Political leaders or subject experts?

Leadership in Pakistan has historically focused more on the optics of projects than on their impact. It is a recurring theme, common among them, to prefer grand, visible projects, often at the expense of essential yet less glamorous infrastructural developments. From Benazir Bhutto to Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, down to General Musharraf, there exists a legacy of costly oversights and disregard for expert opinion.

During her tenure, Benazir Bhutto harboured a fervent desire to inaugurate the Ghazi Barotha project swiftly, owing to rumours that she might be ousted from her office sooner than anticipated. However, a technical expert from WAPDA cautioned against haste, citing the project’s complexity. Bhutto, open-minded in this regard, heeded the advice, showcasing a willingness to prioritize expert counsel over political expediency. This wasn’t an isolated instance of this attribute of hers. My old friend and former secretary, Ghafoor Mirza, has a story that reflects her principled stand against awarding the Murree Expressway project to an underqualified party favoured by Asif Zardari.

But this initial expression of haste for the Ghazi Barotha project was influenced by Nawaz Sharif’s penchant for visible infrastructural developments.

I would usually point out, with each rain, that the drainage problems of Lahore are as permanent as Shehbaz Sharif’s photo-ops in his gumboots

Rauf Klasra

As it is said in Urdu, “jo dikhta hai, woh bikta hai” – what is visible, sells.

Shahbaz Sharif’s era in Punjab took a step further than his brother’s vision, with a deep love for “above-ground” developments, neglecting critical underground infrastructure such as the sewage system. Lahore bore the brunt of this oversight, grappling with perennial waterlogging issues despite the introduction of the Metro Bus and Orange Line train. Despite the glaring inadequacies, Shahbaz remained steadfast in his approach, even while drawing flak from various quarters, including the media where his annual ritual of inaugurations amidst floodwaters, donned in gumboots and a cowboy hat, were often the subject of many talk shows.

In my shows I would usually point out, with each rain, that the drainage problems of Lahore are as permanent as Shehbaz Sharif’s photo-ops in his gumboots. Through years, rain played havoc with the underpasses and sewage lines of Lahore.

The situation was sombre during General Musharraf’s regime, marked by a severe drought that ravaged parts of Balochistan, Thal, and Cholistan. As the crisis escalated in Sindh, Musharraf ordered the release of water from the Tarbela Dam, ignoring warnings from a seasoned official about potential turbine damages due to low water levels and silt. The decision, driven by a lack of understanding of the technical nuances, led to significant damages and a costly recovery, necessitating the assistance of experts from the United States. This episode underscored a true dictatorial governance style characterized by a disregard for expert advice, with the nation bearing the brunt of the repercussions.

It should be kept in mind that if he had been as reasonable about Tarbela as Benazir had been about the sister Ghazi Barotha project, we could have avoided a major damage to our infrastructure for the sake of mere optics.

Many such tales from different eras of Pakistan’s governance paint a vivid picture of the perils of overlooking expert counsel in the pursuit of political gains. While Bhutto’s leadership reflected a reasoned approach, the system has evolved such that it has developed chronic short-sightedness and a tendency towards haste and disregard for expert advice.

Today, more than ever, Pakistan needs policies and planning that are not based on knee-jerk reactions and the greed to inaugurate projects before leaving office.