Reflections on Tariffs and Regional Cooperation: A Pakistani Perspective

A Collective Call: Building a Collaborative Future for South Asia!

As a Pakistani, I’ve watched global leaders like Donald Trump and Justin Trudeau debate tariffs exceeding 25% with equal parts curiosity and despair. Their discussions dominate headlines, yet feel galaxies removed from our daily battles. While powerful nations spar over trade policies, Pakistan and its neighbors remain trapped in a cycle of unaddressed crises—crushing debt, paralyzing regional distrust, and a haunting invisibility on the world stage.

The Global Tariff Drama: A Spectacle We Watch, But Never Star In

When the U.S. slaps tariffs on imports, Europe retaliates with precision. Markets tremble, pundits dissect the fallout, and the world holds its breath—as if the global economy is a stage where only the wealthy get to perform. Meanwhile, Pakistan isn’t even in the audience. We’re too busy fighting inflation that devours wages, electricity shortages that idle factories, and a debt crisis that looms like a vulture over our future.

Our neighbors—Bangladesh, India, Iran, Afghanistan—are drowning in their own storms. India wrestles with political polarization; Afghanistan collapses under Taliban rule; Bangladesh battles climate refugees. Yet instead of sharing lifeboats, we’ve built fortresses. South Asia’s intra-regional trade languishes at 5%—less than what small blocs in Africa achieve. Imagine the potential: open borders could turn our rivers into shared water grids, our disputes into dialogue, our poverty into collective progress.

Chasing Distant Rescuers While Our Home Cracks

The irony stings. Pakistani factories sprout in Dubai’s deserts; India chases Silicon Valley’s shadow; Bangladesh stitches fast fashion for European closets. Meanwhile, our own region—a treasure trove of culture, resources, and 1.8 billion souls—splinters deeper.

Why beg for crumbs abroad when a feast lies at our doorstep? A Dubai factory employs a few, but won’t stop Indian dams from choking our rivers. An EU trade deal can’t halt smugglers bleeding $3 billion yearly from Pakistan’s economy. We’re patching leaks on a sinking ship while ignoring the gaping hole in its hull.

The “Trade War” We’ve Endured for 75 Years

The West treats tariffs like a chess match—strategic, temporary, theoretical. For us, survival is the only game. Trump’s tariffs trend for a news cycle; our crises—terrorism, blackouts, a lost generation fleeing abroad—drag on like a never-ending night.

This isn’t just about money. It’s about dignity. When Canada tweaks a policy, the world debates. When a Pakistani farmer swallows pesticide to escape loan sharks, even his neighbors shrug. Our suffering is too mundane for headlines, too chronic for outrage.

A Path Forward: Rewriting Our Story

We can’t wait for permission to matter. Here’s where we start:

1. Build From the Ground Up Overhaul education—prioritize AI over cotton fields. Imagine Karachi as the next tech oasis, not just a port for foreign goods.
2. Unite or Perish Revive SAARC. Start with a regional solar grid or student exchange programs. Let Bangladeshi engineers fix Pakistani dams; let Indian doctors staff Afghan clinics.
3. Scream Louder Than the Noise At COP summits and UN podiums, shame the myth of “free trade.” Partner with Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt—form a bloc of the unheard.

My comment on the ongoing matter has been published in many videos, and I’ve received a lot of positive responses from viewers and readers. As a Pakistani, I’ve been listening to leaders like Mr. Donald Trump and Mr. Justin Trudeau discuss tariffs exceeding 25%, and I want to share my thoughts. When the U.S. makes significant statements, Europe reacts strongly, but Pakistan often gets overlooked. We’re grappling with our own conflicts and feeling isolated, even as our neighbors—Bangladesh, India, Iran, Afghanistan, and we Pakistanis—face tough times as well.

It’s disappointing that we don’t come together as allies; instead, we focus on connections abroad while neglecting our own issues. The emphasis on tariffs overshadows our struggles. While they may worry temporarily, our battles have persisted for over 75 years. It’s a dire situation, and we must seek solutions to our challenges.        

Final Thoughts: A Call for Collective Action

As Pakistan navigates these tumultuous waters, we must realize that change cannot come from looking outward for salvation. It must begin within our borders and among our neighbors. By embracing regional cooperation, investing in our youth, and amplifying our voices on the global stage, we can rewrite our narrative from one of despair to one of hope and progress. The time has come to forge alliances, share resources, and create a future where we thrive together.

Let’s stop waiting for others to recognize our plight. Join me in advocating for a united South Asia that prioritizes collaboration over competition, understanding over animosity, and progress over stagnation.

I urge you, fellow citizens and leaders, to engage in dialogue about our regional challenges and seek solutions together. Let’s build a future where our collective strength can overcome the obstacles we face.