Workers’ remittances delivered yet another month of healthy growth. The State Bank data shows that overseas Pakistanis sent $1.21 billion in April, which is a growth of 8.6 percent over March. The monthly remittance figure also posted year-on-year growth of 6.5 percent.
Local and international election observers have arrived at a consensus view that May 11 elections were free and fair, sans a few irregularities.
Chiming with Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ibrahim’s view of free and fair elections, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reported that it “did not find any credible evidence of large-scale or systematic rigging in the country.” The HRCP concluded that those who are protesting should learn to respect the people’s mandate.
New wheels hitting the road in the country is a good measure of business and commercial activity, especially considering that the railway network has all but stalled.
With Save the Children’s recent report ‘State of the World’s Mothers 2013’, another healthcare shortfall in Pakistan is brought to light. According to the findings of the report, Pakistan ranks third in the world for newborn deaths, even beating the heavily populated China in terms of the number of newborn deaths each year.
It is sufficiently clear now that it is the PML-N which will take charge of the federal government later this month. The leading political party went to the May 11 polls campaigning on energy crisis and economic issues. With a strong federal government, one expects Nawaz Sharif’s government to place inclusive economic growth and job-creation front and centre of its policies, as promised in the party manifesto.
The last two orders by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) raise the all-important question of conflict between the state’s different regulatory regimes.
“Buy on rumour; sell on news”; that is the way most smart stock investors work the bourse. That is of course, unless the news flow delivers word of a landslide victory by the PML-N which is largely perceived to be a pro-business, pro-investment political party.
The Karachi Stock Exchange has been spiralling to new heights ever since the announcement of the 2013 General Elections in the country.
