As Brookings reported on 6 August 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought a
challenge to Pakistan"s democracy, weakening already struggling institutions.
Thomas Muller, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, recalls: "The government"s response to the Covid-19 crisis a few weeks ago was hesitant and quickly gave in to protests from conservative Islamic groups, allowing their meetings to take place again. Consequently, the institution most Pakistani citizens relied upon was not the government or parliament, not the provincial leaders, but the army, which organized much of the country"s medical response."
Thomas Muller continues: "A rather unexpected boost for the economy came from the doubling of
remittances, as Reuters wrote on 17 August 2020. While millions of migrant workers around the world lost their jobs, were sent home or isolated under "˜lockdown" measures (often in dire circumstances), many Pakistani migrant workers apparently managed to stay abroad. Because they could not spend their money earned for the
haj or
umrah, they sent more home to their families than expected, giving the economy a much needed shot in the arm. This shows that the pandemic can have surprising consequences, too. However, few Christian families benefit from such remittances."
Thomas Muller adds: "As if the challenges were not big enough already, the government also angered one of its main sponsors, Saudi Arabia, by
criticizing it publicly on its weak leadership in the Kashmir issue. The response was swift: Saudi Arabia demanded a one-billion-dollar loan to be paid back immediately, as Brookings reported on 24 August 2020. China was happy to step in, but in the long-term, Pakistan will not be able to afford angering one of its largest sponsors. It is unlikely that this episode is more than a bump in the road and Saudi money and ideology will continue to enter the country, much to the disadvantage of its minorities, including Christians."
