Moonis Elahi

politician and businessman

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Moonis Elahi is a politician and businessman born in Lahore. He joined the sugar side of his family's business and has said he sat in the federal cabinet. Elahi began helping his father in politics around 2006-07 and has said he won a seat in Gujrat. He has also spoken about the economy, bureaucracy and the constitution.

Early life and education

Moonis Elahi was born in Lahore. He attended Lahore American School and completed 11th grade there. He spent one year at another school, which he said did not work out well for him. He graduated from an American school in Surrey. [1]

Elahi has said he missed the dates and so went to a community college in California. After a year there he transferred to Wharton. He completed an undergraduate degree at Wharton in management and marketing. [1]

Business career

Elahi came back in 2000 and joined the sugar side of the family business. He has said the family had two sugar mills, and that it took some time but the mills were turned around. He has said he was the first to join the business, and that his cousin and his brother joined later. [1]

The family businesses were divided among the children after a split in the family. Elahi has said he sold his stake in the sugar factory and made investments in real estate. He has described sugar and real estate as among his main business investments. [1]

Political career

Elahi began helping his father in politics around 2006-07. He has said Shujaat Hussain trained him in his political life as soon as he came back from studying. He has said he prefers to do things quietly, stay in the background and get things done. [1]

Elahi has said he won a seat in Gujrat and lost a seat in Lahore by 1,600 votes, and that the Lahore seat is the only election he has lost so far. He has said that in 2013, had they not sat there and kept guard themselves, both of their seats would not have been won. He has also said he goes and sits in the courtroom where the results come in and the judges tally them. [1]

Elahi has said he sat in the federal cabinet. He has said that in his water ministry the system was that each morning he came in and looked at the file on his desktop. He has said work was done on new reservoirs, especially the Kalabagh Dam. [1]

Elahi has said the family's NAB cases, which ran for about 20 years, ended in court. He has said he was in FIA custody around 2009-10. [1]

Views on the economy

Elahi has said the economy is his main concern, and that other issues follow once it is fixed. He has said all political parties should sit down and agree on a set economic roadmap. He has said Pakistan has one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios, and that matching Indonesia's ratio would bring in 13 billion dollars extra. He has also said that globally all economies and tax systems are now kind of connected, through the systems that the CRS and the OECD have brought in. [1]

Elahi has said agriculture globally is changing fast, while Pakistan still farms in the old way. He has said fixing the agriculture supply chain could let Pakistan benefit as a potential export market. He has said Pakistan could be more competitive because it does not give farm subsidies the way India does, and that Pakistan's economic fundamentals are much better than India's. [1]

Elahi has said that competition is always good. He has said it is better for government to take over a business than to cap how much profit it can make. On amnesty, he has said it is not bad in itself, but repeating it is very bad. He has said the PTI government's amnesty scheme for real estate was one of its worst decisions. [1]

Views on governance

Elahi has said bureaucracy is the biggest hindrance to Pakistan. He has said he personally feels the 18th Amendment needs to be repealed, and that Pakistan needs a new social contract, looking inwards at its own problems. He has said a single national curriculum should be taught in all provinces, and that delivery depends on an effective local government. He has said that for a new province to be formed, a two-thirds majority is first needed in Punjab. [1]

Elahi has said Imran Khan has brought more awareness into the political system, and that it is no longer easy to manipulate polling officers and returning officers. He has said political point scoring will no longer work, and only those who deliver will last. He has said an agency can be used as a tool by whichever government controls it, to weaken the opposition. He has said abuse of power is now seen very openly, which he feels causes despondency in Pakistan, and that social media is exposing abuses, so people are starting to ask questions. He has said he is very hopeful, because eventually all the stakeholders must sit together and find a solution. [1]

Views on political parties

Elahi has described PML-Q as basically a constituency-based party. He has said his party has strength in Gujrat, Chakwal, Bahawalpur and Sialkot. He has said he wants growth but not exponential growth, because it must be handled and sustained. [1]

Elahi has said he does not find a succession structure within PTI. He has said that without a succession plan evolution does not happen, and only disaster follows. He has said that if someone ticked all the boxes, kept everyone together and moved things forward, he would be the first to give that person his slot. [1]

Timeline

2000
Elahi came back and joined the sugar side of the family business.[1]
2006-07
He began helping his father in politics.[1]
2009-10
He has said he was in FIA custody around this time.[1]
2013
He has said he and those with him kept guard themselves, without which both of their seats would not have been won.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2022-11-21 Pakistan's politics won't change until the economy is fixed Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Who is Moonis Elahi?

Moonis Elahi is a politician and businessman born in Lahore. He joined the sugar side of his family's business. He has said he sat in the federal cabinet.[1]

What does Moonis Elahi do?

Moonis Elahi is active in politics and business. He began helping his father in politics around 2006-07. He has described sugar and real estate as among his main business investments.[1]

Where is Moonis Elahi from?

Moonis Elahi was born in Lahore. He has said he won a seat in Gujrat and lost a seat in Lahore by 1,600 votes.[1]

Where did Moonis Elahi study?

Moonis Elahi attended Lahore American School and graduated from an American school in Surrey. He went to a community college in California and transferred to Wharton after a year. He completed an undergraduate degree at Wharton in management and marketing.[1]

When did Moonis Elahi enter politics?

Moonis Elahi began helping his father in politics around 2006-07. He has said Shujaat Hussain trained him in his political life as soon as he came back from studying.[1]

What business is Moonis Elahi in?

Moonis Elahi joined the sugar side of the family business after coming back in 2000. He has said he sold his stake in the sugar factory and made investments in real estate. He has described sugar and real estate as among his main business investments.[1]

What is Moonis Elahi's view on the 18th Amendment?

Moonis Elahi has said he personally feels the 18th Amendment needs to be repealed. He has also said Pakistan needs a new social contract, looking inwards at its own problems.[1]

What is Moonis Elahi's main concern for Pakistan?

Moonis Elahi has said the economy is his main concern, and that other issues follow once it is fixed. He has said all political parties should sit down and agree on a set economic roadmap.[1]

References

  1. Pakistan's politics won't change until the economy is fixed . Thought Behind Things , 2022-11-21.
Show the source passages (60 statements)
  1. Moonis Elahi was born in Lahore. So, I was born here in Lahore.
  2. He attended Lahore American School and completed 11th grade there. Phir yahan se I went to Lahore American School and I did my 11th grade from here.
  3. He spent one year at another school in between, which he said did not work out well for him. ek saal ke liye beech mein Aitchison gaya tha, that didn't work out well for me.
  4. He said he missed the dates and so went to a community college in California. I missed the dates, so I went to this community college in California
  5. He transferred to Wharton after a year at the community college. I was there for a year and then I transferred into Wharton.
  6. He graduated from an American school in Surrey. there was an American school there called TASIS, right, in Surrey. So, I graduated from there.
  7. He completed an undergraduate degree at Wharton in management and marketing. So, I did my undergrad from there, three years. I got a degree in management and marketing.
  8. He came back in 2000. I came back in 2000.
  9. After returning, he joined the sugar side of the family business. Yeah, I came back and I joined the sugar side of the family business
  10. He has said the family had two sugar mills. So, we had two sugar mills.
  11. He has said that it took some time, but the two sugar mills were turned around. Took me some time, but alhamdulillah we turned those around.
  12. He has said he was the first to join the business, and that his cousin and his brother joined later. I was the first. And then my cousin and my brother, they also later joined.
  13. The family businesses were divided among the children after a split in the family. there was a split amongst the family and the businesses were divided amongst the children.
  14. He has said he sold his stake in the sugar factory and invested in real estate. and I sold my stake in the sugar factory and I made certain investments in real estate
  15. He has said sugar and real estate are among his main business investments. So, sugar is one of the main. And then there's obviously real estate as well.
  16. He began helping his father in politics around 2006-07. So, in 2006-7 is when I initially came into politics. I started helping my father out.
  17. He has said he prefers to do things quietly, stay in the background and get things done. It wasn't initially. You know, when you said that doing everything quietly, that's that's more of what I like to do. Just stay in the background, get things done.
  18. He has said he won a seat in Gujrat and lost a seat in Lahore by 1,600 votes. So, I won the one in Gujarat, which I didn't visit. The one in Lahore, I had to be won by 2600 and in the morning, when the results came out, I lost by 1600.
  19. He has said he goes and sits in the courtroom where the results come in and the judges tally them in front of you. I go and sit in the courtroom. Acha. Where all the results come in and the judges tally right in front of you.
  20. He has said the Lahore seat is the only election he has lost so far. So, the first election that I lost, or the only election that I've lost so far, is the one from Lahore
  21. He has said that in 2013, had they not sat there and kept guard themselves, both of their seats would not have been won. 2013 mein farig the. Agar hum log khud wahan na baith ke pehra dete toh woh seat hamari dono ki nahi nikalni thi.
  22. He has said Imran Khan has brought more awareness into the political system. this is what Imran Khan has changed. So, he's brought that awareness into the system.
  23. He has said it is no longer easy to manipulate polling officers and returning officers. So, ab it won't be that easy manipulating polling officers, polling agents, returning officers. That story has changed now.
  24. He has said he sat in the federal cabinet. I saw this in the federal cabinet when I was sitting there.
  25. He has said that in his water ministry the system was that each morning he came in and looked at the file on his desktop. Abhi uh meri water ministry mein yeh system tha. Main roz subah aake dekhta tha jo file hai, mere desktop pe hoti thi.
  26. He has said bureaucracy is the biggest hindrance to Pakistan. Pakistan mein sabse badi jo hindrance aa rahi hai na ji, abhi bhi aur aage bhi aayegi, woh hai aapki bureaucracy.
  27. He has said a single national curriculum should be taught in all provinces. Woh ek national curriculum hona chahiye jo saare soobon mein ek hi padhaya jaye.
  28. He has said he personally feels the 18th Amendment needs to be repealed. Isi constitution ko aap theek kar sakte ho, jis tarah 18th amendment hai. I personally feel that needs to be repealed.
  29. He has said Pakistan needs a new social contract, looking inwards at its own problems. If not a new constitution, a new social contract where we we really look inwards and find identify our problems
  30. He has said work was done on new reservoirs, especially the Kalabagh Dam. We did some work on building new reservoirs, especially Kalabagh Dam jo hai.
  31. He has said that competition is always good. That is better. Competition is always good. Hona chahiye isse aur to be honest, we are actually working on that.
  32. He has said it is better for government to take over a business than to cap how much profit it can make. Government agar aake kahe ki ji aapne itne paise banane hain, yeh itne nahi banane toh usse toh behtar hai government khud business takeover kar le.
  33. He has said agriculture globally is changing fast, while Pakistan still farms in the old way. The fact is ki agriculture globally the way that it's going is is very different compared to Pakistan mein purane waqt ke tareeqe se chal rahi hai.
  34. He has said fixing the agriculture supply chain could let Pakistan benefit as a potential export market. if we are able to fix our agri agri supply chain and production toh aane wale waqt mein jab shortages aayengi and pricing uh uh change hogi toh uske andar hum you know as a as a potential export market uh we can uh benefit from it.
  35. He has said Pakistan has one of the lowest tax-to-GDP ratios. Pakistan is one of the lowest tax to GDP ratio.
  36. He has said matching Indonesia's tax-to-GDP ratio would bring in 13 billion dollars extra. toh Indonesia ka agar hum tax to GDP ratio connect karein Pakistan ke saath, toh 13 billion dollars extra hamare generate hote hain.
  37. He has said that globally all economies and tax systems are now kind of connected, through the systems that the CRS and the OECD have brought in. I absolutely support that. Balkay ab jo duniya jis taraf chali gayi hai with uh CRS aur OECD ne jo jo systems yeh log leke aaye hain, globally all economies, all tax systems are kind of connected.
  38. He has said political point scoring will no longer work, and only those who deliver will last. See, just political point scoring is not going to work anymore. One of the those days are absolutely gone. Ab jo deliver karega aur jisse umeed hogi deliver karne ki, wohi aage chal sakta hai.
  39. He has said an amnesty is not bad in itself, but repeating it is very bad. Honestly, I feel amnesty is not a bad thing, but baar baar lana is a very bad thing.
  40. He has said the PTI government's amnesty scheme for real estate was one of its worst decisions. uh main agar PTI ke tenure ko dekhun toh mere hisab se one of the worst decisions that they took was the amnesty scheme particularly for the real estate sector.
  41. He has said all political parties should sit down and agree on a set economic roadmap. where you can have all of the political parties sit down and decide on a economic roadmap.
  42. He has said the economy is his main concern, and other issues follow once it is fixed. Economy is the only thing that I am concerned about. You see once you have the economy thing figured out the rest most definitely follows.
  43. He has said delivery depends on an effective local government. delivery sirf ek hi tareeqe se ho sakti hai, if you have an effective local government in place.
  44. He has said that for a new province to be formed, a two-thirds majority is first needed in Punjab. agar naya subah banna hai toh pehle Punjab mein 2/3 aaye aur woh yeh kare, uske baad phir yeh aage jayega.
  45. He has described PML-Q as basically a constituency-based party. So with PML-Q, hamari kya hai, it's basically constituency based party.
  46. He has said his party has strength in Gujrat, Chakwal, Bahawalpur and Sialkot. So we have strength in Gujrat, uh Chakwal jo ab Talagang ban gaya hai, Bahawalpur mein seatain hain, uh Sialkot mein hai.
  47. He has said he wants growth but not exponential growth, because it must be handled and sustained. Growth honi chahiye but I don't want exponential growth because usko aapko handle bhi karna chahiye, sustain bhi karna hai.
  48. He has said he does not find a succession structure within PTI. Within PTI, I don't find the structure for succession.
  49. He has said that without a succession plan evolution does not happen, and only disaster follows. without a succession plan evolution nahi hoti, sirf disaster hota hai, tabahi machti hai.
  50. He has said that if someone ticked all the boxes, kept everyone together and moved things forward, he would be the first to give that person his slot. So if there is someone who is there jo saray boxes tick karay, saron ko ikatha rakhay aur cheezon ko aagay lay kay chalay, I would be the first one giving him my slot.
  51. He has said the family's NAB cases, which ran for about 20 years, ended in court. hamaray jo family kay cases thay NAB kay jo 20 saal say chal rahay thay, woh adalat say khatam huay.
  52. He has said he was in FIA custody around 2009-10. main jab main custody mein tha FIA kay, uh 2009-10 ki baat hai.
  53. He has said he was in Gujrat at that time, surveying the area where the Prime Minister was due to come. main us time pe Gujarat mein hi tha aur jahan pe PM ne aana tha us area ka jaiza le raha tha
  54. He has said Shujaat Hussain trained him in his political life as soon as he came back from studying. Shujaat Sahab has trained me, my political life as soon as I came back from studying
  55. He has said Pakistan's economic fundamentals are much better than India's. hamare fundamentals actually India se bahut behtar hain.
  56. He has said Pakistan could be more competitive because it does not give farm subsidies the way India does. Because jis tarah ki jis tarah farming hai, usmein India mein jo subsidies milti hain, hum toh yahan dete hi nahi hain. So, we can actually be more competitive.
  57. He has said an agency can be used as a tool by whichever government controls it, to weaken the opposition. ek agency kisi kay haath bhi aa jati hai government mein woh usko tool istemaal karta hai, opposition ko kharab karnay kay liye.
  58. He has said abuse of power is now seen very openly, which he feels causes despondency in Pakistan. the reason why I feel like there's a despondency in Pakistan is because we've now very openly seeing this abuse of power
  59. He has said social media is exposing abuses, so people are starting to ask questions. Social media, har taraf cheez aa jati hai, yeh zyadati ho rahi hai, yeh ho raha hai. To accountability ya kam az kam people start asking questions.
  60. He has said he is very hopeful, because eventually all the stakeholders must sit together and find a solution. Yeah, I'm very hopeful because you see, ismein sirf aap aur hum stakeholders nahi, aur stakeholders bhi hain. Eventually saare stakeholders ne baith ke iska koi hal nikalna hai.