The Price Of Politics.

Last week, the government of Pakistan and the European Union on Thursday launched the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP), covering the period 2021-2027 with an initial grant of 265 million Euros earmarked for at least three years. The MIP is a collaborative programme aimed at enhancing cooperation in the areas of the Strategic Engagement Plan such as economic, social, and environmental sustainability, energy, the rule of law, good governance and human rights. However, the initial MIP programme report does not paint a rosy picture-and the way politics are being practised in the country right now, this programme may not have a successful outcome, damaging our future opportunities for collaborations and partnerships.

According to the report, support to Pakistan under the MIP this year will be delivered in three following priority areas: green inclusive growth; human capital; and governance, including the rule of law and human rights. However, the European Union pointedly observed that politics in Pakistan is highly partisan, with little cooperation and compromise solutions between the government and parliament despite three elections and two peaceful transitions between civilian governments since 2008. The...