Breaking news from the land of five rivers! The Punjab government has officially announced with full chest-thumping, dhol-beating, and banner-hanging ceremony that they are “deeply committed” to the all-round development of Punjab. Deeply committed. Like a man who is deeply committed to going to the gym every January 1st and deeply committed to his sofa by January 3rd.
But one dares to ask — where exactly were these champions of development during the last four years? Were they on a spiritual retreat? On a study tour of foreign nations? Or perhaps they were so busy taking selfies at the inaugurations of half-built roads that they simply forgot to actually build them? The people of Punjab waited. And waited. And the potholes got promoted to craters.
Now here comes the most genius part of this grand development saga. The government has been taking loans. Big loans. Loans so big that even your future grandchildren will be paying EMIs on them. And what exactly has been built with these mountains of borrowed money? Some banners. Some announcements. Some press conferences. And of course, the masterpiece of all achievements, more announcements about future announcements.
Here is a thought experiment. Give a sharp sixteen-year-old boy the same loan amount, a notebook, and a basic internet connection. That boy will pave roads, set up water systems, plant trees, and still have money left over for a lassi break. Yet our honourable government, with full machinery, full staff, full salaries, and full loan amounts, has delivered us full… nothing.
The extraordinary thing they have done? Zumlas. Pure, gold-plated, championship-level Zumlas. They have mastered the art of saying everything while doing nothing. They speak of revolution while Punjab’s youth board flights to Canada. They speak of employment while farmers still cry. They speak of water while the rivers run dry from neglect. They speak of education, while government schools resemble haunted buildings.
If promises were bricks, Punjab would have the tallest buildings in Asia by now. If speeches were roads, we would have highways smoother than butter. But promises don’t fill potholes. Speeches don’t pay farmers’ debts. And Zumlas , no matter how passionately delivered, cannot replace actual governance.
So here is a humble request to our deeply committed leaders: Either develop Punjab, or at least develop some shame.