A viable system
Even if the senate standing committee on finance hasn’t exactly figured out which particular economic system it wants for the country, it is no...
Trade politics
Pakistan and India seem to have finally come to appreciate the underpinning of 21st century advances in realpolitik – trade benefits and economic interests...
Oil discovery
OGDCL’s discovery of “significant reserves” of hydrocarbons in KP comes at a good time for Pakistan’s stressed reserve-position. Not only has oil’s erratic rise...
Drainage through patronage
Lo they have not been able to shed their diapers these many years, observed renowned economist Professor Samuelson regarding inability of various industries/sectors to...
Value for land
While it is not clear what will become of Pakistan Railway’s idea of leasing its land to ease fiscal constraints, the idea is sound,...
Urea again
We must keep addressing the urea issue so long as the government’s handling of it leaves a little something to be desired, especially since...
Now Bangladesh
Pakistan’s trade concession at the EU seems an inherent non-starter. Suddenly it seems all the effort behind cajoling New Delhi into a more compromising...
Gas losses
It is hoped that Sui Southern Gas Company’s (SSGC) impressive performance last year, adequately reflected in shareholder appreciation, will push more proactive measures as...
The MFN coin
I really liked the coin analogy that the writer brought into his article to express the various sides of the MFN debate. Both the...
letters to the business editor
The great divide between the rich and the poor is escalating day by day especially in the developing countries of South Asia. The figures...
A severe liquidity crunch
It is noted with deep concern that despite appeals from all quarters, the government is just unwilling step out of the money market, resulting...
When trade, not aid, matters
The FTA with Indonesia again signals the government’s inclination towards increased export revenues to offset aid bottlenecks, in keeping with the post-IMF posture of...
When checking cartelisation
Finally there is some official movement on checking the genesis of erratic urea price movements. And even though the same steps would have had...
Food inflation begins
It seems the government dose not subscribe to the ‘prevention is better than cure’ doctrine, at least not with regard to energy concerns. Despite...
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....
To the Fund again?
How do news reports of our able finance managers knocking at the IMF’s door again sound, especially in light of their recent boast of...
The liquidity trap
Analysts rightly worry when the financial press laments over government borrowing-induced liquidity trap, while quoting SBP officials regarding another impending rate cut on the...
