Why does Pakistan struggle with governance, despite waves of reforms, new policies, and countless “visions” and “roadmaps”?
A recent talk between civil servant and scholar Tariq Awan and Nadeem ul Haque (see Haque Economics Podcast: Why Bureaucracy Refuses to Reform & Modernize?) adds fresh clarity to this question — and aligns in striking ways with arguments I made in an earlier piece, Impact of Colonial Heritage on Economic Policy in Pakistan
Together, the two perspectives paint a coherent story of why we are stuck and what it will take to get unstuck.

This post provides an efficient summary of both analyses. If you want the full details, you’ll find links at the end.