Corruption has a long history in the subcontinent. Now it has been stated by the new government that the eradication of corruption from the system is a top priority. Let us look at the history of corruption and the options available to this government. It is said that institutional corruption was started by the British administration in the railways department. Part of the cargo in the trains used to be fresh vegetables and fruits. The senders gave about four annas per lot for transportation to the destination by the first available train. The ‘charge’ was known to the chain of all concerned, up to the top. The pool of money was discreetly divided among all at a pre-set percentage. At the time of independence the system had developed and spread all over. Corruption had become such a deeply rooted malaise that Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah took notice of it in his first speech as the president of the Constituent Assembly. The Quaid said: “One of the biggest curses from which India is suffering — I do not say that other countries are free from it, but, I think our condition is much worse — is bribery and corruption. That really is a poison. We must put that down with an iron hand and I hope that you will take adequate measures as soon as it is possible for this Assembly to do so.” Since then all governments have promised to ‘eliminate’ corruption, but in reality, it has grown fast and big. It is no longer a matter of four annas, it is now a matter of millions and multi-millions in different forms of corruption. Corruption runs in the system as blood runs in our veins. Still the new Prime Minister promises to get rid of it! Almost certainly he will fail, good intentions notwithstanding. I recall that some years ago I was planning to set up an industry and a very experienced chartered accountant advised me to allocate a certain percentage as ‘speed money’. Obviously, this was the money to get the project through and make the files move. The ‘need’ for what we call ‘bribery’ in crude terms is actually ‘speed money’ for efficiency. Or it is used to get a favourable decision for the applicant, irrespective of him deserving it or not. If the stakes are high then huge amounts are involved. I do not need to say that huge amounts of money exchange hands in the process of getting lucrative contracts. Another form is extortion by a person in authority in order to provide a legally valid or invalid relief, like letting a criminal get away, or putting your file on top. There are several other avenues like money-laundering, pursuit of justice, passing examinations, etc. Even human relations are less than honest now. The maximum that the new, in fact, the third time prime minister can possibly do is to restrain his ministers and key bureaucrats. And even that would be an achievement. Unfortunately, we have become a nation that wants short cuts. We do not want to wait for our turn. We do not trust the individuals in the system to give us our turn. We do not care if we edge out the deserving. We feel we are the only deserving ones. There is a combination of ego, insensitivity, selfishness and greed, and the desire to show off. The ‘giver’ and the ‘taker’ both suffer from this sickness. We are a greedy people. We are not poor, we think we are poor. Contentment is lost. For the rich, the more they get, the more they want! Finally, the perfected system of rigging in elections is large scale corruption to cheat the nation. To control corruption, a long term strategy of social reform is needed. Salary structures for the functionaries in government should be rationalized, so that those who still have a conscience are not forced to compromise. The price of efficiency should be officially laid down as the ‘urgent’ fee, so that such fees go to the public exchequer. Some incentive should be given to those who put in extra effort to attain speedy work. Like in the US, paid ‘lobbying’ should be recognised. It should replace sifarash (endorsement). Lobbyists should be clearly known to be lobbying on a taxable payment. It is like lawyers presenting a case. In the education system a new curriculum must be introduced up to class 10. It should focus on social responsibility; literacy; understanding everyday technical work, like domestic electricity repair, plumbing, computers, particularly Urdu and English typing; understanding of Haqooq ullah (rights of God) and Haqooq-ul-Ibad (rights of people), hygiene and food. People should be encouraged to have qana’at instead of greed, and young people should understand right from wrong and be firm about the distinction. There is no doubt most of it needs to be learnt at home, but if the ‘home’ was doing its duty then society would not be so corrupt. If people experience that short cuts are not necessary, and if they take their turn they will get the reward, then the disorderliness and impatience will reduce. We need to learn to stand in the queue, and the queue needs to be respected. The answer to reduction in corruption will only be found with patience and long term planning for a social and moral renaissance. I do not doubt the intent of the politicians in power but I am doubtful about their ability. Anyone who has power also has the ability for coercion, nepotism, favouritism and bribery. Corruption is required even to get your legitimate rights from those who have a measure of power. In our system all politics is for power and not genuinely for service to people. A long time ago, late Justice S A Rahman while travelling with me in the car quoted: “All power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This saying is a historical truth. Can Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif change it? He has almost absolute power. Let us see what he does with ‘power’ and what ‘power’ does to him. (Concluded) The writer is the former CEO Pakistan National Council of the Arts; Chairman Fruit processing Industries; Chairman UNESCO Theatre Institute Pakistan; COO ‘ICTV’ USA, and currently, Senior Vice President APML (Central). He can be reached at naeemtahir37@gmail.com