AMONG news of an economic slowdown in China and economic challenges in Pakistan, I was surprised to notice the outstanding ratings of both countries on the economic front based on the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) method. According to the World Bank, China, with an economy of $34.66 trillion, assumed the first position, outperforming the US, which stood in second place with a PPP GDP of $27.72 trillion. According to the World Bank, Pakistan ranked 25th globally with a PPP GDP of $1.50 trillion, outperforming countries like the Netherlands, Argentina, Malaysia, South Africa, Singapore, Switzerland, Israel, Denmark, and many others.

The performance of both China and Pakistan was even more impressive according to data released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) based on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measured in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). According to the IMF, China’s GDP (PPP) was projected at $39.44 trillion, positioning it as the world’s largest economy by PPP, while the United States trailed behind at $30.34 trillion, making it the second-largest economy by PPP. These projections highlight China’s significant economic lead over the United States in PPP terms, with China’s economy expected to be about 30% larger than that of the U.S. in 2025.

According to the IMF, though the prediction about Pakistan’s economy was not as optimistic as that of the World Bank, Pakistan’s projected GDP (PPP) for 2025 is approximately $1.66 trillion, ranking it 26th globally. This places Pakistan ahead of several European countries such as Portugal ($529.9 billion), Greece ($453.4 billion), and the Czech Republic ($645.5 billion), as well as Asian nations like Singapore ($918.4 billion), Malaysia ($1.46 trillion), and the Philippines ($1.48........

© Pakistan Observer