In much of the developing world, including Pakistan, development is still too often judged by what can be seen. A new school building, a freshly paved motorway, or a ribbon-cutting at a hospital is taken as evidence of progress. These milestones are tangible, easy to count, and politically seductive.

Yet bricks and mortar, while important, do not by themselves improve welfare. What ultimately determines outcomes are the policies that underpin these structures—the incentives, governance arrangements, and operating systems that shape how resources are used and who benefits. When this distinction is overlooked, building activity is confused with structural change, and critical opportunities for long-term reform are missed.

Education demonstrates this clearly. Pakistan has added thousands of schools, yet learning outcomes remain weak. Curricula are outdated, teachers are insufficiently trained, and accountability mechanisms are uneven. Girls and children from disadvantaged backgrounds are especially affected, and the skills taught often do not match the needs of a modern labour market.

Public, private, and informal systems operate with limited coherence. A building may create access, but only policy—focused on teaching quality, equity, and system integration can deliver meaningful learning. As artificial intelligence begins to reshape work and knowledge, the case for policy renewal becomes even more pressing.

Energy tells a similar story. Pakistan has rapidly expanded power generation, with capacity exceeding 46 gigawatts, and solar now contributes more than a quarter of grid electricity. Yet, inefficiencies and mounting debt persist. The challenge is not simply how much energy is produced, but how wisely the mix is managed.

A forward-looking framework must balance renewables, hydro, and nuclear power; ensure flexible backup; foster competition; modernize the grid; reform tariffs; and anticipate rising demand from........

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