Imran Khan's performance as Pakistan's Prime Minister: A review of the highs and lows

    The performance of Imran Khan as Pakistan’s Prime Minister has been heavily scrutinised since his election in 2018. Khan, who is the Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, has seen both highs and lows during his tenure. This blog post will look back at the key achievements of the PTI-led government and review the lows that have marred Khan’s performance as Prime Minister.

The early days

    When Imran Khan was elected as Pakistan’s Prime Minister in August 2018, the public was filled with optimism. His charismatic charm and promises of change had made him an irresistible figure. As Khan’s tenure entered its first year, many were optimistic about the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s 5-year performance.

    Unfortunately, Khan's initial optimism soon faced a few challenges. The newly appointed Prime Minister faced a difficult budget crisis and falling foreign reserves. His government also faced heavy criticism from political opponents, including the popular opposition leader Nawaz Sharif.

This period of relative turmoil marked a major downfall in Imran Khan's popularity, leading to several protests against the PTI government. Khan tried to appease his critics by promising economic reform and anti-corruption measures but failed to make any significant headway. With public support waning and criticisms mounting, Khan’s early days in the office looked to be off to a troubled start.

The 'honeymoon period

    Imran Khan, the charismatic Pakistan PM, initially enjoyed an overwhelmingly positive response when he first took office. PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) swept the 2018 elections and promised to improve the country's economy and combat corruption. After a tumultuous start to his term, Khan enjoyed a relatively calm period of public support and widespread optimism during his 'honeymoon period.' 

    In this period, Khan was able to use his personal charm to build relationships with world leaders. In October 2019, Khan’s visit to the US was met with much fanfare as he met with President Donald Trump. During his trip, he outlined several of PTI’s policy goals, such as improving infrastructure and reducing poverty. He also began making progress on some of his campaign promises such as introducing legislation that increased workers' rights and expanding access to healthcare. 

    However, this period was short-lived. Since then, Khan has faced criticism over his handling of the economy and other issues. The Pakistani people have begun to question his PTI party's 5-year performance. As a result, Khan's popularity is beginning to decline and his potential downfall seems increasingly likely.

Economic challenges

    One of the most prominent challenges to Imran Khan's tenure as Pakistan's Prime Minister has been the economic downturn. Despite his charisma and initial popularity, the PTI government has not been able to bring about the economic revival they had promised during their 5-year performance review. 

    The rupee has continued to depreciate against the dollar and Pakistan's balance of payments position remains precarious. In addition, the government's tax collection is low, while public debt has risen significantly. This has resulted in Pakistan having to seek assistance from international lenders such as the IMF.

    Moreover, the country is facing high levels of unemployment and poverty, with the latter particularly concentrated in rural areas. This has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the already-stagnating economy has been further weakened. The fallout from this economic downturn is likely to be a significant factor in the eventual downfall of Imran Khan's government.

Tensions with India

    The ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have been a major issue during Imran Khan’s tenure as Prime Minister of Pakistan. Since the formation of his government in 2018, Khan’s tenure has been marked by increased tensions with India that have threatened to derail the charismatic Pakistan PM's tenure. The relationship between the two countries has been particularly strained since the 2019 revocation of Article 370, which gave Indian-administered Kashmir special status.

    In February 2019, Pakistani fighter jets crossed into Indian airspace, leading to a prolonged stand-off between the two countries. This conflict led to Pakistan losing an aircraft, further damaging relations between the two countries. In August 2019, Khan’s government removed special status from Gilgit-Baltistan and declared it as a fifth province of Pakistan. This move was met with anger by India, who deemed it a violation of their sovereignty.

    The past 5 years of the PTI’s performance have seen the country’s ties with India deteriorate to an all-time low. Despite numerous diplomatic efforts, the two nations have yet to find any common ground, further threatening the peace and stability of South Asia. It is now up to both countries to take meaningful steps towards a more peaceful resolution of their differences in order to prevent this volatile situation from worsening even further.

The COVID-19 pandemic

    Since the outbreak of the pandemic in Pakistan, the performance of Prime Minister Imran Khan has been closely watched by both his supporters and detractors. Despite his initial stance that the virus was a hoax and would have no lasting impact on the nation, he quickly reversed his views as the pandemic continued to spread and soon shifted to an aggressive policy of lockdowns and mass testing. 

Although this policy has been largely successful in mitigating the spread of the virus, it has also caused a great deal of economic hardship for the people of Pakistan, leading to growing discontentment with Imran Khan and his government. Many critics have accused Khan of being unprepared for the crisis and not doing enough to help the people affected by it. The charismatic Pakistan PM's downfall was further highlighted when the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party led by him failed to retain control of the key province of Punjab in local elections in 2020.

Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the biggest challenges faced by Khan during his five-year tenure as Prime Minister. While his response has certainly helped to slow the spread of the virus, it has also had serious consequences for many people in Pakistan. As we look to the future, it will be interesting to see how Khan and his government can address these issues and try to repair the damage done by PTI's 5-year performance.

Opposition and Imran Khan

    Since Imran Khan was elected Prime Minister of Pakistan in 2018, the charismatic Pakistan PM has had a difficult time dealing with his opposition. Despite coming to power on a wave of enthusiasm and optimism, Imran Khan's popularity has waned over time as various controversies have clouded his tenure. The opposition parties have constantly attacked the PTI’s 5-year performance as well as its governance policies, leading to the downfall of the Prime Minister.

    From allegations of political interference in court proceedings to the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Imran Khan's administration has faced criticism from both domestic and international observers. In addition, the government has come under fire for its decision to go ahead with controversial projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the ongoing debate over the country's controversial blasphemy laws.

    Ultimately, it is clear that Imran Khan's tenure as Prime Minister has been marked by both highs and lows. Although his initial honeymoon period saw high levels of support for the PTI and its policies, subsequent controversy and criticism have made for a more difficult climate for the Prime Minister and his party. With Pakistan facing a difficult road ahead due to the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the future remains uncertain for Imran Khan and the PTI.

Looking to the future

    The charismatic Pakistan PM has seen both successes and failures during his tenure, with his government's performance coming under increasing scrutiny. The past five years have not been without their challenges, but PTI’s performance under Khan’s leadership has seen a period of growth and prosperity in many sectors.

    Despite this, there have also been some stumbles along the way. The economic woes that have plagued the nation, exacerbated by the global pandemic, have led to a decline in PTI’s public approval rating. This is compounded by Khan’s increasingly authoritarian style of leadership, which has been met with criticism from all sides.

     The pressure on Khan and his party will be immense, but it is a challenge they must take on if they are to ensure a brighter future for Pakistan. As PTI looks ahead to the coming years, it remains to be seen whether the party will manage to weather the storm and emerge as a stronger and more effective government.