🇵🇰
Pakistan Government Performance Report
PPP vs PML-N vs PTI vs PDM — 2008 to 2026
The most comprehensive data-driven comparison of Pakistan's four civilian governments
Last updated: February 2026 | Sources: World Bank · IMF · SBP · PBS · NAB · FIA
🟢 PPP 2008–2013 · Zardari Era
🔵 PML-N 2013–2018 · Nawaz Sharif Era
🟠 PTI 2018–2022 · Imran Khan Era
🟣 PDM/PML-N 2022–2026 · Shehbaz Sharif Era
📋 Introduction — Why This Report Matters
Examining Pakistan's four civilian governments with objective data, official records & full corruption trails
Pakistan has been governed by three major political parties since 2008: the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). A fourth phase — the PDM coalition led again by PML-N — has governed since 2022. This report uses official government data, World Bank and IMF records, NAB court filings, and verified journalism to give every Pakistani citizen — and every international observer — a complete, objective picture of each government's performance.
⚠️ IMF's Official Verdict (November 2025): Pakistan's Governance & Corruption Diagnostic Assessment concluded Pakistan loses 5–6.5% of its GDP ($16–22 billion) to corruption every single year. Tax exemptions cost 4.61% of GDP in FY2023 alone. Politically connected firms borrow 45% more with a 50% higher default rate. Pakistan has gone to the IMF 25 times since 1958. Without structural reform, this cycle will repeat regardless of which party is in power.
At a Glance — Key Numbers by Government
📈
4.8%
Best avg GDP growth/yr — PML-N 2013–18. Peaked at 5.8% in FY2018
🔥
38%
Worst inflation in Pakistan's history — PDM May 2023. Average 26%/yr
💵
$29B
Record remittances FY2021 under PTI — highest in Pakistan's history
💸
Rs 41B
Debt added per day at PDM's 2022–23 peak — all-time worst rate ever
📉
0.3%
Historic inflation low — April 2025 under PML-N. Dramatic reversal from 38% peak
📊 Section 1: Executive Summary — All Four Governments
Complete comparative overview of economic performance, debt, and key achievements/failures
Quick Comparison — Core Economic Metrics
| Parameter | PPP 2008–13 | PML-N 2013–18 | PTI 2018–22 | PDM 2022–26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leadership | Gilani/Raja/Ashraf + Zardari (Pres.) | Nawaz Sharif (PM) | Imran Khan (PM) | Shehbaz Sharif (PM) |
| Duration | 5 years — Full term | 5 years — Full term | 3.5 years — Removed via no-confidence | 4 years — Ongoing |
| GDP Start → End | $170B → $243B | $243B → $313B | $313B → $350B | $350B → ~$385B est. |
| Avg GDP Growth/yr | 2.8% | 4.8% ✓ BEST | 3.4% | ~1.5% ✗ WORST |
| Avg Inflation/yr | ~12.5% | ~5.1% ✓ BEST | ~9.7% | ~26% ✗ WORST |
| Debt Start → End | Rs 6.4T → Rs 15T (+135%) | Rs 15T → Rs 25T (+67%) | Rs 25T → Rs 44.4T (+78%) | Rs 44.4T → Rs 85T+ (+91%) |
| IMF Program | $7.72B SBA | $6.48B EFF | $6B EFF (stalled) | $3B SBA + $7B EFF |
| PKR vs USD (End) | ~Rs 101/$ | ~Rs 121/$ | ~Rs 187/$ | ~Rs 278/$ (2024) |
| Forex Reserves (End) | ~$6B — Critical | ~$16.4B — Strong | ~$10.7B — Declining | ~$10.3B — Stabilizing |
| KSE-100 Return | +125% (8K→18K) | +139% (18K→43K) | +5% (43K→45K) | +78% (45K→80K+) |
| Top Achievement | BISP launch, 18th Amendment, democratic completion | CPEC, motorways, power plants, load-shedding ended | Ehsaas program, record $29B remittances, dams started | Avoided default, IMF on track, inflation 0.3% Apr 2025 |
| Top Failure | RPP scandal $1.2B, 16hr load-shedding, 3 PMs in 5 yrs | Panama scandal, CPEC debt trap, $19B CAD | Al-Qadir conviction £190M, IMF program abandoned | 38% inflation (worst ever), Rs 41B/day debt rate |
| ⭐ FINAL SCORE /10 | 3.0 | 5.5 | 4.0 | 2.5 |
Final Government Score (out of 10) — Including Corruption Penalty
📈 Section 2: GDP Growth — Year by Year (FY2008 to FY2025)
Annual economic growth rates color-coded by governing party
Source: World Bank, IMF World Economic Outlook. Pakistan's GDP in 2024: $373.07 Billion. IMF FY2025 estimate: 2.7%.
| Fiscal Year | GDP Growth % | Government | GDP ($B) | Key Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2007–08 | 3.7% | PPP (start) | $170B | Global financial crisis. Inherited Rs 6.4T debt. Forex reserves crashed to $3.5B within months. |
| FY 2008–09 | 0.4% | PPP | $168B | Near-sovereign default. Emergency IMF bailout $7.72B secured. Inflation at 20.3%. Power outages begin. |
| FY 2009–10 | 2.6% | PPP | $177B | IMF stabilization begins. 12–16 hour daily load-shedding devastating industries. |
| FY 2010–11 | 2.7% | PPP | $215B | Catastrophic 2010 floods: $10B damage, 20% crops destroyed, 2,000+ deaths. |
| FY 2011–12 | 3.5% | PPP | $224B | Gradual recovery. Tax-to-GDP stuck at 9%. Circular debt crisis growing silently. |
| FY 2012–13 | 3.7% | PPP | $243B | PPP completing term. Forex at critically low 2-week import cover. Economy handed over fragile. |
| FY 2013–14 | 4.1% | PML-N | $247B | IMF EFF $6.48B starts. CPEC framework agreement signed. Major power projects announced. |
| FY 2014–15 | 4.1% | PML-N | $270B | Global oil price crash saves Pakistan $5B+ in import bill. Load-shedding falls sharply. |
| FY 2015–16 | 4.6% | PML-N | $284B | CPEC power plants accelerating. Sahiwal Coal (1,320MW) under construction. |
| FY 2016–17 | 5.2% | PML-N | $305B | Best growth in a decade. Multiple CPEC plants go live. Forex hits $21B all-time high. |
| FY 2017–18 | 5.8% ★ BEST IN 13 YRS | PML-N | $313B | Highest growth in 13 years. BUT current account deficit balloons to $19B. Nawaz disqualified. |
| FY 2018–19 | 3.3% | PTI | $278B | PTI inherits severely overheating economy. Rupee devalued 35%. GDP in USD falls. |
| FY 2019–20 | –0.5% | PTI | $263B | COVID-19 pandemic. First negative growth in decades. Smart lockdown introduced. |
| FY 2020–21 | 5.7% | PTI | $293B | V-shaped recovery. Construction boom. Remittances hit record $29B. |
| FY 2021–22 | 6.2% ★ HIGHEST IN 15 YRS | PTI | $350B | Highest in 15 years but overheating. Imports surge. Imran ousted April 2022. |
| FY 2022–23 | 0.2% | PDM | $341B | Near-default crisis. Forex $3.7B. 2022 floods caused $30B in damage. Rupee crashes. |
| FY 2023–24 | 2.4% | PML-N | $373B | IMF $3B SBA stabilizes economy. $7B EFF program begins. Rate cuts start. |
| FY 2024–25 | 2.7% est. | PML-N | ~$385B est. | IMF EFF ongoing. SBP rate cut 22%→12%. Inflation falls to historic 0.3% (April 2025). |
Annual GDP Growth Rate % — Color-Coded by Government (FY2008–FY2025)
PPP 2008–13
PML-N 2013–18
PTI 2018–22
PDM 2022–26
Pakistan GDP Size in Billion USD — Milestone Years
🔥 Section 3: Inflation — The Real Tax on Every Pakistani Household
Year-by-year inflation with real price examples from everyday life
What does 38% inflation mean for a real family? A family spending Rs 50,000/month on groceries in April 2022 needed Rs 69,000/month by May 2023 — to buy the exact same food. A 10kg bag of atta: Rs 80 (2016) → Rs 260+ (2023). Petrol: Rs 74/litre (2015) → Rs 290+/litre (2023). Cooking oil: Rs 200/litre (2017) → Rs 700/litre (2023). One egg: Rs 8 (2018) → Rs 40 (2023).
| Year | CPI Inflation % | Government | Real Price Example | Main Cause |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 20.3% | PPP | Petrol Rs 57→86/L | Atta (10kg) Rs 200→280 | Global commodity boom + oil price spike. Fiscal deficit monetized. |
| 2009 | 13.7% | PPP | Sugar price doubled | Chicken Rs 150+/kg | IMF adjustment pain. Energy shortages raising production costs. |
| 2010 | 13.9% | PPP | Tomatoes Rs 80+/kg | Wheat shortage nationwide | 2010 floods destroyed 20% of all crops — major food supply shock. |
| 2011 | 13.7% | PPP | Onion Rs 100/kg | Transport costs up 40%+ | Gas shortfall raised all industrial and transport production costs. |
| 2012 | 9.7% | PPP | Some stabilization. Still high by regional standards. | Global commodity prices soften. Modest improvement. |
| 2013 | 7.7% | PPP | PPP's best year on inflation. Atta ~Rs 32/kg. | Election-year spending restraint. Global food prices easing. |
| 2014 | 8.6% | PML-N | Petrol cut 5+ times in a year | Ghee stabilized | Global oil price crash saves Pakistan's import bill by $5B+ |
| 2015 | 4.5% | PML-N | Petrol Rs 74/L | Chicken Rs 180/kg | Atta Rs 32/kg | Oil crash benefit continues. SBP rate cut to 6%. |
| 2016 | 2.9% ★ LOWEST IN 10 YRS | PML-N | Middle class thriving. Lowest consumer prices in a decade. | SBP policy rate 5.75%. CPEC supply boost. |
| 2017 | 4.2% | PML-N | Petrol Rs 80/L | Ghee Rs 180/kg | Egg tray Rs 90 | Stable commodities. Forex $21B. Rupee stable. |
| 2018 | 3.9% | PML-N | Atta Rs 33/kg. Prices stable across all categories. | Election year. Low inflation maintained. Hidden CAD pressure building. |
| 2019 | 7.3% | PTI | Petrol Rs 117/L (+45%) | Electricity bills +50%+ | Rupee devalued 35% by IMF conditions. Gas tariff tripled. |
| 2020 | 10.7% | PTI | Atta Rs 50/kg | Cooking oil Rs 240/L | COVID supply disruptions. Global palm oil shortage. |
| 2021 | 8.9% | PTI | Cooking oil Rs 240→400/L | Tomatoes Rs 150/kg | Global commodity boom post-COVID. Supply chains disrupted worldwide. |
| 2022 | 12.2% | PTI | Petrol crossed Rs 200/L | Flour Rs 80/kg | Russia-Ukraine war: global wheat and oil crisis. CAD $17B. Rupee crash. |
| 2023 avg | 29.2% | PDM | Atta Rs 260/kg | Petrol Rs 290+/L | Oil Rs 700/L | Eggs Rs 40 each | IMF conditions: fuel subsidies removed, electricity hiked, rupee free-floated. Flood aftershocks. |
| May 2023 PEAK | ☠️ 38% — WORST EVER | PDM | Rs 100 grocery basket → Rs 138 in ONE year. Stampedes at flour distribution points nationwide. | All crises converging: devaluation + floods + subsidy removal + massive tariff hikes. |
| 2024 avg | ~23% | PML-N | Atta falls to Rs 130/kg. Gradual relief begins. | SBP rate cuts begin. IMF EFF program restoring credibility. |
| Apr 2025 | 0.3% ★ HISTORIC LOW | PML-N | Significant relief. Petrol ~Rs 260/L. Atta Rs 120/kg. | IMF EFF reforms working. SBP rate cut to 12%. Significant base effect from 38% peak. |
Pakistan CPI Inflation % Per Year — Color-Coded by Government (2008–2025)
PPP 2008–13
PML-N 2013–18
PTI 2018–22
PDM 2022–26
Average Inflation Comparison — Visual Bar
PPP (2008–13)
PML-N (2013–18)
PTI (2018–22)
PDM (2022–26)
💰 Section 4: National Debt & IMF Loans — Complete Record
Pakistan's debt grew 13× in 17 years — from Rs 6.4 Trillion to Rs 85+ Trillion
Staggering scale: Pakistan's national debt went from Rs 6.4 Trillion (2008) to Rs 85+ Trillion (2025) — a 13× increase in 17 years. Every Pakistani citizen now owes Rs 243,000+ in national debt. At PDM's peak rate in 2022–23, Pakistan was adding Rs 41 Billion of debt every single day — equivalent to building 4 schools every minute, 24 hours a day, just in debt.
IMF Programs — Official Record
| Government | IMF Program Type | Amount Borrowed | Amount Repaid | Net Position | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPP 2008–13 | Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) | $7.72B | $3.0B | Net $4.72B — Worst | Emergency bailout. IMF exited early after Pakistan missed targets. |
| PML-N 2013–18 | Extended Fund Facility (EFF) | $6.48B | $5.92B ✓ MOST REPAID | Net $0.56B — Best | Most responsible IMF management. Program completed. Forex built to $21B. |
| PTI 2018–22 | Extended Fund Facility (EFF) | $6.0B | $4.02B | Net $1.98B borrowed | Program SUSPENDED 2021 — PTI gave subsidies violating IMF conditions. $791M interest paid. |
| PDM/PML-N | SBA + EFF (two programs) | $10B total | Ongoing | Crisis management | $7B EFF (2024) is Pakistan's LARGEST ever IMF program. Electricity tripled, gas hiked 3×. |
IMF Programs — Borrowed vs Repaid by Government (Billion USD)
National Debt — Government-by-Government Breakdown
| Government | Debt at Start | Debt at End | Total Increase | % Increase | Daily Addition Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PPP 2008–13 | Rs 6.4T | Rs 15T | +Rs 8.6T over 5 years | +135% | Rs 4.7 Billion/day |
| PML-N 2013–18 | Rs 15T | Rs 25T | +Rs 10T over 5 years | +67% | Rs 5.6 Billion/day |
| PTI 2018–22 | Rs 25T | Rs 44.4T | +Rs 19.4T over 3.5 years | +78% | Rs 15 Billion/day |
| PDM 2022–23 peak | Rs 44.4T | Rs 62.9T | +Rs 18.5T in just 15 months! | +42% | Rs 41 Billion/day ☠️ ALL-TIME WORST |
Pakistan National Debt (Rs Trillion) — Trajectory 2008–2025
🔴 Section 5: Corruption Cases — Complete Money Trails (2008–2026)
Official NAB records, court filings & verified money trails for every major case
IMF GCDA November 2025 — Official Finding: Pakistan loses 5–6.5% of its GDP ($16–22 billion) annually to corruption through "elite capture." TI Corruption Perceptions Index 2025: Pakistan ranked 135th out of 180 countries.
Legal Note: All allegations are denied by the respective parties. Cases documented from official NAB records, FIA filings, Supreme Court judgments, and verified journalism. Status reflects early 2026.
🟢 PPP CORRUPTION CASES (2008–2013)
Asif Ali Zardari — INDICTED 2020 — Trial Ongoing as President 2026
President of Pakistan 2008–13 & again from March 2024, PPP Co-Chairman | 💰 $400M+ through fake accounts (SC JIT)
| Case | Allegation | Amount | Status 2026 | Where Is The Money? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fake Bank Accounts | 32 fake accounts opened at Summit Bank, Sindh Bank & UBL in names of unknowing citizens. Used by Zardari Group and Omni Group to launder kickbacks from government contracts. | Rs 35B initially; SC JIT found $400M+ total. | INDICTED 2020 — Ongoing | JIT traced money → UAE and Dubai real estate. Presidential stenographer Mushtaq Ahmed routed Rs 8.3B to DHA Karachi properties then fled to Dubai (declared absconder). Properties partially identified — not fully recovered. |
| Park Lane Estate — Land Grab | Zardari and Bilawal allegedly purchased 2,460 kanals (308 acres) of prime Islamabad land at undervalued prices via shell company Parthenon Pvt Ltd. | Rs 3.77 Billion exchequer loss | INDICTED 2020 — Ongoing | Land remains in Islamabad under Park Lane Estate Pvt Ltd / Parthenon Pvt Ltd. SECP records show Zardari and Bilawal as 50% shareholders. No recovery ordered or made. |
| RPP Scandal — Raja Pervaiz Ashraf | As Water & Power Minister and later PM, Ashraf allegedly awarded overpriced contracts to 14 RPP companies at Rs 12–18/unit vs Rs 4–6/unit market rate — a 2–3× markup on every unit of electricity bought. | Rs 127 Billion national exchequer loss | NAB Reference filed — Cases stalled | Estimated kickbacks of hundreds of millions moved through offshore accounts in UAE and UK. ZERO money recovered. Ashraf was NEVER convicted. Made Speaker NA under PDM. |
📌 Note: Zardari is CURRENTLY the President of Pakistan (since March 2024). His corruption cases are technically "ongoing" but practically frozen — a sitting head of state cannot be tried without Supreme Court intervention. PPP has governed Sindh for 16+ years. TI assessments consistently rate Sindh as Pakistan's most corruption-affected province.
🔵 PML-N CORRUPTION CASES (2013–2018)
Nawaz Sharif — ACQUITTED ALL CASES BY IHC — November & December 2023
Prime Minister 2013–2017, PML-N Supremo | 💰 Avenfield London flats + $10.6M fine ordered (later acquitted)
| Case | Original Conviction | Assets / Amount | Final Status 2026 | Money Trail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama Papers — Avenfield Apartments, London | 10 years imprisonment + $10.6M fine (July 2018). | Four luxury apartments at Avenfield House, Park Lane, London (est. £5–8M). Offshore companies in BVI, Cayman Islands, Liechtenstein. | IHC ACQUITTED — Nov 2023 | Avenfield flats remain with Sharif family as of 2026. Sons Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz remain declared absconders — never returned to Pakistan to face any court. |
| Al-Azizia Steel — Saudi Arabia | 7 years imprisonment + Rs 5 Billion fine (December 2018) | Saudi business assets. Rs 5 Billion fine ordered. | IHC ACQUITTED — Dec 2023. Both convictions erased within weeks of each other. | Fine never paid due to acquittal. Nawaz returned to Pakistan October 2023. Party returned to power under brother Shehbaz. All Saudi assets remain with family. |
📌 THE JUDICIAL SCANDAL WITHIN A SCANDAL: The accountability court judge who convicted Nawaz — Justice Arshad Malik — was caught on a leaked video apparently admitting he was under "pressure" to deliver guilty verdicts. He was removed from the case and died of COVID-19 in 2020. The IHC cited this contamination of the judicial process in both acquittal orders. What is undisputed: Hassan and Hussain Nawaz — whose names were central to the JIT findings — remain abroad and have faced zero accountability as of February 2026.
🟠 PTI CORRUPTION CASES (2018–2022)
Imran Khan — SERVING 14 YEARS — Al-Qadir conviction (January 2025)
Prime Minister 2018–2022, PTI Founder — 186 total cases filed since ouster | 💰 £190M Al-Qadir Trust + Rs 80M Bulgari Jewellery + Toshakhana gifts
| Case | Full Allegation | Sentence | Status Feb 2026 | Money Trail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⚠️ Al-Qadir Trust Case — MOST SERIOUS | £190 million (~Rs 50B, ~$240M) recovered by UK's National Crime Agency from Bahria Town (Malik Riaz) for illegal UK property dealings legally belonged to Pakistan's national treasury (SBP). Accusation: Khan facilitated a private arrangement where Bahria Town settled by giving 458 kanals of government land in Chakri Road, Rawalpindi to Al-Qadir University Trust — Imran and Bushra Bibi's charity. Pakistan's exchequer never received the £190M. | 14 years imprisonment (January 2025). Bushra Bibi: 7 years. | CURRENTLY SERVING in Adiala Jail. PTI calls it fabricated. UN, EU Parliament raised fair trial concerns. | £190M from UK NCA → Should have entered SBP → Instead: 458 kanals Chakri Road land (Rs 5–7B value) went to Al-Qadir University Trust. Pakistan's exchequer received nothing. |
| Bulgari Jewellery Set | Saudi Crown Prince gifted Bulgari jewellery set (retail Rs 80M) during May 2021 Riyadh visit. Khan and Bushra retained it instead of depositing in Toshakhana. Khan had it privately appraised at only Rs 2.9M — far below actual value. | 17 years + Rs 16.4M fine (December 2025) | CONVICTED December 2025. Appealing to IHC. | Bulgari set (necklace, earrings, bracelets, rings — combined retail Rs 80M+). State loss: Rs 77M+. Current location of jewellery unknown. |
| Toshakhana Case 1 — State Gifts Sold | Received official state gifts (Graff watch, cufflinks, pen, ring) and sold them for Rs 36M without declaring in asset return. | 3 years (August 2023) | ACQUITTED — UN HR Commissioner: "prosecution without legal basis." | Rs 36M proceeds from sold gifts went to personal accounts. |
| Cipher / Official Secrets Case | Khan retained a classified diplomatic cipher from Pakistan's US ambassador and used its contents publicly to build a "foreign conspiracy" narrative. Not returned to Foreign Office. | 10 years (January 2024, Khan & Qureshi) | IHC ACQUITTED both in 2024. Prosecution found legally insufficient. | No financial component. Pure governance and state secrets case. |
| Iddat (Marriage Law) Case | Imran and Bushra Bibi convicted of violating Islamic law (insufficient iddat waiting period) under Section 496-B PPC. | 7 years (March 2024) | IHC ACQUITTED both in 2024. Internationally considered legally weakest of all cases. | No financial component. No credible legal observer outside Pakistan defended this prosecution as legally sound. |
📌 CURRENT STATUS — FEBRUARY 2026: Imran Khan is serving 14 years in Adiala Jail under the Al-Qadir Trust conviction. Acquitted in Cipher, Iddat, and Toshakhana-1 cases. Total cases filed since April 2022: 186. UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, EU Parliament, UK Parliament, and US Congress have all raised concerns about the fairness of his trials. PTI received the most seats in February 2024 general elections while running as independents — yet was denied government formation.
🟣 PDM/PML-N (2022–2026) — INSTITUTIONAL CORRUPTION & POLITICAL PERSECUTION
NAB Amendment Act 2022 — Legislative Self-Amnesty — KEY SECTIONS DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL — SC September 2023
| What Happened | Impact on Cases | Court Finding | Public Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDM government passed 27 sweeping amendments to the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 shortly after taking power. NAB jurisdiction limited to cases worth Rs 500M or more. Time limitations added on past cases. President and PM effectively exempted from certain provisions. | Hundreds of ongoing corruption cases immediately scrapped or weakened. Nawaz Sharif's appeal hearings expedited; acquittals followed within months. Multiple PML-N and PPP leaders had their cases dropped automatically. | Supreme Court struck down KEY provisions in September 2023. Court held amendments violated fundamental rights under Articles 9, 14, and 89 of the Constitution. | Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah publicly stated PDM leaders had "suffered greatly under the old NAB laws" — an extraordinary admission that the amendments were designed to prevent what had happened to them. Critics called this the most brazen legislative self-amnesty in Pakistan's constitutional history. |
Corruption Case Amounts by Party (Rs Billion — Logarithmic Scale)
PPP Cases
PML-N Cases
PTI Cases
Systemic / All Govts
🏆 Section 6: Final Scorecard — All Categories Including Corruption Penalty
Objective scoring across 10 categories with corruption deductions applied
Each category scored 0–10 based on objective data. A corruption-related deduction is applied at the end. Each party is judged against what they inherited — not against an impossible ideal. Scores are based on outcomes, not intentions.
| Category (0–10) | PPP 2008–13 | PML-N 2013–18 | PTI 2018–22 | PDM 2022–26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. GDP Growth | 4/10 | 8/10 ✓ | 6/10 | 3/10 |
| 2. Inflation Control | 3/10 | 9/10 ✓ | 6/10 | 2/10 ✗ |
| 3. Debt Management | 4/10 | 6/10 | 4/10 | 2/10 ✗ |
| 4. Infrastructure Delivery | 4/10 | 9/10 ✓ | 6/10 | 4/10 |
| 5. Social Welfare | 8/10 | 6/10 | 8/10 | 5/10 |
| 6. Business Climate | 2/10 ✗ | 8/10 ✓ | 5/10 | 2/10 ✗ |
| 7. Forex & External Stability | 3/10 | 8/10 ✓ | 5/10 | 4/10 |
| 8. Governance & Institutions | 2/10 | 4/10 | 5/10 | 3/10 |
| 9. Energy Sector | 1/10 ✗ | 7/10 | 5/10 | 3/10 |
| 10. Political Stability | 4/10 | 5/10 | 3/10 | 3/10 |
| RAW SCORE (before corruption) | 3.5/10 | 7.0/10 | 5.3/10 | 3.1/10 |
| 🔴 Corruption Penalty | –0.5 Zardari fake accounts Rs 35B+; RPP scandal Rs 127B; 16+ yrs Sindh governance failures; Gilani contempt |
–1.5 Panama Papers (coerced judge, then acquitted); Shahbaz cases acquitted same month he became PM; LNG irregularities; CPEC opacity |
–1.3 Al-Qadir Trust £190M (convicted 14 yrs, currently serving); Bulgari jewellery (convicted 17 yrs); IMF program abandoned for populism |
–0.6 NAB Amendment self-amnesty (SC struck down key provisions); systematic PTI persecution; 2024 election integrity failures documented by EU observers |
| ⭐ FINAL SCORE /10 | 3.0 | 5.5 | 4.0 | 2.5 |
Radar Chart — All 10 Performance Categories Compared (Scale: 1–10)
Raw Score vs Final Score After Corruption Penalty — Side by Side
Final Score Cards
🟢 PPP
3.0
2008–2013 · Zardari/Gilani Era
Social legacy good (BISP, 18th Amendment) but economic incompetence and documented corruption were severe. Created Pakistan's energy crisis and circular debt problem. 3 PMs in 5 years. Zardari still facing charges as serving President in 2026.
🔵 PML-N
5.5
2013–2018 · Nawaz Sharif Era
Best headline economic numbers of any government by far. Lowest inflation. Highest growth. Most infrastructure delivered. But CPEC debt obligations, Panama scandal, $19B CAD, and a judge who admitted being pressured prevent a higher score.
🟠 PTI
4.0
2018–2022 · Imran Khan Era
Record remittances ($29B), record exports ($31B), Ehsaas welfare, dams construction, Kartarpur. BUT came to power on anti-corruption mandate and was convicted in Al-Qadir Trust case involving £190M in national assets. Abandoned IMF program for political reasons.
🟣 PDM/PML-N
2.5
2022–2026 · Shehbaz Sharif Era
Worst inflation in Pakistan's history (38%). Fastest debt accumulation (Rs 41B/day). NAB self-amnesty struck down by Supreme Court. Systematic opposition repression. 2024 election disputed by EU observers. However: avoided default, IMF on track, 0.3% inflation by April 2025.
⚖️ The Grand Verdict — Pakistan 2008 to 2026
The accountability paradox, the financial reality, and the path forward
The Accountability Paradox
In 18 years of democratic governance, not a single senior political leader from PPP, PML-N, or PTI has served a complete prison sentence for confirmed financial corruption and remained in jail. Convictions happen when a party is in opposition; acquittals and case droppage happen when the same party returns to power. The judge who convicted Nawaz Sharif admitted he was pressured. The amendments that acquitted PPP and PML-N leaders were struck down as unconstitutional. Imran Khan's trials were flagged by the UN as lacking fair process.
The Financial Reality (2008–2026)
Pakistan's total national debt increased 13 times in 17 years — from Rs 6.4 Trillion to Rs 85+ Trillion. The external debt went from $42.8 Billion to $131 Billion. The rupee fell from Rs 60/$ to Rs 280/$. Every single government borrowed more than the previous one. Every government blamed the inherited mess while creating a larger one for the next government.
What the IMF Said in 2025
Pakistan's Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment — the most comprehensive official analysis of Pakistan's corruption problem ever conducted — concluded that the country loses 5–6.5% of its entire GDP ($16–22 Billion) to corruption every single year. If Pakistan fixed its corruption problem, it could generate 5–6.5% additional economic growth over five years — without a single new project, without a single new loan, and without going to the IMF for the 26th time.
The Path Forward
Pakistan's estimated $150–200 Billion in private offshore wealth exceeds its entire external debt. Agricultural income — Pakistan's largest sector — has never been meaningfully taxed in 76 years of independence. The energy sector's circular debt (Rs 2.8 Trillion) has been allowed to grow for 15 consecutive years under six different governments. The pattern is not PPP's fault, or PML-N's fault, or PTI's fault. It is Pakistan's elite's collective refusal to pay for the state they live in — and every government's willingness to borrow from ordinary citizens' and future generations' prosperity to maintain that arrangement.
💡 The question for Pakistan's citizens is no longer which party is better — the data shows all four governments failed on the structural fundamentals. The question is whether any political force exists with the will to break the pattern entirely: implement meaningful agricultural taxation, fix the energy sector's circular debt, repatriate offshore wealth, and restore an independent accountability system that applies equally to every party.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Most searched questions about Pakistan's government performance and corruption cases
Q: Which Pakistani government had the best economic performance overall?
By objective economic data, PML-N (2013–2018) under Nawaz Sharif had the best measurable performance: 4.8% average GDP growth (best in 13 years), 5.1% average inflation (lowest in a decade), foreign exchange reserves built to $21 Billion, and the most IMF debt repaid ($5.92B). However, much of this was built on unsustainable structures: $26.5B in CPEC Chinese loans and a current account deficit that ballooned to $19B in 2018 — structural time bombs that PTI inherited.
Q: Which government caused the worst inflation in Pakistan's history?
The PDM/PML-N government (2022–2026) under Shehbaz Sharif presided over the worst inflation in Pakistan's recorded history, averaging 26% per year and peaking at 38% in May 2023. The same government later brought inflation down to a historic 0.3% in April 2025 — a dramatic correction. The causes were a combination of the rupee crash inherited from PTI's final months, the devastating $30B 2022 flood damage, and IMF conditions requiring removal of fuel and electricity subsidies.
Q: What is the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case against Imran Khan?
The case involves £190 million (~$240M, ~Rs 50 Billion) recovered by the UK's National Crime Agency from real estate tycoon Malik Riaz (Bahria Town) for illegal UK property dealings. This money legally belonged to Pakistan's national treasury. The allegation is that Imran Khan facilitated a private arrangement where Bahria Town instead paid its fine by giving government land (worth Rs 5–7B) in Chakri Road to Al-Qadir University Trust — Imran and Bushra Bibi's charity. An accountability court convicted Imran Khan to 14 years in January 2025. PTI denies all allegations, and international bodies including the UN have raised concerns about fair trial standards.
Q: How many times has Pakistan gone to the IMF?
Pakistan has sought IMF assistance 25 times since 1958 — more than any comparable country of its economic size. In the 2008–2026 period: PPP borrowed $7.72B in 2008 (emergency bailout); PML-N borrowed $6.48B in 2013 (most responsibly managed, program completed); PTI signed $6B in 2019 but stalled the program in 2021 by violating conditions; PDM received $3B in 2023 (saving from default) and then $7B in 2024 — the largest IMF program in Pakistan's history.
Q: How much does Pakistan lose to corruption per year?
According to the IMF's November 2025 Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment, the country loses 5–6.5% of its GDP (approximately $16–22 billion) to corruption every year. This includes: tax exemptions and concessions costing 4.61% of GDP in FY2023 alone; politically connected firms accessing 45% more credit while defaulting 50% more; and widespread "elite capture" across government procurement, regulation, and judicial processes.
Q: Why did Nawaz Sharif's corruption convictions get overturned?
Nawaz Sharif was convicted in the Avenfield Apartments case (10 years) and Al-Azizia Steel case (7 years) in 2018. Both were overturned by the Islamabad High Court in November and December 2023. The central reason: the accountability court judge — Justice Arshad Malik — was caught on a leaked video apparently admitting he was under "pressure" to deliver guilty verdicts. He was removed from the case and died of COVID-19 in 2020. The IHC cited this contamination of the judicial process in both acquittal orders.
Q: What did CPEC actually deliver and what is the true cost to Pakistan?
CPEC Phase 1 delivered: 10,000+ MW of new electricity (ending major city load-shedding), the Lahore Orange Line Metro, the M-5 Motorway (392km), the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park (400MW), and Gwadar Port development. The ongoing cost: Pakistan must repay approximately $40 billion over 20 years for $26.5 billion in Chinese investments. Annual capacity payments for CPEC power plants (Rs 1.5 Trillion per year — whether plants are running or idle) now form a major component of Pakistan's circular debt problem. CPEC Phase 2 has been severely stalled since 2018.
Q: What is Pakistan's national debt in 2025 and how did it grow so fast?
Pakistan's total public debt reached Rs 85+ Trillion in 2025, up from Rs 6.4 Trillion in 2008 — a 13× increase in 17 years. The fastest accumulation was under PDM: in just 15 months (April 2022 to June 2023), Pakistan added Rs 18.5 Trillion in debt — equivalent to Rs 41 Billion (about $150 million) added every single day. Cumulative causes: fiscal deficits every year since independence, circular debt in the energy sector, IMF interest and principal repayments, currency devaluation increasing the rupee cost of dollar debt, and structural failure to grow the tax base.
📚 Sources & Methodology
All primary official sources used in this report
📊 Official Data Sources
- World Bank Open Data — GDP, growth rate, poverty indicators
- IMF World Economic Outlook (WEO) — Growth projections and historical data
- IMF Governance & Corruption Diagnostic Assessment, Pakistan, November 2025 — Corruption quantification ($16–22B/yr finding)
- State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) — Monetary policy, forex reserves, external debt
- Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) — CPI inflation, national accounts
- Ministry of Finance Pakistan — Budget documents, debt bulletins
- Ministry of Economic Affairs — IMF program details
- National Accountability Bureau (NAB) — Case records, conviction data
- Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) — Case filings
- Supreme Court of Pakistan & Islamabad High Court — Court orders
🌍 International Sources
- Transparency International CPI 2025
- UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention 2024
- EU Election Observation Mission Pakistan 2024
- Freedom House 2024
- ICIJ Panama Papers Database
- UNCTAD FDI Statistics
- CPEC Authority Pakistan
📰 Journalistic Sources
- Dawn (Pakistan)
- Express Tribune
- Geo News · Business Recorder
- Al Jazeera English · BBC Urdu
- The News International · Reuters
⚠️ Disclaimer: All allegations against individuals are denied by those individuals and their legal representatives. Court findings reflect status as of February 2026 and are subject to ongoing appeals. This report is compiled for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or constitute endorsement of any political party.
🇵🇰 Pakistan Government Performance Report 2008–2026 | Published February 2026
Data compiled from World Bank · IMF · State Bank of Pakistan · PBS · Ministry of Finance · NAB · FIA · Dawn · Express Tribune · Business Recorder · Al Jazeera · TI CPI 2025 · UN WGAD 2024 · EU EOM Pakistan 2024
All court findings subject to appeal. All allegations denied by respective parties. Report for informational purposes only.
