A🧵on what Feb 8 elections mean for Pakistan
Pakistan’s economy has consistently fallen behind globally – last year was one of the worse, with the economy actually contracting
Every macro fundamental is flashing red: inflation, growth, debt, investment, to name a few
1/n
Pakistan’s economy has consistently fallen behind globally – last year was one of the worse, with the economy actually contracting
Every macro fundamental is flashing red: inflation, growth, debt, investment, to name a few
1/n
The federal gov has no money
It cannot even afford to pay the salary of a peon or a soldier without borrowing
The entire tax revenue is consumed after paying provinces their share, pensions to retirees, and interest on debt
2/n
It cannot even afford to pay the salary of a peon or a soldier without borrowing
The entire tax revenue is consumed after paying provinces their share, pensions to retirees, and interest on debt
2/n
Inflation cannot be controlled when the entire government is run on deficit
Growth is impossible when government has no money to invest in the future
And lack of growth makes every problem worse.
The country is bankrupt. It is sinking deeper every year
3/n
Growth is impossible when government has no money to invest in the future
And lack of growth makes every problem worse.
The country is bankrupt. It is sinking deeper every year
3/n
I have never seen such despondency
So many wanting to leave, established firms no longer comfortable investing
Yet no leader has a viable economic plan for the future
4/n
So many wanting to leave, established firms no longer comfortable investing
Yet no leader has a viable economic plan for the future
4/n
The shady establishment that calls shots from behind is especially clueless
SIFC? ... Really?
You expect foreigners to believe in the country when your own people are losing all hope?
5/n
SIFC? ... Really?
You expect foreigners to believe in the country when your own people are losing all hope?
5/n
It is in this backdrop that Feb 8 elections were held
People are mad – and they have every right to be. 442,353 children died in Pakistan just last year due to poverty
that is almost half a million dead kids EVERY YEAR
6/n
People are mad – and they have every right to be. 442,353 children died in Pakistan just last year due to poverty
that is almost half a million dead kids EVERY YEAR
6/n
But the establishment was busy playing its usual games –
put this one in jail, and that one in parliament this time –
keep the system just unstable enough so we stay relevant –
our children be damned
7/n
put this one in jail, and that one in parliament this time –
keep the system just unstable enough so we stay relevant –
our children be damned
7/n
They obviously sensed the people’s anger, so every action to rig the elections was taken –
except it only made the public madder
So here we are post Feb 8 – the distance between the ruler and the ruled has never been wider
Do they understand how dangerous that is?
8/n
except it only made the public madder
So here we are post Feb 8 – the distance between the ruler and the ruled has never been wider
Do they understand how dangerous that is?
8/n
There is an attempt – once again – to cobble together a compromised group
No one has a plan to fix the economy
But even if they magically did somehow, they cannot do anything
because they have lost all trust with their people
they are foreigners in their own land
/end
No one has a plan to fix the economy
But even if they magically did somehow, they cannot do anything
because they have lost all trust with their people
they are foreigners in their own land
/end
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