Let us put things in perspective
Accounting for hot wars South Asia was one of the poorest performing regions in the world at the end of the Cold War.
Pakistan's GDP was $38.5 billion in 1988 with population of 108 million with per captia income less than $400. India's numbers were $296 billion for 833 million people. I am sure Pakistani expatriates in the GCC states were close to today's numbers. There was a few billion in aid inflows US, multilateral and Gulf Arab following in for a decade. It does not take a whole lot to achieve the gains over India.
The only problem today is that you are competing against China and India for the leftovers
Bad policies started with Ayub Khan Era in Pakistan are often called the Golden Era of Pakistan. While some economic development happened, it has a not-so-sustainable bright side.
Ayub used loans and foreign aid to bankroll economic development, which is good; however, 60% of the foreign aid went into subsidizing imports, and this detrimental policy carried on for decades, and Ishaq Dar followed the exact blueprint. At that time, he used loans to prop the rupee, which made sense at that early growth stage, but not for a prolonged period.
In the end, what little industry he made, he gave to the 22 families in Pakistan, which controlled almost 66% of the country's total industrial assets, 70% of insurance, and 80% of its banking. What should have happened is a Pakistani version of the Sherman Act to break the stronghold of these several families who often have conspired among themselves to corner the market. These families also have profound political and military connections allowing them to kill off any rising competition.
After giving away those assets, no State Owned Enterprise (SOE) could sustain itself, burdening the taxpayers.
When several big players corner the market, human development and innovation decrease. The state had no money afterward, so technical and education institutions became dormant.
That $ 6,000,000 in foreign aid in Ayub Era is now worth approximately $ 36 billion in 2023 dollars adjusted. However, put into perspective, 60% of $ 36 billion was used to subsidize imports with no real economic growth impact.
People will say well, their grandparents and whatnot had jobs, and life was easy. Life is always easy when free money flows through.
Now had the funds been appropriately used and strong policies been set, we would have been on a different trajectory like India & Co. But as you've said, it's a little too late now, and we're fighting for breadcrumbs. Countries are shooting for Mars, while Pakistan is still trying to revolutionize farming.
Regarding farming and why this to will fail, 20,000 families, including Waderas, control almost 70% of fertile agricultural land; many of these individuals are in politics or have connections with the military. While the remaining small landowners, numbering around 2,000,000, control the rest. Those 20,000 or so families receive the most government subsidies and credits, while the lower rung barely receives any. If losses happen, it's absorbed and written off while the small-time farmer can't.
Now you think these industrialists and landowners would enact legislation against themselves for a more equitable solution where everyone has skin in the game?
I can go on and on, but this is my friend. What happens when incompetent and "yes sir" people are running the nation's affairs?