Hidden cost of street politics

The Express Tribune published an opinion column by an international economist arguing that street protests impose heavy costs on Pakistan's economy. Citing estimates from the Ministry of Finance and think tanks, the writer says a single day of nationwide disruption removes about Rs120 billion from national output. Services account for Rs86 billion of that daily loss, with industrial paralysis, spoiled farm produce and lost tax revenue adding further losses.

The column also points to mobile internet shutdowns during protests, which it says can cut software billings and digital services exports by as much as 80% during outage windows. Textile exporters face missed shipping windows and costlier airfreight, while the writer warns that a march or sit-in lasting a week or recurring could shave between 0.2% and 0.5% off annual real GDP.

Informal workers, who make up 70% to 80% of the non-agricultural labour force in major urban centres according to the column, are described as bearing the heaviest burden. The writer closes by calling for designated protest venues, proportional policing and a cross-party commitment to keep critical infrastructure and digital connectivity out of partisan conflict.