‘U-turn’ and leadership on November 29, 2018The Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan, according to media reports, recently argued that ‘U-turns’ are a ‘hallmark of great leadership’ inviting criticism from the opponents cobbled with a slew of jokes at the social media. The contrasting perceptions by the PM and his opponents, therefore, require a well-informed, discursive and non-political analysis of the term […]
Army, judiciary and economic growth on November 23, 2018The criticism of the powerful institutions of Pakistan, such as the army and the judiciary, is quite common in the media reports in the recent past. Many arguments against the powerful institutions are drawn on the basis of inter-institutional power comparisons sometimes indicating a sense of deprivation among weaker institutions. In this context, it is […]
Economic Occidentalism, FATF and Pakistan on November 16, 2018Economic dependence of developing countries on developed countries, and international financial institutions, is not just coincidental but is largely a result of a particular cultural mindset based on geography, colour, caste, creed, religion, norms, ethos and customs. Humans, since their coming into being, have always been living in groups, tribes, factions, undivided families, ethnic diaspora, […]
Taxing crypto assets on November 11, 2018Money laundering and terror financing, cobbled with the visit of inspectors from the Asia Pacific Group (APG) and Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), have been the media headlines in the last couple of weeks. The handing over of the 26 point recommendations by the APG and the FATF team members, for compliance before September […]
The wobbling rupee on October 13, 2018The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), has experienced immense pressure this week to devalue the rupee for the fifth time in a year owing to higher oil prices and emerging markets currency uncertainty. The currency continues to remain under depreciatory pressure due to lack of sufficient external finances. The turmoil continued to clutch the foreign […]
Revamping business regulation on October 12, 2018The prices of imported coal, according to media reports, have gone up sharply following the Supreme Court orders banning the coal unloading at six berths of Karachi Port Trust. Following the citizens’ complaints about environmental pollution, the court ordered to use Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBT) for unloading imported coal. The PIBT is a purpose-built […]
Taxing housing societies on October 3, 2018The city district administration of Lahore, according to media reports, has initiated a crackdown on developers, builders, sponsors and managers of private housing societies owing to the unlawful internal transfers of houses, plots and other types of immovable properties to the buyers. The step was taken in the wake of the promulgation of the Finance […]