Statement
for DAWN - Lahore/
57
Lahore
:
20.4.57
Statement
to the Press by Major A. Ghani, M.L.A., East
Pakintan.
After I have observed the economic
condition of East and West Pakistan, I am of the same opinion of Mr. Nur Ahmed
Ex-M.C.A. Chittagong that Govt should immediately set up an 'Economic Enquiry
Commission' (i) to find out the reasons of shooting up of prices of essential
commodities such as fish, flour, eggs,
veg, mutton, milk, fruits-green and dry rice and wheat, condiment and mustard
oil etc. (ii) to find out the causes of economic crisis in East Pakistan and to
(iii) suggest ways and means to remedy the causes.
As an East Pakistani I have a fair
idea of economic condition of common men there and during my tour in West
Pakistan I have been observing that the fate of the common men both in East and
West Pakistan in the same. It is only very fortunate few-who have flourished
and will continue to do so as they feel that "self first, country and
people last", That is "make the hay while the sun shines"-
Who are they ?
After careful study of the economic
conditions in Pakistan
and specially of East Pakistan, I strongly
feel that unless Government takes some drastic steps immediately to remedy the
causes responsible for such economic crisis, a situation may arise which will be beyond the
controlling capacity of any Government. When our people are grappling in
economic hardship they do not find any ray of hopes from the political loaders
who are busy in playing "game of chess in politics". We are confused,
common man is confused to see the elected representative changing parties and cross the floor for his
own selfish end without any reference to his people from where he draws his
power. That is why we are all frustrated today. Since politics and economics
are interlined, the fate of the common man will never change unless there is
"clean politics".
Regarding economic condition common
people in East Pakistan I would like to take
this opportunity of enlightening my brothers and sisters in West
Pakistan the actual condition as it stands today. There are few
factors working to shatter our national economy and ultimately strike at our
very existence. There are few fortunates amongst us both in East and West Pakistan, who are also getting rich at the cost of
the common people.
The economic condition of people in
general and particularly in flood effected areas in East
Pakistan is really alarming. During the last few years flood
people have exhausted all their resources just to maintain their very existence.
The food situation has not improved at all rather has aggravated due to failure
of Rabi crops and unsatisfactory yield of Boro crops for want of timely rain.
People have nothing to stand behind and fall back upon. Price of rice is
between Rs.35/40 per ma und. The future is really dark and grim-economically,
socially, politically and ideologically, what next ?
East Pakistan
economy has adversely affected due to drainage of wealth, out of that area by
various ways and means including smuggling of all commodities of indigenous and
imported goods into Bharat amounting to Rs. 50 to 70 crores every year.
All the traders, business community,
industrialists, doctors and pleaders, they send all their earning out of East Pakistan. Another factor which should be considered
is the unusual difference of prices of various commodities between Karachi and Dacca. Consumers in East Pakistan can be saved from the exploitation of the
black marketers and the profiteers, If the daily market rates are published
both in Karachi
and Dacca. I
would request to our national newspapers to save the common man from
exploitation by publishing daily market reports at Karachi and Narayanganj or Chittagong.
Finally I like to appeal to the Prime
Minister and Finance Minister of Pakistan to immediately set up the
Commission which will be also in position to clear many misunderstanding
between East and West Pakistan. I also like to
draw the attention of the President Major General Iskandar Mirza in this connection.
To
The
Dawn
Lahore
