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Apr 20, 2024 اردو ► PRINT EDITION ► BR MARKETS ► Dollar to PKR ►

Ali Khizar

The going gets tougher
Opinion

The going gets tougher

As new data comes in, the bitter reality is sinking. The global economic slowdown is expected to be worse than what was earlier expected. There could be further downside risks to global economic growth outlook of minus 3 percent in 2020. No economist in t
Published 17 May, 2020 12:03am
GDP estimates: Between a rock and a hard place
Opinion

GDP estimates: Between a rock and a hard place

Provincial GDP figures for 2019-20 will be announced. The official number is likely to remain in the range of negative 0.6 percent to 0.7 percent. The IMF projection is of negative 1.5 percent, and SBP's latest estimation is similar. This could be the fir
Updated 10 May, 2020 06:00am
Shrinking banking spreads
Opinion

Shrinking banking spreads

It's a known fact that banks in Pakistan are not doing their supposed financial intermediation business of routing savings of large pool to lending businesses and consumers. In the developed world, big corporates and governments do not really rely on bank
Published 03 May, 2020 12:05am
Is the cement 'cartel' back?
Opinion

Is the cement 'cartel' back?

It is widely argued that historically cement cartel existed in Pakistan. It appears that the 'cartel' is back. Last week, reportedly, there was a meeting of cement companies to jack up prices in North. Some say that how can a cartel persist with around tw
Published 25 Apr, 2020 09:49pm
Time to negotiate IPP contracts
Opinion

Time to negotiate IPP contracts

The report on Power Sector by M. Ali and team touched the IPPs where it hurts the most. The reaction of Independent Power Producer Association (IPPA) and a letter by the sitting Petroleum Advisor to PM (who is a shareholder in an IPP and ex-chairman IPPA)
Published 19 Apr, 2020 12:00am
SBP stays ahead of the curve
Print

SBP stays ahead of the curve

The SBP took time to speed up; but did it in style. Pundits were critical of SBP for not being ahead of the curve. The institution waited for the right information to come in. And it took no time to act. Like it was in Jul-19. At that time, SBP increased
Published 17 Apr, 2020 12:00am
Lockdown dilemma
Opinion

Lockdown dilemma

We live in a guess world. It's a health crisis and there is no scientific study to tell when the COVID spread is going to be over. In countries like Pakistan, the situation is even worse where testing is limited and unknown is bigger. Therefore, it is har
Published 12 Apr, 2020 12:00am
Construction package: cautious optimism
Opinion

Construction package: cautious optimism

Building housing was one of the main pillars of PTI's 100-day agenda. This push was earlier seen in previous two governments (PMLN's and PPP's) but which died down in the respective regimes' very first year. The efforts were fizzling out during the curren
Published 05 Apr, 2020 12:00am
'Corona' realities
Opinion

'Corona' realities

The world seems to be changing permanently. COVID-19 is bigger than 9/11 or 2008 global financial crisis. World living population hasn't seen such a catastrophe. It is a health crisis and has long-lasting physiological and economic implications. Global fi
Published 29 Mar, 2020 12:00am
Lock it down, now!
Opinion

Lock it down, now!

There is no other option but to partially lock down big cities. Period. It must be done in a phased and sustainable manner for several weeks. Unless the government acts immediately, law of probability indicates that the virus is going to hit most of us. V
Published 22 Mar, 2020 12:00am
PSL - a homegrown global brand
Opinion

PSL - a homegrown global brand

PSL is a success story which every Pakistani should be proud of. Fifth season (PSL 2020) has been fully hosted in Pakistan with packed stadiums, although not any more due to COVID-19; but the journey was not as smooth as it appears today. It took years of
Updated 15 Mar, 2020 06:41am
Global trade: Don't miss the bus again
Opinion

Global trade: Don't miss the bus again

Back in days, the saying was "when the US sneezes, the world catches a cold"; today, coronavirus from China is pushing world economy in a recessionary phase. The economic woes travelled faster across global stock and commodity markets than the Covid-19 it
Published 08 Mar, 2020 12:00am
Keeping Orange Line alive
Opinion

Keeping Orange Line alive

Lahore Orange Line (train) rapid transit system is in the process of test run with commercial operations to commence by June 2020. This is second of four planned mass transit systems of Lahore. Green Line metro bus system is in operation for seven years,
Published 01 Mar, 2020 12:00am
Cars and competition disruption
Opinion

Cars and competition disruption

Nothing is better than competition. Pakistan's automotive industry is going through a transition phase. For the last thirty years, three Japanese assemblers dominated the passenger car segment. Localization of parts never happened to the liking of policym
Published 23 Feb, 2020 12:00am
IMF review: power remains the key
Opinion

IMF review: power remains the key

The IMF second review is concluded. The staff-level agreement has not been reached; unlike in November review. That said, the tone was not negative. There might be some prior actions (such as increase in petroleum levy, increase in gas prices, pending fue
Published 16 Feb, 2020 12:00am
There's need for macro-fiscal unit
Opinion

There's need for macro-fiscal unit

The Adviser to PM on Finance is in a tight spot. The IMF's second review is ongoing. All the binary targets are likely to be met. But the problem is to manage primary fiscal deficit targets in the quarters to come. Ambitious indicative tax revenue target
Published 09 Feb, 2020 12:00am
Understated GDP
Opinion

Understated GDP

It's no news that informal economy is significant in Pakistan. What some would not know is that within documented economy, not everything is measured in GDP computation. It can be said with confidence that GDP is significantly understated in Pakistan. Onc
Updated 02 Feb, 2020 06:49am
Need for timely currency adjustments
Opinion

Need for timely currency adjustments

Political pressures are mounting on PM Imran Khan to control inflation and create new jobs. Coalition partners are flexing muscles to get MNAs'/MPAs' funds, seeing that members within PTI clan are voicing concerns now. A government with a razor-thin major
Published 26 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Open up imports to expand exports
Opinion

Open up imports to expand exports

There are signs of shift in economic thinking from 'inward oriented' to 'outward oriented'. Dr Reza Baqir presented the case at a conference last week. Pakistan consumption based growth averaging at 3.5-4 percent (2001-18) is similar to top 25 percent eme
Published 19 Jan, 2020 12:00am
Prioritize gas consumption
Opinion

Prioritize gas consumption

Lately, there is a rift between Federal and Sindh governments on natural gas supply and pricing. The Centre's desire is to have weighted average gas price formula of natural gas in Sindh by inclusion of RLNG in supply, whereas the Sindh government is aski
Updated 13 Jan, 2020 07:05am