Former FBR chairman Shabbar Zaidi sparked debate after calling Punjab Pakistan’s “most failed province,” claiming agriculture collapse has exposed cosmetic development and economic mismanagement.
WEBDESK – MediaBites News
A fresh political and economic debate erupted in Pakistan after former FBR chairman Shabbar Zaidi sharply criticized Punjab’s development model, calling the province “Pakistan’s most failed province” despite its image of rapid progress.
In widely circulated remarks on social media, Zaidi argued that Punjab’s apparent development is largely “cosmetic,” driven by roads, metros and large infrastructure projects while the province’s real productive economy continues to weaken.
Critics supporting Zaidi’s argument claim Punjab’s traditional agricultural strength has been severely damaged by poor policymaking, mismanagement and politically motivated decisions.
They pointed to the province’s declining wheat and cotton sectors as major examples of economic deterioration.
Punjab, once considered Pakistan’s agricultural backbone and a major wheat supplier for other provinces, is now facing concerns over wheat shortages and farmer distress.
Analysts say controversial government procurement policies, rising fertilizer and diesel costs, expensive electricity and fake seeds have badly affected farmers’ profitability.
Critics also allege that the government’s decision not to purchase wheat at official support prices financially devastated many farmers, forcing some to reduce or abandon wheat cultivation altogether.
Even sharper criticism has emerged regarding Punjab’s cotton sector.
Southern Punjab, historically known as Pakistan’s “cotton belt,” has gradually shifted toward sugarcane cultivation over the past two decades.
Observers claim political influence allowed sugar mills to expand into cotton-growing areas, discouraging cotton farming in favor of sugarcane production.
Pakistan’s cotton production, which once touched nearly 14 million bales annually, has now reportedly fallen to around 4–5 million bales in recent years.
As a result, Pakistan — once a cotton-exporting country — is now forced to import billions of dollars worth of cotton to keep its struggling textile industry operational.
Critics also expressed concern over reports regarding the decline of institutions like the Cotton Research Institute Multan, calling it another sign of weakening agricultural priorities.
Zaidi’s remarks have fueled wider discussions over Punjab’s economic direction, with critics arguing that excessive focus on “visible development” projects ignored agriculture, livestock and industrial productivity — sectors traditionally considered the real drivers of sustainable growth.
Supporters of the Punjab government, however, argue that infrastructure investments improved connectivity, urban mobility and economic activity, while broader agricultural challenges are linked to climate change, water shortages and national economic pressures.
The debate has once again raised a larger question in Pakistan’s political discourse: has Punjab achieved real economic progress, or has development become largely a matter of optics?
