I am not good with numbers thing or I would say never been an economist at any level however, from citizen point of view, I would say a few things here that I observed.
In my opinion, the real figure is not that bad, we can divide such in many subjects to discuss but I will be starting with few here as follows.
Firstly from political point scoring, we have been reading about that almost every finance minister, mostly during political era, did try best only to prove his/her party worthy of rule. I am not discounting the few efforts but most of the part, that even today we been discussing about the corruption and loot during those times, was supporting party and leader. What really happened during those times, actually everyone while the office bearer, exaggerated the numbers. In a layman consent, I will always avoid to have loans or such programs being aware that I have to payback almost in double with interest however, how these programs influenced our internal matters, is actually above the all but wouldn't go there now. Now try to understand from a simple pint of view that how the game was played.
I have to help my brother/friend etc on account of being human in general so I will try all best that not just provide loan but will also help him have a stable income which may guarantee my return but interestingly what really happened here that whosoever power helped us (I am not naming a single one) did on a purpose that firstly provided the loan then injected the infected and pros to corruption as well as most greedy businessmen so that the money will be looted, the nation will become in-debt and whoever runs the country being leader, has to bow to the conditions and demands due to debt or for more to run the system. In short, this is how we had imported leaders that brought the money on papers, looted the same, blamed others and then left as innocent and ironically, that money did not reach the poor or we can say that not much of that. Now how the numbers are shown great, is actually a strategy of the same imported leaders that after looting, were advised to show the best numbers so people will vote again and the cycle continues though not by one but different kids of super powers/loan providers as there are few names in history that came to Pakistan, became Premiers then left and we don't know much about because this country is mostly being run by those companies/offices providing loans. If the ruling discloses the real numbers, they are afraid that the corruption will be exposed hence some of the times lies exaggerated numbers deliberately.
The question pops-up if the numbers are false then why such promising indications so the simple answer is, that is real economy, the real Pakistan that can show much more of growth even if a bit more honest be made office bearers. I am not saying the economical situation is worst or nearing bankruptcy but the loot mafia is not really going to let it raise its head and prosper. On other note, sometimes, number are deliberately misread, wrongly put, manipulated to have some unseen results for those economic powers but that is the responsibility of competent finance minster and his team to prove it wrong. An for the sake of point scoring, while having "habitually complaining enemy and propagandist", such manipulation of economic powers and corruption of ruling elite can provide an opportunity to the enemy to exploit the same and mislead the incoming investments (The Economic warfare Package).
Secondly from people point of view. We still know and understand that if the economy numbers, shown by so-called self made finance ministers only for personal appraisals, are true then where is benefit after that as the right of people as well as the real reason of economy. Those deprived voices cannot make it to higher offices or cannot make any difference because most of them either do not bother being dishearten or due to lack of awareness. The most economical numbers that government use to show as spent, are actually the cut of those people that helped them reach to that office to run the country but not the poor one that votes in hope. Lets start with single example as the same is quoted in above article as well, once the climbing exports, how come turned into declining that a common man thinks about however very few understands that it was the injected, corrupt team of those loan providers/power & money hungry families that actually dent it otherwise this is the same country as previous. As the question being put forth by common man, now a days a fashioned reply from political mafia, we hear as terrorism which hurts it. So indeed, it is true that terrorism really damaged the growth process and our economy which is a single factor of decline but none from those offices ever justified about the other factors which indicates the same corrupt families been looting the country beside the plague of terrorism. Even, the few greedy fully availed this terrorism thing to earn as much as they can by many means because, few of our friends have been helping through money to deal with such cancer and these thieves been busy to steal the most part from it and spend very small left from them. Nothing spent on education sector, for employed class, daily wages, people trying to run small businesses from middle class nor ever increased the defence budget that could have helped a lot to tighten the security way before such damage however, we usually hear them barking against Military for eating the budget and a person from lower class, poor or daily wages never knew the real picture. These politicians always badmouthed the Martial Law and in democratic world, indeed it has to be but a common man wonders that how come a Chief will dare to do that and the few answers came back as firstly due to incompetency of political parties then the praying people/citizens that celebrates the same. This what we have been hearing in last couple of years that even people demanded Army to take over and trust me, those voices were mostly from Middle & Lower class due to growing number of grievances for earning against political mafia and dying poor due to hunger. A common man doesn't care about such figures or politics but wants an earning that can help to bear daily life expenses so even seeks Military help for that which is a message for these Political Thugs.
The promising factor. As i shortly discussed in one of above paragraphs, indeed the potential is much more than ever shown. The irony is, the corrupt loot mafia will not even show the real potential, the growth chances or even opportunities because sooner or later, somebody from common office or etc would question about the such figures. IMO, not just the false numbers but the figure can go much higher than that if the acts are made right in time and competent are chosen for high offices. No doubt that CPEC is going to change the all charts of deteriorating economy that I am sure, is a reason of pain for our enemy and this is where, as discussed above the powers/loan providers, are trying their best once again to inject their monopoly so could influence the economy as they have been doing all these years. Due to the same reservations of usual corruption and loot, IMO, China was actually hesitant in start to progress with CPEC that did not even pay any heed to Zardari nor NS (my apologies in advance here to many) but it was RS assurance to Chinese Premier/Government not just from the security point of view but to completion of project by any mean that we hear about badmouthing through ruling party agents on many occasions. There was a reason that Military wanted to have a part while administering the CPEC so that the usual low life thieves may have the fear that cannot do so what they did in past. There are many other projects that can help for booming economic but are currently totally under ruling elites administration that cannot see much progress however, as the time passes and people started to realize (as currently they are awaking), the rest of economic tracks will automatically become active. However, these projects needs time and cannot done much overnight but I can see that good days are coming though I fear the loot mafia which is still in power through different means as they can damage the growing branches of economy again like they did in past. The peace process is getting better day by day as we can see a prominent reduction in terrorists attacks etc, therefore, people are also showing interest into different fields of investment however, the small fear which is yet to be dealt is actually the last hurdle in this process but wouldn't take much longer. The shape is not that bad but still it could be more smiley for people if the honest could be given the responsibility rather than FM that paid someone to declare him as best FM (shame on such liars). I hope that all these people will be questioned but also the money will be brought back to real owners, the people however, few thinking that it is bad or having such dreams of us going backward, in my opinion, have to open eyes and need to see the sun/daylight as the fact is, No power on earth can undo Pakistan.
(Above said words are purely my findings and observations and has nothing to do with any source and may not be taken as claim that readers can avoid or ignore any unwanted wording or can correct that I will welcome). As I read the article, many things popped into mind so I inked as much as I thought to be enough and short.
