Pakistan SWOT analysis

[VCheng]

Let us initiate a discussion on the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats for Pakistan (SWOT analysis).

Please note that basic standards of politeness, decency and logic are expected, as is following PDF rules. Thank you.

SWOT analysis - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

SWOT analysis (or SWOT matrix) is a strategic planning and strategic management technique used to help a person or organization identify Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats related to business competition or project planning. It is sometimes called situational assessment or situational analysis. Additional acronyms using the same components include TOWS and WOTS-UP.

This technique is designed for use in the preliminary stages of decision-making processes and can be used as a tool for evaluation of the strategic position of organizations of many kinds (for-profit enterprises, local and national governments, NGOs, etc.).It is intended to identify the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving the objectives of the venture or project. Users of a SWOT analysis often ask and answer questions to generate meaningful information for each category to make the tool useful and identify their competitive advantage. SWOT has been described as a tried-and-true tool of strategic analysis, but has also been criticized for its limitations, and alternatives have been developed.

 

[nahtanbob]

Pakistan's challenges

1. poor state of human resources
With poorly educated population it is hard to compete in the world market. I am baffled at the incompetence of Pakistani policy makers here. One side effect is high population growth rate which makes things harder.

2. current account deficit
Pakistan needs $20-25 billion to maintain the current standard of living. I am not sure of exact numbers. Others can keep me honest here on the numbers. In addition there is a huge $100 billion plus foreign debt. There are lot of other liabilities that need to be repaid (Saudis & Chinese have parked a few billion). There are a lot of BOT CPEC projects that need to be paid back

3. USA-China rivalry
The problem is that USA will enlist allies to confront China. India is at the top of the list. Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil, South Africa are high on the list. This gives these countries a lot of bargaining power. Pakistan current account deficit issues has eliminated Pakistan's bargaining status in the short term. USA and India have decided they will hedge against China. This is not a one year deal. This is something that will go for decades.

4. Rise of India
India is steadily rising. Sometime in 2040 or 2050 the distance between USA, China and India and the 4th ranked economy will be huge. India and China have a huge trading partnership. If the India-China trade grows in size Pakistan cannot count on China. India's drift towards illiberal democracy makes things more uncomfortable for Pakistan. India has dislodged Pakistan as primary partner with USA, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Pakistan is unable to exploit this shift in India relationships with countries like Russia and Iran.

5. physical infrastructure
Pakistan relies on external funding to develop physical infrastructure. You need to become more like India relying on internal resources for development of physical infrastructure

 

[VCheng]

Pakistan's challenges

1. poor state of human resources
With poorly educated population it is hard to compete in the world market. I am baffled at the incompetence of Pakistani policy makers here. One side effect is high population growth rate which makes things harder.

2. current account deficit
Pakistan needs $20-25 billion to maintain the current standard of living. I am not sure of exact numbers. Others can keep me honest here on the numbers. In addition there is a huge $100 billion plus foreign debt. There are lot of other liabilities that need to be repaid (Saudis & Chinese have parked a few billion). There are a lot of BOT CPEC projects that need to be paid back

3. USA-China rivalry
The problem is that USA will enlist allies to confront China. India is at the top of the list. Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil, South Africa are high on the list. This gives these countries a lot of bargaining power. Pakistan current account deficit issues has eliminated Pakistan's bargaining status in the short term. USA and India have decided they will hedge against China. This is not a one year deal. This is something that will go for decades.

4. Rise of India
India is steadily rising. Sometime in 2040 or 2050 the distance between USA, China and India and the 4th ranked economy will be huge. India and China have a huge trading partnership. If the India-China trade grows in size Pakistan cannot count on China. India's drift towards illiberal democracy makes things more uncomfortable for Pakistan. India has dislodged Pakistan as primary partner with USA, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Pakistan is unable to exploit this shift in India relationships with countries like Russia and Iran.

5. physical infrastructure
Pakistan relies on external funding to develop physical infrastructure. You need to become more like India relying on internal resources for development of physical infrastructure

A nice effort but it needs all the elements of SWOT as given in the OP. Please add those when able to do so. Thanks.

 

[singh89]

S.
1- huge population
2-lots of migrants to send dollar back home
3-geographical location , pakistan is near some huge economies link china india iran uae and a pathway to central asia
4-pakistan agriculture has lot of scope to grow

w-
1- very high population growth rate ... with current growth rate even 7-8% of GDP growth wont be enough
2-religion as everything .... if society grows more dependent on islamic idology pakistan dosent have oil to support that ( world looks other way when you are rich) and it will eat the society with in.

3- habbit of thinking debt as earning
4-amred forces doing every bussiness and genrals getting all kinds of plots and jobs.

o-
1- being friends with islamic world - pakistan has a great oppertunity of becoming someone all islamic countries would wanna look up to, you already have nukes .
2- growing tourism market - heck your friend china is biggest out bound tourist market get them to pakistan thats 10-20 billion dollars + add india too , all those hindus wanna go to hinglaj +sikhs and muslims also

3- cheaper labore for manufacturing

T
1- fundamentalism - it has already broken pakistan and will continue to do so
2- unstable political system
3-madarsanazion of education.
4- india .. we surely want some of that land back and a broke pakistan is good for us,

 

[nahtanbob]

Strengths

1. population
245 million is a lot of people. 450 million in 20+ years is even larger. Pakistan will be world's fourth most populous country. That is an opportunity. Now the challenge is to educate them, to feed them and to give them opportunities.

Depending on the world at large this could become a weakness or opportunity too. If robots automate stuff there is no need for this many people. If there is a crackdown on immigration it can impact Pakistan.

At that point Pakistan would still be 1/4th of India. China would be still a country of 1.2 billion people. You still will be playing second fiddle.