Renowned economist, Dr Kaiser Bengali, has walked away from the present federal government’s ambitious drive to curtail its expenses by adopting austerity measures and rightsizing its operations.
Dr Bengali has parted ways with three committees of the federal government formed for the purpose. These committees were formed for austerity, right-sizing, and slashing the government’s expenses.
The prominent economist sent his resignation to Federal Finance Minister and Cabinet Division Secretary. The resignation shows his lack of confidence in the government’s efforts to cut down on its expenses.
According to Dr Bengali, the federal government initially launched a good effort to slash its wasteful expenditures.
He said the three committees in question had sent valid recommendations to curtail the government’s expenses.
He mentioned that the three panels had reviewed the working of 70 government institutions and 17 public sector corporations. A proposal was sent to do away with 17 divisions of the government. The panels also suggested the closure of 70 government agencies.
He was of the view that the government hadn’t been taking into account the recommendations sent by the three panels. He said the government was only resorting to downsizing low-grade government employees to cut down on its expenses. Dr Bengali lamented that employees from grades 1 to 16 drawing lower salaries were being shown the door while the jobs of senior grade officials were being protected.
He claimed that the government could curtail its expenses by Rs 30 billion annually after the retrenchment of the senior grade officials. He lamented that the national economy had been on the verge of destruction. Dr Bengali said the economy had been in shambles due to the massive debt overburden. He added that international lending agencies were not ready to offer more loans to Pakistan. He said that people who couldn’t manage their domestic budgets had been compelled to take the extreme step of ending their lives.
Dr Bengali later told media persons at a press conference in Karachi that the government could save up to Rs 30 billion by shutting down some of its agencies.
He lamented that three government agencies were performing the population control functions but Pakistan’s population has been on the rise. He said the government seemed indifferent to the cause of curtailing its expenses. Out of 70 government agencies, whose closure was recommended by the committees, the government shows a willingness to shut down only one institution. He disclosed that the committees had also recommended privatisation of 17 commercial organisations.
Dr Kaiser Bengali walks away in protest from federal govt’s austerity, rightsizing drives
