Pakistan can accelerate and sustain growth to become a confident upper middle-income country by the time it turns 100, but it can only happen If the country is able to take the right decisions. Now is the time to come together and see what needs to be done to achieve this goal. A growth narrative in Pakistan / the reason to believe there’s still hope left is because of these five factors.
- Economic Revolution
- Digital Pakistan
- Tourism
- Commonwealth games
- Imran Khan
Economic Revolution
Any country wanting economic growth and a sustainable economy needs to ensure that it has a productive population. And this type of situation calls for an Economic Revolution in which the University of South Asia is playing a leading role. The University of South Asia is aiming to bring more and more foreign revenue to Pakistan, for which not only the University of South Asia is partnering with 200+ market-leading international companies, but also helping the youth to continue their studies by offering them 90% scholarship. In a country where 23 million children are out of high school and don’t have the money to continue higher studies, jobs, and skills become a key factor for economic revolution.
Digital Pakistan
Pakistan’s digital footprint is rapidly increasing. And with the country’s large young population, it is only going to get bigger. PTI, which itself is the party of the youth, recognized this opportunity early and started talking about a “Digital Pakistan”. Earlier this year, the IT ministry and PTCL had also signed two agreements for laying down fiber optic cable which would enable the provision of fast internet in different parts of Sindh. These are welcome steps that would benefit millions. There is no denying that access is one of the biggest prerequisites for achieving the dream of a Digital Pakistan
Tourism
To attract more international tourists, the government ended the No Objection Certificate (NOC) requirement for foreigners so they can move freely around the country. They also announced a Visa on Arrival policy for 48 countries while an e-Visa facility was introduced for 175 Countries. Viewing the opportunity in the sector, the Pakistan Government and international bodies like the World Bank also got involved. The World Bank in collaboration with the KP Government launched a program worth USD 70.0mn in June 2019, and a similar program worth USD 55.0mn for the Punjab Government.
Commonwealth games
This year in the commonwealth games, Pakistan won a total of 8 medals out of which 2 were gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 3 bronze medals respectively, this is another reason to believe that as a nation Pakistan has a lot of potential to excel in many different areas if proper resources are provided.
Imran Khan
By establishing a clear ideological divide in the nation’s politics, rather than one based on religious and ethnic lines, Imran Khan has removed the political conflict outside the existing administration’s comfort zone. There is positive news for Pakistan that while nearly all the political parties in the government are represented by ethnic and religious groupings, Khan’s supporters come from all facets of society and across the whole country. He is the kind of politician that people listen to and believe in with all their heart. Probably the only political figure that demands respect from all segments of the society.
