AVN 48.21 Increased By ▲ 0.81 (1.71%)
BAFL 28.88 Increased By ▲ 0.28 (0.98%)
BOP 3.76 Decreased By ▼ -0.02 (-0.53%)
CNERGY 3.33 Increased By ▲ 0.16 (5.05%)
DFML 10.93 Decreased By ▼ -0.07 (-0.64%)
DGKC 52.81 Decreased By ▼ -0.88 (-1.64%)
EPCL 43.09 Increased By ▲ 0.40 (0.94%)
FCCL 12.43 Increased By ▲ 0.18 (1.47%)
FFL 6.02 Decreased By ▼ -0.01 (-0.17%)
FLYNG 5.97 Increased By ▲ 0.06 (1.02%)
GGL 10.34 Increased By ▲ 0.19 (1.87%)
HUBC 68.96 Decreased By ▼ -0.44 (-0.63%)
HUMNL 5.85 Increased By ▲ 0.05 (0.86%)
KAPCO 22.72 Increased By ▲ 0.57 (2.57%)
KEL 1.83 Increased By ▲ 0.03 (1.67%)
LOTCHEM 29.81 Increased By ▲ 0.89 (3.08%)
MLCF 28.70 No Change ▼ 0.00 (0%)
NETSOL 75.21 Increased By ▲ 1.11 (1.5%)
OGDC 78.47 Decreased By ▼ -0.04 (-0.05%)
PAEL 9.74 Increased By ▲ 0.42 (4.51%)
PIBTL 4.26 Decreased By ▼ -0.06 (-1.39%)
PPL 61.28 Decreased By ▼ -0.37 (-0.6%)
PRL 15.06 Increased By ▲ 0.70 (4.87%)
SILK 1.08 Decreased By ▼ -0.03 (-2.7%)
SNGP 42.62 Decreased By ▼ -0.61 (-1.41%)
TELE 6.95 Increased By ▲ 0.08 (1.16%)
TPLP 11.97 Increased By ▲ 0.03 (0.25%)
TRG 96.97 Increased By ▲ 1.52 (1.59%)
UNITY 13.49 Increased By ▲ 0.24 (1.81%)
WTL 1.15 No Change ▼ 0.00 (0%)
BR100 4,193 Increased By 27.2 (0.65%)
BR30 14,439 Increased By 36.2 (0.25%)
KSE100 41,923 Increased By 255.5 (0.61%)
KSE30 14,873 Increased By 74.3 (0.5%)
Follow us

The crises facing Pakistan are not new. The economy is used to a major boom-bust cycle every 3-4 years; the politics pushes the country towards anarchy every 7-8 years; and there is, unfortunately, a mega climate disaster almost every 10 years. Only that this time around, the several crises have come a calling at the same time, with their intensity seemingly at unprecedented highs. Meanwhile, the deteriorating security situation across the country has added even more to the heightened uncertainty.

The precarious situation requires a unified political, institutional and bureaucratic response in the short-term and reformist commitment for the long-term. The moment calls for stepped-up governance by those who may actually possess the public’s mandate and be at the center of its hopes and dreams. The circumstances ask for remedies that are clearly communicated to and embraced by the people. Fairness, transparency and austerity are some of the things that need to be observed by all levers of the state.

None of that seems to be forthcoming, not anytime soon. Fearful of an electoral rout (as recent opinion polls suggest), the PML-N-led federal government seems intent on avoiding elections in Punjab. Presiding over an economic mess that is getting irredeemable by the day, the apparent political calculations to turn things around in a few months are not balanced by reality or forecasts. Half-hearted attempts to tame the PTI opposition into submission through law enforcement have become a daily joke.

The challenger Khan, meanwhile, is setting one bad example after another by defying the courts and allowing violence to take root among his young and diehard supporters. The strategy to respond to chaos with more chaos is unsustainable. The ex-PM’s refusal to sit down with the federal government – be it on matters of handling surging terrorism or staving off economic default – may be popular with his base, but it will only make his job even harder when (or if) the party sweeps to power in the next general elections.

Meanwhile, the institutions collectively refuse to acknowledge that when you’re in a hole, stop digging. The judiciary’s partisanship is once again out in full view, responding to popular sentiment instead of applying the law. The so-called establishment is not in the mood to dance again, but ignoring the jilted lover is not working either. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Looking down 30,000 feet, there are no clear answers, only confusion all around, with current incentives aligned for continuation of status quo.

Comments

1000 characters
KU Mar 22, 2023 03:22pm
No one knows how it will end, but tell you how it started. Many decades ago, some honourable justices were writing judgement on a criminal matter related to corruption by a politician. Along with the judgement they gave an observation and said, ‘’we note with anguish that the clans/tribes that are known as professional criminals and listed in police book A & B as cattle thieves and murderers are now frequently observed in politics’’. Later, at the request of some lawyers, they excluded the observation, but the observation is documented and remembered by many in the profession. With the onset of the people mentioned in the observation, the degradation started and destroyed morality, ethics, honesty, justice and equality. Socioeconomic development consequently suffered in the absence of all the building blocks of a nation and country. It will obviously end, if and when the people want it to end.
thumb_up Recommended (0) reply Reply
TimeToMovveOn Mar 22, 2023 05:24pm
There is nothing to end, this will be long soap opera that will take almost a decade to settle down. It is tug of war that goes on for a long time.
thumb_up Recommended (0) reply Reply
bonce Mar 22, 2023 11:32pm
@TimeToMovveOn, Our Wadaras not like our country stand by her own feet. On the other side army making money in the name of Islam and Kashmir. We wish our country divide various part in this way everyone will be happy.
thumb_up Recommended (0) reply Reply
KhanRA Mar 23, 2023 12:39am
It will end only when Pakistanis demand the end to Army intervention in politics/economy/policy making, and firmly reject dynastic politics. Our party ira don’t fight on ideas, but instead just try to tear down/disqualify/arrest their opponents. The Sharifs, who I once admired, have shown us exactly how bad nepotism can be for this country with their appointment of Ishaq Dar.
thumb_up Recommended (0) reply Reply
Failed Nation Mar 24, 2023 11:08am
Nothing will change, as people dont want to come out to the streets and if they do, they will be attacked and shunned by everyone from the establishment to politicians to businesses...as citizens, we are irrelevant. The best thing is to leave this place, put efforts in another country with tails between our legs as educated refugees, gain citizenship and then never come back. Thats how it will end for most
thumb_up Recommended (0) reply Reply
Muhammad Ali Mar 25, 2023 10:09am
Free & fair elections under UNO is the solution whereby real representatives of the people will come into power. The current lot of politicians are family limited companies who with help of system (visible & invisible) & in guise of fake democracy want to suck our last drop of blood. Million $ question is that who is so honest & sincere with national cause to hold free & fair elections? This solution could not pop from this set up as they are the worst of worst creatures.
thumb_up Recommended (0) reply Reply
Kashif ALI Mar 27, 2023 01:23am
It is a big curse and shame to be counted amongst Pakistanis. Self-respect and dignity are truly slain when I am identified as a Pakistani. If PDM is a gang of thieves. IK is a fascist, liar, selfish greedy Pied Piper - making the mice to follow to his tunes - leading them to nowhere but to hell and disaster. Such polarization of people will drive this place to bloody civil war and annihilation. Never the two economic Pakistans were ever so evident than they are now. 70+ years old faggots (that whole generation besides the current generation) drove this country to the point of annihilation. In the end, it will be a case of "Man proposes, God disposes".
thumb_up Recommended (0) reply Reply

‘Tell me how this ends’

Pakistan now hopes to ink deal with IMF before budget on Friday: report

Rupee falls against US dollar in inter-bank, but gains in open market

Pakistan proposes inflation target of 21% in estimates for upcoming FY24 budget: report

World Bank cuts 2024 global growth forecast as rate hikes bite but lifts 2023 outlook

Punjab govt challenges PTI leader Yasmin Rashid’s acquittal

Zille Shah case: LHC confirms Imran’s pre-arrest bail

Shah Mahmood Qureshi released from jail on LHC’s order

PSX sustains gains, KSE-100 up 0.61%

Pro-agriculture budget expected by brokerage house

Oil falls as economic fears overshadow Saudi output cut