(Daily point) — Under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, who served as the country’s prime minister three times, Pakistan’s economy achieved its strongest performance in the last three decades, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Economics.

The report compared Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with the tenures of rivals Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), using a misery index that combines inflation and unemployment rates to informally gauge an economy’s state.

The analysis, based on the average index values during each party’s rule since 1990, revealed PML-N’s superior economic performance. As the country approaches general elections scheduled for February 8, Bloomberg suggests that Nawaz Sharif may be poised to return to power for the fourth time, particularly with Imran Khan facing legal challenges and incarceration.

Despite being in jail, Imran Khan maintains a 57% approval rating, making him the most popular politician in Pakistan according to a Gallup opinion poll. Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif’s popularity has risen from 36% to 52% in the past six months.

Bloomberg Economics emphasizes the challenging road ahead for any winning party, given the high levels of inflation and unemployment. The inflation rate in Pakistan is around 30%, and the country’s rupee was the worst-performing currency in Asia last year, accompanied by declining foreign exchange reserves. Additionally, Pakistan seeks a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the incoming government will face the unpopular task of implementing policies such as subsidy withdrawals and tax increases.

Despite the economic hurdles, the IMF anticipates a 2% growth in Pakistan’s economy for the fiscal year. Analyst Ankur Shukla of Bloomberg Economics notes that the upcoming government, regardless of the election outcome, will face significant challenges in navigating the economic landscape.