The PSM example

The Rs6 billion bailout package for Pakistan Steel Mills violates one too many essential economic principles to warrant any appreciation – throws good money...

Diminishing exports

The October slowdown in textile exports is not really alarming once you explore its underlying reasons – chronic energy shortage to industry and inability...

KESC problems

Something on the lines of 50,000 industrialists refusing bill payments to KESC was bound to happen sooner or later. That they’d rather deposit due...

Structural weaknesses

The bloating current account, the relaxing monetary policy and the rising import bill all combine to pressure the rupee further against the dollar, stoking...

The good and the bad

While there’s little surprise in the government’s failure to enhance tax earnings in the year just ended, there is still reason to rejoice –...

How to fly right

And again PIA requests bailout assistance, and again the cabinet committee on restructuring cites failure to incorporate appropriate management changes for dismissal, with a...

Where the Fund stands

The IMF’s disappointment with Pakistan’s fiscal indicators raises some important questions that concern both growth and employment. One, fiscal deficit projected at 6.5 per...

The year that was

No denying the bearing of outside influences on economic policymaking, but when an entire year’s growth trajectory follows exogenous flows, there is something inherently...

Dr Sheikh’s finding

Finally, the finance minister admits that the model of the state running crucial institutions is faulty. Perhaps PIA, Railways, PSM, and practically all such...

Dr Sheikh and the president

Seemingly, Dr Sheikh has become an economic convert. Not the worst of practices in times of widespread political switching. But not the best either...

The CNG ban

The proposed ban on CNG kits is yet another example of unplanned, ad hoc policy making, reflecting a disturbing gap between on ground reality...

Derailing ‘win-win’ trade diplomacy

Recent findings that Indian trade authorities might be deliberately delaying Pakistan’s EU concessions, especially after the win-win fanfare, is symptomatic of regressive tendencies in...

Repeated water and power mistakes

Provided the prime minister’s inauguration of the Diamer-Bhasha dam is not a repeat performance of previous stalled attempts to get the ball rolling on...

Strengthening investment

The recent Pak-Japan MoU to strengthen bilateral investment is indicative of saner heads finally prevailing in decision-making circles. Recent developments, though seemingly isolated incidents,...

Politics and markets

It is common knowledge in the complicated world of capital markets that while fundamentals do matter, the marketplace acts primarily on sentiment. Seen in...

MFN concerns

Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP) has raised valid objections over the MFN debate, even if its voice all but drowned in the recent “win-win” euphoria....

On the same team?

News reports highlighting the communication breakdown between ministries of commerce and textile, that too regarding the crucial MFN debate, are worrying. And it’s no...