By Sardar Khan Niazi

Pakistan’s recurring crises, economic fragility, political polarization, internal insecurity and eroding public trust are discussed as isolated problems. In reality, they are deeply interconnected. Stability and security will not come from short-term fixes or emotional appeals, but from sustained institutional reform, political maturity and a renewed social contract between the state and its citizens. The first pillar of stability is constitutional governance. Pakistan’s history shows that when constitutional boundaries are blurred, uncertainty follows. Civilian supremacy, judicial independence and parliamentary oversight are not abstract ideals; they are practical necessities for predictability and investor confidence. Every time institutions step beyond their defined roles, governance weakens and legitimacy suffers. Stability demands that all actors political, judicial and security-related operate strictly within constitutional limits. Second, political consensus is essential. Persistent zero-sum politics has paralyzed policymaking and turned governance into a cycle of revenge. Pakistan cannot afford to reset its economic and foreign policies every election cycle. Charter-of-economy–style agreements, even if limited, could insulate key reforms from political upheaval. Countries that have stabilized did so by agreeing on minimum national priorities despite ideological differences. Pakistan must do the same. Economic insecurity remains the most serious threat to national stability. Macroeconomic discipline is unavoidable, but austerity without reform only deepens public resentment. The tax system must be broadened so that the burden does not fall disproportionately on salaried classes and the poor. Large sectors of the economy remain undertaxed or informal, while elites continue to enjoy exemptions. Without addressing this imbalance, no reform program domestic or IMF-backed can succeed sustainably. Export-led growth must replace consumption-driven borrowing. Pakistan’s reliance on imports, combined with stagnant exports, has repeatedly pushed the economy into balance-of-payments crises. Investment in value-added agriculture, technology services and light manufacturing is crucial. This requires consistent policies, affordable energy and simplified........

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