Here’s a review of Pakistan Lost: Ideas on the Idea of Pakistan by Shehzad Ghias — a book that tackles Pakistan’s foundational ideas, identity and the path ahead.
Mazhar Lakho | Belleville, USA
Overview
Published September 2025, this 168-page work ‘Pakistan Lost: Ideas on Idea of Pakistan’ presents itself as a succinct but bold interrogation of Pakistan’s ideology, history and institutional failings. Ghias frames the book’s mission as “rendering his ideas into print … in a quest for a new consensus on policy and narrative.” The key themes include the 1940 Lahore Resolution, minority rights, language and regional diversity, civil-military relations, populism and the constitutional trajectory of the country.
What the book does well
- Clarity and Purpose: Ghias writes with directness and an analytical bent, making the big questions of state-ideology, identity and governance accessible.
- Engagement with foundational ideas: Rather than only offering a narrow snapshot of recent politics, the book reaches back to examine key moments in Pakistan’s history (such as the Lahore Resolution) and connects them to present-day challenges.
- Call for progressive & inclusive narrative: Several reviewers commend the author for urging Pakistan to look forward with a more inclusive, self-respecting and progressive understanding of itself.
- Accessible length and format: At 168 pages, the book is relatively compact—making it approachable for readers who may not want a sprawling academic tome but are still interested in serious ideas.
Areas where the book could improve
- Depth vs. breadth trade-off: Because the book covers many large topics (federalism, language, civil-military relations, and constitutional crises) in a relatively short treatment, some readers report that certain themes feel under-explored. One review describes it as “an interesting glimpses, but leaves you wanting more.”
- Original research / novel contributions: For readers well-versed in Pakistan’s political history, the book may not break significantly new ground; rather, it collects and frames existing debates with the author’s voice. That’s not necessarily a drawback, but sets expectations accordingly.
- Prescriptive vs. descriptive balance: While the book is stronger on diagnosis (what has gone wrong) and on raising questions, some readers may feel the prescriptions (what must be done) are more general than deeply elaborated.
- Target audience: Because of its mix of history, politics, and normative argument, the book may appeal best to readers with prior interest in Pakistan’s state-ideology or academic subjects, rather than casual readers looking for a narrative story.
Why it matters
Given Pakistan’s ongoing struggles with identity, governance, regionalisms, and civil-military balance, any work that addresses the “idea of Pakistan” remains highly relevant. Ghias positions his book as part of the conversation: how did Pakistan arrive where it is; how might it think of itself going forward. The value is not only in the conclusions he draws, but in the questions he forces readers (especially Pakistani citizens, policy-makers, students) to face. As one endorsement states: “The future hinges on confronting these critical issues.”
For someone like yourself—given your interest in Pakistan’s politics, reform-ideas and change in leadership thinking—this book could be a worthwhile read.
Recommendation
I would rate Pakistan Lost as a strong 3.5 to 4 out of 5 overall. If I were to recommend:
- Best for: Readers interested in Pakistani political theory, South Asian state-formation, or civic reform in Pakistan.
- Less suited for: Readers expecting a detailed empirical deep dive or purely narrative story of individuals or events.
- Reading tip: Use it as a conversation starter rather than the final word—think of each chapter as issuing questions to the reader and then reflect on your own experiences or other works for deeper follow-up.
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