Pakistan's economy in one graph.

[Indus Pakistan]

Below is a export/import graph in US dollars of Pakistan's economy over the last 30 years with clear breakdown of each government from Musharaf onwards. What is clear is Pakistan began slipping in about 2003 under Musharaf [however the massive US grants and aid masked the ugly reality] when imports shot up but exports failed to increase. After that the gap just got bigger and bigger with astronomical deficit by 2018. What is also surprising is that Zardari's rule proved to be better for the economy then both Musharaf and Nawaz.

The reality is Musharaf, Zardari and Nawaz are responsible for failing to fix what began 15 years ago in 2003 and each allowed the problem to get worse.

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1482443/w...-for-pakistans-economy-trade-stats-reveal-all

 

[nahtanbob]

Zardari portion does not look bad from the export-import perspective

 

[BHarwana]

This here shows the problem. The money came in at time of PML-Q boosted economy and increased the spending power of people thus people did not had much to buy locally so they started importing.

Then there was a phase in PPP govt where shit could be controlled in 2010/2011 but they let it roll and in PML-N govt the shit hit the roof. They destroyed exports.

Zardari portion does not look bad from the export-import perspective

You call that efforts of Hafiz Sheikh. That is why PTI brought him in.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

The money came in at time of PML-Q boosted economy and increased the spending power of people thus people did not had much to buy locally so they started importing.

The money came from massive US aid, grants and debt rescheduling. That just gave the country a party for few years on American money. The underlying economy remained in terrible shape as can be seen by the miserable export performance. Indeed it did better under Zardari as noted by @nahtanbob

You call that efforts of Hafiz Sheikh. That is why PTI brought him in.

Agreed. I can see why they brought him in. It's clear that under his stewardship the econoy performed the best.

One other thing to note. Although Nawaz tenture looks the worst but there is some defence in that huge amount was imported to build CPEC projects like machinery etc. However under Musharaf the import boom was just goods for the rich. Nothing was built undeer Musharaf. He literally just created a big scam paid by the US.

@Nilgiri @UKBengali Any chance you could give us a chart of Indian/Bangladesh import/exports since 2000 for comparison?

 

[nahtanbob]

The money came from massive US aid, grants and debt rescheduling. That just gave the country a party for few years on American money. The underlying economy remained in terrible shape as can be seen by the miserable export performance. Indeed it did better under Zardari as noted by @nahtanbob

the devil is really in the details. you can postpone some of the essential imports to the next government.
or vice versa the previous regime could have done a lot of good work to make you look good

 

[hussain0216]

Our people are dum however too many think imrans done it in 9 months

Our previous governments just coasted making merry without giving a fcuk about the structural flaws in our economy

I will always say this Pakistan is a 200 million state with enourmous potential but need to fix the basics and we will hit a few decades of high growth

If only we could explain to the idiots why our current problems are occurring

 

[BHarwana]

The money came from massive US aid, grants and debt rescheduling. That just gave the country a party for few years on American money. The underlying economy remained in terrible shape as can be seen by the miserable export performance. Indeed it did better under Zardari as noted by @nahtanbob

Agreed. I can see why they brought him in. It's clear that under his stewardship the econoy performed the best.

One other thing to note. Although Nawaz tenture looks the worst but there is some defence in that huge amount was imported to build CPEC projects like machinery etc. However under Musharaf the import boom was just goods for the rich. Nothing was built undeer Musharaf. He literally just created a big scam paid by the US.

@Nilgiri @UKBengali Any chance you could give us a chart of Indian/Bangladesh import/exports since 2000 for comparison?

That is what I meant that is why I said people had nothing to buy domestically and they started importing means production never went up instead spending went up and country begin to rely on imports. In simple means if you look at Nawaz era they cashed on progress made by Hafiz sheik and then they them selves ruined the economy. In terms of business PMLN has always pushed us in reverse instead of better economy because they do over spending on progress made by previous Govts.

For example God forbid if PMLN comes into next govt they will play on PTI's progress. Economically PTI and PPP had good policies than PMLN.

 

[Quwa]

Below is a export/import graph in US dollars of Pakistan's economy over the last 30 years with clear breakdown of each government from Musharaf onwards. What is clear is Pakistan began slipping in about 2003 under Musharaf [however the massive US grants and aid masked the ugly reality] when imports shot up but exports failed to increase. After that the gap just got bigger and bigger with astronomical deficit by 2018. What is also surprising is that Zardari's rule proved to be better for the economy then both Musharaf and Nawaz.

The reality is Musharaf, Zardari and Nawaz are responsible for failing to fix what began 15 years ago in 2003 and each allowed the problem to get worse.

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1482443/w...-for-pakistans-economy-trade-stats-reveal-all

This is really interesting. I actually remember back in the 1990s and early 2000s how new cars weren't that common on the roads. But since 2015, you see a lot of them, like too many. I'm not being sarcastic, but the image fits the economy -- shiny words (or cars), rotten foundations (or roads).

I'm surprised no one bothered to just say, "if you want to sell a single vehicle in Pakistan, 100% must be built in Pakistan, turnkey (not assembled)" You have a 200 million market, even a fraction of that evidently reaps sizable profit, so how we did not work to control pricing and prevent ForEx outflows the right way is intriguing, to say the least.

 

[greenblooded]

they do over spending on progress made by previous Govts.

spending ke bgair metro kese bne gi?

 

[BHarwana]

But if you look at Musharaf's tenure although imports are booming but exports also doubled in size.

This is really interesting. I actually remember back in the 1990s and early 2000s how new cars weren't that common on the roads. But since 2015, you see a lot of them, like too many. I'm not being sarcastic, but the image fits the economy -- shiny words (or cars), rotten foundations (or roads).

I'm surprised no one bothered to just say, "if you want to sell a single vehicle in Pakistan, 100% must be built in Pakistan, turnkey (not assembled)" You have a 200 million market, even a fraction of that evidently reaps sizable profit, so how we did not work to control pricing and prevent ForEx outflows the right way is intriguing, to say the least.

On new cars do you recall the GLi and VTI competition when it started?

 

[313ghazi]

I can tell you all about imports into Pakistan during Musharaf era. My uncle is a car dealer, during that period he exported Toyota Hiace vans, Landcruisers, Hilux and Mercedes C class to Pakistan by the boatload. He'd literally drive around looking for vans. He'd knock on doors offering cash... Lol

 

[BHarwana]

spending ke bgair metro kese bne gi?

The word I wrote is over spending. Read it carefully. Now they lost because of metro because Pakistani needed dam more than metro hope that helps you. We don't need land marks we need better life.

 

[Super Falcon]

Pak economy meant to go down because if u follow jew system u get punished by ALLAH

 

[AZ1]

I used to listen the news of Kapaas (cotton) production in PTV news at 9 o clock news bulletin. But after nawaz sharif came in 1997. This news is dream now.

 

[war&peace]

As usual, the origin of everything bad traced to Musharraf's era. Until then both imports and exports were following each other closely.