What should be Imran Khan's highest priority during his first 100 days in power?

[MenInG]

It may be slightly ahead of time but is is very likely that Imran will be the next PM. If he does take oath (as expected), what should be his highest priority in the first 100 days of his government?

 

[Arham_PakFan]

He should improve the Education system first up,and then the Economic situation.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Improving Pakistan's image, and trust me, A LOT can be done in this regard within the first 100 days.

Not only will this help Pakistan in a lot of foreign investment coming towards us but also, life will become easier for our citizens; getting visas, being able to study in top Uni's, ability to send remittances back home etc.

 

[Syed1]

Improving Pakistan's image, and trust me, A LOT can be done in this regard within the first 100 days.

Not only will this help Pakistan in a lot of foreign investment coming towards us but also, life will become easier for our citizens; getting visas, being able to study in top Uni's, ability to send remittances back home etc.

Those are burger people problems to be honest. The average Pakistani is struggling to put food on the table twice a day and you are talking about making it easier for Pakistan's elite class to go abroad to study

 

[Syed1]

If IK fixes ONE thing in his first 100 days it should be to fix FBR and NAB. Improve money collection and reduce leakage through corruption.


That measure alone will go a long way in opening up some breathing space for the government to implement social welfare projects in education and health, while also investing in infrastructure.

 

[Loralai]

Ban extremist organisations and jail their leaders.

 

[PetroDollars]

First should be corruption then economy, because nothing can happen in that list with corruption rampant and then nothing else can happen till economy is fixed.

 

[mmkextreme_1]

No doubt it should be law and order.

If he focuses on fixing this first, then everything else starts to fall in place/gets a bit easier to fix.

Having a society with a stable law and order situation is good for economic growth.

Education growth should also be a priority (sadly I couldn't vote for both...), but I feel if IK can fix the law and order situation then education growth will come and be a bit easier to expand in certain areas of Pakistan.

 

[Mian]

Fix FBR

 

[ExpressPacer]

Those are burger people problems to be honest. The average Pakistani is struggling to put food on the table twice a day and you are talking about making it easier for Pakistan's elite class to go abroad to study

I disagree. Improving Pakistan's image brings in foreign investment and more importantly; foreign AID. Whether you like it or not, it is this aid, it is these loans that keep our crippling economy from completely dismantling. And without a good image, our loans have gone down, which has led to the devaluation of our currency causing inflation; mehngai!

Everything is interlinked. Without aid, we're not going to survive. As of now, even the IMF is under pressure of giving us loans our economy oh-so-badly needs because of Pakistan's poor image.

 

[Major]

Law and Order.

Pakistan's biggest problem has been law and order.

after that the education system needs to be tackled.

 

[Major]

I disagree. Improving Pakistan's image brings in foreign investment and more importantly; foreign AID. Whether you like it or not, it is this aid, it is these loans that keep our crippling economy from completely dismantling. And without a good image, our loans have gone down, which has led to the devaluation of our currency causing inflation; mehngai!

Everything is interlinked. Without aid, we're not going to survive. As of now, even the IMF is under pressure of giving us loans our economy oh-so-badly needs because of Pakistan's poor image.

i often found it funny how posters on this forum are always on about how Pakistan shouldn't recieve aid or loan, when our BOP really does need all the aid and loans in the world.

We have had a major deficient even after devaluation of the currency.

 

[Syed1]

I disagree. Improving Pakistan's image brings in foreign investment and more importantly; foreign AID. Whether you like it or not, it is this aid, it is these loans that keep our crippling economy from completely dismantling. And without a good image, our loans have gone down, which has led to the devaluation of our currency causing inflation; mehngai!

Everything is interlinked. Without aid, we're not going to survive. As of now, even the IMF is under pressure of giving us loans our economy oh-so-badly needs because of Pakistan's poor image.

No country in the world has been able to stand on its own feet on the back of loans and aid. Fixing FBR and increasing tax net will set the foundation through which future generation of Pakistanis won't have to rely on loans/aid.



Improving Pakistan's image will happen automatically since now we have a patriotic leadership at the helm who would do what is best for the country. Previously we had Indian agent Nawaz Sharif who didn't even mention Kulbushun Yadav once in his address to UN.

 

[ExpressPacer]

i often found it funny how posters on this forum are always on about how Pakistan shouldn't recieve aid or loan, when our BOP really does need all the aid and loans in the world.

We have had a major deficient even after devaluation of the currency.

Exactly.

It's actually kind of funny how ill-informed even our educated people are. We want to be self-reliant and don't want to "beg" from other countries, however, the unfortunate reality is that our economy simply cannot survive without aid. You stop receiving aid, the Pakistani currency (RS) depreciates, which leads to imports becoming expensive and since are BOP is extremely negative, this causes inflation.

This has been the case for ages. However, with a very poor international image, this time, we are posed with a much greater threat. Usually, even if there was a fall in aid causing inflation - loans from IMF/China/USA/KSA would save us, however, this time, the US is not Pakistan's ally and are even pressurizing IMF to not give us loans. This might cause a boom in inflation which can be EXTREMELY DETRIMENTAL for the economy and for the currency.

 

[Syed1]

Every ignorant person thinks they are the most educated and informed.

 

[DrSchultz]

A few steps that can be taken in 100 days.

1) Pass Police Order 2002 in its original form to ensure autonomy of police in all provinces.
2) Introduce a bill on the local government reforms to remove our current colonial relic of a system
3) Pass a rule of 10% grade 22 officers must be women
4) Introduce a bill for autonomy of Radio Pakistan, PTV

 

[Syed1]

A few steps that can be taken in 100 days.

1) Pass Police Order 2002 in its original form to ensure autonomy of police in all provinces.
2) Introduce a bill on the local government reforms to remove our current colonial relic of a system
3) Pass a rule of 10% grade 22 officers must be women
4) Introduce a bill for autonomy of Radio Pakistan, PTV

Those are very modest expectations

 

[Major]

Exactly.

It's actually kind of funny how ill-informed even our educated people are. We want to be self-reliant and don't want to "beg" from other countries, however, the unfortunate reality is that our economy simply cannot survive without aid. You stop receiving aid, the Pakistani currency (RS) depreciates, which leads to imports becoming expensive and since are BOP is extremely negative, this causes inflation.

This has been the case for ages. However, with a very poor international image, this time, we are posed with a much greater threat. Usually, even if there was a fall in aid causing inflation - loans from IMF/China/USA/KSA would save us, however, this time, the US is not Pakistan's ally and are even pressurizing IMF to not give us loans. This might cause a boom in inflation which can be EXTREMELY DETRIMENTAL for the economy and for the currency.

Pakistan is really in a weird situation.


Currecny devaluation has always led to increase in exports which usually helps in decreasing the deficit.

But when Pakistan devalued its currency its exports didn't increase .

Pakistan suffered alot from the US cutbacks after the Osama was found in abbotabad

 

[ExpressPacer]

No country in the world has been able to stand on its own feet on the back of loans and aid. Fixing FBR and increasing tax net will set the foundation through which future generation of Pakistanis won't have to rely on loans/aid.

Meri jaan, I completely love your patriotic and proud approach. However, as much as I hate it, without loans, our economy would come falling down like a pack of cards. Trust me when I say this.

You're a die-hard IK supporter, you must know that IK always said that he's never going to take loans from the worldly powers, however, now, even HE realizes that without these loans, our economy absolutely CANNOT survive for the short-term (and by short-term, I mean at least 5 years). If we stopped taking loans, I can guarantee you, Pakistan would be reduced to the level of an African economy struggling to keep its currency alive. People would start using the American dollar, or worse, maybe in the INR.

Your leader (and mine too) has already seriously considered an IMF bailout of over 10 Billion USD, taken 2 Billion USD loan from China ALREADY and is going to take another loan worth billions from KSA within the next week.

Dimaagh sy soch jigar, dil sy nahi.

Improving Pakistan's image will happen automatically since now we have a patriotic leadership at the helm who would do what is best for the country. Previously we had Indian agent Nawaz Sharif who didn't even mention Kulbushun Yadav once in his address to UN.

Yeah but we need to work towards this immediately.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Pakistan is really in a weird situation.


Currecny devaluation has always led to increase in exports which usually helps in decreasing the deficit.

But when Pakistan devalued its currency its exports didn't increase .

Pakistan suffered alot from the US cutbacks after the Osama was found in abbotabad

The TOT did improve owing to the devalued currency however, there's no point because the number of exports increasing wont really benefit us if they are cheaper than before.

 

[DrSchultz]

Those are very modest expectations

Knowing the inertia in our system, they might even be impossible...

 

[Markhor]

Seems like IK has inherited an economic firestorm. Cannot invest in health and education without straightening out the finances.

 

[Major]

Seems like IK has inherited an economic firestorm. Cannot invest in health and education without straightening out the finances.

just like when PPP inherited the govt from army with an empty national treasure

 

[Bewal Express]

just like when PPP inherited the govt from army with an empty national treasure

And then proceeded to loot everything in sight. To this day it amazes me that anyone with a brain cell would consider voting for a party whose mission is to steal.

 

[Bewal Express]

Seems like IK has inherited an economic firestorm. Cannot invest in health and education without straightening out the finances.

True, but most of the money spent by the govt is stolen and just by actually spending on the people and not letting the baboos steal it will make a difference.

 

[Savak]

Accountability and Looted Wealth on a war footing

 

[sjahmed23]

Do a full audit of CPEC and let an independent body do an economic study of the benefits and make that public. IMF is not gonna bail out Pakistan because its under the chinese sphere of influence, which makes things very dangerous if CPEC doesn't turn out to be all that.

 

[Gollum]

1. Widen tax net to include agriculture and net the feudal elites. Full audit of FBR.
2. Full audit of defence spending and military entitlements.
3. Quadruple education and health funding and audit existing spending.
4. Police reforms.
5. Local body elections.
6. Strengthening and making transparent vital institutions like NAB to do its function without interference.

 

[coy0607]

probably a mix of everything .. expectations will be extremely high

 

[MenInG]

Think Economy is going to be number on priority.

 

[Couch Cricketer]

Fixing the economy is the first step to fixing the rest. It will decrease crime and government will have more resources for education, water and electricity. To fix the economy a large part is removing/decreasing corruption as corruption decreases the return on investment which stagnates an economy.

 

[Fahdi]

I think economy is the biggest hurdle that needs to be dealt with immediately.

Another thing which I feel is important but can be looked at a later period is creating new cities or developing the smaller towns. Our larger cities especially Lahore and Karachi are becoming far too overpopulated. Creating new cities which offer employment opportunities will help alleviate the population burden of cities like Karachi. New cities can offer better and cheaper housing and plenty of opportunities for new businesses as every city needs grocery stores, entertainment facilities, barbers etc. New cities will also require new administration centers such as police, municipal authorities etc. which will again offer employment opportunities. To initiate this process the government should provide investors incentives to open factories, plants and workshops in the vicinity of the planned city.

Easier said than done I agree but I feel this is necessary for the well being of our largest cities.

 

[hussain.r97]

Getting the economy back on track should be the top priority for the first year or two in my opinion. Once the economy is on track, all the other things will start to fall in place.

First 100 days

National Level
1.) Fix FBR and empower NAB.
2.) Implement tax reforms.
3.) Introduce a bill on taxing agriculturalists.
4.) Subsidize electricity for factories, and fix the electricity transmission to cut on line losses.
5.) Introduce a wealth tax.
6.) Set up a commission to retrieve looted wealth.
7.) Remove subsidies on sugarcane, make steps towards reviving the textiles industry.
8.) Put all government companies like PIA into a wealth fund, and float diaspora bonds (what Asad Umar said the other day)
9.) Begin consultation for 10 billion tree tsunami
10.) Finalize a bailout deal.

Punjab
1.) Implement police reforms.
2.) Introduce a bill to reform local government.
3.) Start the process of opening technical colleges.
4.) Start the process of fixing the education system/reforming curriculum.
5.) Start the process of rolling out Sehat Insaf, and fix/build new hospitals.

KPK
1.) Roll out Sehat Insaf for the rest of KPK.
2.) Complete BRT so focus can go on other issues.
3.) Start the process of opening technical colleges.
4.) Start the process of reforming curriculum, revert the damage done by JI.

Balochistan
Depends on what two ministries PTI get here.

Sindh (Karachi)
1.) Create a Karachi/Hyderabad federal economic package
2.) Begin development of K-IV water project to work towards fixing the water shortage in Karachi.
3.) Begin consultation for mass transit system.
4.) Push for local government reforms in Sindh assembly.

 

[Majid Khan]

I think Imran should take some bold steps in first 6 -9 months and give the country a new direction, with proposed reforms to improve economy, education, health, police, accountability. and
of course, nothing will actually happen in practical terms due the opposition being strong in parliament and they will put every obstacle in the path of PTI govt..

But, the goal should be to make your intentions clear and expose these opposition parties and make it obvious to people they are in the way of progress.

And then after 9 months to a year, PTI after giving this sense of direction and exposing the opposition mafia, they should call for another general election and throw the ball in the people's court, and ask them to give PTI a majority so these proposals can become a reality.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

NEW DELHI -- Soon after next week's inauguration, a tough decision awaits Pakistan's new Prime Minister Imran Khan, as he will have to choose whether to turn to the International Monetary Fund or to China for financial support to rescue the country from its balance of payments crisis.

But the decision will be difficult for the former cricket star, as assistance from either camp will likely mean the prime minister will have to break his election campaign promises.

"We need to take this decision in a matter of weeks, not months," Asad Umar, who is expected to take the post of finance minister in the Khan administration, told foreign media and diplomats last week.

Umar mentioned three options for financial assistance: the IMF; "bilateral arrangements from friendly countries"; or "going into the commercial market and specially targeting overseas Pakistanis."

Pakistan is currently faced with plunging foreign exchange reserves due to swelling international payments, reflecting a sharp increase in imports through infrastructure projects related to China's Belt and Road Initiative and the redemption of external debt.

The country has seen its foreign currency reserves halve in 20 months. As of July 27, the outstanding balance of reserves stood at $10.3 billion, a critical level equivalent to two months of imports.

Pakistan has no choice but to increase its foreign exchange reserves to avoid a default. In June 2013 when the previous administration of Nawaz Sharif was formed, Pakistan also had foreign currency reserves worth two months of imports and asked the IMF for emergency financial assistance.

The incoming administration is widely expected to do the same and seek support from the Washington-based financial institution.

"IMF support is urgently needed to help stabilize Pakistan's precarious external position," Capital Economics, a London-based think tank, wrote in a recent memo.

In order to receive support from the IMF, the Pakistani government will have to not only step up efforts to increase foreign currency reserves but also resort to unpopular policy measures such as spending cuts and tax hikes.

Asking the IMF for financial assistance will likely force the Khan administration to implement painful reforms, which would ignite public discontent.

In the general election on July 25, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (the Pakistan Movement for Justice), a political party headed by Khan, quadrupled its number of seats in parliament from the previous election. The party pledged to develop Pakistan into an "Islamic welfare state." But that campaign pledge is likely to be broken if the country asks the IMF for assistance.

The second source of support that Umar mentioned -- "friendly countries" -- has been widely taken to mean China.

Pakistan has been increasing its economic dependence on China over the past several years. One example of this is the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a symbolic project of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The corridor, which envisions the construction of roads, ports and other large-scale infrastructure across Pakistan, is estimated to cost $62 billion and is mostly being financed by China.

Financial assistance from China is accelerating. The caretaker government, which is handling government affairs until the Khan administration takes office, received loans worth between $1 billion and $2 billion from China in late July. These raised the country's foreign currency reserves by $1.3 billion over one week, from $9 billion on July 20. Pakistan also borrowed $5 billion from China in fiscal 2018 through June.

Gwadar port in Pakistan, part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor infrastructure development initiative which has seen Pakistan's economic dependence on China increase over recent years. © Reuters
Despite Pakistan's growing reliance on China, Umar has shown no signs of concern -- at least officially. "I don't think it is dangerous for the country... The dangerous part is not what we are getting under CPEC and from China," the incoming finance minister said recently.

Most experts do not expect China will imprudently continue financial assistance. "We do not expect China will provide a lump sum to cover the entire external financing gap," Oxford Economics, a U.K.-based research group, said in a recent report. "The promised 'Islamic welfare state' will need to be pared back until the imminent external financing crisis eases."

China, which has been seeking to secure interests in strategic strongpoints along its so-called new Silk Road via the Belt and Road Initiative, has already won the right to manage Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan. It also acquired management rights over the Port of Hambantota in southern Sri Lanka at the end of 2017.

But the two deals, which were reportedly valued respectively in the tens of millions of dollars and $1.1 billion, were small in comparison with Pakistan's current shortage of foreign exchange reserves.

If China concludes that its financial assistance to Pakistan is not cost-effective, it may come up with similarly tough demands for Pakistan's spending cuts as the IMF is expected to do.

Whichever source of financial assistance Khan chooses, a difficult reality lies ahead for the new prime minister.

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/In...han-faces-tough-choice-Help-from-IMF-or-China

 

[MenInG]

At the end of the day, its Rotee Kapra and Makan! Not health or education it seems

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to reshuffle top federal and provincial bureaucracy under its first 100-day plan, sources informed Geo News.

The strategy was finalised in a top-level huddle chaired by the PTI chief Imran Khan, attended by Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Jahangir Tareen and former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary Arbab Shehzad.

The party's top leadership approved Shehzad's recommendation of changing the chiefs of federal and provincial state institutions, and officers previously appointed on political pressure.

Sources have said that Imran Khan has decided to change the heads of Federal Board of Revenue, NEPRA, Railways, Pakistan International Airlines and a few other institutions.

The PTI has decided to appoint people with expertise in the relevant department within first 100 days of the government. The government will evaluate the performance of its appointee after the 100-day deadline.

PTI 100-day plan

PTI introduced its first 100-day plan a few days before the July 25 general election. PTI leaders spoke about the merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the creation of South Punjab province and giving greater authority to the government in Balochistan, as a part of their plan.

While speaking about economic growth, the incoming finance minister Asad Umar said that the party would create 10 million jobs within five years if their party comes to power.

He said the party would promote the manufacturing industry and pave way for the growth of small and medium enterprises.

Umar also promised they would turn government guest houses into hotels and open them for tourists. Besides, he added, five million houses would also be constructed for the homeless population of the country.

A part of PTI’s agenda would be improving the agriculture sector of the country, promised Tareen.

He said their party would take measures to make agriculture profitable for farmers. Tareen added they would also provide financial help to farmers so that they could become self-sufficient.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/207726-pti-to-reshuffle-top-bureaucracy-under-first-100-day-plan-sources