Pakistani rulers often boast that government intends to initiate such measures and programs soon that would stabilize the economy of the country within no time. Some intellectuals are also celebrating the news that US Vice President-elect Joe Biden has already introduced a bill in the US Congress to provide $1.5b/year developmental aid to our country that could be extended to the next 10 years. They are delighted that US aid for Pakistan is extended to ten years. This actually implies that our leaders have no serious economic program in their mind that could lead to stabilization of our economy and help it stand on its own two feet so that we are rid of the curse of begging The profuse delight in Islamabad reveals that Pakistani rulers consider it a great blessing to have the aid package - never mind if this aid is conditional. Aid is always conditional and US aid in particular always restricts freedom of the client state in the fields of foreign affairs and defense. Our rulers, though, seem least concerned about that. They are given to exulting in the prospect of their claim of stabilizing the economy coming true. The culture of dependency on foreign aids probably suits them. Leaders like these, who are forever feeding their nations on aid and charity, can never lead them towards true freedom and progress. -ANWAR JALAL, Peshawar, via e-mail, November 26.