The government has communicated. That's a good start. It started with my column "Speak, show it, if you know it" last week in which I asked the government to find its voice. I raised ten questions. Throughout the week I kept getting feedback that reinforced how critical good governance is and why its absence - or shortage - is the central reason for Pakistan's sad state of affairs. My colleague Kamran Khan did a detailed segment on the column, and we agreed that Centre and provinces are equally responsible for the lack of visible improvement.

The government has now sent me answers to those ten questions. The lengthy response is indicative of at least two things: first, it is positive that the government is sensitive to the need for greater engagement and communication; second, and less positive, the policies mentioned in the document oftentimes raise more questions than answers.

It will not be possible for me to reproduce the entire response. Instead, here are abridged answers along with my original questions. Do note that my question 6 on retail and agriculture tax and why it was not being collected with the same zeal as the tax on salaried class was missed out in the response (perhaps inadvertently). I am reserving my analysis of the response for later columns where I will delve deeper into these ten issues. For now, read what the government has answered and make up your own mind. The full text of the response will also be available on social media.

1. What is our strategy on Balochistan?

Our strategy rests on four clear pillars: security, effective border management, better governance and people-centred........

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