Thread by @_AhmedQuraishi

#Pakistan Instability Update |

Pakistan started #NewYear2023 under the fog of intense rumors that the Establishment can bring in a govt of technocrats to take unpopular economic decisions to stave off default and to help parties in ruling coalition avoid losing popularity. /1

#Pakistan's boldest experiment in technocratic govt was probably Establishment-backed #ImranKhan's 2019-2022 tenure, where every economic theory and bizarre foreign policy notion popular among Pakistanis were tested, with spectacular failure. /2

Instead of hiding behind a possible technocratic setup, the political leaders, parties, and Establishment can consider the inevitable: Taking on the unpopular decisions, in economy+governance+foreign policy.

Own it instead of brushing it under a technocratic govt. /3

#Pakistan needs a mindset change. @YousufNazar put it well earlier today when he posed the question: Does 🇵🇰 want to be like #SouthKorea and #Germany, or like #Iran and #NorthKorea?

This question sums up Pakistan's dilemma. /4

https://twitter.com/YousufNazar/status/1609811765201719296?t=GmmyhS1d51xn_Yhy5XcXHA&s=19

This mindset change in #Pakistan means the difference between #Gwadar remaining a large warehouse and a port to park containers, or transforming into a world class city for trade, ideas, and lifestyle.

See: Positioning Gwadar as International City
/5
hilal.gov.pk/eng-article/de…

There is little recognition in #Pakistan's political and government circles that Islamabad's policy of economic, political, and religious introversion in 1990s hurt the country. In contrast, #China+#India opened up in that decade, reaping immense benefits. /6

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