Part 12/17:
Unemployment has surged to 8.5%, up from roughly 4-5% two years ago. The economic outlook is bleak, exacerbated by the political upheaval. Foreign investment has plummeted, with the State Bank reporting a decline to roughly $500 million in foreign direct investments over the past three years. Investors cite the country’s instability, security concerns, and strained relations with neighboring India and the United States.