Imran Khan is experts’ first choice to stabilize Pakistan’s economy: Bloomberg survey

• The former prime minister ranked highest among 12 traders, economists, analysts.
• There is growing frustration with the electoral system: observers.
• Nawaz has performed better in managing the economy compared to competitors.

Pakistan’s top economist and analysts believed former prime minister Imran Khan would be able to deliver reforms needed to put the cash-strapped economy on the road to recovery, according to Bloomberg overview.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, who is barred from holding public office because of his beliefs, is the leader most favored by Pakistan’s financial professionals to oversee the recovery of the economy, according to research.

The former prime minister was ranked highest among 12 traders, economists and analysts from some of the country’s biggest brokerages, who cited his enduring popularity as a key reason for taking steps needed to stabilize the economy in the long term.

PML-N supremo and three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif came second, with respondents citing his experience in government.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, scion of the influential Bhutto family and former foreign minister, was a distant third, with some of them Bloomberg which was asked citing a distrust of dynastic politics.

Political observers say there is growing frustration with the country’s electoral system as the PTI founder has been disqualified from contesting elections.

Earlier today, the PTI founder along with his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 14 years in jail on Toshakhana reference only a day after a special court sentenced him to 10 years in jail in a crypto case.

Meanwhile, the Nawaz-led PML-N has been gaining support from voters since ending its four-year self-imposed exile in London, according to a Gallup poll.

An analysis by Bloomberg Economics of Pakistan’s poverty index – a combination of inflation and unemployment rates – showed that Nawaz’s party had performed better in managing the economy over the past three decades than rivals including Khan.

The elections are meant to put an end to the political instability that has plagued Pakistan since Khan’s ouster in April 2022.

Whoever wins the polls will oversee an economy struggling with low reserves and stubbornly high inflation.