Will the Middle-East conflict impact Pakistan?

The brazen disregard for civility and international law in the Middle East war zone has deeply saddened and incensed Pakistanis. Beyond its social and political implications, the corporate sector was troubled by the government’s lack of preparedness in dealing with the evolving situation to mitigate potential risks for the already fragile economy. “The vivid images depicting death, destruction, displacement and suffering in the asymmetric conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have shattered the presumption that wars in this century would be waged and won in classrooms and boardrooms. This has led to the realisation that access to information technology has not been sufficient to empower the public to hold leaders accountable and restrain them from engaging in perilous war games,“ lamented an economist turned peace activist. Pakistani business circles are eagerly anticipating an early ceasefire, yet they cannot dismiss the prospects of hostilities spilling over to engulf the energy-producing region, a crucial shipping passageway and the primary source of Pakistan’s remittances and economic support.