Transforming Pakistan: Migration, Demographics, and the Evolution of Democratic Institutions in the 21st Century

Shahid Javed Burki and Asad Ejaz Butt

A chapter in Pakistan at Seventy: A handbook on developments in economics, politics and society, 2019 from ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics

Abstract: This chapter documents a review meeting held in Lahore in March 2018 where Pakistan-based authors of the Routledge book, 'Pakistan at Seventy' gathered to discuss their book's findings on Pakistan's transformation. The chapter examines Pakistan's evolving political landscape ahead of the 2018 elections, highlighting the country's demographic shift with 20-22 million new young voters entering the electorate. The authors address key themes including migration patterns (both internal and international), the interplay between major institutional actors (military, judiciary, politicians, and media), and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). While acknowledging persistent challenges such as corruption and governance issues, the authors express cautious optimism about Pakistan's trajectory toward constitutional democracy and the rule of law. The discussion emphasizes how demographic changes, particularly the youth bulge with a median age of 24, are reshaping political processes and moving the country away from traditional patronage systems toward more inclusive governance structures.

Keywords: Economic transformation; demographic transition; migration; youth employment; democratic institutions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:eschap:331904

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