It is arguably impossible to find a state where the privileged members of a certain class cling to their government-sponsored free perks and privileges till death or in certain cases even after death. Such a phenomenon also exists in Pakistan, where devouring of public resources has been going on neither without any remorse on part of beneficiaries nor on the part of policymakers. However, criticism is mounting on this somewhat unfair allocation of free electricity units and petrol to civil and other top officials, members of judiciary, and employees of power distribution companies amid financial plight. The economic condition is deteriorating day-by-day due to foreign loans and their tight payment schedules while the government is resorting to increasing electricity tariff, making lives of the masses worse. Instead of decreasing its own expenditures and spending on non-development ventures, it has become an easy option for the government to burden the masses with heavy taxes on almost every utility. Quite recently, this unprecedented and unfair spending of resources by privileged ones at the cost of common citizens has prompted the Ministry of Energy to devise a plan to discontinue this practice. A proposal is also on the cards to suspend free petrol for all institutions in the second phase. However, no tangible action has been taken so far. Before criticizing the allocation or discontinuation of these perks to our fellow countrymen belonging to a separate class, one must evaluate justification for these facilities. Do they deserve these amenities in life when a common Pakistani is suppressed with so many problems and struggles hard to keep his body and soul together? What extraordinary achievement has been made by our bureaucracy or judiciary so far? The ranking of our judiciary at the global level vouches for its performance. The dissemination of justice is a far cry in Pakistan.
While the prevailing lawlessness, inflation, administrative lacunas and rampant corruption make bureaucracy answerable instead of winners of these prizes of free petrol and electricity. These are the most educated persons in the society, who have failed to come up with any solution to decrease the sufferings of citizens in their respective fields. Still they claim and use all benefits with impunity. The worsening situation has prompted the public at large to question this unfair usage of resources. Affordability is another reason that demands an end to this discrimination. The burden of national and foreign loans is increasing with each passing day. The government itself cannot afford such luxuries at the cost of foreign loans. One must be surprised that loans are being taken to run government affairs while a certain section is enjoying benefits at the cost of these loans. Besides, judges and bureaucracy, employees of power distribution companies also enjoy free electricity during and after retirement at the expense of common citizens. Reportedly, 15,971 employees from grades 17 to 21 use seven million units of free electricity per month, and 173,200 employees from grades one to 16 of the Power Division use 330mn units of free electricity per month. There is no record that how much burden is borne by consumers of this free electricity in addition to capacity charges being paid to independent power producers. In September 2023, Power Division secretary Rashid Langrial had claimed during a cabinet meeting that the impact of the free electricity facility was less than Rs10 billion a year and, thus, its impact was negligible (on the budget and electricity tariffs). This is not a proper justification for this “generosity” at the public cost.
The amount, allocated for these free resources, might be exceeded the actual budget and could be diverted for better purposes in the larger national interest. By withdrawing these free amenities, the government can set a good example that it is serious in tackling the economic crisis. The government needs to take stringent action now. Officials enjoy these utility and other benefits after retirement and certain individuals are enticed by young women to get married and thus the state continues to pay their pension benefits to their young widows even after their deaths. The award of such perks needs to be attached with the performance of each department. Every official be entitled to such perks on the basis of an extraordinary feat undertaken in the public interest. A criteria needs to be formulated for the award of such benefits to government functionaries. It should not be unlimited rather it should be time bound. The government also needs to come up with a policy that these resources are not devolved on the close relatives unfairly after the death of government servants. Those enjoying these perks also need to spare a thought for those who cannot afford these luxuries. They need to consider the plight of common Pakistanis, who pour their blood, sweat and tears for arranging these resources, which are used without paying a penny. How does morality allows them to devour these resources without any remorse? Instead of the government, these officials need to withdraw undue perks and privileges voluntarily for the sake of common Pakistanis. All utilities and benefits should be reasonable and not unlimited. A government officer is entitled to certain benefits which commensurate with his or her services keeping in view the country’s economic conditions. Too much spending on luxuries for a certain class while depriving common citizens of health and education facilities cannot be justified at any cost. This must come to an end now.