Question:

If Jamaat-e-Islami comes to power or avails a position to affect decisions, how is it going to tackle inflation and the rising cost? Not to use empty words that inflation will be undone, a meaningful and clear cut answer be given?

Answer:

Let us see, what is the basic cause of high costs? Industrial units stay closed down. Per acre production in agriculture is minimal. Prices of the raw material have gone up. Finished goods are in short supply. Prices of the essential inputs like electricity, fertilizer and petrol and those of the basic human needs like food and medicine have sky-rocketed. The country’s wealth has flown out. The public departments and institutions do not perform their duties. If some foreign investor visits Pakistan, the concerned minister would first demand his share in kick-backs. Some ex-patriate Pakistani capitalist would plead that he has brought in foreign exchange and investment so that the country progresses and production and employment are enhanced. The concerned authority, the advisor and the state functionary would tell him: "hell with the nation, the country, the production and the progress; tell me my commission". In short, the rampant corruption and bribery have disheartened all local and foreign investors and compelled them to leave Pakistan. If corruption is truly uprooted; the thieves — big or small — are caught and subjected to meaningful accountability; through the education and proper use of media, people are concientized and persuaded to follow honesty and fair-dealing, then the public institutions will also get corrected. If punishments as enjoined in the Islamic shariah are strictly enforced, the law and order situation will be back to normal. That in turn will enhance investment, establishment of industrial units and production and abundant supply of commodities. The result will be reduction in the prices of consumer’s goods and capital goods. The present day high cost of living will soon be an old and forgotten story.

We firmly believe, that given the ‘authority’ Jama’at-e-Islami can eliminate corruption by applying an iron-hand and get back the looted national wealth. It is not at all difficult to uproot the theft of electricity, because we know where and how much electricity is generated and supplied to the consumers.

We need to think and ascertain reasons that, when our people go abroad they set examples of honesty, intelligence and hard work. But back in their country, they alter and get miserable? What is the cause that Malaysia which got freedom later than us has progressed far much better? We lag behind because of dishonesty and corruption. So, we are not uttering empty words, but are proposing a meaningful and workable solution. Insha’Allah, our period of governance will be one of complete justice, equity and prosperity.

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