Pakistan's stuck with a vicious system where the market's flooded with imports. In turn, the average person must rely on remittances (from family and relatives abroad) to live reasonably well.
This cycle works OK for the consumer class, but it leaves the state and the poorest segments out of the loop. As a result, the state doesn't progress in terms of delivering public services (especially health and education), while the poorest don't have the state to lift them up via welfare programs.
Instead, the state (especially under Nawaz Sharif) was facilitating the import culture by taking out loans to prop up the PKR. This benefitted 'businessmen' who simply traded in imported goods.
From corruption to laziness to lack of vision, these factors have kept (and will continue to keep) Pakistan behind.
IMO it's the undocumented/unregulated/untaxed part of the economic activities, which are running at 50%+ of the total economy, is to be considered. On top of it Pak has two porous borders with Afganistan (~80b $ of "recreational staffs") and Iran (heavily sanctioned and Pak being an important land outlet). An army of 50K to 200K of armed-to-the-teeth private guards to protect the Karachi tycoons makes sense. And, the Deep State requires Deep Financing to maintain the conventional and non-conventional deterrence at multiple fronts against multiple enemies, who are extremely resourceful in their own might.....
As for BD, she's one of the top 5 corrupt countries in the world for a reason! Hasina regime can put up a heavy competition with the Zardaris or Sherifs any time of the Day. And, BD has no Deep State nor Deep Nation!!!
The entire business, industry, finances, media, education, transportation, real estates, health, construction etc. of BD are controlled by the Indian Marwaris via their local Bangal agents and cohorts. Indian "experts" can work in any sector - both government and private - without any permissions or regulations whatsoever. They officially remit 10b$ to India per year....
BD's public education and services are destroyed via politicization to such an extent a medical grad can't even study a simple X-ray report....
If you're not from the ruling party you can't even open a corner store....
The top floor of BD Military's HQ building is occupied by RAW, and no Bangals are permitted there....
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