What challenges await Pakistan's next government?

DW (English)

Pakistan's next administration will have its work cut out for it as it faces a raft of problems, including economic turmoil and political instability.

Transcript

00:00 One thing is clear after Pakistan's recent parliamentary elections,

00:04 there won't be any change for the better.

00:06 A new coalition government between the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz

00:10 and the Pakistan People's Party is in the works.

00:13 But it echoes the one that was in power before a caretaker administration

00:17 took over to hold elections.

00:19 The Prime Minister at the time, Shabaz Sharif, seems set to take over again.

00:23 This at a time when Pakistan is facing severe political and economic problems.

00:28 The new government that will be formed in the first week of March

00:31 will be facing several challenges.

00:33 The biggest challenge at the moment is to bring in economic stability

00:37 and to deal with record high inflation.

00:40 The second challenge is to bring down the political temperature

00:44 that's already on the rise.

00:46 And especially after the results of general elections,

00:49 most of the political parties are gearing up for countrywide protests.

00:53 Some other challenges are to deal with the rise in militancy in the country,

00:57 living with the strong Pakistani military has been another challenge

01:01 for all the governments in the past.

01:04 Pakistan has been in a state of economic turmoil in recent years

01:08 and tackling it will be the biggest challenge facing the new government.

01:13 In the form of a coalition government,

01:15 you can't make quick and firm decisions like your own government.

01:20 So it is challenging, there's no doubt about it.

01:23 The biggest problem in the country right now is the economy.

01:26 If this is solved, it will make a difference in the lives of ordinary people.

01:32 We have taken a comprehensive action plan to tackle all the challenges

01:36 with a timeline.

01:39 But it's unclear if the new government will be able to push through

01:44 much needed reforms.

01:46 Many fear the new coalition will be weak and unstable.

01:50 The election outcome has also shown ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan's

01:54 enduring popularity.

01:56 Candidates linked to his party emerged as the single largest group in parliament.

02:01 The idea of a coalition government has been rejected roundly by

02:04 Prime Minister Imran Khan, to me the real Prime Minister of Pakistan.

02:07 But at the moment, because our mandate has been stolen,

02:09 more than 80 seats of different MNAs from all over Pakistan have been reduced

02:14 to give an unfavourable edge either to People's Party or to Noon League.

02:17 Therefore, we're looking at our options.

02:19 But either a weak government or a coalition with those people that

02:23 the country has rejected, neither are possibilities for us.

02:25 We have the right to protest under the constitution,

02:27 unless they've also done away with the constitution.

02:30 At present, whatever's happening to Pakistan is a joke, it's macabre,

02:33 it's like a bizarre comedy.

02:35 But we are going to stay the course.

02:37 At the moment, there seems to be no end to political instability,

02:41 and Pakistanis are increasingly frustrated with the political class.

02:44 Until there are fair and unfair elections in Pakistan,

02:48 no government can stabilize.

02:52 Because there is a lot of inflation in Pakistan.

02:54 A strong government can end inflation and can make decisions for Pakistan.

03:01 But some remain hopeful.

03:04 The government that is formed now, God willing,

03:06 Shahbaz Sharif will be the Prime Minister.

03:09 And we hope that a good cabinet is formed,

03:15 where he can solve the problems of the people,

03:17 and God willing, he will be elected in five years.

03:21 Shahbaz Sharif's previous government proved quite unpopular.

03:25 So the incoming Prime Minister will have a lot to prove

03:28 to Pakistanis' yearning for change.

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