Powerful business lobbies attempting to influence elections

Lahore: The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday said some influential industrial lobbies are trying to influence the outcome of the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

The highest-spending lobbyists are pumping heavy amounts into political campaigns while most of the money is flowing towards candidates who have helped them earn billions over the last five years, it said.

The attitude of the rulers who favour influential business groups over the national interests is an open secret which speaks of the extraordinary influence these lobbies enjoy over the policy-making process, said Dr Murtaza Mughal, President PEW.

The leading business lobbies view a change after elections as detrimental to their interests as it can result in a policy change jeopardise their bonanza, he added.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that return of those to power who ruled country for five years in the most inefficient and mismanaged way will be unfortunate for the masses and country while it will suit those who made fortunes.

The return of incompetent coalition will also help influential to sweep scams worth tens of billions under the carpet.

Dr Murtaza Mughal said that captive power mafia is significant among those who want PPP back in power. This mafia enjoyed unprecedented benefits during PPP-led coalition and now it enjoys full support of the caretaker government.

Due to full backing of a dual national advisor, the captive power plants are getting gas as much as 83 per cent as compare to petrol which is translating in annual loss of 70 billion rupees to public exchequer.

Installing a private power plant is the only business in Pakistan which offer 80 per cent return on the investment in one year.

Industries are established for production and not for power generation on the cost of country, said Dr Mughal.