New Delhi: The most popular man in Pakistan today seems to be its army chief General Asim Munir, who is being hailed on social media for ‘rescuing’ the country from its economic crisis. Some are even calling him a ‘symbol of courage, resilience, and unwavering dedication to duty’. This is a pleasant change for Pakistan’s army, which has been fending off one controversy after another since the arrest of former minister Imran Khan.
The hashtag ‘Welldonearmychief’ started trending after Pakistan entered MoUs for investments of 20-25 billion dollars with the UAE on 27 November. The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw its highest single-day-point surge and closed at a 14-month-high on Monday. Even the Pakistani rupee made gains against the dollar.
Though Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar was very much part of the meeting in Abu Dhabi and even made the announcement on national television, it is Munir who is being hailed as a hero. Celebratory posters make no mention of the PM. Munir’s face is dominating media coverage.
Pakistani political analyst and diplomat Zafar Hilaly hailed the signing but believed that there was no reason to credit the army chief. He might have been part of the delegation that went to Abu Dhabi as an important figure of the Pakistan government but it ends there.
“His presence makes no difference and the deal would have been signed, whether or not he was there. It is only the elections that will reveal who is being cheered for,” he said.
Hilaly added that the army chief holds a lot of influence in Pakistan and if he has used it for the recent deal, it is a good thing. He is perhaps being cheered for because Kakar is only a caretaker PM and hasn’t been officially elected.
Pakistani political scientist and author Ayesha Siddiqa agreed.
“He is being hailed because it was Asim Munir’s economic plan and not a political one. He decided to get investments from outside and not wait for local investments to help the economy. The caretaker PM has no political stature except being appointed by the army,” she said.
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Historic deal
Munir’s pictures are splashed across social media platforms and his ‘hard work’ is being extolled.
“Hafiz Syed Asim Munir’s efforts have paved the way for a landmark investment from the UAE, igniting hope for a thriving Pakistan. This historic move will impact generations to come,” an X user wrote.
Another user heaped praises on the “visionary leadership” of the army chief and expressed faith in his ability to “steer Pakistan towards prosperity.”
However, not everyone held the same view. Speaking to journalist Arzoo Kazmi, analyst Sajid Tarar, had a question: If your utensil is leaking, will filling it with water be of any help?
Through the signing of many MoUs, Pakistan and the UAE have cleared the way for multi-billion-dollar investments in various projects listed by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
Following a bilateral meeting, the signing ceremony was held in Abu Dhabi in the presence of Kakar and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Energy, port operations, wastewater treatment, food security, logistics, mining, aviation, banking and financial services, and mining were a few of the areas covered by the MoUs. The agreements, according to a tweet from PM Kakar’s office and the Information Ministry, are an effort to encourage cooperation and substantial investment in these crucial sectors.