“Miracle or an instant solution. People are clueless regarding their expectations from a new government. What did they think was going to happen? That Imran Khan is going to take two people from every household, give them a job, and end employment in Pakistan? Things take time, a new system takes time, but what people have are unrealistic expectations.”
As I start writing this morning, I remember the words of the driver who at the moment is working for someone in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government, and had previously worked for folks in the governments of Nawaz Sharif, Yousaf Raza Gillani and General (Retd.) Pervez Musharraf. I was in Islamabad last week for a TEDx conference, and stayed on for a couple of days during which I came across many people, this wise driver being one of them. What struck me the most during my conversations with the self-important, some actually important, and some-who-wish-to-be-important folks residing in the political power centre of Pakistan, the gorgeous, hill-encircled Islamabad: tabdeeli, the change.
No, this is not a superficial comment on the obvious reality of the presence of a new government in Islamabad. It is simply the most noteworthy observation from my trip to the city that has so many powerful people doing important things in its majestic buildings and having food and green tea at all hours in its fancy Serena and Marriott and overpriced cafes that the word change should seem like an unwanted, irritating guest at a family and friends-only cosy dinner. Tabdeeli (change), the tagline of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, is what has changed in the city that remains, arrogant and smug, apparently unalterable despite the change of faces and parties in the Prime Minister House. The reality of Khan becoming the face of the change he promised is not more prominent anywhere than in the words of people who work for him, have started to work for him, and will be working for him.
What is significant is that as they start to work for the government of Pakistan, it is because of Imran Khan that many of those disillusioned to the point of being bitter seem to have a renewed interest in working for the betterment of that one entity that has given them their most invaluable sense of identity: Pakistan. In Khan’s leadership what they see, beyond his apparent inexperience at the initiation of his resuming the most important position in the country, and his few errors of governmental judgement, is the singular focus to invest the best of capabilities, strategies and vision to rebuild a Pakistan that stands at the precipice of an economic and infrastructural collapse. Most major state institutions are in disarray, their finances in deep red.
The challenges are huger than what they appear to be, and the restoration may take many, many years, but what is crystal clear in Pakistan today is that contrary to the self-serving, myopic and reactive policies of the most of the previous prime ministers and a couple of presidents, Khan’s plan for Pakistan is beyond self, is long term and proactive. Working long hours every day, Khan’s insistence on being a hands-on prime minister who is in communication with the nation, and is aware of the work of all his ministers and advisers, is reflective of his core principles: work for his country, and be answerable to his country. Everyone around him has a deep awareness and appreciation of Khan’s work-for-Pakistan mantra, and despite the presence of many old faces from other parties in Khan’s government on different levels, what has changed is their belief towards their leadership: Khan is not in government for any self-serving gains, material or otherwise, and his short and long-term concern, worry, dream, goal, journey, daily work and destination is one: a better Pakistan.
You see this belief in the eyes of the graceful gentleman in his 60s who leaving his very comfortable life in a western country has moved to Pakistan to take charge of a state institution that is in shambles. You hear this belief in the words of the affluent businessman, a Pakistani residing in a Middle Eastern state, who responding to Khan’s call for help has shifted to Islamabad to put in order another state organisation that is in need of a major overhauling. You notice this belief in the enthusiasm of an academic who quit his very comfortable job in the US to work in Khan’s government. You perceive this belief in the smiling face of a jaded bureaucrat who postponing his plan of retirement is working for a state institution the entire infrastructure of which is more bad news than most on any given day. You sense this belief in the self-assurance of military professionals who working ad hoc for Khan’s government are convinced of bringing back to glory another national institution that is in a state of inordinate disarray. You observe this belief in the calm demeanour of a non-resident Pakistani who despite constant criticism on his appointment is quietly doing substantial work to bring in foreign investments and rebrand Pakistan in the international business community.
It is not one person, it is not one institution. It is everywhere. It is a renewed sense of doing something real to make a change in things that seem to be stuck in a dismal, bleak cycle of sameness of inefficiency, corruption and unsatisfactory results. It is a long, arduous, at times disappointing, sometimes painful, consistent and never-say-die process of belief, vision, planning, overseeing, implementation, functioning, results, transparency and accountability. From highlighting the work of his government’s 100-day agenda to the reviewing of the work of his cabinet, from resigning of ministers under investigation to constant interaction with media, Khan’s government is not merely about rhetoric. Walking the talk, Khan’s tabdeeli and his government is action-oriented, result-based, long-term, and open to checks and balances.
One day at a time, Prime Minister Imran Khan, focused and working, is all set to make Pakistan the country its 220 million, irrespective of their faith, ethnicity, financial background, political affiliation and ideological orientation, would be proud to call their own. Khan’s dream is a Pakistan that no one, for any reason, would ever have to leave forever, to only return when the leader they believe in ask them to.
