The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force on January 22, 2021 and is being celebrated by many as the dawn of a new nuclear order. The treaty is the first of its kind in that it comprehensively bans the development and possession of nuclear weapons and is a result of 50 years worth of attempts to curb the proliferation of such weapons. Its proponents argue that the treaty challenges the hegemony and moral exceptionalism of the states that continue to possess nuclear weapons.This article analyses the efficacy of these claims by examining the treaty’s key provisions and arguments by acolytes and opponents as to whether it is likely to achieve its aims. The article also examines Pakistan’s stance on the treaty and explores its proposed persistent objector status