Daily Times

The ruling elite has always claimed that they are die hard proponents of welfare of common people. They are going through sufferings to get a chance to serve the people and marginalized communities. They are running campaigns to highlight their achievements in service of humanity. TV screens and media outlets are full of their words of wisdom and painful statements for people. We can spend hours and hours to watch and listen them. Unfortunately, every player of ruling elite claim that they were not given full chance to serve or are facing hindrance from others.

The good news is that the golden chance for all members of ruling elite is here. The COVID-19 has provided them opportunity to serve the people. People are suffering. They are losing jobs and livelihood opportunities. They have limited or no resources to buy essentials. Food availability is biggest problem. They are looking toward the rich and powerful circles to help them. Now the ruling elite can capture the moment and fulfill their dream of service of people.

There are different ways and proposals which can help ruling class to devise their strategies for implementing better methods of service. Although all players must contribute but politicians, as the biggest champion of people among the ruling elite, can take lead. They spend millions of millions during their election campaigns. They also contribute generously to party fund to run the party’s campaign. They try to visit every home and go for door to door campaign to ensure that they get the vote. They tell the people that they are taking these hardships to get a chance to serve them. Hence now is high them for them to come forward and prove their commitment.

Political parties should take lead and devise formula of contribution. The members of parties should be asked to contribute and make it mandatory. One option can be that political parties tag a price to each and every ticket for each constituency at all levels, national, senate, provisional and local. It will help to collect handsome money.

There are 342 national assembly seats including the special seats. Political parties should tag a price of 100 million on each seat and ask the aspirants to give donation equivalent to 100 million. There are three to four major candidates on each seat from leading parties including PTI, PPPP, PML-N, JUI-F, JI, MQM, or PML-Q etc. Let’s apply the formula by considering on average there are three candidates (it can be more) on each seat. In this way parties can collect 102 billion PKR. If we apply same formula on Senate and Provincial assemblies then parties can collect 122 billion and 31 billion respectively. In this way parties can collect 246 billion PKR. If parties claim they also give tickets to less privilege people or people with meager resources, then it can be adjusted. Assume that there are 15 percent candidates with lower resources then the new figure would be 210 billion PKR.

The collection formula can be expanded to other sections of the ruling elite. They can also contribute good amount, as there are many filthy rich among them.

Although all players must contribute but politicians, as the biggest champion of people among the ruling elite, can take lead

Although it can help to collect good financial resources, but it is not in discussion at any level. Unfortunately, the whole debate is focused on the government spending or actions. Despite the fact the everybody know that Pakistan does not have much resources everyone is busy devising strategies for government. Though governments at all levels are struggling hard to find resources, but success rate is very low. The prevailing situation give rise to a question, why ruling class talks about the tax money of people? Why they are not willing to spend on people from their own resources?

If the ruling elite think that spending of tax money of people on people is a big achievement, then they are terribly wrong. People understand it very well that it is their own money and ruling elite is only making decision to distribute. There is nothing from their own pockets or from their own resources. People also very well understand that the cuts imposed on government servants’ salary is again people’s money. Therefore, people are looking towards the leaders and political parties. They are expecting that their political leadership will come forward and help them. All parties can learn from China. On 19 February, Central committee of party issue a call for the donation. It was astonishing to note that within one day 1.18 billion yuan were donated by party members.

In Pakistan parties can also learn from Jamaat Islami, how they are contributing. They are offering services to humanity on wider scale. They are providing medical assistance through a well-developed medical set up. They are also providing food to marginalized community through the well-trained volunteers. MQM is also applying the same model but at a limited scale. The efforts are bringing good name for the both parties. It is good model which can be replicated by other parties.

Lastly, all actors of ruling elite need to understand that the world is changing. We are living in age of information and nothing can hide. People know that most of the players of elite are filthy rich. A simple review of assets can tell the true story. Their life style and spending on election campaigns can further strengthen the argument. Hence People cannot be satisfied by hollow slogans or promises. They need and demand solid evidences and examples. Now it’s time for them to prove that they are real well-wisher of people and ready to spend their own resources to help people. Otherwise, people understand very well that to spend from tax money of people is not big deal or service of people. If ruling class understands that and start to invest on people, it would be really a great favor to themselves.

The writer is Director, Asia and China Study Center, SDPI