Drama in Real Life on September 22, 2022Looking at the period of the last four years plus in hindsight, the political scene at the national level appears to be a high drama played out by the mighty and the powerful. The spectators, the confused and the bewildered public, were no more than the helpless pawns as usual. Many who remained abreast with […]
Huge Government, Small Economy on September 15, 2022Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in his interview with Bloomberg News said, “I want to see a Pakistan that lives within its means. That’s it.” What the finance minister advised speaks of his great optimism. It’s good to be an optimist but with caution. He desired far too much since it clashes with the collective interests […]
Recalling the Banana Republic on September 12, 2022The arrest of Shahbaz Gill created such uproar that the PTI chief Imran Khan felt impelled to question if Pakistan was a banana republic. In his tweet, he asked, “Descending into a banana republic. The civilised world will be shocked at our levels of barbarism. The worst part is an easy target has been chosen […]
Recalling the Banana Republic on September 5, 2022The arrest of Shahbaz Gill created such uproar that the PTI chief Imran Khan felt impelled to question if Pakistan was a banana republic. In his tweet, he asked, “Descending into a banana republic. The civilised world will be shocked at our levels of barbarism. The worst part is an easy target has been chosen […]
Defending Miftah Ismail on August 28, 2022Since the present government took over, the hardest task undertaken by any of its functionaries was by Miftah Ismail. As finance minister, he had to negotiate with the IMF for a grant of loan. Without a loan, a serious threat of financial default existed. Knowing our financial situation, the loaning organisation dictated its terms. And […]
Power Politics and Hapless Public on August 21, 2022Whenever people meet these days, the topic of discussion mostly revolves around national politics. It’s immaterial whether the occasion is a happy or a sad one. After the customary exchange of ‘hello and hi’, politics must take over. Since tolerance is not the nation’s high point, emotions often flare up. The last five years or […]
It’s Reko Diq, Again on August 15, 2022It’s our good fortune that huge deposits of copper and gold exist in the depths of Reko Diq, the rugged land of Balochistan which is the most underdeveloped province in the country. But it’s our bad luck that we are unable to make use of the hidden wealth touted to value at $260 billion. Now […]
CPEC in Limbo on August 8, 2022Among the national priorities, securing an IMF loan occupied the top position for the last few years. Our economy is dependent on loans. Otherwise, the threat of default looms large over the horizon. Now the terms dictated by the IMF have been met, especially by hiking the utility prices of the government. The decision hit […]
It’s Time to Rethink on July 31, 2022Hamza Shahbaz is no longer the chief minister of Punjab. The bench comprising three judges of the apex court decided in favour of Pervez Elahi to be the CM of Punjab. Henceforth, he will wear the ‘Crown’ and ensconce himself on the ‘Takhte Punjab’. The confusion about the CM slot of the politically vibrant province […]
Too Much Politics, Too Little Time on July 24, 2022It should be a good idea for political researchers to find out which other nations boast of parliamentary democracy and are more politicised than the Pakistani nation. Politics, in the last few years, has dominated the media headlines more than any other subject, including the economy – the nation’s lifeline. Since Imran Khan was voted […]