DAWN Editorials - 26th May 2025

[zarnishhayat]

Straight to the top

NO summit seems beyond reach for Naila Kiani. She is now a mere two peaks away from making history. In so many ways, she already has. In terms of ascents, Naila is Pakistan’s leading woman mountaineer. Her summit of Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain, last week means she has now scaled 12 of the world’s 14 peaks over 8,000m. Only 17 women have conquered all and Naila is on the point of having her name etched in the record books. But that is not all. Naila has broken stereotypes and barriers for women mountaineers in the country. As a mother of two, she has shown incredible grit to go far and beyond. She started her mountaineering career in 2021; at a more advanced age than her counterparts. Instead of setting easier targets at the start of her climbing journey, she aimed for the very top.

Upon scaling Kanchenjunga, she said it was a message to Pakistan’s women to realise their strength. Naila has previously said she had to face questions from society over pursuing mountaineering full time. With each successful ascent, she has given an emphatic answer — being a shining example for women empowerment in the country. According to her, though, her journey has just started and it is a mission that goes beyond scaling the world’s highest peaks. Naila has been made the goodwill ambassador for girls’ education by the federal education ministry and is aiding the cause for women’s empowerment through sports in the country. Her daring feats have also earned her the Sitara-i-Imtiaz — one of the country’s highest civilian accolades. Naila has been a trailblazer for women mountaineers in the country and as she goes for her final two eight-thousanders — the Dhaulagiri and Shishapangma — it must be ensured that she has all the support that she requires. After all, it is not just a personal milestone but a matter of pride for the country as well.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2025


Last mile?

WITH the national tally of polio cases rising to 10 following two new confirmations in KP, Pakistan’s ambition to eliminate the virus by year’s end faces a sobering reality check. Though there has been some progress — marked by better campaigns, declining vaccine refusals, and closer coordination — the virus’s persistence in high-risk zones demands sharper, more focused action in the months ahead. The federal health minister’s renewed pledge, reaffirmed during his meeting with Gates Foundation officials, reflects resolve. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s direct involvement through regular high-level reviews adds political heft to the campaign. But political will must now translate into verifiable, ground-level results. The nationwide anti-polio campaign, set for May 26 to June 1, is a crucial test of that commitment.

Each province has ambitious plans: Punjab is targeting over 23m children and has warned of strict action against data manipulation or underperformance. Sindh aims to vaccinate 10.6m children, focusing on persuading parents who decline vaccination to reconsider, and enhanced accountability. KP, where eight of the 10 confirmed cases have occurred, is deploying over 35,000 workers to reach 7.3m children — though southern districts like Lakki Marwat and Bannu remain difficult due to restricted access, insecurity, and local mistrust. Balochistan is aiming to vaccinate more than 2.6m children across the province. In addition to polio drops, children will receive Vitamin A supplements to boost immunity. The campaign’s success, provincial health officials stress, will depend heavily on community support and the engagement of teachers, religious leaders and civil society. However, outreach efforts in some areas remain complicated by security concerns and difficult terrain, which have in the past hindered access to remote communities and put front-line workers at risk. To truly end polio, the authorities must ensure detailed, community-level planning — identifying every child, mapping remote and high-risk areas, and deploying teams with precise, supervised routes to leave no child unvaccinated. Misinformation must be countered through trusted religious figures, medical professionals and digital influencers. Cold-chain maintenance, especially during extreme heat, must be ensured. With Eid approaching and population movement set to increase, the timing of this campaign is critical. Pakistan has the tools and support it needs. What is required now is relentless focus, honest reporting and unified resolve. The last mile is often the hardest — but it is also the most decisive.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2025


Budget delay

THE government has delayed the announcement of the budget for the next fiscal year by a little over a week to June 10, presumably due to lingering differences with the IMF over certain expenditure proposals the lender thinks could undermine progress on its $7bn funding programme.

For its part, the government considers the contested expenditures critical to providing relief to the middle class, which is burdened with heavy taxes and elevated cost of living, as well as to strengthening Pakistan’s military defences against India. After multiple inconclusive rounds of discussions on the budget proposals for the coming year, the IMF mission left the country, agreeing to continue talks on tax measures and expenditures virtually over the next week.

Following its visit, the lender issued a statement calling the discussions with Pakistani authorities on the “budget proposals and broader economic policy, and reform agenda supported by the 2024 Extended Fund Facility and the 2025 Resilience and Sustainability Facility” constructive. It said that the authorities had “reaffirmed their commitment to fiscal consolidation while safeguarding social and priority expenditures, aiming for a primary surplus of 1.6pc of GDP” during the next fiscal year. It said that the “discussions focused on actions to enhance revenue — including by bolstering compliance and expanding the tax base — and prioritise expenditure”.

The difference of opinion on higher allocations for defence following India’s unprovoked aggression and on certain tax relief measures for the salaried class is not something to fret over. Previously too, we have seen both sides disagreeing on fiscal measures before finding middle ground. The IMF mission head’s statement also does not indicate any major gap between the two sides on the budget proposals.

The Fund probably wants the government to cover all the bases through additional revenue measures to absorb the impact on its budget left by any tax relief and increase in defence spending. The government must continue on the path of sound macroeconomic policy and fiscal consolidation to protect its fragile recovery that remains vulnerable to potential slippages on account of, for instance, pressure from the real estate lobby for tax breaks and exogenous shocks.

Indeed, the government is under a lot of political stress from various segments of the population and industry to provide some kind of relief and push growth. Going forward, the pressure will increase and the political leadership may find it difficult to resist the temptation of creating a feel-good atmosphere in the country.

The question is: is it in a position to break free from the IMF’s conditions? It can hardly afford this. Living off multilateral funds and loan rollovers by friendly countries as it is doing at the moment, Pakistan is at a critical juncture and must carefully weigh every step it takes.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2025