will find out who the real rulers are who is making decisions.

I gave up any hope on him ever since he started to gather turncoats from every corner in the country and using ATM machine and his jets to horse trading the NA candidates. The face of this government , Firdous Ashiq Awan and her qualification as a Information Minister tells how many qualified and competent people are holding the important posts .

 

[Hate_Nooras]

Well written but with some usual biased. The former Government had to borrow and borrow quite a bit amount but you have to see the things in prospective . Check the state of the country, its economy, its infrastructure and its law and order situation back in 2013 and then compare it with 2018 when the new Government took over.

IK had said himself that he had every expert of its field ready to start working as soon as he would get the power. We found out later , he had no clue about anything from the policy to the economy . He had invested 22 years on Asad Umer , and within few months , he had to replace him with known Icons of IMF and its operators as their main drivers to pull the economy . Now, that is absolute incompetence if not outright criminal negligence. Just look around, how many old folks of Musharraf era is working with him in this new setup and then you will find out who the real rulers are who is making decisions.

I gave up any hope on him ever since he started to gather turncoats from every corner in the country and using ATM machine and his jets to horse trading the NA candidates. The face of this government , Firdous Ashiq Awan and her qualification as a Information Minister tells how many qualified and competent people are holding the important posts .

Tell us where the 64bn in loans went? Tell which Dams were built, or Export Industries were developed or import substitution industry was developed. Tell us why we needed to go to the IMF? Tell us why in 2017 it was predicted that a bail out would be needed. Please tell us.

 

[Ahmed Jawad]

Well written but with some usual biased. The former Government had to borrow and borrow quite a bit amount but you have to see the things in prospective . Check the state of the country, its economy, its infrastructure and its law and order situation back in 2013 and then compare it with 2018 when the new Government took over.

IK had said himself that he had every expert of its field ready to start working as soon as he would get the power. We found out later , he had no clue about anything from the policy to the economy . He had invested 22 years on Asad Umer , and within few months , he had to replace him with known Icons of IMF and its operators as their main drivers to pull the economy . Now, that is absolute incompetence if not outright criminal negligence. Just look around, how many old folks of Musharraf era is working with him in this new setup and then you will find out who the real rulers are who is making decisions.

I gave up any hope on him ever since he started to gather turncoats from every corner in the country and using ATM machine and his jets to horse trading the NA candidates. The face of this government , Firdous Ashiq Awan and her qualification as a Information Minister tells how many qualified and competent people are holding the important posts .

Sorry, man I think you are biased. The infrastructure expansion is the only thing that can be contributed to last government and that was done in a way that it did not add productivity.
The roads definitely did not add to productivity. We heard china will be paying rents for these roads. Where is that rent now. What does Orange train for 300 billion adds.
Pakistan produces electricity most expensive in south asia. 12-14 cents per unit.
I work in Europe's largest energy company, we produce at 5-7 cents.
Other day I was discussin gas contracts, there has never been a single day in history when Pakistan could not buy cheaper gas with spot prices.
As far as asad umar, he was trying genuinely to avoid the IMF loan but the system could not take it.
As far as musharraf team, he might be a dictator, he had reached 10% GDP growth and did not take virtually any loans in 10 years.
Firdous Ashiq is information minister, and modern democracies do not have infromation ministers. I do not care what is her qualification because she does not matter but she is still better qualified than maryum aurangzaib whose qualification was that she is the daughter of kalsoom nawaz nurse :D

 

[Wake up Pak]

‏شریفوں کی ساری سیاست مکروفریب پہ مبنی تھی
ادھرجھوٹ ادھردھوکہ
اسکی چغلی،اس پہ بہتان
کسی کےلیےکھڈاکھوددو،کسی کوکسی سےلڑادو
جس رستےچلتےپیچھےمائینزبچھاتےجاتے
اپنی طاقت و مکرکےبلبوتےخودکوناقابل شکست سمجھتےتھے۔

یہ بھول گئےتھےظالم کومخلوق ناصحیح خالق کاتھپڑضرورپڑتاہےجلد یابدیر!

 

[Zaidi Qasim]

Sorry, man I think you are biased. The infrastructure expansion is the only thing that can be contributed to last government and that was done in a way that it did not add productivity.
The roads definitely did not add to productivity. We heard china will be paying rents for these roads. Where is that rent now. What does Orange train for 300 billion adds.
Pakistan produces electricity most expensive in south asia. 12-14 cents per unit.
I work in Europe's largest energy company, we produce at 5-7 cents.
Other day I was discussin gas contracts, there has never been a single day in history when Pakistan could not buy cheaper gas with spot prices.
As far as asad umar, he was trying genuinely to avoid the IMF loan but the system could not take it.
As far as musharraf team, he might be a dictator, he had reached 10% GDP growth and did not take virtually any loans in 10 years.
Firdous Ashiq is information minister, and modern democracies do not have infromation ministers. I do not care what is her qualification but she is still better qualified than maryum aurangzaib whose qualification was that she is the daughter of kalsoom nawaz nurse :D

Sure, I am biased. I met people in Islamabad and in Pindi , usual travelers between twin cities, every day commuters, from daily laborers to the students and ordinary people . They were paying 20 rupee per ride . They were paying 10'x of the amount to private transporters . They are the real winners of the Metro Train. It added value to their daily lives and saved them money which could be used for the other expenses.

Public transport is the essential part of the lives of the people. Everywhere in the world, these services are subsidies by the Governments. NY Subway, Toronto Metro , London Tube, they are all operating on loss , and duly subsidies by the Government .

Do you know how much was spent on our forces to bring the law and order situation in control ? Can you recall what was the situation in our main cities ? Do you remember long nights of load shedding and people sleeping out on hot nights back ion 2013 ? The money went to add values in their lives and their life style.

So, Musharraf era economy was not inflated with items which didn't add any productivity to the economy , yet the 10% or so GDP went kaput in only one year after when he was gone. The electronic items, Motorcycles, Cars . luxury SUV's all were fine in Musharraf era but you have issue if it were allowed in PMLN government since it didn't add any value to the productivity.. Now that is really unbiased.

You don't seem to have any problem with turncoats, IMF agents , Running ATM machines etc. etc. However, you can point all these out with the previous Government with no problem .

Firdous Ashiq awan is an unelected, rather defeated candidate. Her only qualification is to toe the Boots line. Just adding it up since you don't know her real qualification .

You criticizing the Government which held 7.8% GDP growth, yet you praising the incompetents for bringing the GDP rate down to almost 2% and the prime rate to 13.5% in less than 2 years.

 

[Wake up Pak]

Liar liar pants on fire☝

 

[Ahmed Jawad]

Sure, I am biased. I met people in Islamabad and in Pindi , usual travelers between twin cities, every day commuters, from daily laborers to the students and ordinary people . They were paying 20 rupee per ride . They were paying 10'x of the amount to private transporters . They are the real winners of the Metro Train. It added value to their daily lives and saved them money which could be used for the other expenses.

Public transport is the essential part of the lives of the people. Everywhere in the world, these services are subsidies by the Governments. NY Subway, Toronto Metro , London Tube, they are all operating on loss , and duly subsidies by the Government .

Do you know how much was spent on our forces to bring the law and order situation in control ? Can you recall what was the situation in our main cities ? Do you remember long nights of load shedding and people sleeping out on hot nights back ion 2013 ? The money went to add values in their lives and their life style.

So, Musharraf era economy was not inflated with items which didn't add any productivity to the economy , yet the 10% or so GDP went kaput in only one year after when he was gone. The electronic items, Motorcycles, Cars . luxury SUV's all were fine in Musharraf era but you have issue if it were allowed in PMLN government since it didn't add any value to the productivity.. Now that is really unbiased.

You don't seem to have any problem with turncoats, IMF agents , Running ATM machines etc. etc. However, you can point all these out with the previous Government with no problem .

Firdous Ashiq awan is an unelected, rather defeated candidate. Her only qualification is to toe the Boots line. Just adding it up since you don't know her real qualification .

You criticizing the Government which held 7.8% GDP growth, yet you praising the incompetents for bringing the GDP rate down to almost 2% and the prime rate to 13.5% in less than 2 years.

You have yourself admitted that the gdp growth during Musharaf and NS era was futile because it was not productivity based. Thanks for admitting to my point.

Therefore your original claim that NS did good for the economy is now down the drain. Considering both did not add to productivitiy, if nawaz shaif did good for the economy, that is an average gdp growth of 3.5% in 5 years with 64 billion dollar loans and jacking up the current account deficit to 20 billion dollars - then musharraf had a better average gdp gowth, 1 billion dollar current account deficit and 2 billion dollar loans in 10 years. There is no comparison- hands down.

As far as turn coats- in 2013 nawaz sharif took 150 members from PML Q, PTI took 135 in 2018. So PTI scores better on this.
To compare Firdous Ashiq and Maryum Aurangzaib, Firdous ashiq at least won an election once in her life, has no personal connection to Imran khan. Maryum orangzaib never even contested an election. She is just the daughter of tahira aurangzeb, worst nepotism. Anyhow, the information ministry does not exist in mature democracies and it is not important at all

In essence you did not answer any question, why does pakistan produce most expensive electricity virtually in entire world. Why is it bound in expensive gas contracts, which were never cheaper for a single day than spot prices of lng. As far as his economy is concerned, you yourself said it did not add to productivity just added loans. The gdp growth was import led, added 64 billion dollars in loans and 20 billion dollars in current account deficit. Musharraf did not add loans or deficits and scored much better.

As far as expanses for terrorism countering, he did not give it from his pocket, and army would take it any how. The situation with defense expenses have been painful for Pakistan for ever and that is because of our geo-strategic situation

 

[Ahmed Jawad]

Sure, I am biased. I met people in Islamabad and in Pindi , usual travelers between twin cities, every day commuters, from daily laborers to the students and ordinary people . They were paying 20 rupee per ride . They were paying 10'x of the amount to private transporters . They are the real winners of the Metro Train. It added value to their daily lives and saved them money which could be used for the other expenses.

Public transport is the essential part of the lives of the people. Everywhere in the world, these services are subsidies by the Governments. NY Subway, Toronto Metro , London Tube, they are all operating on loss , and duly subsidies by the Government .

Do you know how much was spent on our forces to bring the law and order situation in control ? Can you recall what was the situation in our main cities ? Do you remember long nights of load shedding and people sleeping out on hot nights back ion 2013 ? The money went to add values in their lives and their life style.

So, Musharraf era economy was not inflated with items which didn't add any productivity to the economy , yet the 10% or so GDP went kaput in only one year after when he was gone. The electronic items, Motorcycles, Cars . luxury SUV's all were fine in Musharraf era but you have issue if it were allowed in PMLN government since it didn't add any value to the productivity.. Now that is really unbiased.

You don't seem to have any problem with turncoats, IMF agents , Running ATM machines etc. etc. However, you can point all these out with the previous Government with no problem .

Firdous Ashiq awan is an unelected, rather defeated candidate. Her only qualification is to toe the Boots line. Just adding it up since you don't know her real qualification .

You criticizing the Government which held 7.8% GDP growth, yet you praising the incompetents for bringing the GDP rate down to almost 2% and the prime rate to 13.5% in less than 2 years.

I see you are one of those unreasonable guys who do not understand that import led gdp growth is a curse. Pakistan was in default when the government took over. A yearly 20 Billion dollars deficit meant Pakistan needed 100 Billion dollars surplus in current account in 5 years. Add to that roughly 50 billion that needed to be give back for the loans taken. Combine that with no foreign currency reserve, this all was catastrophic

 

[Wake up Pak]

Sure, I am biased. I met people in Islamabad and in Pindi , usual travelers between twin cities, every day commuters, from daily laborers to the students and ordinary people . They were paying 20 rupee per ride . They were paying 10'x of the amount to private transporters . They are the real winners of the Metro Train. It added value to their daily lives and saved them money which could be used for the other expenses.



Public transport is the essential part of the lives of the people. Everywhere in the world, these services are subsidies by the Governments. NY Subway, Toronto Metro , London Tube, they are all operating on loss , and duly subsidies by the Government .

Do you know how much was spent on our forces to bring the law and order situation in control ? Can you recall what was the situation in our main cities ? Do you remember long nights of load shedding and people sleeping out on hot nights back ion 2013 ? The money went to add values in their lives and their life style.

So, Musharraf era economy was not inflated with items which didn't add any productivity to the economy , yet the 10% or so GDP went kaput in only one year after when he was gone. The electronic items, Motorcycles, Cars . luxury SUV's all were fine in Musharraf era but you have issue if it were allowed in PMLN government since it didn't add any value to the productivity.. Now that is really unbiased.

You don't seem to have any problem with turncoats, IMF agents , Running ATM machines etc. etc. However, you can point all these out with the previous Government with no problem .

Firdous Ashiq awan is an unelected, rather defeated candidate. Her only qualification is to toe the Boots line. Just adding it up since you don't know her real qualification .

You criticizing the Government which held 7.8% GDP growth, yet you praising the incompetents for bringing the GDP rate down to almost 2% and the prime rate to 13.5% in less than 2 years.

Oye feeqay.

‏۲۰۱۸ میں میری اسٹیبلشمنٹ سے ڈیل ہوگئی تھی۔میں نے وزیرِ اعظم بننا تھا۔ دو صحافی بھی گواہ ہیں۔وزیروں کے نام تک طے ہوگئے تھے
شہباز شریف
ڈُوب مرو شرم سے پٹواریوں۔ہمیشہ سے ڈیل کر کے آنے والوں کے منُہ سے سچ نکل ہی گیا اور الزام ‎@ImranKhanPTI پر کہ اُس نے ڈیل کی ہے
مُنافق بے شرم لوگ

 

[Zaidi Qasim]

Oye feeqay.

‏۲۰۱۸ میں میری اسٹیبلشمنٹ سے ڈیل ہوگئی تھی۔میں نے وزیرِ اعظم بننا تھا۔ دو صحافی بھی گواہ ہیں۔وزیروں کے نام تک طے ہوگئے تھے
شہباز شریف
ڈُوب مرو شرم سے پٹواریوں۔ہمیشہ سے ڈیل کر کے آنے والوں کے منُہ سے سچ نکل ہی گیا اور الزام ‎@ImranKhanPTI پر کہ اُس نے ڈیل کی ہے
مُنافق بے شرم لوگ

Oyee dhancho... You can write anything you want these days . Specially when your leader is U turn specialist. Look around and see how many these lotas were part of Musharraf regime. One ass hole I can identify, Ejaz Shah. MF Phoji Jamrood. You can count the rest ....

 

[Zaidi Qasim]

I see you are one of those unreasonable guys who do not understand that import led gdp growth is a curse. Pakistan was in default when the government took over. A yearly 20 Billion dollars deficit meant Pakistan needed 100 Billion dollars surplus in current account in 5 years. Add to that roughly 50 billion that needed to be give back for the loans taken. Combine that with no foreign currency reserve, this all was catastrophic

Import laden GDP is cursed but Musharraf 10% GDP in not cursed ? Tell me how many power plants Musharraf built ? You need infrastructure for the local industry. Power sector in Pakistan was left in a shabby state post Musharraf era. Industrials were leaving Pakistan and installing these loom mills in BD . There was an erosion of trust in local government. Law and order was in upheaval. No, power, no peace and no Jobs . That was what NS had to endure.

 

[Ahmed Jawad]

Import laden GDP is cursed but Musharraf 10% GDP in not cursed ? Tell me how many power plants Musharraf built ? You need infrastructure for the local industry. Power sector in Pakistan was left in a shabby state post Musharraf era. Industrials were leaving Pakistan and installing these loom mills in BD . There was an erosion of trust in local government. Law and order was in upheaval. No, power, no peace and no Jobs . That was what NS had to endure.

Musharraf and Nawaz sharif both left economy in balance of payment crisis. The difference was that musharraf left it in a crisis 100 times less worse than nawaz sharif. I cannot go over the same argument again unless you answer what I wrote. The loans he tooks vs musharaff, the current account deficit and what it meant for PTI government. The scale of the crisis that nawaz sharif left was enough to drown an economy 2 times the size of Pakistan. 150 billion dollars needed in 5 years for the government coming after him
NS in herited power crisis because he went to supreme court for stopping rental power plants. Then he produced power at 12-14 cents. The most expensive in the world. In terms of peace, Pakistan is even more peaceful now than NS left , simply look at the number of terrorism incidents , the general law and order incidents of any kind.

 

[Wake up Pak]

Oyee dhancho... You can write anything you want these days . Specially when your leader is U turn specialist. Look around and see how many these lotas were part of Musharraf regime. One ass hole I can identify, Ejaz Shah. MF Phoji Jamrood. You can count the rest ....

Oye champoo the convict's half cabinet was of Musharraf.

The list of Musharraf’s loyalists who are now with the Sharifs are KPK MNA Ameer Muqam (whom Musharraf once termed his brother), Musharraf’s cabinet members Zahid Hamid, Tariq Azeem, Liaquat Jatoi, Sumera Malik, Shahid Akram Bhindar and Chaudhry Iqbal Gujjar.

The PML-N also wasted no time in welcoming Musharraf’s most vocal loyalists Marvi Memon and Kashmala Tariq.
Now go hide in a hole.

 

[Munawarkhan]

Well written but with some usual biased. The former Government had to borrow and borrow quite a bit amount but you have to see the things in prospective . Check the state of the country, its economy, its infrastructure and its law and order situation back in 2013 and then compare it with 2018 when the new Government took over.

IK had said himself that he had every expert of its field ready to start working as soon as he would get the power. We found out later , he had no clue about anything from the policy to the economy . He had invested 22 years on Asad Umer , and within few months , he had to replace him with known Icons of IMF and its operators as their main drivers to pull the economy . Now, that is absolute incompetence if not outright criminal negligence. Just look around, how many old folks of Musharraf era is working with him in this new setup and then you will find out who the real rulers are who is making decisions.

I gave up any hope on him ever since he started to gather turncoats from every corner in the country and using ATM machine and his jets to horse trading the NA candidates. The face of this government , Firdous Ashiq Awan and her qualification as a Information Minister tells how many qualified and competent people are holding the important posts .

Let’s do a comparison, not selected, but a full one on state of Pakistan in 2013 and in 2018.

then let’s do one more in 2023.

 

[Typhoon]

Pessimist and paranoid prick or gao mutra drinker

 

[Ahmed Jawad]

Pessimist and paranoid prick or gao mutra drinker

What you cannot understand is a gao mutra drinker. This comment hurt me

 

[Zaidi Qasim]

Oye champoo the convict's half cabinet was of Musharraf.

The list of Musharraf’s loyalists who are now with the Sharifs are KPK MNA Ameer Muqam (whom Musharraf once termed his brother), Musharraf’s cabinet members Zahid Hamid, Tariq Azeem, Liaquat Jatoi, Sumera Malik, Shahid Akram Bhindar and Chaudhry Iqbal Gujjar.

The PML-N also wasted no time in welcoming Musharraf’s most vocal loyalists Marvi Memon and Kashmala Tariq.
Now go hide in a hole.

Oyee Dhancho, Musharraf's cabinet was full with PMLN lotas not other way around , you buffoon . F ass holes come here to debate and still lick whatever is dropping from dictator's ass.

 

[Ahmed Jawad]

Oyee Dhancho, Musharraf's cabinet was full with PMLN lotas not other way around , you buffoon . F ass holes come here to debate and still lick whatever is dropping from dictator's ass.

Abay PMLN, to start with History does not start with Musharraf.
Nawaz sharif is najaiz aulad of zia ul haq
shahid khaqan abbasi's father was minister of the devil
Apa Nisar fatima
Khawaja safdar was chair man of "Iblees ki majlis-e-shoora"
ghaus ali shah was zia minister
raja zafar ul haq- chauhdry nisar all of the PMLN is a product of Zina of Zia