How can Python simulate pointers given that it does not have traditional pointers like PHP or C++?

You can use a dictionary to simulate python pointers. By assigning a dictionary reference to both variables, changes to one key will be reflected when accessed through the other.

a = {'value': 1}
b = a
a['value'] = 2
print(b['value'])

In this approach, both a and b point to the same dictionary object. Modifying the value inside the dictionary with a[‘value’] = 2 updates the same value when accessed via b.