Agree on the shift needed, but I am not sure if this could be attainable without reducing influence or ousting the establishment that are incompetent, serving their interest vs people and corrupted first, since when an army knows to run an economy? 🇵🇰 would be already #1 economy globally…also can’t do tech IP sharing with 🇨🇳 without deep education and university changed in the AI era (see Vietnam 🇻🇳), a harder currency to fight against inflation and security (see El Salvador 🇸🇻)
Very bold as usual. I’m not an economist, rather am far from economy (a pharmacist by profession working in the U.K. and Canada) but I read and enjoy your articles.
Here I like the regime change notion, however it’s inconceivable to give a rationale guidance to the authorities there and even harder to make public understand the need of economical growth.
Nice article with emphasis on the basics for a 50 year turnaround idea. However, it would have been helpful to an ordinary Pakistani (who may be not fully conversant with economics mechanisms) if you had presented a precise proposed action plan in bullets form as a way forward for any competent government to follow towards achieving the set 5/50 goal
Professor, the problems seem so obvious when you write about Pakistan’s economy but it all boils down to the broken nervous system. A critical approach needs critiquing of the system, but with the implementation of firewalls and the PECA act, it seems like the room for criticism is dwindling.
I know that one must never give up hope but how does one even think of a regime change when the ruling class is locking up or exiling every ounce of critique?
This all boils down to having an elected government with a genuine mandate from the people. A government chosen by the people, for the people. The problem, according to my understanding, is that many internal and external factors have prevented us from having stable and competent governments truly selected by the public.
Once we have representatives who are purely elected by the people, many things will gradually stabilize. When our institutions understand their own domains and stop interfering in others, much will improve. Unfortunately, this has not been allowed to happen over the past 75 years. The Mir Jafars and charlatans have repeatedly tried to hijack the country for their personal gain, and this has ultimately brought us to the situation we are in today.
Hopefully, one day we will come out of this mess, before it is too late, and move toward progress, InshaAllah.
Very nice Sir. I believe for this to happen, we need 5 ingredients. Firstly political will , then pragmatic leadership, continuity of policies, support of a productive work force and commited beauracracy.
More of the same. Everyone knows whats ailing the patient, everyone even knows the cure, but the patients' willingness to take the cure has always been the problem. This can not change until the top leadership whosoever it maybe decides on a firm economic agenda and everyone sticks to it regardless or party, social or institutional loyalty but that can not happen with the current people who hold positions on power, influence and the who have the state machinery at their disposal. The elite will keep it the way it has been run since it suits there interests and there is no check and balance method whereby the entrenched deep state is made accountable for their follies. Currently it is utterly hopeless.
Thank you for this. Pakistan’s population is well on its way to double in circa 30 odd years - double (!) - it’s scary truly the pathology and the depth of cultural degradation we are in.
Nice article! Was recently thinking about how I haven't read an article from you in a while, so it was nice to see you are back!
A question: would you say Bangladesh/India have left behind this stagnation regime (or at least made steps in the right direction)?
Excellent diagnosis; please map the sequence of actions to 5/50; how part.
Agree on the shift needed, but I am not sure if this could be attainable without reducing influence or ousting the establishment that are incompetent, serving their interest vs people and corrupted first, since when an army knows to run an economy? 🇵🇰 would be already #1 economy globally…also can’t do tech IP sharing with 🇨🇳 without deep education and university changed in the AI era (see Vietnam 🇻🇳), a harder currency to fight against inflation and security (see El Salvador 🇸🇻)
Very bold as usual. I’m not an economist, rather am far from economy (a pharmacist by profession working in the U.K. and Canada) but I read and enjoy your articles.
Here I like the regime change notion, however it’s inconceivable to give a rationale guidance to the authorities there and even harder to make public understand the need of economical growth.
Nice article with emphasis on the basics for a 50 year turnaround idea. However, it would have been helpful to an ordinary Pakistani (who may be not fully conversant with economics mechanisms) if you had presented a precise proposed action plan in bullets form as a way forward for any competent government to follow towards achieving the set 5/50 goal
So the answer is more research. Of course. Coz we haven't run enough regressions and RCTs.
Professor, the problems seem so obvious when you write about Pakistan’s economy but it all boils down to the broken nervous system. A critical approach needs critiquing of the system, but with the implementation of firewalls and the PECA act, it seems like the room for criticism is dwindling.
I know that one must never give up hope but how does one even think of a regime change when the ruling class is locking up or exiling every ounce of critique?
This all boils down to having an elected government with a genuine mandate from the people. A government chosen by the people, for the people. The problem, according to my understanding, is that many internal and external factors have prevented us from having stable and competent governments truly selected by the public.
Once we have representatives who are purely elected by the people, many things will gradually stabilize. When our institutions understand their own domains and stop interfering in others, much will improve. Unfortunately, this has not been allowed to happen over the past 75 years. The Mir Jafars and charlatans have repeatedly tried to hijack the country for their personal gain, and this has ultimately brought us to the situation we are in today.
Hopefully, one day we will come out of this mess, before it is too late, and move toward progress, InshaAllah.
True Professor
Very nice Sir. I believe for this to happen, we need 5 ingredients. Firstly political will , then pragmatic leadership, continuity of policies, support of a productive work force and commited beauracracy.
Very sensible and somewhat obvious observations and suggestions. But the problem within is, "Who'll bell the cat"?
More of the same. Everyone knows whats ailing the patient, everyone even knows the cure, but the patients' willingness to take the cure has always been the problem. This can not change until the top leadership whosoever it maybe decides on a firm economic agenda and everyone sticks to it regardless or party, social or institutional loyalty but that can not happen with the current people who hold positions on power, influence and the who have the state machinery at their disposal. The elite will keep it the way it has been run since it suits there interests and there is no check and balance method whereby the entrenched deep state is made accountable for their follies. Currently it is utterly hopeless.
Excellent article as always! Wish someone would listen…
It will add to the value of this piece, if it also talks about social wellbeing by fixing its targets too!
Sincere leadership with popular support and good governance.
Thank you for this. Pakistan’s population is well on its way to double in circa 30 odd years - double (!) - it’s scary truly the pathology and the depth of cultural degradation we are in.
Great article. Right governance ensures right policies.
What are the underlying causes here? Why has it been so difficult to implement sound economic policy in Pakistan, when examples are all around?
I don't know the answer, but it'll be very difficult to change the situation if we don't understand why it exists in the first place.