The finance minister recently presented the Pakistan Economic Survey 2024–25 with a tone of accomplishment, celebrating a six-decade low in inflation. At first glance, this appears to be good news for a country where millions continue to live below the poverty line.

Indeed, any positive shift in macroeconomic indicators should be welcomed but only if it stems from meaningful, sustainable reforms. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. We are walking a precarious path, chasing the illusion of economic stabilization while ignoring the deep-seated flaws in our system. It’s a dangerous approach, one that treats the symptoms, not the disease, and sets us up for future failures.

Take agriculture, not just a sector, but Pakistan’s lifeline. Nearly 70 percent of our population relies on it, directly or indirectly.

Yet, it continues to be sidelined. According to official data, major crop production declined by 13 percent this year, which is not a marginal slip, but a clear warning sign. The wheat crisis illustrates how political considerations repeatedly trump national interest.

A failure to ensure fair pricing, combined with rising input costs like electricity and urea, has pushed farmers to the brink. With each planting season, they face higher risks and fewer rewards, definitely crushed by........

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