Pakistan, Oct. 6 -- Pakistan's economic debate is entering a new phase as policymakers and experts increasingly question the sustainability of foreign borrowing. The growing consensus is that loans should be restricted to projects with demonstrable development impact and aligned with areas of comparative advantage.

A former senior IMF official from Pakistan emphasised that the "approach of accepting whatever comes in, on whatever terms, must end." Instead, he urged a pivot towards demand-driven projects with measurable outcomes, supported by concessional financing from multilateral partners.

Ehsan Malik, former CEO of the Pakistan Business Council, argues that Pakistan must focus on sectors where it holds clear comparative advantages - ...