Some of them are ex-bureaucrats who have played a major role in creating the problems for which they are proposing “solutions”. For example this ‘opinion’ piece from someone who has worked in Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Steel Mills and also worked very closely with PPP governments (famously ‘speech writer’ for Bhutto and ‘on special assignments’ to US embassy for Benazir)
Should these be considered culprits or consultants?
The railways as a metaphor | Opinion | DAWN.COM
I began my civil service career in the late ’60s with PR’s finance department. At that time, the track from Lahore to Khanewal had been electrified and the Karachi circular train was about to be launched… … As I rose up the ladder, I was allotted the biggest house I have ever lived in, before or since. One could swim, play tennis or golf virtually free of cost at the subsidised clubs run by the organisation for its officers…
Thus, Pakistan Steel, the country’s biggest industrial enterprise, did very well behind high tariff barriers…As its finance director, I recall the constant sense of crisis that hung over this enterprise as we struggled to keep it going…
…The national airline, too, is in freefall. Again, its golden era was before foreign carriers were allowed to compete for traffic. Over the years, successive governments have forced their appointed CEOs to recruit party supporters…
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And then there are ‘journalists’ writing ‘opinion pieces’ in the manner and tone of an application for job… e.g.
Capital suggestion…Dear Mian Sahib - Dr Farrukh Saleem
…Sir, loadshedding is a mere symptom of a disease called the cancer of theft. Saudi Arabia can provide us truckloads of Panadol Extra Strength but Panadol is a pharmaceutical analgesic – a pain reliever. Sir, China can provide us trainloads of Aspro Clear Extra Strength but Aspro Clear Extra Strength is an antipyretic – a fever reducer. Panadol and Aspro can only depress symptoms, but do nothing to the disease. Sir, you are the only one who has to fight the cancer…
I counted 17 ‘sirs’ in the above ‘suggestion’.
Don’t they have any shame? Holding an opinion on something is a right but this is like viruses prescribing medicine for your treatment.