Document page
economics sectionPDF 45
47 pagesrevision 9084
PDF 45
Page image rendered from the stored file at 110 dpi; it sharpens as you zoom. Outlines are placed from each region’s stored position on the page (596 × 842 pt).
readable
Source of this text: embedded text layer. The better of the embedded text and OCR is kept.
On the negative outlook people have regarding Pakistan’s economic situation
and the need for hope:
I think if you lose hope, it’s very devastating for a nation.
But the reality of resilience of nations or people is that there are some people who
face those hardships and give up, just kind of wait for someone to rescue them, and
there are some people who look at those hardships and decide that there is no
choice but to move forward.
But what that decision will be, fundamentally I feel like it’s also what your aspirations
and your hopes are. If you are at all hopeful, you are able to get back on your feet, to
be optimistic about the future. And my concern is that that resilience may be
challenged by a mood. And that, I think, collectively we need to create. You have to
celebrate. You don’t need big stories. I mean, it’s amazing that Hamza Khan won the
squash championship. But you know, if that’s the only story we can tell, that’s not
enough. But, maybe a story of some person you have seen on the street, someone
who’s not so fancy, but they achieved something, made something of themselves.
These are stories we should celebrate, they sound like small stories.
Bhatti Sahab was a photographer, now his son is photographing us. He’s continuing
a tradition that his father set up for us. That’s an amazing story. You have a family
legacy, that you are continuing with, and introducing innovations in.
You know, sometimes celebrating the small collectively makes a big deal. And that’s
what I’d like us to do. I want us to consciously think about how we can revive hope,
because it has a huge positive effect. When that hope revives, even if it is somewhat
naïve in the beginning, it will create a positive impetus. And that begins to generate
movement. And I don’t think you need major things to create that hope. I think small
things can create hope. Think about your own life, sometimes you’re in a great
mood. And you should ask yourself what made the difference. And sometimes, the
difference is something very small, someone smiled at you and paid you a
compliment, that Wali yaar, you made a good point. Mikail, that was a very good
comment. You feel chuffed, you walk around happy. These are small things.
Teachers can do it, parents can do it, friends can do it, random strangers can do it.
Those are small acts of generosity, I don’t think they cost anything. And I think they
create just a bit of a positive energy. It just lightens the mood.
On IMF agreements, inflation and economic hardships:
You should be asking, whenever you borrow any money, what are you doing with it?
If that money is not being productively invested, why are you taking it? Pakistan’s