The Road to Privatisation on November 27, 2023In the last few weeks, I have written to many political representatives of various political parties urging them to raise their voices against the privatisation of PIA and Pakistan steel Mills headed by a single man. It is extremely frustrating to read statements that are later retracted and have no plan of action in one […]
Let Logic Prevail on November 3, 2023Now Logic will Prevail (Ab Baat hogi logic se), is the underlying message of the new PML N political campaign. The advertisement presents numbers and references for the fantastical economic performance during the PMLN era. All this time, the posed PTI supporters are shown to be in utter disbelief. The campaign idea and the execution […]
Unearthing Reko Diq on October 20, 2023The Reko Diq saga continues to captivate and confuse its observers. The 7-billion-dollar copper-gold project recently caught the attention of the Egyptian business mogul, Naguib Sawiris. Recognised as one of the largest unexplored copper and gold production sites, Reko Diq can potentially produce 200,000 tons of copper and 250,000 ounces of gold annually for over […]
India at the Big Boy’s Table on October 6, 2023The G20 summit is behind us all. However, it seems that the Indian propaganda is still working its magic. I would not have realised its impact until recently I chatted with a colleague who was angry and ashamed of Pakistan’s global position. While I understand that Pakistan has a weak global presence, there is no […]
The 1990s and the IPPs on September 14, 2023The power sector’s circular debt rose to Rs. 2.646 trillion as of July-May 2023. According to data from the Power Division, payables to power producers rose by Rs420 billion to Rs1.771 trillion, while payables to state-owned generation companies (Gencos) increased by Rs9 billion to Rs110 billion. However, Power Holding Limited’s (PHL) share of the circular […]
No Freedom Without Economic Independence on September 1, 2023“What freeman knoweth freedom? Never he Whose father’s father through long lives have reigned O’er kingdoms which mere heritage attained. Though from his youth to age he roam as free” (Helen Hunt Jackson) The marvellous words of the American activist & poetess stand true to this day, even though she wrote this in a […]
Privatization is Preliminary! on August 10, 20231990, the year that will change many things for Pakistan in the years to come. PML-N takes reign of the country, injecting new hope and vigour into its people. There is a renewed sense of excitement and energy in the air with a new and popular democratic government taking over. Who knew that more than […]
Revisiting the Foreign Office on July 26, 2023Is diplomacy the only agenda a country’s foreign office has? Packing people-to-people relations or de-escalating issues through negotiations and adding in the niceties to stabilize foreign relations is an outdated and counterproductive idea. I am certain many diplomats will disagree with me but if you could bear till the end, you just might see how […]
A Game without a Plan? on July 13, 2023Recently making news is the great economic revival plan and the establishment of SIFC (Special Investment Financial Council). With an objective of attracting Foreign Direct Investment of 100 billion dollars over the next three years that will help Pakistan achieve a GDP target of 1 trillion dollars by 2035. Driven by one-window operations, the economic […]
Mr Dar, Listen to Esther on June 23, 2023By now, we are well aware of the criticism that the IMF team has raised over budget 2023-24. The amnesty scheme, the unrealistic tax net to a growth target, that is far from reality, budget 2023-24 has all the wrong ingredients to ensure that the IMF tranche does not get approved in time. Therefore, as […]