If you’re considering Pakistan as a place to invest in, move to, raise your children or grandchildren and to contribute to the growth of the country here are a few considerations for your future:
1. Recently confirmed off-shore, potentially the world’s 4th largest oil reserves.
2. Goldman Sachs predicted in ~40 years time Pakistan will in the top 6 economies of the world
3. “Global Funds Turn to Pakistan As the Best Performing Stock and Equity Market in the World“. “Pakistan emerges as world’s best-performing equity market in USD terms”. “Pakistan Isn’t That Risky Anymore. Its Economy Is a Mini-Miracle“.
4. Pakistan has over 12 foreign car manufacturers doing varying degrees of manufacturing or assembly in Pakistan. Honda’s local partner is even making cars in Pakistan and exporting cars to Japan! But more interesting is that Pakistan has 2 of it’s own native petrol vehicle brands, and 2 Pakistani EV car brands too.
5. Thanks to the various efforts of various actors in the political, religious and cultural spheres, there has been a massive rise in social awareness. Pakistan’s Global Corruption Barometer score has gone from about 80% in the early 2000s to 25% (and falling) which is less than half of India’s** 63% corruption rate.
6. Pakistan officially scores better in the Numbeo Safety Index, safer than many western nations including the UK and US, despite higher rates of poverty. Pakistan also scores better in the crime index with less crime than the UK or US. According to multiple surveys (not police records) crime is lower in Islamabad and every major Pakistani city including Karachi than London. The only crime which is higher in Pakistan is gun use, because guns like in America are widespread, but open carry is banned in Islamabad.
7. For the sake of balance we must state that the challenges of any developing country remain, extreme poverty as defined by the world bank in 2019 was at 4.9%, compared to India’s 12.9%**. Since 2022 the World Bank redefined it’s definitions / baselines for calculating extreme poverty, also Pakistan has suffered economic shocks and huge natural disasters so now has extreme poverty rate of 16.5%, while India’s is down to 10.2%. But for Pakistan the multi-year trajectory, despite huge challenges, is upwards. The spiritual, moral and economic opportunities far far outweigh the challenges especially for your children’s future.
**This is not to attack or compete with India, but it is a useful comparison considering the negative stereotypes of Pakistan. Lots of Pakistanis don’t realize these facts because many of us are overly negative about the country. This doesn’t mean glossing over the corruption that does exist, nor that any poverty or illiteracy isn’t a problem, but overly negative Pakistanis do require some perspective.
