Spending spree.

THERE can be little argument with the fact that Pakistan's economy is in dire straits; as most economists of repute have observed, unless the state takes immediate and decisive steps for course correction, default and financial chaos will be our lot. Yet the PDM administration seems to be living in some alternative universe where the financial management of the state is concerned. Instead of belt-tightening, the government is lavishing funds on lawmakers, most likely with an eye on the elections. As reported, the cabinet's Economic Coordination Committee on Wednesday approved an additional amount of Rs20bn for lawmakers in the name of the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme. Under this scheme, ruling coalition lawmakers get Rs500m each, ostensibly to implement civil works in their constituencies that will contribute to the SDGs. But instead of sustainable development, these lavish handouts will sustain many a political career among the ranks of government loyalists.

It is odd why a government that launched a much-trumpeted (and failed) austerity campaign earlier this year is doling out such large amounts of money when it only has a few more months - constitutionally, at least - in power, and when the coffers are empty. Perhaps if the national treasury were flush with cash, a...