For the first time in its history, Pakistan saw its parliament complete a full term, leading to the general elections on May 11, 2013. These elections significantly altered the country's political landscape, with the conservative Pakistan Muslim League (N) securing a near supermajority. Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister on May 28. A notable development during his tenure was the initiation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in 2015, a significant infrastructure project.

However, in 2017, the Panama Papers case led to Nawaz Sharif's disqualification by the Supreme Court, resulting in Shahid Khaqan Abbasi taking over as Prime Minister until mid-2018, when the PML-N government was dissolved after completing its parliamentary term.

The 2018 general elections marked another pivotal moment in Pakistan's political history, bringing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to power for the first time. Imran Khan was elected Prime Minister, with his close ally Arif Alvi assuming the presidency. Another significant development in 2018 was the merger of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas with the neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, representing a major administrative and political change.