2026-06-19-12-34

Arithmetic of neglect

Pakistan is a country of contradictions. It possesses nuclear weapons but cannot guarantee a child a functioning... Published 19 Jun, 2026 05:50am

2026-06-19-12-34

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Interior Minister wants the Foreign Ministry now?

“All hail President Trump.” “He is getting majorly trashed by the Israelis and the powerful and very rich Zionist... Published 19 Jun, 2026 05:50am

2026-06-18-12-34

Pakistan’s food system under threat

Pakistan’s food system is entering a period of mounting strain. What once appeared as a series of isolated... Updated 18 Jun, 2026 07:32am

2026-06-18-12-34

Economic stability or statistical satisfaction?

After a delay of nearly two hours and amid noisy scenes in Parliament, with opposition members raising slogans,... Published 18 Jun, 2026 05:37am

2026-06-18-12-44

Punjab’s welfare budget vision

Punjab’s Budget 2026-27, presented by Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman in the Provincial Assembly,... Published 18 Jun, 2026 05:37am

2026-06-18-12-34

Pakistan cannot tax its future to pay for its energy past

Legacy energy liabilities must be separated from current consumption tariffs if Pakistan wants affordable power,... Updated 18 Jun, 2026 07:53am

2026-06-18-12-34

Why Pakistan needs credible minimum wage system

Pakistan’s economic debate is often dominated by fiscal deficits, IMF reviews, exchange rates, and inflation... Updated 18 Jun, 2026 07:45am

2026-06-18-12-34

How to build Pakistan’s energy resilience against another crisis?

On 28 February 2026, US and Israeli forces launched coordinated strikes on Iran under ‘Operation Epic Fury’,... Updated 18 Jun, 2026 07:50am

2026-06-18-12-58

PARTLY FACETIOUS: It’s the thought that counts

“It’s not generic therefore you cannot make a generic statement about it.” “Hey a gift must be appreciated. Haven’t... Published 18 Jun, 2026 05:37am

2026-06-17-12-48

Developing ownership among non-owners

There is no ownership. This is statement I hear over and over again. Whenever I conduct assessments of the biggest... Published 17 Jun, 2026 05:36am

2026-06-17-12-48

Beyond budget

Since my years of adolescence to till date, I have been witness to enthusiastic and passionate debates about the... Updated 17 Jun, 2026 06:42am

2026-06-17-12-48

Can budget FY27 help accelerate Pakistan’s digital growth?

Among the various sectors targeted for support in the federal government’s Budget FY2026-27, the information... Published 17 Jun, 2026 05:36am

2026-06-17-12-48

Bt and GT genes: a metabolic tax on Pakistan’s cotton or a path to resilience?

Pakistan possesses a comprehensive textile value chain, spanning from raw cotton and synthetic fiber production to... Updated 17 Jun, 2026 07:52am

2026-06-17-12-48

Post-budget: the human capital leak

The annual post-budget debate in Pakistan almost always follows a predictable script dominated by fiscal deficits,... Updated 17 Jun, 2026 07:50am

2026-06-17-12-48

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Are we going to make a party of the Geneva event?

“I am giving a party tomorrow.” “I hope I am invited!” “Well yes you are, the party is at your house so I guess you... Published 17 Jun, 2026 05:36am

2026-06-16-12-53

Key features of federal budget FY27

The federal budget for 2026-27 has both important positive and negative features, which are identified below. We... Published 16 Jun, 2026 04:12am

2026-06-16-12-53

Peace at last?

Ostensibly, the US and Iran have ironed out their differences sufficiently to allow the signing of a peace agreement... Published 16 Jun, 2026 04:12am

2026-06-16-12-53

End the budget ‘circus’

Pakistan has turned the budget into an annual suspense drama. Businesses wait. Markets speculate. Consultants guess.... Published 16 Jun, 2026 04:12am

2026-06-16-12-44

SOE reform: lessons from successful privatizations

This is the fourth article in a six-part series on Pakistan’s SOE reform. The first three examined the framework,... Published 16 Jun, 2026 04:12am

2026-06-16-12-44

11.5pc policy rate hard to justify with expected 8pc inflation

Pakistan’s monetary policy is increasingly being asked to do too much. It is carrying the burden of stabilising... Published 16 Jun, 2026 04:12am

2026-06-16-12-30

PARTLY FACETIOUS: Global media referring to PM’s tweet

“Some families have it in their blood.” “What? A disease?” “You need to start seeing the glass as half full. I mean... Published 16 Jun, 2026 04:12am

2026-06-15-01-01

Budget FY27

The expectations - voluntary ceding of the annual rise in the provincial share of the divisible pool to the Centre -... Published 15 Jun, 2026 02:32am

2026-06-15-01-01

Federal budget: gives with one hand; takes away with the other

The federal budget for FY27 has been greeted with celebration in certain quarters. The celebration may prove... Published 15 Jun, 2026 02:32am

2026-06-15-01-01

Debt, discipline & rentier state

Pakistan’s economic debate with the release of Economic Survey 2025-26 and federal budget for 2026-27 has again been... Published 15 Jun, 2026 02:32am

2026-06-15-01-03

Privatization must create markets, not new oligarchs

Pakistan does need privatization. But privatization is not reform merely because ownership moves from the public... Published 15 Jun, 2026 02:32am

2026-06-15-01-03

Finally, there’s light at the end of the tunnel

Optimism regarding the potential for a peace agreement between the United States and Iran has increased in the... Published 15 Jun, 2026 02:32am

2026-06-14-12-47

Policy philosophy correction budget needed—II

It makes sense for the government to take lesson from a Japanese saying: ‘If you get on the wrong train, get off at... Updated 14 Jun, 2026 06:51am

2026-06-13-03-24

Blatant capitulation

Post-2019 Pakistani budgets exhibit a blatant capitulation to Inter-national Mo-netary Fund (IMF) conditions —... Published 13 Jun, 2026 06:17am