New Delhi — In an interview with the Times of India, former Singapore diplomat and ex‑ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. Kumar R. Sharma, said that Pakistan’s political class has become “a waste of time” and that the country’s leadership appears disengaged, famously remarking “Madam is sleeping.” Sharma, who served in Islamabad from 2016 to 2020, argued that chronic governance failures and the perpetual jockeying for power have left the nation in a state of inertia.
Sharma’s comments came as Pakistan grapples with a stalled economy, rising inflation, and ongoing tensions with neighboring India. He said that repeated cycles of coalition‑building, court‑ordered dismissals of governments, and a lack of coherent policy have eroded public trust and hindered any meaningful reform.
> “When I say ‘Madam is sleeping,’ I’m referring to the collective apathy of the political elite. They are more interested in protecting their own patronage networks than in addressing the country’s pressing challenges,” Sharma told the Times of India.
He added that Singapore’s own experience of rapid development, driven by technocratic governance and long‑term planning, starkly contrasts with Pakistan’s current trajectory. “We built institutions that could outlast any single leader. In Pakistan, the institutions are constantly under siege by partisan politics,” he said.
The diplomat did not name any specific politicians but alluded to the frequent turnover of prime ministers and the influence of the military establishment in civilian affairs. He suggested that external investors view Pakistan’s political environment as unpredictable, which “drives capital away and deepens the fiscal crisis.”
Analysis
Sharma’s critique reflects a broader perception among some foreign observers that Pakistan’s political instability hampers economic recovery and governance reforms. While his remarks underscore genuine concerns—such as the nation’s high inflation rate of over 30 % and a current account deficit exceeding $5 billion—they also echo a narrative that can oversimplify complex domestic dynamics. Pakistan’s political system is shaped by a mix of democratic institutions, military influence, and regional power struggles, factors that external commentators may not fully capture.
The former diplomat’s comparison with Singapore highlights a common benchmark used in development discourse, yet the structural, demographic, and geopolitical differences between the two countries are substantial. Critics may argue that attributing Pakistan’s challenges solely to political apathy overlooks issues like security concerns, energy shortages, and external debt burdens.
Nevertheless, Sharma’s observations could resonate with Pakistani civil‑society groups that have called for greater accountability and institutional resilience. If policymakers take such external critiques seriously, they may face pressure to pursue reforms that reduce patronage politics and strengthen the rule of law.
Sources
“‘Madam is sleeping’: Ex‑Singapore diplomat explains why all Pakistan politicians are waste of time.” Times of India*. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/madam-is-sleeping-ex-singapore-diplomat-explains-why-all-pakistan-politicians-are-waste-of-time/articleshow/132162946.cms
Story synopsis gathered from: Times of India – Top Stories — source
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