CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor)

Introduction
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a framework of regional connectivity. CPEC will not only
benefit China and Pakistan but will have positive impact on Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asian
Republic, and the region.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor is journey towards economic regionalization in the globalized
world. It founded peace, development, and win-win model for all of them.
China Pakistan Economic Corridor is hope of better region of the future with peace,
development and growth of economy.

Which city started CPEC?

Gwadar
The first convoy from China arrived in Gwadar on 13 November 2016, thereby formalizing
operation of CPEC.
What are the contents of CPEC?
The CPEC is divided into the following five functional zones from north to south: Xinjiang
foreign economic zone, northern border trade logistics and business corridor & ecological
reserve, eastern and central plain economic zone, western logistics corridor business zone, and
southern coastal logistics business zone.
Who is the chairman of CPEC?
Chairman CPEC Authority Lt Gen (Retd) Asim Saleem Bajwa said that Chinese companies are
taking keen interest in IT and fibre optic projects. He said Ministry of IT's role is prominent in
different CPEC projects. He also lauded the establishment of IT Park in Gilgit Baltistan (GB).
Why Pakistan needs CPEC?
CPEC will contribute to overcome energy crisis, build modern infrastructure, promote
rapid industrialization and create enormous job opportunities in Pakistan.

How many phases are there in CPEC?

three phases
The initiative is divided into three phases. The short-term phase (2015-2022), the medium-term
phase (2021-2025), and the long-term phase (2026-2030).
How will CPEC affect Pakistan GDP?
The port of Gwadar is essential to the progress and accomplishments of Pakistan. The Gwadar
port has the ability to both provide job opportunities and attract local as well as international
investment. As a direct result of Pakistan's participation in CPEC, a 3% boost in the country's
GDP is anticipated

CPEC Vision & Mission

To improve the lives of people of Pakistan and China by building an economic corridor
promoting bilateral connectivity, construction, explore potential bilateral investment, economic
and trade, logistics and people to people contact for regional connectivity. It includes:

 Integrated Transport & IT systems including Road, Rail, Port, Air and Data
Communication Channels
 Energy Cooperation
 Spatial Layout, Functional Zones, Industries and Industrial Parks
 Agricultural Development
 Socio-Economic Development (Poverty Alleviation, Medical Treatment, Education,
Water Supply, Vocational Training)
 Tourism Cooperation & People to People Communication
 Cooperation in Livelihood Areas
 Financial Cooperation
 Human Resource Development
 Science and Technology and Information Technology

CPEC Significance/Potential
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has Significance for the development of the region. Potential
areas of cooperation/development include:
1) Regional Connectivity
 Transport Infrastructure
 Energy Hub/flows
 Logistic Hub/flows
 Trade & Commerce
 Peace & development of region
 Connectivity/Harmonization/Integration of civilizations
2) Diverse Investment opportunities
3) Industrial Cooperation
4) Financial Cooperation

5) Agricultural Cooperation
6) Socio-Economic Development

 Poverty Alleviation
 Education
 Medical Treatment
 Water Supply
 Vocational Training

7) Tourism including coastal Tourism

8) Educational linkage

9) Human resource development

10) People to people contact

11) Increase in livelihood opportunities

12) Enhance Security and stability of the region

Russia-Ukraine conflict crisis

Introduction
Today we are going to explain a little about the Russia- Ukraine Conflict Crisis. We are not
taking any side; we are just sharing the knowledge we gained from the history and current
affairs based on facts and figures. • As mentioned in the title, initially this was not a war. Due to
different opinions the conflicts led to the current situation between the two countries.
History of Russia and Ukraine
• Russia and Ukraine were part of the USSR, what is USSR?
• USSR stands for Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was the world’s largest country formed in
1922 with a group of 15 republics Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belorussia (now
Belarus), Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kirgiziya (now Kyrgyzstan), Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia
(now Moldova), Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
• In 1991 the USSR was dissolved following the collapse of its communist government which is
known as ‘The Fall of USSR’.
• In the Soviet Union, Russia was the most powerful country followed by Ukraine.
• If we look at the map, we can see that Ukraine is between Russia and European Union( EU
was formed in 1993 with 27 countries(European continent). In order to grow economically, EU
implemented these.
1)No travel restrictions among EU countries.
2) exports and imports can be done without any taxes.
• The border countries Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania are already part of EU. The remaining are
Belarus and Ukraine didn’t join EU.
Causes of Conflict Crisis
• Sphere of Influence
• NATO
• NATO stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization which was a military alliance established
by North Atlantic Treaty also called The Washington Treaty. This was started to create a
counterweight to soviet armies stationed in central and eastern Europe after world war-II.
• NATO is a security alliance which was formed by 12 countries Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and
the United States which was started on April 4, 1949. Currently there are 30 countries in NATO.
• NATO can be simply explained like this. For eg: let’s take if Canada is attacked by a non-NATO
country , then all other NATO members unitedly will support its member by sending their
military forces and weapon arsenal.

Ukraine started plan to join NATO In 2002 and applied for membership in 2008 because of these
following issues with Rusia.
 When USSR fell out in 1991, there was an agreement made between Russia and Ukraine that
Russia will operate its navel base from Crimea which is a borderland of Russia. Ukraine started
plans to join NATO in 2002 and applied for membership in 2008 because of these following
issues with Russia.
 In 2010, then president Viktor Yanukovych who was backed the Russia, signed a deal to extend
the time period to use the Crimea for its naval base operations by 25 years in return Ukraine will
get 30% exemption on Oil and Natural gases and also delayed the process of Ukraine joining
NATO.
 In 2013, president Viktor refused to sign the EU association deal which led to a series of protests
known as Euromaidan. The Ukrainian people wanted him to resign. The other government
officials removed him from president role. But the borderland regions Luhansk, Donetsk and
Crimea opposed this and they started to protest.
Russia took this as an advantage and sent their military forces and occupied Crimea. Later they
conducted an election in Crimea to let the people decide to be independent or to be part of Russia. 97%
people wanted to be part of Russia and based on people’s decision Crimea became a part of Russia, but
the protests continued in other two regions. In 2014, new president was elected who was a pro-
western. This led to severe protests in two regions Luhansk and Donetsk. Ukraine government sent
military forces to control the rebels, in counter-attack Russia unofficially helped the rebels by sending
weapon arsenal. After some time, the rebels took control over the two regions. Ukraine thought Russia
might occupy the two regions like Crimea and they know that they can’t face the war with Russia by
their own so they tried to join NATO, all of a sudden Russia declared independence to the two regions
and declared war with Ukraine
• In 2014, following the large scale fighting’s and violence the (OCSE) Organisation for security and
cooperation in Europe and by the Russian backed separatist leaders Zakharchenko and Plotnitsky set out
a 12-point cease fire deal called the Minsk-1 deal but the agreement quickly broke down.
• Later Minsk-2 agreement was made, but it was also violated.
• According to Ukraine point of view they can’t allow Russia to invade and take control over their lands
so they entered into war.
• According to Russia point of view they can’t allow anyone in their borderlands who might pose
security threats.
• NATO has been holding the Ukraine’s membership because it is opposed by some NATO members
such as France and Germany and kept official membership out of Ukraine’s reach citing the situations
happening in Ukraine.
• As per latest Update from the current president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he stated that the
country is no longer insisting on NATO membership.
Effects of Russia-Ukraine Conflict
• Oil and natural gases prices went high.(Gone up over 20%).
• Stock markets suffered with huge losses.
• Freight (Cargo Delivery) rates went very high.
• High impact on wheat and corn exports to middle eastern and African continents.
• According to the report 2187 Ukrainian civilians have been killed.
• Between 5000 and 6000 Russian soldiers were killed.
• Many medical students careers are in uncertainty.
“Pakistan’s Energy Crisis: The Need for a Transition to
Alternate Energy”
Like many other developing countries, Pakistan has been grappling with a severe energy crisis
for several years. Pakistan is land with ample indigenous natural resources. These resources can
play a pivotal role in helping and running country’s economy. The mismanagement of the
resources and ignorance can lead to several crises. The demand for energy continues to surge
due to population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, while the supply of conventional
energy sources remains inadequate. This energy deficit has led to frequent power outages,
hampering economic growth, disrupting daily life, and impeding technological progress.
Pakistan witnessed acute energy crisis during the summer months from May-August 2023. The
electricity shortfall widened to 7,000 megawatts with demand rising to 28,200 megawatts,
while the power supply was 21,200 megawatts.

Currently, hydropower is generating 4,635 megawatts of electricity, the governments thermal

power plants facilitates the country with 1,060 megawatts whereas 9,677 is manufactured by
IPPs. The shortage of oil, gas and coal has led the country to shut several power plants. Due to
this shortfall, different parts of the country are going under severe load shedding with duration of
10 to 12 hours. The lives of people have been miserable due to power cuts.

The looming energy crisis in Pakistan can be traced back to the 1990s. In 1970s, the government
launched two massive projects in the form of Mangla and Tarbela dams. The energy crisis was
averted with the launch of these mega projects. These projects not only proved fruitful to
overcome energy crisis rather they lend a hand in economic growth

The recent increase in energy costs has given us a glimpse into the future, where market
disruptions might result if the transition to low-carbon energy sources is not adequately managed
or stressed. According to Shazia Anwar Cheema, Pakistan might face an extremely challenging
and disastrous winter as a result of the lack of long-term energy management strategies by
policymakers.
Causes of Pakistan's Energy Crisis3

 Lack of Investment: One of the primary reasons for Pakistan's energy crisis is the
insufficient investment in the energy sector. The country has not made substantial
investments in building new power plants or upgrading existing infrastructure to meet
the growing energy demand.

 Circular Debt: The circular debt issue in the energy sector exacerbates the crisis. This
occurs when power generation companies are not paid on time by the government or
consumers, leading to a shortage of funds for fuel and maintenance. As a result, the
energy generation process is disrupted.

 Over-reliance on Fossil Fuels: Pakistan's energy mix is heavily skewed toward fossil fuels,
particularly natural gas, and oil. This reliance on finite and expensive resources makes
the energy sector vulnerable to price fluctuations and supply disruptions.

 Inefficient Energy Use: Wasteful industrial, commercial, and residential energy

consumption practices contribute to the crisis. Lack of energy-efficient technologies and
conservation measures result in higher energy demand.

 Political Interference: Frequent political interference in the energy sector has led to
inefficiencies, mismanagement, and a lack of transparency, further worsening the
energy crisis

There are several reasons behind every problem. If the problem is not tackled in a proper way,
it can affect societies, citizens, and economy of the country drastically. Pakistan is confronted
with unprecedented energy crisis. The production of energy is stagnant while the use of it
increasing by every passing day. It seems that government has categorically excluded this
aspect from priorities. This ignorance has resulted in energy crisis in Pakistan.

It is important for our politicians to work for the well being of the country leaving behind their
differences. Unfortunately, the politicians and parliament is divided so badly that they are
unable to realize the severity of the situation. The best example in this regard is Kalabagh
damSince it’s been so long that Pakistan has not built any dam and water reservoirs, it has
further aggravated and exacerbated the situation.

The other factor that contributed to the energy crisis is the incapability of government to
collect funds in order to launch new power projects. The economic condition of any country
plays an integral part in collecting funds. Pakistan’s current economic situation is not up to the
mark to appeal to foreign funding. The collection of funds is dependent on budget deficit.
According to Economic Survey of Pakistan, the Pakistan’s fiscal deficit is Rs.1.13 trillion in 2021.
Due to high fiscal deficit, it is impossible to stat over new power projects without having
specified amount of funds.
The factor that needs government’s attention is the use of modern technology. The leadership
should ponder upon the use of technology. There is a dire need for the government to make
use of advanced equipments to overcome the crisis. The energy crisis can be reduced to 50
years only by brining solar and wind energy into use. This method also failed to grab the
attention of our politicians.

Apart from these factors, one of the causes leading to crisis is the theft of energy. People in
Pakistan have adopted this norm very well without taking into account the consequences the
country is going to face. Every year, 4,500 megawatts energy has been stolen and 100 billion
bills are unpaid. This practice has adverse effects on economy. If the energy will be theft and
bills would be unpaid, the country is not capable of purchasing energy with a circular debt that
is increasing by every passing day. The energy theft was recorded to 2.73 trillion in the year
2021.

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has caused fuel prices to soar, endangering the supply
chain and making it challenging for Pakistan to support the effective operation of its power
plant. Long-term LNG suppliers canceled several shipments scheduled for delivery over the last
few months, further tightening supplies, which has directly resulted in complications for
Pakistan.

Apart from the aforementioned reasons, other contributing factors include:

 Decreasing gas supply and dependence on oil

 Unrealistic power tariffs (low investments)
 Low payment recovery
 Inefficient revenue collection
 Overpopulation, over usage

The Promise of Alternative Energy

Alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and biomass, offer a way out of
this energy predicament as envisioned under ARE Policy. These sources provide a range of
benefits that align with Pakistan's unique geographical and climatic conditions.

 Solar Energy: Pakistan boasts abundant sunlight throughout the year, making solar
energy a viable option. Large-scale solar farms and rooftop solar installations can
significantly augment the energy supply. By harnessing solar power, Pakistan can reduce
its dependence on imported fossil fuels and minimize carbon emissions.

 Wind Energy: The coastal areas of Pakistan, particularly in Sindh and Baluchistan, have
substantial wind energy potential. Installing wind turbines can provide a steady source
of clean electricity. Wind power can diversify the energy mix, reducing the strain on
conventional sources and promoting sustainability.
  Hydroelectric Energy: Pakistan's geography is characterized by rivers and water bodies.
Developing hydroelectric power plants can not only generate substantial electricity but
also regulate water flow for irrigation and flood control. This approach addresses both
energy and water management challenges.

 Biomass Energy: Agricultural residues and organic waste can be converted into biofuels
and biogas. This not only helps manage waste but also generates renewable energy.
Promoting biomass energy can provide additional benefits to rural communities by
creating local employment opportunities.

 Geothermal Energy: Although largely untapped, Pakistan has significant geothermal

potential, particularly in regions with active tectonic activity. Geothermal energy can
provide a stable and continuous source of power, reducing the reliance on intermittent
renewable sources.

Benefits and Challenges of Alternative Energy Adoption

Benefits:

 Sustainability: Alternative energy sources are renewable and do not deplete over time,
ensuring a long-term and sustainable energy supply.

 Reduced Environmental Impact: Unlike fossil fuels, alternative energy sources produce
little to no greenhouse gas emissions, mitigating climate change and improving air
quality.

 Energy Independence: Relying on domestic renewable resources can decrease

dependence on imported fossil fuels, enhancing energy security and reducing the
impact of global oil price fluctuations.

 Employment Opportunities: The transition to alternative energy requires skilled labour

for installation, operation, and maintenance, potentially creating jobs and stimulating
economic growth

Challenges:

 Initial Costs: The upfront investment required for infrastructure and technology can be
substantial, deterring immediate adoption.

 Intermittency: Some alternative sources, such as solar and wind, are intermittent,
requiring efficient energy storage solutions to ensure continuous supply.
  Infrastructure Development: Establishing the necessary infrastructure, such as power
grids and transmission lines, is essential but can be challenging, especially in remote
areas.

 Policy and Regulatory Framework: A supportive policy environment, including incentives

and regulations, is crucial to encourage private investment and innovation in the
alternative energy sector.

Energy Profile of Pakistan

The Government of Pakistan has unveiled a number of initiatives to facilitate the public’s access
to energy, spur economic expansion, and find a solution to the energy issue. The initiatives
include:

 The National Power Policy 2013

The policy aimed to develop a power production, transmission, and distribution system that was
effective and could fulfill the requirements of the populace while boosting the economy of the
nation in a cost-effective and sustainable way.
 Power Generation Policy 2015
The fundamental goals of the policy was to have enough cheapest available power production
capacity while emphasizing the use of domestic resources, enabling all parties engaged in the
trade, and protecting the environment.
 Alternative and Renewable Energy Policy 2019

The major objective of the 2019 policy was to encourage and support the nation’s development
of renewable resources.

Impact of Energy Crisis on Pakistan

The industrial sector has also been severely damaged by the energy crisis. The manufacturing processes
of several major and small-scale industries have been stifled by it. Due to the continuous energy
constraint, the supply of gas and electricity to the industry was shut off. The South Asian country is
experiencing a severe economic crisis, with energy imports being hampered by rampant inflation, a
depreciating rupee, and shrinking foreign exchange reserves.

Textiles are the industry most impacted. According to government statistics, the home sector’s demand
for energy has increased this season as a result of the heat wave, resulting in a shortage of almost 7,000
megawatts—or one-fifth of Pakistan’s generation capacity—on several days this month.
Pakistan’s important textile center, which sells everything from denim to bed linen to markets in the US
and Europe and makes up 60% of the nation’s exports, has been negatively impacted by the electricity
deficit. According to Qasim Malik, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce in Sialkot, “the textile
sector is in a situation of emergency.”
What’s the Way Forward?
A massive wave of transformation into alternative and renewable energy from conventional energy
production methods by the year 2030 is underway. The national policies have been approved and now
implementation has started. Denmark is one of the unique countries that have taken itself to a highly
ambitious target of shifting to 100% renewable energy resources by the year 2050.
So, in these fast-changing global energy trends, there are numerous opportunities for Pakistan to find a
solution to its energy crisis. Following are the recommendations for adopting practical ways toward
renewable energy in Pakistan.

Research and Development

First of all, like other states, Pakistan needs to impose proper rules and regulations regarding the
operating hours of industries. Our think tanks and research centers should publish research articles and
policy papers that are Pakistan-centric containing “robust implementation mechanisms” considering the
local challenges. Pakistan needs to combine all the energy-related institutions’ needs under a single
ministry, which will create efficiency in the dysfunctional energy sector and the whole sector will be
streamlined.

Entrepreneurial Solutions

For Pakistan’s energy sector to be supported, it requires reliable funding and tax reforms. Then Pakistani
entrepreneurs have a golden chance to come up with clever ideas to tackle the energy insecurity
problem of Pakistan. They should mobilize land, labor, and capital based on the research by policy
experts to invest in the manufacturing of green technologies that will be used locally as well as
internationally.

The government of Pakistan is soon coming up with a National Innovation Fund of Rs. 100 Billion,
according to unofficial sources of the Planning Commission of Pakistan. The Innovation Fund will aim to
provide financial subsistence to innovative entrepreneurial ideas that can contribute to the economic
improvement of Pakistan. So, young graduates and businesses have a great opportunity to create and
pitch for green technology.

Investing in the Renewable Energy Industry

Similarly, it is a golden chance for local and overseas investors to invest in Pakistan’s renewable energy
program for which the government of Pakistan has given an Alternative and Renewable Energy Policy in
2019. The document is the updated version of the RE policy for Development of Power Generation 2006.
Moreover, importing clean coal, which is frequently less expensive than imported oil and gas, will allow
Pakistan to diversify its energy mix.

To reduce its dependency on conventional energy sources, Pakistan needs to decrease the demand for
the grid station. It can do so by converting small-scale companies to solar energy and making them self-
sufficient. In order to reduce their reliance on the national grid, other sources like the use of windmills
have to be taken into account.
Public-Private Partnership

The public sector of Pakistan must make renewable energy a priority. The government of Pakistan
should collaborate with countries like China that are technologically advanced and use this as an
opportunity to improve bilateral relationships with them. Another solution would be for the government
to subsidize the renewable energy industry and promote public-private cooperation to bring Pakistan
out of the energy crisis.

Governance on Kunda System (Electricity Theft)

The Kunda system entails the unauthorized or illegal connection of wires to power lines, bypassing
meters to avoid bill payment. This practice is widespread in Pakistan, causing a loss of Rs90 billion in the
last five years due to electricity theft and line losses. The government should implement comprehensive
reforms in the energy sector to enhance transparency, governance, performance, and accountability.
Stricter enforcement is necessary to curb this detrimental trend.

The Energy Crisis Situation in 2023

In January 2023, Pakistan experienced a nationwide blackout for almost a day due to a voltage surge at a
power station in Sindh. This problem is becoming more common because the aging electricity grid, built
before Pakistan’s independence in 1947 and mainly in the 1960s, lacks maintenance and investment.
Electricity costs have surged, now standing at approximately 50 rupees (12p) per kilowatt, while petrol
prices have dramatically risen from 262 rupees per liter in June to 331 rupees in September.

The country is grappling with widespread protests against these soaring energy prices, with thousands
of people taking to the streets, even resorting to burning their electricity bills in frustration. Pakistan is
currently embroiled in a challenging period of political and economic instability, marked by a record-
breaking inflation rate of 36.4%.

The government has taken a number of steps to try to reduce the circular debt, but it remains a major
problem. The increase in circular debt from Rs160 billion in 2008 to Rs2,377 billion in 2023 is a sign that
the problem is getting worse, not better. According to the statement from Human Rights Watch Report,
the IMF and the Pakistani government should evaluate adjustment impacts thoroughly.
Prior to subsidy removal, there should have been the implementation of a comprehensive reform plan
to ease price hikes and facilitate the transition to sustainable energy. The IMF’s article, released on July
12th, mentioned that the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 9-
month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA), a short-term aid for countries with balance of payment issues, for
Pakistan for an amount of SDR2,250 million (about $3 billion, or 111 percent of quota) to support the
authorities’ economic stabilization program.

Conclusion

The world is changing rapidly. Every process is automated to save time and simultaneously speed up the
production mechanisms. Without energy security, keeping up with the world will not be possible. If we
strive to become competent and develop Pakistan as a modern country, we must adopt renewable
energy methods to supplement our energy needs.
Due to the dynamics of the global economy, it may seem that in the near future, Pakistan will not
experience a drop in the energy issue. However, it is the responsibility of the political leaders and the
stakeholders of Pakistan to minimize this energy crisis and find a solution to it. It’s important to keep in
mind that being optimistic will help you manage any degree of crisis. We all should do what’s in our
control to strengthen our country on all fronts.

Energy Crisis in Pakistan and Its Solution (Updated)

The rise in global oil prices, devaluation of the Pakistani rupee, and the domestic political and economic crisis in
Pakistan are propelling the state towards becoming energy insecure. Maryam Ibrahim and Izza Ikram note that
Pakistan has become heavily dependent upon energy exports. However, it still needs to find alternatives if it wants to
overcome its energy insecurity and meet its domestic energy demand. If left unchecked, the current energy crisis will
devastate the already struggling economy of Pakistan.

Forthcoming energy crisis in Pakistan

The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted gas supply to Europe and there is a likelihood of a further
reduction in supply. Therefore, the European Commission proposed plans to cut gas demand by
15% until next spring. To achieve this target, consumers’ demands in public administrations,
households, buildings, power suppliers, and industries will be capped.
I wonder if Pakistani policymakers also formulate such plans before a crisis land in their garden or do
they keep waiting till panic triggers? The forthcoming winter can be disastrous for Pakistan as the
country does not have long-term energy management plans. The shortage of gas and fuel deliveries to
Europe will ultimately put pressure on Middle Eastern sellers who are our main source of imports. Our
policymakers do not realise the crisis we are about to face. Early steps help spread out the efforts over
time, ease market concerns and price volatility, and allow for a better design of targeted, cost-effective
measures protecting the industry. Research has revealed that Pakistan has a maximum gas supply of
4,300 million standard cubic feet per day (mmcfd) against the average demand of 6,500 to 7,000 mmcfd.
During the winter season, the demand rises to 8,000 mmcfd. Therefore, there can be a shortfall of 3,500
mmcfd.
Pakistan is already faced with multidimensional issues because of a lack of storage facilities, no planning,
depleting foreign exchange reserves, and the absence of broad-based alternative energy sources. In
Europe, traditional energy sources are coal, oil, nuclear and renewable sources but Pakistan is short of
everything and has over 220 million consumers. Europe is working on an important pillar of energy
saving: the reduction of heating and cooling while the Pakistan Market Share Report indicates that there
is over 7.2% growth in usage in the domestic market.
Without a “demand reduction plan”, we will be faced with critical energy shortages. Unfortunately, our
state institutions are more interested in playing “election ludo” and political parties are busy in political
kabaddi. Instead of locking cheaper gas deals, the former PTI government was more focused on political
victimisation, blame game, and ethics degradation. The incumbent coalition government is also faced
with uncertainty and is more concerned about staying in power and re-election. The tense political and
economic situation has become a cause of concern for all citizens. However, those in positions of power
have ignored the gravity of these issues.
As always, our policymakers adopt a reactive approach, which prevents them from resolving the ongoing
issues. Our state motto appears to be “it will be dealt with when it will be visible”, which needs to
change. Our policymakers must adopt a proactive approach because states cannot be run on a day-to-
day basis.
There is no plan for either international challenges or domestic ones. The forthcoming energy crisis is
one of the many issues that need articulation. Other issues that we do not have any plans for include
population growth, unemployment, food shortages, inflation, unending political circus, stable foreign
policy, public diplomacy, or restoring our global image.
Unfortunately, both print and electronic media have failed to initiate any productive discussion.
Mainstream television channels have not paid any attention to important affairs, our public remains
unaware of all other issues besides domestic political tussle. Real problems and real solutions are not a
priority, and the result is in front of us.
If we do not provide our audience with the world view, they will keep bickering with each other on
political affiliations while the root of the problem will remain intact. Energy, food, and security will
remain in the shadows until they become a ghost and stand right in front of us to receive due attention .