Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: Ministry of Finance operates like President Trump “So, is plausible deniability, people specific?” “I think the right question is whether it is individual... Published 17 Jun, 2025 03:11am
Opinion The assumptions in FY26 budget The budget 2025-26 makes one implicit and three explicit assumptions that enable its architects to present a set of... Updated 16 Jun, 2025 08:03am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: We in the Subcontinent don’t take preemptive actions “So the operative word is pre-emptive.” “What?” “It’s a good word. It justifies taking an action that does not have... Updated 14 Jun, 2025 07:56am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘We don’t talk shoes, we talk pages’ “The word blitzkrieg comes to mind.” “Whatever do you mean?” “Blitzkrieg means lightning war – an... Published 13 Jun, 2025 05:59am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: Why did FBR Chairman cancel usual press conference after budget speech? “A universal rule prevails: lessons need not be learned if they go counter to a declared strategy.” “I would... Updated 12 Jun, 2025 08:51am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: Our economic signers have never required anger management courses “Do we have any anger management classes in this country?” “I have never heard of such classes, why do you ask?”... Published 11 Jun, 2025 07:56am
Budget 2025-26 Analysis Budget: foresight 20/20 Hindsight maybe 20/20 but Pakistani budgets epitomize foresight as being 20/20 – given previous budgets and with... Updated 11 Jun, 2025 07:05am
Budget 2025-26 Analysis: Economic Survey Economic Survey 2024-25, with most data limited to nine months as all previous surveys, emphasized progress... Updated 10 Jun, 2025 08:38am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS ‘Operation Spiderweb’ “I learnt that 10,000 additional votes are referred to as an injection.” “Really! Who said... Updated 05 Jun, 2025 08:00am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: IG Sindh says Malir jail houses mainly drug users and… “What’s the difference between judicious and judiciary?” “Hey, there is no relationship between the two... Published 04 Jun, 2025 03:03am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: We don’t have royalty in this country “There are reports that Prince Harry explored the option of taking his mother’s last name.” “Ooops.”... Published 03 Jun, 2025 06:15am
Opinion Low-cost housing: need for prudence There is an ongoing housing crisis in several European countries attributed to locals renting out to tourists,... Updated 02 Jun, 2025 07:42am
Opinion Partly Facetious: Budget will have to be approved by IMF “I was wondering….” “Hey, a country’s survival always trumps the economy, so I reckon defence outlay will increase... Published 30 May, 2025 06:06am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: ‘Zardari sahib is a master of micro economic management’ “So is there agreement or isn’t there agreement?” “On what?” “On the budget. Has the International... Published 27 May, 2025 03:05am
Opinion Pakistan’s flawed tax structure Donor agencies have been clamouring for reforms in Pakistan’s unfair, inequitable and anomalous tax structure but... Updated 26 May, 2025 07:18am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: An accountant’s common sense? “One must change with the times, don’t you think!” “C S Lewis, the well-known author of children’s books said isn’t... Updated 24 May, 2025 07:54am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: With AI one doesn’t even know what is fake or not “I understand that politicians can no longer rely on optics to look good given the prevalence of social media.”... Published 23 May, 2025 06:13am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: Why doesn’t First Uncle get a new Chairman of PCB? “You know there is so much the West can learn from us!” “Well, the food here is…” “They have Pakistani and Indian... Updated 21 May, 2025 07:21am
Opinion PARTLY FACETIOUS: Naming and shaming has lost its pungency worldwide “Naming and shaming is a tool that is dead.” “It was not even birthed in the Land of the Pure. I mean, we go... Published 20 May, 2025 05:58am
Opinion The IMF speaks with a forked tongue Uploading the first review report on the International Mone-tary Fund (IMF) website on the weekend (Saturday), eight... Published 19 May, 2025 06:15am