More of the same

As elections draw near, businesses in Pakistan, much like individuals, harbour a blend of concern and scepticism about the future. Interestingly, they don’t seem overly bothered by the delay in the release of political parties’ election manifestoes, which are often full of promises that tend to go unfulfilled once the party assumes power. In addition to numerous prominent businessmen who are well aware of challenges in Pakistan like the restricted manoeuvring space for the government, resource shortages, dependence on donors and political compulsions in an increasingly volatile world, there is the prevailing expectation of more of the same in election manifestoes, even if worded differently. There’s a shared foresight of a potentially weak coalition government post-elections, a scenario starkly contrasting with what the country needs.