KARACHI:
Pakistan has faced political instability since its inception. Political instability refers to the absence of political balance or the inability to work coherently. The ongoing situation emerged after former Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted through a no-confidence vote in April last year. The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) which came to power with claims of reforming the economy and curbing inflation now finds itself juggling multiple problems with an extremely hostile opposition. As usual, political leaders have resorted to blaming their predecessors for the ongoing economic mess.
The truth is that our leaders have always ignored morals and ethics and come to power with their own motives. Economy recovery and the welfare of the public are rarely on their agenda. Political instability is further harming the economy and tarnishing the country’s reputation globally. Pakistan already suffers from low foreign direct investment (FDI), which has been further hampered by constant political upheaval. Foreign investors avoid investing in a volatile situation. In addition, daily political clashes have discouraged foreign and local tourists from travelling to parts of the country.
On the other hand, the countries dwindling foreign reserves have raised the risks of shortages and crises in different sectors. The political parties need to adopt a practical approach and resolve their issues through dialogue instead of violence and force. They need to acknowledge the social and economic challenges facing the country and work towards tackling them. Otherwise, the country will descend into utter chaos.
Muhammad Ishaque Memon
Tando Muhammad Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2023.
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