DAWN Editorials - 25th March 2025

[zarnishhayat]

Shortcut tactics

THE IMF is reported to have blocked a government move to ‘substantially’ slash retail electricity prices, pre-empting the announcement of the cut the prime minister was supposed to have made in his Pakistan Day address. Resultantly, consumers, particularly low-middle-income households battered by runaway inflation, were not only denied the promised relief of Rs8 per unit of electricity, they have been further burdened with a per litre increase of Rs10 in the petroleum levy.

A report in this paper says that a plan was shared with the IMF staff mission, during the recently concluded performance review of the Fund’s $7bn loan, for an approximately Rs2 per unit tariff reduction on account of ‘savings’ from the revision of power purchase contracts with a group of selected IPPs. As an afterthought, the authorities had increased the petroleum levy to a maximum of Rs70 to divert the additional revenues to maximise relief in power tariffs.


That the lender is reviewing, if not making, crucial decisions shows how much this country has come to rely on it for loans, thanks to decades of bad policy choices and elite greed. True, this kind of ‘oversight’ by a global lender appears to be intrusive, and impinges on sovereignty. But in the context of states where ruling elites habitually ditch reforms to make politically motivated, selfish policy choices for their own economic and financial benefit, it may be a necessary compromise.

On the face of it, the IMF’s decision to veto the move to reduce retail power tariffs seems to be against the interests of middle-class consumers whose electricity bills have outpaced their home rental rates following the 18pc increase last July as a prior action for agreement with the lender for its support to the wobbly economy. The IMF has not only blocked the tariff reduction move; it has also stopped policymakers from cutting federal transaction taxes on real estate, which the government is desperate to implement to please the powerful property tycoons.

The base prices of electricity have risen by more than 150pc since 2021. We have expensive electricity because of several factors, including but not limited to transmission and distribution inefficiencies, power theft, rampant corruption in and mismanagement of distribution companies, over-dependence on imported fossil fuels for generation, the absence of a competitive energy market, low penetration of renewable solar and wind energy and unviable power purchase agreements. While the government’s effort to reduce power prices is commendable given the impact on the public and small businesses, the attempts to slash one burden and increase the other is not a sound policy choice. Long-term, sustainable tariff reduction demands that policymakers address the deep-seated structural issues plaguing the power sector rather than finding shortcuts to please the electorate for political gains.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2025


Unforced error

THE state is understandably keen on neutralising the threat posed by various militant and terrorist outfits, but it must be careful that it does not end up antagonising the civilian population in the process.

As the situation in Balochistan slowly spirals out of control, there is a need to realise that years of bad policies have led to the recent security failures in the province. Blunt tools like lawfare and police brutality cannot address the province’s myriad challenges.

In his March 23 speech, President Asif Ali Zardari noted that the objective behind the creation of Pakistan was to establish a welfare state based on the principles of equality, justice and the rule of law. It is these principles that must be evident as the state strategises how it must defeat those who do not believe in the idea of Pakistan.

Unfortunately, recent actions show that the authorities are far from the right track. The decision to arrest and book Dr Mahrang Baloch, chief organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, along with 150 others on serious charges is unreasonable and will only stoke further trouble.


The BYC has now become a provincial phenomenon because its message of nonviolent but persistent protest has resonated well among ordinary people tired of state excesses. The movement has been led by women in a province where women have traditionally been confined to very limited spaces in society. This is quite extraordinary and should have been taken seriously from the start as a sign of the Baloch people’s commitment to fighting for their rights without resorting to violent means.

Instead, the state continued to treat the BYC with contempt, and it has now charged its leadership with terrorism, murder, incitement to rebellion and promoting racial hatred, among other things, over one admittedly ill-advised protest.


From the Baloch perspective, does this not reinforce the perception that no matter what they do, they will be treated as antagonists by the state? Does this not play right into the hands of those who want to see Balochistan isolated, and its people alienated from the rest of the country?

The state must not push ordinary citizens away with its excesses. It must not let terrorists provoke it into making bigger mistakes. The fight against militancy needs to be won in hearts and minds as well.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2025


Losing again

WHEN Pakistan’s high-risk Twenty20 approach did not work, there was no fallback plan and they collapsed in a heap against New Zealand in the crucial fourth game of the series on Sunday. Riding on the momentum of their victory in the previous game, Pakistan had gone into the match looking to level the five-game rubber against the hosts. This time, though, they were undone by New Zealand’s disciplined bowling, meaning the ‘intent’ promised by the Pakistan team management and skipper Salman Ali Agha produced the desired result in just one of the four games. The team’s approach during the New Zealand series has been largely based on going after every ball. It paid off when young opener Hasan Nawaz hit a record-breaking century in a big chase for Pakistan in the third game. That, though, was the only game where he made an impact. In the first two matches of his international career, Hasan had ducks. He scored just one on Sunday. His opening partner Mohammad Haris, who also sparkled in just the third T20, has scored zero, 11, 41 and two. There should be no denying their promise but in three of the four games, the duo failed in their attempt to fire up Pakistan’s innings. Apart from the captain, no other batter in the middle or lower order has shown consistency. Game awareness has been rare; it has been either boom or bust. Sadly, the latter has been more frequent.

Some critics have dismissed Pakistan’s approach as mindless slogging. Pakistan went into the series with a new-look squad, giving opportunities to younger players as they look to build for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup. Now, it is back to the drawing board. With the result of the series not in doubt, Salman and his men have the chance to perhaps start with a fresh mindset and a better approach in the fifth and final T20 against New Zealand on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2025