There seems to be a tinge of cautious optimism amongst the elite, ranging from economists, experts and the ruling party.

However, their ubiquitous sanguinity is contrary to the views of the masses that feel that 2023 is going to be a year worst than the incredibly challenging one that Pakistanis braved through, coming at the heels of the pandemic, super floods, Russia-Ukraine war, sky-rocketing inflation, a dizzying political circus and the looming threat of default.