For decades, Pakistan has struggled with economic instability, chronic debt, infrastructural decay, and stagnant growth. Analysts often point to corruption, mismanagement, and external pressures as the main culprits. Yet these explanations only skim the surface.

The deeper, rarely examined cause of Pakistan’s economic paralysis lies in the systematic dismantling of the engineering profession—an assault carried out through political interference, bureaucratic overreach, and the relentless pursuit of personal gain. The very people responsible for safeguarding national development have, instead, turned engineers into hostages of their own greed for power, postings, and financial rewards. Without freeing engineering from this grip, Pakistan’s economic future will remain bleak, regardless of how many reform packages the IMF or World Bank devise.

The contrast between how Pakistani leaders treat their own health and how they treat the country’s economic health reveals a painful hypocrisy. When faced with personal medical issues, politicians and bureaucrats do not take risks. They seek top physicians, world-renowned surgeons, and elite hospitals abroad—in the United States, or Europe, regardless of cost. They demand accurate diagnostics, cutting-edge treatment, and strict adherence to international clinical protocols. They do not self-diagnose, nor do they permit discussions about their medical tests on talk shows. Their health is a private matter, carefully guarded and entrusted only to credentialed experts.

Yet, when the “health” of Pakistan’s economy is at stake—a far more complex and consequential matter—these same individuals suddenly behave like professional engineers. On nightly television debates, one can watch ill-informed politicians, diplomats, and bureaucrats discussing technical subjects like circular debt dynamics, water infrastructure failures, dam design complexities, flood mitigation measures, hydropower specifications, and structural safety standards. These topics demand years of scientific........

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