So, contrary to the scepticism of some Pakistani experts, shared by the author of this article, general elections to the lower house of the central parliament (the “National Assembly”) as well as to four provincial parliaments were held in this country. Moreover, on 8 February this year, the date “finally fixed” (after a number of postponements). It should be noted that this scepticism was also based on the fact of initiating…

General elections were conducted in Pakistan on February 8, 2024. People and analysts around the world were seeing the elections with skepticism due to the alleged role of non-democratic forces in these elections. Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) were incarcerated before the elections due to the charges of vandalism that the party workers committed on 9^th May 2023. This resulted in shifting the tilt of the country’s establishment in favor of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N)…

Since the country’s inception, democracy in Pakistan has been facing numerous obstacles. The main reason behind the failure of the democratic system is the political ambitions of the country’s leading political elite. Ironically, none of the incumbent top political leaders of Pakistan hold a purely democratic history. The leaders of the top three political parties have been conspiring with the non-democratic forces in the country to gain power. The forefathers of the country chose democracy as the best suitable form of government for Pakistan, given its ethnic and religious diversity…

The year 2024 will be marked by national electoral processes in dozens of countries. The outcome of each election will contribute to the transformation of the world order in one way or another. In this context, associations naturally arise with the upcoming presidential and congressional elections in the United States this fall, as it is the leading world power. However, in these troubled times, it is appropriate to say the sacramental “we must live to see it”. In the coming days, weeks, and months, we should closely observe the preparation, course, and outcome of elections in several countries…

Pakistan is set to conduct general elections on 8^th February 2024. Following the internal political instability in the country, and the regional and global geopolitical events, these elections hold seminal significance. The results of these elections will be highly consequential for the future of Pakistan. Although the results of the elections are highly predictable, the upcoming government will have to face formidable challenges ahead…

Very soon, Pakistan will be forced to cease any ideas of adopting a so-called “hedging” strategy to survive and thrive in the new multipolar world. With China, Russia, and the growing BRICS contingents in focus (particularly Iran), it should be clear that critical Indo-Asian nations and a handful of smaller states will soon hop on the Russo-Chinese bandwagon. The U.S. and its allies have but one chance to remain key partners and maintain economic and geostrategic security. Acceptance of the rising multipolar world community and cementing policies…

As Pakistan struggles with yet another round of loans from the IMF, people are keen to ask how we got here in the first place. The answer seems simple. Unrestricted and unsustainable spending by the state is compounded by a painfully low tax base. The lack of sufficient and good-quality domestic production leads to an overdependence on imports and a lack of exports, especially in intermediate to high-value goods. Interest payments on past debts are racking up. In short, everything is moving in the same direction: a negative balance of payments.

Taking a drive through any major city in Pakistan, one sees many billboards, standing tall above the ground. Most advertise consumer goods such as soft drinks and frozen foods, or showcase the latest fashion trends. But for the past few years, a new type of billboard advertising has accelerated at a rapid pace: that of the housing society. The welcoming, confident faces of beloved celebrities dressed to the nines beam out at you in the foreground of lush green grounds, glittering artificial lakes, golf courses and white villas that adorn the billboards. The boards usually also show you the required figure…

Geography plays a significant role in shaping the destiny of the country. All the countries have to formulate their policies and relations according to their geographic and geostrategic needs. Pakistan is no exception. The country appeared on the globe on 14^th August 1947 in the South Asian region. In the north of the country lies the rising superpower of the world, China. On its Eastern border lies the rising economies of the region and the world, and its arch-rival, India. Pakistan shares its Western border with one of the most unstable and chaotic countries in the world, Afghanistan…

Recently, the Pakistan government ordered non-registered migrants and refugees to leave the country voluntarily before 1^st November. After the deadline, the Law Enforcement Agencies are forcefully expelling the illegal migrants from Pakistan. Afghani refugees are the most affected by this move, as Pakistan is home to almost 1.7 million Afghan refugees. Government officials hold that this policy will be executed in phases. Many analysts inside and outside the country are opposing this move by the government, considering it a violation of International Law…

Recently, the 15^th BRICS summit was held in Johannesburg, South Africa on 23^rd August 2023. This summit garnered significant attention, as partnerships and alliances play a crucial role in shaping the contours of geopolitics. BRICS was established in 2009 with four member states including Brazil, Russia, China, and India. However, the inclusion of South Africa in 2010 resulted in the expansion of the organization for the first time, and it was renamed as BRICS. John O’Neill, an economist at Goldman Sachs, proposed the idea of BRIC for the first time in 2001…

Pakistan’s foreign policy decisions have always been shaped by its security and economic needs. The country inherited an arch-rival on its eastern border, India, it had been a key ally of the United States during the Cold War. This posed Russia and Pakistan against each other. Pakistan acted as the major US non-NATO ally in the region during the Cold War. Relations between Russia and Pakistan saw some minor and temporary improvements during the Cold War era, but the latter has always used this enhancement of relations…