Elite capture.

Now international lenders, who in the past avoided airAing their views on the Pakistani economy, are openly calling a spade a spade. The IMF represenAtatives continue to repeat their reAsolve in public that the Pakistani government(s) should tax untaxed sectors. The World Bank country director was more candid while passing scathing comments about powerful vested interests, includAing the military and political elite, not allowing reforms.

One reason that lenders and doAnors are openly making their resAervations public is that they have been highly criticized by the meAdia, and a public perception has been developed that the present pathetic plight of common PakiAstanis is due to the policies of the IMF and World Bank. Thus, these institutions are fed up with the non-compliance of the agreements by various governments.

The...