Pakistan, Jan. 16 -- The world has entered an era where economic power no longer belongs primarily to those who control oil, ports, or even traditional manufacturing. It belongs to those who control computing. Computers are powered by semiconductors. That is why the most important financial news of early 2026 is not about currency markets or oil prices. It is the announcement that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) - the world's most critical chip manufacturer - plans to invest an extraordinary $52-$56 billion in capital expenditure for 2026, far beyond market expectations.

This single number - 56 billion dollars - should shock Pakistan's policymakers into sobriety. A company investing at this scale is not just expanding p...