The winner of Pakistan’s historic national election, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, faces a host of problems, including faltering economic growth, worsening energy shortages and continued attacks by militants.
The economy has grown at less than 4 percent a year, and it was led by the Pakistan People’s Party and governed for five years. That is much lower than the rates during the previous administration, which at times hovered near 7 percent.
The electricity shortages nearly doubled under the PPP compared with the previous administration. The country also has increased shortages of natural gas. Spending on energy subsidies and failing public enterprises has helped sap the government’s funds, which are much lower than they should be because of ineffective tax collection.
Also, the military has launched numerous operations against the Pakistani Taliban in the country’s northwest tribal region along the Afghan border during the past five years. The Taliban have remained a potent threat, including during the election campaign. The group carried out near-daily attacks against election candidates and offices that killed more than 130 people. Sectarian violence by radical Sunni Muslim militants against minority Shiites also has significantly worsened in recent months.
----By Sherry