Columnist

In the face of a widening gap between revenue and expenditure, Pakistan is rightly concerned about increasing its money flow. The national debt has already reached a level where almost half of national revenue is consumed in paying interest on loans, so borrowing is not an easy option. 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) led provincial assemblies in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces, which together constitute 70% of the entire country’s population, passed local government bills in April. 

The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), located along the northwestern region of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, were always treated differently from other regions of the country since Pakistan became a new nation in 1947. 

With 2018 coming to a close, there is increasing concern about the political scenarios that will unfold next year. There are several factors which could make 2019 a difficult year — both for Pakistan and its new government.