President Zardari is suddenly finding new champions who are all praise for his wheeling and dealing on the political spectrum. The much trumpeted policy of reconciliation is actually a policy of appeasement. I think the NFC Award was an exercise in appeasement of the smaller provinces at the cost of the bigger province, thereby weakening the Centre. It will do more harm than good in the long run. The 18th Amendment is an appeasement of the MNAs in the guise of strengthening the Parliament, thereby weakening the other institutions. This does not bode well for the country. The meager resources of the country are being frittered away in appeasing the cronies of the President. There is no thought being given to growth of industry and agriculture which alone can revive the economy. The South African president has fired seven inefficient ministers in a bid to strengthen his administration. The Finance Minister has informed top leadership to take steps which have already been committed to IMF. He warns that otherwise the government would have to ask the central bank to print notes that would jack up inflation and eventually the fiscal deficit. KHURSHID ANWER, Lahore, November 2.