Prime Minister Imran Khan says the government has no magic wand to bring about the promised change in five years. In his opinion this limited constitutional term is insufficient for planning big development projects. 

At a ceremony in the Punjab capital on Friday, he said in parliamentary democracy, elections are held every five years due to which big and long-term development projects may not be planned.

He claimed that bringing about a magical change in five years is not possible in any part of the world. 

He said no country could secure a prosperous future by making planning for five years, but long-term projects are needed for national development and prosperity.  

This is the second time the prime minister has talked about the inadequacy of the constitutional term of a government. While making such remarks he should bear in mind the length of terms of governments in other countries.  

Many say that the prime minister’s ‘carefree’ remarks are admission of the failure of his government to deliver on its commitments during its first half term. 

Most people are of the view that the performance of the PTI government has been quite disappointing and it has established beyond doubt that Prime Minister Khan is not a visionary leader, no matter what his party men and other sycophants say. 

Had this not been the case he would not have raised the power tariff thrice in three days – by Rs4.31 per unit- or to Rs16.33 per unit on an average. Consumers using as less as 50 units will also feel the heat of the decision. 

The frequent raises during the PTI rule have made the electricity unaffordable for most of the people who had supported Imran Khan’s party during the 2018 elections. 

Of course, there are also many people for whom power will be cheaper and affordable even at the rate of Rs100 a unit. 

But for the common man of limited resources the use of electricity through lawful means has now become impossible. 

It appears that the PTI government is trying to ‘electrocute’ the masses through electricity. Yes, in the prevailing circumstances electrocution is the only effective use of power. 

Now more people will be left with no option but to strike deals with the respective linemen and other officers to steal electricity. WAPDA employees will be making money through such corrupt practices, depriving the exchequer of the estimated benefit. 

Many argue that a leader who has to raise power rates so frequently, turning a blind eye to the political consequences, is left with little justification of talking about long-term planning for the country. 

Without exaggeration, the PML-N and the PPP who ruled the country alternately for five years each before the 2018 elections and which are reviled by the PTI leadership day in and day out for leaving countless problems behind, had not made people’s survival so difficult as during the current rule. Whether they were corrupt or not, they were not so cruel to people. They knew that their future would be bleak if they lost public support for one reason or the other. 

If the PTI government is aware of the ground realities, it should know that prices of essential items have already gone beyond the reach of the common man. 

The recent raise in the salaries of government employees would further push up the prices, adding to people’s difficulties. 

If these are the policies the PTI government has to follow, and if this is the ‘solution’ of people’s problems, it is hard to understand the need for the prime minister and chief ministers to maintain an army of ministers, state ministers, advisers and special assistants. 

The premier should not forget that so far his government has grossly disappointed the public at large. The government’s flawed policies have shattered people’s dreams, leaving little justification for them to support the PTI in the next elections. Many people have already admitted in media interviews that they are repenting for supporting the PTI in the 2018 elections.  

The upcoming local government elections – and then the general elections whenever they are held – will make it clear how people at large view the performance of the Imran government.