I recently met a Pakistani robotic surgeon, likely one of the pioneers in this field among Pakistani doctors abroad. He shared an interesting story where his host country offered 2000 scholarships for South Asia, and he attempted to secure some for Pakistan. Upon his return to Pakistan in 2019, he briefed the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Youth Affairs, @UdarOfficial.
After the briefing, SAPM Umar took an unusual stance and told the robotic surgeon, “Baki cheezein aap se PA decide kar ley ga,” leaving the decision on everything else to the Principal Accounting Officer.
Now, as Pakistanis, we understand the implications of such a statement. However, what’s ironic is that the determined surgeon insisted, saying, “Khan ko aise logon ne chalne nahi diya bas” – expressing frustration that individuals like him weren’t allowing Khan to govern freely.
It’s not about the ruler; it’s about the financial dynamics within this governance system. Corruption tends to decrease when Pakistan is under an IMF program due to heightened oversight and transparency. On the other hand, the cycle of printing money, securing loans, and initiating projects, sometimes leading to corruption, remains a concern. This highlights the need for strong fiscal management, efficient project oversight, and robust anti-corruption measures to ensure sustainable economic development.
Corruption flourishes in environments with weak institutions and lack of transparency, emphasizing the importance of addressing these fundamental issues for a governance system resilient to corruption, regardless of the economic assistance programs in place.
