Manners maketh a nation on March 13, 2018Morning golf for some is addictive. Admittedly, teeing off at 6:45 AM in winters is not everybody’s cup of tea. Hence coming across someone waving for a lift, while driving to the golf club in the very early hours should necessarily, and correctly, have tickled the sixth sense. And my reaction, looking him up and […]
The lighter side of the budget on June 5, 2017If not for professional compulsions, I would rather be at the golf course than sitting anxiously in front of the idiot box listening to the budget speech trying to figure out how much more of my hard earned money the government intends to abduct from my pocket. Why? Well, because I unfortunately have figured out […]
Arundhati Roys Capitalism A Ghost Story on April 5, 2017Perhaps, due to the title, which dubbed capitalism a ghost story thereby implicitly supporting my sentiments, I ended up purchasing the book without realising its origins and author. Admittedly, prejudice has played a part all this time in deliberately ignoring anything associated with our eastern neighbour; perhaps also the reason I have shied away from […]
The jharoo and comparative advantage on March 26, 2017Last week’s article on industrial policy included a swipe at the irksome statement about Pakistanis making jharoos. I am sure that readers are curious about the background of this irritation, and while curiosity kills the cat, I figure it is worth killing a few cats, no offense to real cats and animal lovers, to get […]
Wheres our industrial policy? on March 18, 2017A developing economy like Pakistan cannot afford to not have an industrial policy. The policy can be a good policy, a bad policy or a bullshit policy; except that there has to be an industrial policy. According to James Miller, “Any discussion of industrial policy should begin with (the) recognition that we have one. The […]
Our skewed priorities on March 11, 2017The top most important thing for Pakistanis, undisputedly is cricket; I may not like it but the evidence is insurmountable. It is not education, it is not employment, it is not health; all that matters to Pakistanis is cricket. Admittedly, even for someone who is not crazy about the game, and yes the specie Cricket […]
Protecting family on March 4, 2017Unquestionably, when you import goods and services, you are exporting jobs and precious foreign exchange. The mantra of consumer choice, which seems to have alarmingly seeped into our economic policies, has a flip side. Workers are consumers, export enough jobs and there won’t be sufficient consumers for choice to matter. Obviously, there will always be […]
Head in the clouds on February 25, 2017Lately everyone seems to be feeling good about a couple of forecasts, released by considered to be reputable organisations and firms, that rank Pakistan’s economy at 20th in the world in 2030. Initially I was rather averse to be the messenger who the entire nation wants to shoot, and after all ignorance is bliss, is […]
Predictions-2030 on February 18, 2017At the outset, I am not a predictions guy, especially in the genre associated with politics in Pakistan. Apparently, the rule is to make a huge bunch of predictions and when the law of averages work in your favour and one turns out right, immediately start replaying the prediction and advertising extensively that you were […]
To each his own on February 11, 2017Time out from the hum drums of political and economic intrigue. Below is a rather longish message, which was being circulated on Whatsapp and, unfortunately, since I am not aware of the author, due credit to the anonymous person, who made this effort. Albeit I have always wondered who has the time and the wherewithal […]