Pakistan, Sept. 25 -- For most of its history, Pakistan has been told that geography is destiny.

Look at the map, the argument goes. Pakistan sits between South Asia, Central Asia, China and the Middle East. It touches the Arabian Sea and lies beside some of the world's largest energy producers and one of its largest economies. Give it roads, ports and railways, and it becomes the gateway connecting regions and markets.

It is an attractive story. There is only one problem.

The world has changed what it pays for.

Geography still matters. But sitting between important places no longer makes a country economically important. The countries that successfully monetise geography have spent decades building something on top of it.

Singapore ...