Dissecting PM Imran Khan's Inaugural Public Address



After these recent controversial elections culminated in a long-awaited win for Imran Khan's PTI, the new Prime Minister has made many tall claims and set very ambitious goals in his first address to the public.


There are many obstacles in Khan's way in his pursuit of bringing radical changes in an inherently slow-moving constitutional democracy. There is no doubt about Khan's sincerity and will to execute his plans but does he have concrete plans and policies and more importantly does he have enough skillful, competent, capable minds and experts in his arsenal to get the job done?


First criticism towards PTI's cabinet is the presence of faces who were part of General Musharaf's regime or who had been on the frontline for PPP and PMLN. This does not bode well for the #NayaPakistan rhetoric that Imran Khan had been using religiously over the years. It will be wishful thinking to expect any revolutionary reforms under the command of these familiar politicians. In this flawed democratic system where candidates have to spend millions to contest for an assembly seat, one cannot expect them to revolt against the interests of the 'status quo'.



However, what has been refreshing to hear in PM's first address is the pro-people and domestic agenda that was in the backdrop in previous governments. It is also pleasing to know that Imran Khan is cognizant of one of the major global challenge, 'climate change' that has wreaked havoc on the world by causing increased floods, fast melting of glaciers, unpredictable weather patterns, record-breaking temperatures in the summer and miserable quality of air and so Khan's resolve for the continuation of the Billion Tree Tsunami measure in KPK to all over Pakistan is a step in the right direction. Moreover, another commendable feature of his address was highlighting harsh realities of Pakistan such as stunted growth in children due to malnutrition, child abuse and his resolve to focus primarily on the issues of masses who live in abject poverty is truly the need of the hour.



According to PM Imran Khan, public debts have surged from Rs 6,000 billion in 2008 to Rs 28,000 billion in 2018. The situation is so dire that even the interest on this debt is not payable without more borrowing which only worsens the situation. Pakistan’s economy has been at a standstill. Our industrial sector is in absolute shambles, facing a multitude of challenges. Starting a business should not be an ordeal if the new government wants to encourage foreign investment, business growth, and spark entrepreneurship in Pakistan. Dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, paying of taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, resolving insolvency and all the bureaucratic hurdles need to be minimized to jumpstart the economic growth. Khan also failed to elucidate his take on foreign policy and about measures his government would take to curb the menace of religious extremism which is intertwined with economic prosperity.



Apart from primary and secondary educational reforms, our higher education institutes require the government's attention as well. Our universities require accountability at all hierarchical levels. Academia must rid itself of nepotism and jobbery in faculty, staff, and management. Moreover, ensuring the provision of state of the art facilities and promoting independent thinking in students coupled with revising curriculum is imperative to create new knowledge and for promoting quality research than piling up graduates who are neither responsible citizens nor skilled enough for the market.

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