Wait for a Miracle
Wait for a Miracle: Pakistan celebrated its 79th Independence Day a few days ago. As usual, the day brought hope for a better year. People hoped for some relief. Much of this hope now comes from the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement.
New Hopes
Pakistan’s streets displayed flags, banners and pictures of the leaders of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. We saw similar excitement more than a decade ago. The government presented CPEC as a great hope. People expected CPEC to create jobs, attract investment and improve their lives.
The Makkah Agreement differs from CPEC. CPEC focused mainly on the economy. The new agreement focuses on geopolitics and security. Still, people have placed their hopes in it. Many expect Saudi investment, oil on deferred payments and more foreign money. They also expect more jobs for Pakistanis in the Gulf.
Endless Waiting
Pakistan’s power elites often wait for a miracle. Every few years, they create a new story of hope. They tell people that prosperity is near. They promise that a major change will soon come. Pakistan has followed this approach since its early years. It placed great hopes in the United States. It joined SEATO and CENTO. It became a close Western security partner. But these partnerships did not bring the expected economic and strategic benefits.
CPEC Hopes
Later, Pakistan placed similar hopes in China and CPEC. When Pakistan launched CPEC in 2015, leaders called it a “game changer”. Pakistani and Chinese flags covered the streets. People believed CPEC would transform Pakistan’s economic future.
CPEC’s Limits
CPEC has delivered important roads, energy projects and other infrastructure. But the promised transformation remains incomplete. Pakistan still faces debt, low exports and weak productivity. It also faces repeated balance-of-payments problems. Pakistan still depends on IMF programmes, loans, deposits and support from friendly countries. CPEC shows that foreign partnerships cannot replace the reforms Pakistan needs at home.
Afghan Hopes
Pakistan also placed great hopes in Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Many believed that a stable Afghanistan would help Pakistan connect with Central Asia. They also expected more regional trade.
Independence Day in 2021 also brought strong optimism in influential Pakistani circles. When the Taliban entered Kabul, some Pakistanis celebrated their victory. Then-prime minister Imran Khan said that Afghans had broken the “shackles of slavery”. Pakistan strongly supported international engagement with the new Taliban government.
Afghan Reality
Some Pakistani officials believed that the new Afghan government could bring political and social change to Pakistan. They expected a fairer system and less corruption. It was another moment of great hope.
But reality proved different. Afghanistan faced serious economic and humanitarian problems. The banned TTP increased its attacks. Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan also worsened. Instead of helping trade and regional links, border insecurity became a major security problem for Pakistan.
Domestic Challenges
The latest defence agreement has created another wave of hope. It may strengthen Pakistan’s strategic position. We should take its importance seriously. But we should not present it as a solution to Pakistan’s economic and political problems.
The main problem lies inside Pakistan. Reforming institutions is harder than signing agreements. Building political unity is less exciting than welcoming foreign leaders. Better governance does not create the same excitement as flags, ceremonies and international partnerships.
Homegrown Progress
Pakistan must build hope through its own achievements. We need economic reforms and strong institutions. We need peace in Balochistan. We need stable relations with Afghanistan and India. We need better security, the rule of law and, above all, true democracy.
People and nations often look outside for help during crises. Pakistan has also fallen into this habit. Every few years, it finds a new alliance, a new promise and a new reason to celebrate. But lasting progress will come only when Pakistan solves its problems at home. It must stop waiting endlessly for another miracle.
Published in Dawn, 16th August 2026
