Here stands Pakistan, closing the horrible chapters of the year 2023 which was considered as another tumultuous year in the history of the nation. As we bid farewell to the year, it leaves unforgettable scars and wounds from economic struggles and political revolutions that have still not healed. Agonies and antagonists have just increased and crises have redoubled. Worries have boosted up and happiness has distributed.
What does this mean? The current issues of Pakistan in 2023 stand at a critical situation that demands immediate attention and solutions. Let us take you on a recap of what we gained and lost in the 2023 saga of Pakistan.
Rocky Road Of Economic Journey And Political Turmoil
In 2023, the political and economic era experienced a chaotic ground. The politics of the nation stand in a battleground that marks confrontations, sarcasm, and a series of squabbles. Pakistan’s resilient economy was once again stuck and faced a tough time between a global geopolitical crisis and intense political drama. Do you know what? The Pakistani rupee hit a constant low, during this tough year, that exceeded the 300- mark against the US dollar in August. Wait a minute! Not only this, in January the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign exchange reserves decreased to a shocking level- 3.1 billion, which was a red signal for Pakistan.
Struggles and efforts to secure funds from the IMF faced criticism and challenges. The SBP increasingly raised the interest rate to 22%, which is the highest level since October 1996. Moreover, seems like icing on the cake, the government introduced electricity and gas taxes, leading to CPI growth of 38%. What! Good news ahead! After dealing with adversity, Pakistan was finally successful in securing a staff-level agreement with the IMF worth $3 billion, expecting final approval in January 2024.
9th May: A Dark Chapter of the Year
I am pretty sure that you, my readers, must know about the “dark chapter”. If not? Then what are you waiting for, go hurry up google it, because it is the most crucial point when air is contaminated with political pollution. The air was surrounded by hatred and accusations. The event that happened from May 9 to May 11 is based on the irreversible breakdown of the relationship of PTI leader Imran Khan with the military establishment. The tragedy starts with the arrest of Popular leader, Imran Khan, who has false allegations of corruption charges, leaking secrets of states and illegally selling gifts to foreign celebrities. Due to this, the PTI supporters rage and rave, violently attacking military installations and government buildings.
Criticized statuses of WhatsApp, sarcastic trending tweets, and mocking memes: all these ingredients give a good flavor to revolutions. Then on 11th May, the leader was released by the Supreme Court and then after police custody, he freely moved back to his residence.
Later in August, Imran Khan was rearrested and the High Court banned him from contesting elections and public office for five years, yes! You read it right, for five years. Not just these allegations, hundreds of other cases were registered against him, leading to a massive crackdown on various PTI leaders and activists.
The Political Renaissance with the Comeback of Nawaz Sharif
During the 2023 chaos, the nation witnessed the most awaited return, the return of Sharif’s family who is now stretching their muscles. From the previous two years the arrival date of Nawaz Sharif, PML-N leader, was not sure as it goes now and then. As you know Nawaz was calmly living abroad, living in a self-imposed deportation by pretending of illness. Ahh! How ridiculous to observe the party leader traveling to different countries while fighting with illness.
Finally, he had to return, and on his return, his supporters welcomed him, relief from legal cases. It was the perfect time of return, where Imran Khan was imprisoned and all the ground was clear for him.
He had to end his self-imposed exile and come back to lead his party in general elections. In his comeback speech at the rally, he addressed that he had “no wish for revenge” and worried about starting a “new journey” toward the establishment.
Problematic Cricket Scenario
Cricket is not just a sport for the people of Pakistan. It is a beautiful feeling that enhances the love and spirit of patriotism for the nation. Cricket has always saved Pakistan from facing discouragement on the global stage. Alas! Fate would not be with us. The men in green gave heart attacks to the fans as they were wiped off in the semi-final of Asia Cup 2023. Although, the team had done its best to perform well. But maybe luck is not on our side. In the beginning, the Green men were playing well with back-to-back victories. But then they leave their fans dumb and crush the hopes of millions of people by breaking unwanted records.
Ahh! The classic batting of Babar Azam, Shaheen’s swing balls, Haris’s thrilling performances, and Shahdab’s remarkable appearance. All these became a lovely dream, and the team returned empty-handed. After seeing the performances of the team, the PCB decided to change the entire coaching staff and captains. New faces like Muhammad Hafeez, Umar Gul, and Saeed Ajmal have joined as a part of PCB. Babar Azam was replaced from all the formats of captaincy. Shan Mahmood for the test series and Shaheen Afridi for the T20 series were appointed as new captains. But this announcement was currently in doubt.
The Wave of Terrorist Attacks
Terrorism arises as the principal and growing threat to the people of Pakistan in 2023. A minimum of 271 militant attacks during the first half of the year took place, which caused 389 casualties and injuries of 656 individuals. The independent think tank, Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) revealed this number and disclosed that there was a 73% increase in terrorist attacks after the Taliban took over Kabul in 2021. The mishap of the ceasefire between the government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2022 worsened the situation. They allowed banned outfits to plan and execute attacks in the country.
Particularly, on Rabi Ul Awwal, a suicide attack in the tow of Balochistan highlighted the gravity of the situation. Ahh! So sad about the loss, at least 60 people lost their precious lives. Wait a second, it’s not over here. Almost five people were targeted in KP and were dead on the same day. Oh My God, the surge in the number of casualties.
The return of terrorism becomes a crucial challenge for the nation which is puzzled by multiple crises.
Wrap up
What a hectic and stressful year for Pakistan. Wisdom glares when we watch our country become a feeble republic. As Pakistan entered 2024, the give-and-take of political dynamics and economic challenges remained crucial. What the nation experienced in 2022 was just like a piece of unwanted baggage, and after that, the situation of Pakistan in 2023 has gone from bad to worse. Years are passing and new generations are growing around with a common question: “How long do we all have to face these crises? When will we get back from poor governance, corruption, injustice, and hatred?
It’s time for elections, and every political party is battling with each other to enter the aisle of power. So let’s just wait and watch what 2024 has in store for the progress of Pakistan.