America Diary: Washington's Worries (The Express Tribune with The International Herald Tribune)
CGD Pakistani journalist event was mentioned in The Express Tribune/ IHT
From the Article
I have often wondered what it would be like if the US stopped all aid to Pakistan.
At a discussion held in the Centre for Global Development in Washington DC, the talk was all about how Pakistan can better utilise American aid. There is talk about a cash-on-delivery system – which I will call the McDonald’s model of aid disbursement – whereby cash will be paid once the Pakistani government shows results.
But I have often wondered why is it that the US is keen to give aid to Pakistan despite the fact that the Pakistani government almost never tries to ensure fiscal discipline that the donors yearn for.
Let us take our taxation system. Every month a hefty amount is taken from my pay package. Why can’t most Pakistanis pay tax? All you have to do is get everyone to give their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) number when making payments. Gather all the data and you have a fair idea of what the person is spending.